“Well?” Rebecca prompted. “What do you think? I must have your opinion, so if you could cease behaving as if you were married just yesterday, I would appreciate it. I am about to suffer an apoplexy while you are… snuggling!”
Laughter rumbled faintly in Lionel’s chest. “If you truly wish to delay your debut, you know I shall not argue. I cannot bear the thought of you leaving this house to live with a husband.”
Amelia jabbed him lightly in the ribs.
“What I mean to say is,” Lionel continued, smiling, “that if you do not think you are ready to dance and enjoy yourself and attend grand balls and gatherings and dinner parties with all of your friends, then I will not make you. Indeed, it would spare me and Amelia and your grandmother from having to escort you, so Amelia and I can spend even more time snuggling.”
Rebecca pulled a face, crossing her arms over her chest, giving Amelia some idea of what a rascal she had likely been as a child. Ordinarily, the younger woman was not prone to panic oroutbursts, but debuting could get the better of even the most level-headed young woman.
“Thank you,” Rebecca muttered.
“For what?” Lionel replied blithely.
“For knocking some sense into me.” Rebecca expelled a breath. “I am worrying over nothing. This Season is going to be marvelous, and I would not miss it for anything. If my gown looks wrong, so be it. Now, make sure you do not stay out here too long—it is cold, and you are not appropriately attired.”
With a grin of her own, Rebecca turned and left the gardens, the catastrophe averted so quickly that it left Amelia’s head spinning.
Lionel turned to face Amelia, leaning back on the bridge as he put both arms around her. “Does everyone in this household delight in teasing me for things I have said?”
“Without end, my love,” Amelia replied, chuckling.
“Yet, no one has caught a chill, have they?”
She smiled up at him. “You are always so considerate, my love, thinking of others.”
“She is right, though.” He hugged her closer. “It is far too cold for you to be out here. I shall have to warm you.”
“I shall not complain,” Amelia murmured, cuddling up against his chest.
He bent his head and kissed her softly, pulling her even tighter to him so that not a whisper of wind or cold would be able to touch her. She kissed him back in kind, certain that she would never tire of kissing him and being kissed by him. It was the closest thing to magic that existed in the world and, every time their lips grazed, she felt time slowing once more.
In truth, she could have stayed out there forever with him, enveloped in his arms, feeling the searing brush of his lips against hers and the pull of his embrace, needing her to be as close as possible. But just as they were sinking into a deeper kiss, an almighty shout rang out across the Westyork grounds.
“My necklace is missing!” Rebecca shrieked. “Come inside and help me find it!”
“Goodness me!” Caroline’s voice shouted back, seemingly out of nowhere. “If it is not one thing, it is another! It is adebut,not a coronation!”
The happy couple broke apart, laughing.
“It will be worse when we are in London,” Lionel said. “The townhouse is smaller. Those shouts will be unbearable.”
Amelia slipped her hand into his. “Yes, but once she has debuted, she will be merry as can be. Society suits her. I would not be surprised if she is hailed as the diamond of the Season, fending off marriage proposals left, right, and center.”
Lionel groaned. “I am going to have to drink so much tea.”
“You are, my love,” Amelia replied. “So, be careful not to spill a drop.”
“If that is the case, I shall have to put you out of the room,” he teased.
“I still make you nervous?”
“No, but you are so distracting that I cannot help but be clumsy. Truly, it is terrible for my reputation.”
“Then, it is fortunate that you are already married, not to mention the wealthiest man in England. You are practically untouchable.” She chuckled and leaned into him as they walked back to the house to deal with the latest calamity to befall the debutante.
“I told her that all would be well,” Amelia cooed, clasping her hands with pride as she watched Rebecca dance. “Does she not look so very elegant, my love?”
Lionel, standing at his wife’s side, gazed down at her. “Not nearly as elegant as you, but she has grace and talent. Meanwhile, I am wondering how appropriate it would be for me to go around spraying water at all of these gentlemen who are staring at her.”
