The Adventuress by TASHA ALEXANDER

friend said, stirring sugar into her steaming cup. “It is only because I know you so well that I can read your feelings.”
    â€œDo you think he knows?”
    â€œChristabel, dear, you shall have to become much more forthright if you want him to guess what resides in your heart.”
    â€œI shall do nothing of the sort until I have a clearer picture of his own feelings on the subject.”
    â€œYour English reticence will do you no favors, my friend.” Amity fidgeted, opened her parasol, and leaned back in her chair. “If I were you, I would be suggesting to Jack that he ought to have a capable photographer on hand to capture his myriad adventures.”
    â€œI could never be so forward.” Christabel’s eyes widened. “To imply that I would be willing to travel with him—”
    â€œAs his wife, my dear. That is not so shocking,” Amity said, closing her parasol and sitting up straight. “Here they are now, so I suppose we ought not continue strategizing on the topic. We must make it look as if this is the most casual tea we have ever had.” Two lanky gentlemen, one in uniform, the other in a light-colored linen suit, expertly tailored, mounted the stairs outside the hotel. “He is more handsome than I would have expected. I’ve always pictured dukes as pale, elderly, and infirm.”
    â€œI could have told you Jeremy is nothing of the sort,” Christabel said. “I cannot claim to know him well, but we have met several times, and he is what most mothers consider dangerously charming. As you know, he quite refuses to marry, much to their chagrin.”
    â€œJack only touched briefly on the subject. Why won’t he marry?”
    â€œHis heart was broken by the dearest friend of his youth, Lady Emily Hargreaves, and he has never recovered. He is in possession of both fortune and title, so if you do want to catch him, you shall have to rely on more than your dowry. There is nothing Jeremy needs.”
    â€œExcept, perhaps, love.” Amity squinted as she studied the taller of the gentlemen approaching their table. She held up her hand for him to kiss even before his brother could make the introduction. Without the slightest sign of hesitation, Jeremy Sheffield, Duke of Bainbridge, took the little gloved hand and lingered over it.
    â€œMy brother warned me about you, Miss Wells, and, as you see, I am not waiting to be properly introduced. Whatever will your mother say?”
    â€œNothing, your grace, that could be repeated in public,” Amity said. “Unless, of course, your intentions prove to be honorable.”
    â€œI do hate to disappoint a young lady’s mother, but I cannot bear to be less than honest with you, Miss Wells. My intentions have never been honorable, and I am too old to change my habits now.”
    â€œThen, your grace, I must beg you to take a seat. Christabel and I are taking tea, but perhaps you would prefer whisky?”
    â€œShe is a pistol, Jack.” The duke kissed Christabel on both cheeks before sitting next to Amity. “I like her already.”

 
    7
    The rooms at the Hotel Britannia were all en suite, and the facilities left one nothing short of utterly satisfied. I took a long bath before dinner, luxuriating in the deep tub, whose waters Meg, my maid, had scented with rose oil. My ablutions leaving me feeling greatly refreshed, I vowed to befriend Amity Wells, and to do everything in my power to ensure that she and Jeremy enjoyed the rest of this dreadful holiday in their honor. Cécile may have been right in her observation that I was harder hit by Jeremy’s engagement than I realized, for although I harbored no romantic feelings for him, the very act of him taking a wife would herald a necessary alteration in our friendship, and it was only natural that I would mourn the change to some degree. Perhaps this had caused me to be less generous with Amity than I ought to have been, and