Chapter Ten

Lady Aurelia paused in the open doorway and smiled before entering. "Oh, how well that gown suits you." She walked over to where Amber stood by the window. "You look beautiful."

Amber turned to greet the countess as she tamped down the worry lancing through her. She had placed her trust in the handsome Irishman who had rescued her. Before he left, Dermott had given his word to protect her with his life. His life! The very thought of him doing so had her shivering as a chill raced up her spine.

"Are you all right, Miss Amber?"

"Yes, thank you. I was woolgathering."

Countess Lippincott studied her until Amber began to feel uncomfortable. As she was about to speak, Lady Aurelia smiled. "I came to invite you to join me for a cup of tea in my upstairs sitting room. It is quiet and has a lovely view of the gardens."

Amber gathered her composure. "Thank you, your ladyship. I would enjoy that."

"Excellent. I rang for tea before coming to collect you. My very dear friend Lady Calliope is on her way for an extended visit. You will have a chance to meet her and her darling babe William. He is a week younger than our Edward." She slipped her arm through Amber's and whispered, "Of course, her husband will be accompanying them as well—he is as cranky as mine when they believe trouble is on its way."

"Oh?" Fear slashed through Amber's belly. She slid her arm free. "Have I brought trouble to your door?" Before Lady Aurelia could answer, Amber rushed on to say, "If so, I shall leave at once! There must be an inn nearby where I can find accommodations. I could not in good conscience allow harm to come to you or your family, your ladyship. You have been so kind to me."

The countess grabbed hold of Amber's hand and tugged on it. "You may have lost your memory, but I'm beginning to wonder if you have lost your mind! O'Malley could have dropped you off at the physician's home in the village, but he brought you here—to us—to protect and tend to your injuries." She opened the door to a lovely room at the opposite end of the long hallway and all but dragged Amber inside. Spinning around, Lady Aurelia placed her hands on her hips. "You. Are. Staying. Put!"

For the life of her, Amber could not imagine why the countess would care whether or not she stayed or left. "I…er… Well, as I have no conveyance at my disposal, and did not arrive on horseback—"

Lady Aurelia slowly smiled. "As a matter of fact, you did. O'Malley was cradling you in tight to his chest as he galloped toward our stables."

Amber's mouth hung slack. She couldn't seem to find adequate words to respond. She had never asked how she came to be at Lippincott Manor.

As if satisfied with her reaction, the countess continued, "The poor man's worry was evident, given the loud conversation I chanced to overhear."

"Loud?"

"Have a seat. Please?" Amber complied, and the countess continued, "I was trying to dislodge a bubble… Our darling babe eats so fast, he creates them. Poor thing."

Amber smiled. "I am an only child—" She covered her mouth with her hands as tears welled in her eyes. Blinking them away, she lowered her hands. "That thought just popped into my head. Do you think it's true?"

"From the emotions on your face, I would venture to say it is. I did not have any brothers or sisters. Uncle Phineas took me in after…" The earl's wife paused, as if reliving that time in her life was difficult.

Understanding filled Amber. The time after her mother passed away had been a nightmare. One she prayed she'd wake up from. She needed to ease the other woman's sorrow. "I lost my mum, too. It has been Papa and me for the last few years." She sighed. "For the life of me, I cannot understand why I cannot recall my name." She frowned, thinking of what she'd confessed to Dermott. "Though what I have remembered is unnerving…frightening."

"When did this happen?"

"Jenny was fixing my hair—and thank you again for letting me borrow another of your gowns and your maid. I have a vague memory of someone helping me dress, but she was older than Jenny."

"Pinning your hair reminded you of something distasteful?" the countess queried.

"It was the first time I'd seen my reflection since arriving," Amber whispered, fighting to hold back the emotions battering her. "O'Malley has probably already told the earl. He will no doubt bundle me into a carriage and send me back to London."

"You do not know my darling Edward well enough to make that judgment. He is a born protector, as is his brother the duke."

"But surely, as O'Malley is one of the duke's guard, he will be expected to share what I told him with your husband and the duke."

The knock on the door interrupted their conversation. "Come in," the countess called.

The door opened, and Mrs. Jones stepped aside for one of the footmen to precede her. The tea tray he carried was laden with the accoutrements for tea, along with an assortment of delectable treats—cream tarts, berry tarts, and scones.

"Thank you, Mrs. Jones. I am more than ready to for a strong cup of tea and something sweet. Please thank Mrs. Wyatt for me."

