Page 49 of The Viscount’s Vice

She turned forward and began to walk, showing no inclination to take his arm. Fortunate, truly, since he was still clutching Lenora’s fur-lined cape.

They strolled along in silence, stopping to admire the animals, cage by cage.

“Why did Preston and I receive this invitation?” Amelia startled him by asking.

An oblique glance caught her thoughtful, curious expression.

“Your ward is quite forward,” she said. “She’s inspired me to be so as well.”

Perfect. He nearly shook his head.

“Your brother asked me the same thing.” He shifted the coat to his other arm. “Truth is, you both have my mother and Sir Brenton to thank, but I cannot divine their reasoning.”

“How... unexpected.” She leaned toward a cage and cooed at a sleeping sloth. “I had wondered if you were attempting to influence my father through me.” She turned to him. “You’re not?”

“Why would I?” he hedged.

“Lord Asquith.” She gave him a look a governess might give a lying child. “That you are seeking a stud to build out your stable is no secret.”

“No,” he admitted. “Your father, however, is quite discreet about his intentions where his stock is concerned.”

“Discreet, yes.” She assessed him. “And he is very selective about the people he chooses to invite on the rare occasions he auctions off an animal.”

“Believe me, I am very aware.”

“Are you also aware this excursion has given rise to certain hopes?”

Asquith’s heart stuttered.

“Not in me, mind you,” she added with a slight sparkle of amusement in her eye. “In him. I am perfectly content with not having an offer since the year without a summer. Everything that Season was ice.” She raised her brows in a self-deprecating manner. “I didn’t stand out.”

He found himself at a complete loss. What did she expect him to say? “Lady Amelia, I—”

“I know what people say about me, and I require no sympathy,” she interrupted. “I just wanted to make certain we understood one another. Whatever your mother is planning, I am not averse to getting to know you—or, unexpectedly, your unusual ward—but friendship is all I can offer.”

“I would feel honored to be your friend.”

“Why Viscount Asquith, I believe you are sincere.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Because people rarely are.” She resumed that distant gaze she’d long ago perfected. “In return for your friendship, should my father decide to sell, I will put in a good word, on one condition.”

“Lady Amelia, I don’t know how to thank you.”

“Don’t be so quick to do so. At least not until I make my request. Would you keep an eye on my brother? He’s made a few new friends of whom I cannot approve. But he is more likely to accept caution from another gentleman than he is from me.”

He understood completely. He gave her a slight bow. “I will.”

He’d be keeping an eye on Preston anyway. She’d asked, he had decided to do so earlier in the day, and now he wished to discourage Preston’s clear interest in Lenora.

A ways ahead, Preston and Lenora came to a stop at the Bengal tiger’s cage. In response to a gesture from Preston, the animal let out a menacing growl. Instinctively, Asquith stepped forward. However, Preston was already drawing Lenora close.

Amelia groaned. “He did that on purpose.”

“So I assumed.” Asquith felt a little like growling himself.

“A-hem,” Lady Asquith cleared her throat.