“Well, I do not see how it is possible for us to attend now, doyou?”
Amelia frowned. “And whynot?”
“Well, as you yourself said, we have a royal visit to prepare for. And only two weeks to organize it. I think we must return home immediately tomorrowmorning.”
‘But… oh, Robert, you are a terrible person. How you vex me with your idiosyncratic behavior. I have not done but one third of my shopping, and I have scheduled ever so many teas with old friends. Now you are saying we must abandonLondon?”
“But my dear Amelia, I could hardly refuse her Majesty’s request for a visit, now couldI?”
Amelia sighed and pointed to the footman to serve her another glass ofBurgundy.
Robert had become curious lately about Amelia’s relationship with the Viscount and asked, “My darling sister, you seem to have a close and reoccurring relationship with Ludlow Russell. I see you riding off in the direction of his estate quite frequently. Are the two of youcourting?”
Amelia looked at him over the rim of her wine glass—her eyes penetrating. “What would make you think that? He is a neighbor with whom I share certain interests. We amuse each other. That isall.”
But she looked away, which Robert took to be a sign that she was lying. After all, he had known her all his life and knew herways.
“The Viscount said the strangest thing to me when he invited us to his dinner party,” Robert continuedcautiously.
“And that wouldbe?”
“He remarked upon my interest in contemporary literature and hinted at my particular interest in new books coming out in the autumn. Rather strange do you not think? It makes me think that he somehow knows about my book. You have not said anything to him about me being published, haveyou?”
“Of course not. I would never betray a family secret. You know that.” Again, she did not look Robert in theeyes.
Robert continued to study her and then asked. “Do you remember when we were children? I think I must have been about seven and you were fourteen. I seem to remember that I had done something quitenaughty…”
She laughed. “Yes, you were playing with Father’s watch—the one that played music when you openedit.”
“Yes. That was theincident.”
“And you were swinging it by its chain from the balustrade above the entryway staircase, pretending it was an incensecensor.
“Like we saw at the Catholic service when we visited Italy with the parents thatsummer.”
“Yes.”
“And I droppedit.”
“Smashing it intooblivion.”
They both smiled as they recalled theincident.
“And what did you do?” Robertasked.
“I told Father it was I who had dropped it,” Amelia saidshyly.
“Yes, you did. And what did he do toyou?”
“Confined me to my chambers for a month. No riding. No playing. No friendsvisiting.”
“Because you protected me frompunishment.”
Amelia smiled and wagged her head. “No, Robert, not because he thought I broke the watch. He knew it was you. He punished me because I had lied tohim.”
Robert was aghast. “I did not know that. Then why didn’t he punish me aswell?”
“I suspect because you were the heir apparent—the favored malechild.”