The housekeeper asked, "Shall I stay and pour?"

"No, thank you. But please do let me know as soon as our guests arrive."

"Of course, your ladyship. Just ring if you need anything else."

"I will. Thank you."

Amber was pleased to note the way the countess treated her housekeeper and the footman. It reminded her of her mum.

Lady Aurelia poured tea and filled a plate, passing it to Amber. "Have something to eat before we continue our conversation. I always feel better able to face difficult situations with food in my stomach."

Amber sipped and nibbled, feeling a bit more relaxed with each bite of the delectable sweets the cook had prepared for them. Blotting her mouth with a soft linen napkin, she met the steady gaze of the countess. "Thank you, your ladyship."

"My pleasure. Now what was it that you told O'Malley?"

"My father gambles." When the countess did not say anything, Amber continued, "He lost our home and his fortune."

"I am sorry to hear that."

Though it pained her to do so, she confessed the worst of it: "Papa gambled away my dowry…and my hand in marriage."

She had not realized she was crying until the lace-edged handkerchief appeared in front of her.

"Wipe your eyes, Amber."

She did as Lady Aurelia bade her, wringing the damp handkerchief in her hands. "Aren't you going to ask me to leave?"

"Whyever would I do that? If your father gambled away your home, where will you go?"

She had not thought of that. "I… I have no idea."

"Well then, you shall remain here with us indefinitely."

"I could not impose upon you—"

"I insist."

Lady Aurelia's voice was firm enough to have Amber biting back her refusal. "What will the earl say? Won't he disagree with you?"

"First, let me remind you that none of this is your fault. I am certain you did not goad your father into wagering over a hand of cards."

"Well, no, but—"

"Nor would you have suggested he wager your home or his fortune."

"Of course not."

"As to your dowry," Lady Aurelia continued, "do you recall if there was a gentleman courting you that you were enamored of?"

Amber sighed. "No. I have no idea why I can recall that, without remembering my name."

"Your name will come," Aurelia said, reaching over to pat the back of Amber's hand. "Now then, what was O'Malley's reaction to your conversation?"

Amber's eyes met Lady Aurelia's. "He told me I would not be forced into a marriage."

"Is that all?"

Amber blinked back the tears that seemed to be her constant companion today. After drawing in a deep breath and slowly exhaling, she answered, "He vowed to protect me with his life."

The countess beamed. "Well, I believe that is the answer to your situation and should put your mind at rest."

"It isn't an answer. When the man comes to collect his wager, the earl will have no choice but to turn me over to him."

"That, my dear young woman, is something I refuse to do."

The countess suddenly pushed to her feet. "Edward!" She rushed over to her husband's side, leaning into him when he placed his arm around her. "I am so happy to see you."

"Are you?" He stared down at his wife, and Amber noticed the look that passed between the couple. They obviously shared a deep affection. "And what of your declaration from half an hour ago?"

She pushed away from him and returned to her seat. "You know that I spoke in haste."

"Do I?"

"Stop tormenting me over my loss of temper, Edward, and join us for a cup of tea."

He smiled. "Although I would enjoy nothing more, I have come to advise that Calliope, William, and their babe have arrived." When she started to rise from her seat for the second time, the earl motioned for her to remain seated. "I sent word to Mrs. Wyatt to prepare another tea tray and send it to you here—or would you prefer the downstairs sitting room?"

"Will you and William be joining us?"

"Not until this afternoon's tea…after luncheon."

"Then here will be lovely, Edward. Thank you."

The earl turned to leave, then abruptly spun on his heel. He stalked over to where Lady Aurelia sat, pulled her to her feet, and kissed the breath out of her.

Amber could not take her eyes off the passionate display. She sighed when, just as abruptly, the earl did an about-face and strode through the door.

"Oh my," she whispered.

Lady Aurelia had her hand to her heart. When she finally tore her gaze from the empty doorway, she blew out a shaky breath. "Lord, that man vexes me."

Amber thought it best not to speak, but could not hold back the giggle.

The countess frowned at her for a moment before dissolving into giggles herself. "And then he kisses every thought from my head just to irritate me further."

Unable to remain silent, Amber commented, "It was most obvious that you were quite vexed with his lordship."

Aurelia's eyes were filled with merriment as she fanned a hand in front of her face. "I love him quite desperately, you know."

Amber wondered if, one day, she too would find a man to love desperately. One who would vex her in the extreme.

A blond-haired giant of a man filled her mind's eye.

Mayhap she had already found him.