Kennell?”
She flashed her white teeth in response to his dour expression. “I would appreciate a smile when you serve my tea.”
“Thank you, Bradford,” Amelia added, “but it won’t be necessary for you to serve Lady Kennell. One of the footmen will do.”
Poor Bradford. Bibi took pleasure in tormenting Amelia’s servant.
After a stiff bow, he swept from the room.
“When he serves notice, you are finding his replacement,” Amelia warned.
Bibi leaned against the white velvet seat cushion. “He’ll never leave. He secretly loves me.”
Amelia shook her head and chuckled. “As do all men, or so you continuously inform me. I didn’t expect to see you here this early.”
Bibi’s gaze meandered around the room. “I have always adored the quaintness of Verona House.”
Amelia loved her cozy home, too. After the move, she had thrown herself into redecorating every room in the house. The project had helped to keep her agonizing thoughts at bay after Audley’s death, such as how repulsive must one be to drive a husband away?
A footman ambled into the room with Bibi’s breakfast but left upon a single glance from Amelia.
Slumping against the chair, Bibi gave a heavy sigh.
Amelia suppressed a smile. She wouldn’t be an easy quarry. If her friend wished to discuss whatever woe plagued her today, she would have to be forthcoming.
Arching her eyebrows, she made a show of studying Bibi’s plate. “Has something gone awry with your breakfast, dearest? Cook trimmed the crusts.”
Her friend wrinkled her nose. “There’s nothing wrong with my toast.”
“Your eggs are not to your liking?”
Bibi slapped the table. “Again, you toy with me. There is nothing wrong with my breakfast. Ask me what troubles me before I burst.”
Amelia chuckled. “Or you could simply tell me.”
“Where’s the fun in that? I much prefer having you coax confessions from me.”
Folding her arms, Amelia leaned on the table, attempting to hide her amusement, and suspecting she did so poorly. “Very well. Darling Bibi, you seem out of sorts this morning. Please, oh, please tell me what tragedy has befallen you.”
Now Bibi laughed. “You mustn’t be so dramatic.” She took a bite of toast, her expression sobering as she chewed. “I have come to believe all men are the same. None cares a whit about pleasing a woman. They all do the same tired things, no creativity whatsoever. And then they only do it for a minute before they’re ready for the main event.”
Amelia sipped her tea. Assuming Bibi spoke of Captain Hillary, she experienced more than a little discomfort.
“I wish to find a man who takes his time. One who really cares if I enjoy myself, too,” Bibi said. “Do you think a man like that exists?”
Her chocolate eyes searched Amelia’s as if she had answers when it came to gentlemen.
“One can always hope,” she replied with a slight shrug.
Bibi sighed and rested her chin on her upturned hand. “Hope for the hopeless. That’s exactly what I need.”
Amelia couldn’t agree more.
A short moment later, Bibi perked up again. “Let’s go shopping. A new gown never disappoints me.”
Amelia swallowed, hesitant to reveal her plans. “I am afraid I won’t be able to join you today.”
“Why ever not? Do you have another boring meeting with your horrid solicitor? That man is as interesting as a box of rocks. No, I take it back. I have met rocks more intriguing.”
“Hmm,” Amelia answered and fiddled with the morning newssheet.
“Just reschedule. Please, please, please ?” Bibi drew out the last please, earning Amelia’s full laughter.
“I really must decline, Bibi.”
“Then I will accompany you, and we can visit Bond Street afterward.”
She sighed. Bibi never made anything easy. “I’m not visiting my solicitor.”
When she offered no more, Bibi frowned. “Then what, pray tell, are you doing?”
Amelia busied herself with spreading marmalade on the other half of her toast,
She flashed her white teeth in response to his dour expression. “I would appreciate a smile when you serve my tea.”
“Thank you, Bradford,” Amelia added, “but it won’t be necessary for you to serve Lady Kennell. One of the footmen will do.”
Poor Bradford. Bibi took pleasure in tormenting Amelia’s servant.
After a stiff bow, he swept from the room.
“When he serves notice, you are finding his replacement,” Amelia warned.
Bibi leaned against the white velvet seat cushion. “He’ll never leave. He secretly loves me.”
Amelia shook her head and chuckled. “As do all men, or so you continuously inform me. I didn’t expect to see you here this early.”
Bibi’s gaze meandered around the room. “I have always adored the quaintness of Verona House.”
Amelia loved her cozy home, too. After the move, she had thrown herself into redecorating every room in the house. The project had helped to keep her agonizing thoughts at bay after Audley’s death, such as how repulsive must one be to drive a husband away?
A footman ambled into the room with Bibi’s breakfast but left upon a single glance from Amelia.
Slumping against the chair, Bibi gave a heavy sigh.
Amelia suppressed a smile. She wouldn’t be an easy quarry. If her friend wished to discuss whatever woe plagued her today, she would have to be forthcoming.
Arching her eyebrows, she made a show of studying Bibi’s plate. “Has something gone awry with your breakfast, dearest? Cook trimmed the crusts.”
Her friend wrinkled her nose. “There’s nothing wrong with my toast.”
“Your eggs are not to your liking?”
Bibi slapped the table. “Again, you toy with me. There is nothing wrong with my breakfast. Ask me what troubles me before I burst.”
Amelia chuckled. “Or you could simply tell me.”
“Where’s the fun in that? I much prefer having you coax confessions from me.”
Folding her arms, Amelia leaned on the table, attempting to hide her amusement, and suspecting she did so poorly. “Very well. Darling Bibi, you seem out of sorts this morning. Please, oh, please tell me what tragedy has befallen you.”
Now Bibi laughed. “You mustn’t be so dramatic.” She took a bite of toast, her expression sobering as she chewed. “I have come to believe all men are the same. None cares a whit about pleasing a woman. They all do the same tired things, no creativity whatsoever. And then they only do it for a minute before they’re ready for the main event.”
Amelia sipped her tea. Assuming Bibi spoke of Captain Hillary, she experienced more than a little discomfort.
“I wish to find a man who takes his time. One who really cares if I enjoy myself, too,” Bibi said. “Do you think a man like that exists?”
Her chocolate eyes searched Amelia’s as if she had answers when it came to gentlemen.
“One can always hope,” she replied with a slight shrug.
Bibi sighed and rested her chin on her upturned hand. “Hope for the hopeless. That’s exactly what I need.”
Amelia couldn’t agree more.
A short moment later, Bibi perked up again. “Let’s go shopping. A new gown never disappoints me.”
Amelia swallowed, hesitant to reveal her plans. “I am afraid I won’t be able to join you today.”
“Why ever not? Do you have another boring meeting with your horrid solicitor? That man is as interesting as a box of rocks. No, I take it back. I have met rocks more intriguing.”
“Hmm,” Amelia answered and fiddled with the morning newssheet.
“Just reschedule. Please, please, please ?” Bibi drew out the last please, earning Amelia’s full laughter.
“I really must decline, Bibi.”
“Then I will accompany you, and we can visit Bond Street afterward.”
She sighed. Bibi never made anything easy. “I’m not visiting my solicitor.”
When she offered no more, Bibi frowned. “Then what, pray tell, are you doing?”
Amelia busied herself with spreading marmalade on the other half of her toast,
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