eyes, the exact same color as his, were narrowed on him, Jeremy flushed. “Didn’t say that.”
“A good thing you didn’t,” she retorted, “or I would’ve boxed your ears.”
He gave her one of his more engaging grins to mollify her prickly temper, which he so rarely was the recipient of. She was a Malory, after all, and more than half the Malorys were known for having formidable tempers. Just because her father was an exception to the rule didn’t mean she was, too. But then, he learned new thingsabout Amy all the time, since he’d become one of her closer friends.
Jeremy said now, feigning surprise, “If you’re moving in—good God, all those bloody fops who’ve been batting down your door this past week aren’t going to start showing up here , are they?”
“Not if you keep your mouth shut and don’t tell anyone where I’ve gone to.”
Now he was surprised. “You’re willing to miss out on the results of your success?”
“Heavens, yes. I was looking forward to being treated as an adult, Jeremy, not to the customary expectations following a come-out. My sisters might have carved notches for each caller who showed up, but I’m not the least bit interested—”
“Why not?” he demanded, too impatient to wait until she had finished. “Don’t you want to marry?”
“Certainly, and I fully intend to.”
“Ah,” he said, deciding he had the gist of it now. “You just haven’t met the right chap yet. You’re waiting till you do.”
“Actually—that’s it,” Amy lied, not willing to admit yet just who her choice was, even to him.
“Is that why you volunteered to help George, so you could hide?”
“I happen to be very fond of your stepmother, Jeremy. I would have offered to help out even if I’d had dozens of things I’d rather be doing.The doctor said she’s to stay in bed for at least a week. As I’m the only one in the family with no other responsibilities just now, it seemed only logical—”
“You needn’t be so bloody long-winded,” he said, uncomfortable because he’d apparently hurt her feelings. “I got your drift.” Then he grinned again to lighten his testy response. “It’ll be pleasant having you underfoot.”
She arched a single black brow, reminding him of his father and uncle, who used that affectation to perfection. “Will it indeed? Even when I won’t let you avoid questions you try to avoid?”
“Noticed that, did you?”
“Couldn’t miss it,” she said dryly.
He laughed. “So what was your question?”
“Where you disappeared to. We thought you might have ridden clear to Haverston yourself to collect Connie.”
“I sent Artie, though come to think of it, it’ll take some luck for that old seadog to find his way overland to Connie’s farmstead. It’ll be George’s fault if he gets lost in the country. If she’d just have waited until next week to have the baby, like she was supposed to, Connie would have been here. He’d planned to return to London for the birthing.”
“What’s he doing out in the country anyway?”
“Seeing if there’s anything to salvage of the small bit of property he owns near Haverston.He’s been away from it for so many years, he figures it’s pro’bly gone to weed and ruin. ’Course, he’s got money and time enough to bring it ’round now, since he won’t be sailing anymore either.”
“Are you going to miss that, Jeremy, going to sea with your father?”
“What’s to miss? I was never on the Maiden Anne long enough to get used to it. The first sea battle I got wounded in, and my father and Connie went to roost in the West Indies. Besides,” he added with a decidedly wicked chuckle, “I’m having too bloody much fun these days to miss anything.”
“Too much fun I don’t doubt, considering how often you get sent down from school.”
“Hell’s bells, you ain’t going to start sounding like George now, are you? She blisters my ears enough with her scoldings, and that ain’t
“A good thing you didn’t,” she retorted, “or I would’ve boxed your ears.”
He gave her one of his more engaging grins to mollify her prickly temper, which he so rarely was the recipient of. She was a Malory, after all, and more than half the Malorys were known for having formidable tempers. Just because her father was an exception to the rule didn’t mean she was, too. But then, he learned new thingsabout Amy all the time, since he’d become one of her closer friends.
Jeremy said now, feigning surprise, “If you’re moving in—good God, all those bloody fops who’ve been batting down your door this past week aren’t going to start showing up here , are they?”
“Not if you keep your mouth shut and don’t tell anyone where I’ve gone to.”
Now he was surprised. “You’re willing to miss out on the results of your success?”
“Heavens, yes. I was looking forward to being treated as an adult, Jeremy, not to the customary expectations following a come-out. My sisters might have carved notches for each caller who showed up, but I’m not the least bit interested—”
“Why not?” he demanded, too impatient to wait until she had finished. “Don’t you want to marry?”
“Certainly, and I fully intend to.”
“Ah,” he said, deciding he had the gist of it now. “You just haven’t met the right chap yet. You’re waiting till you do.”
“Actually—that’s it,” Amy lied, not willing to admit yet just who her choice was, even to him.
“Is that why you volunteered to help George, so you could hide?”
“I happen to be very fond of your stepmother, Jeremy. I would have offered to help out even if I’d had dozens of things I’d rather be doing.The doctor said she’s to stay in bed for at least a week. As I’m the only one in the family with no other responsibilities just now, it seemed only logical—”
“You needn’t be so bloody long-winded,” he said, uncomfortable because he’d apparently hurt her feelings. “I got your drift.” Then he grinned again to lighten his testy response. “It’ll be pleasant having you underfoot.”
She arched a single black brow, reminding him of his father and uncle, who used that affectation to perfection. “Will it indeed? Even when I won’t let you avoid questions you try to avoid?”
“Noticed that, did you?”
“Couldn’t miss it,” she said dryly.
He laughed. “So what was your question?”
“Where you disappeared to. We thought you might have ridden clear to Haverston yourself to collect Connie.”
“I sent Artie, though come to think of it, it’ll take some luck for that old seadog to find his way overland to Connie’s farmstead. It’ll be George’s fault if he gets lost in the country. If she’d just have waited until next week to have the baby, like she was supposed to, Connie would have been here. He’d planned to return to London for the birthing.”
“What’s he doing out in the country anyway?”
“Seeing if there’s anything to salvage of the small bit of property he owns near Haverston.He’s been away from it for so many years, he figures it’s pro’bly gone to weed and ruin. ’Course, he’s got money and time enough to bring it ’round now, since he won’t be sailing anymore either.”
“Are you going to miss that, Jeremy, going to sea with your father?”
“What’s to miss? I was never on the Maiden Anne long enough to get used to it. The first sea battle I got wounded in, and my father and Connie went to roost in the West Indies. Besides,” he added with a decidedly wicked chuckle, “I’m having too bloody much fun these days to miss anything.”
“Too much fun I don’t doubt, considering how often you get sent down from school.”
“Hell’s bells, you ain’t going to start sounding like George now, are you? She blisters my ears enough with her scoldings, and that ain’t
Similar Books
