He kissed her back. Realized they were both still too tense, too wound tight with expectation. Realized her ladyship's guests had much yet to discuss.
Decided to give them something more.
They gathered at five in Martin's library. Reggie and Jules's nephew, Joseph, currently acting in Jules's stead, had rearranged the furniture, swapping the daybed with a chaise from further down the long room.
"It was too distracting," Reggie declared when Amanda stood staring at the replacement chaise.
She had to admit that was true. Noting the daybed, still intact but at the other end of the room, she nodded. "It does make this area more formal."
"Precisely."
Luc joined them, nodding briskly. "The other four all know, but I saw no sign that any of them might interfere. Quite the opposite-they seemed delighted you were so close to clearing your name."
Martin's lips twisted. "Edward knows at least the vital details."
Luc met his gaze. "So the trap is set."
They settled to wait.
The library shared a wall with the front hall; when the front doorbell pealed, they all tensed. Listened to Joseph's footsteps cross the hall. Listened as he spoke to the caller.
It quickly became apparent that whoever the caller was, it wasn't anyone they'd expected; they listened as Joseph strove to get rid of the gentleman. But the voices behind the wall only rose higher; Amanda frowned. The tone seemed familiar…
Then she heard her name. Realized who it was.
"Good God!" Reggie glanced at her. "Isn't that-"
She snapped her mouth shut, surged to her feet. "I'll deal with this."
By the time she reached the front hall, her temper was on a seriously strained leash. Joseph heard her coming, glanced around, then stepped back and left the field to her. Left her facing the gentleman who had forced his way into the front hall.
"Mr. Lytton-Smythe!" Eyes narrow, she drew herself up. "I believe you were asking for me?"
Any wise man hearing her tones would have turned tail and run. Percival tugged down his waistcoat and frowned at her. "Indeed." He locked a hand about her wrist. "You will please me by leaving this house this instant!"
"What?" Amanda recoiled. Percival was gentleman enough not to drag on her arm, but neither did he release her; he stepped further into the hall as she stepped back.
Amanda halted and glared at him. "Mr. Lytton-Symthe, you appear to have taken leave of your senses! What has got into you?"
"Nothing at all-I have merely reached the limit of my patience. I have been-I am sure anyone would agree-extremely forbearing. I have watched you play games with others"-he wagged a finger at her-"and not sought to curtail such lighthearted pastimes. A last fling before taking on the sober mantle of marriage was reasonable enough, and while I can excuse your motives in assisting the rehabilitation of a relative of close friends, I of course did my duty to ensure that no interaction of a scandalous nature could ensue."
Amanda had been following his diatribe, absolutely astounded, but she fastened on that confession like a terrier. "Are you saying that you were the one who sent those girls out to Lady Arbuthnot's courtyard? And the other times-on the terrace at the Fortescues', and the Hamiltons' library? You thought to avoid scandal?"
Nose in the air, he nodded. She stared at him. "Why?"
"That ought to be obvious. I could not marry a lady whose reputation had been besmirched, however innocently. Now, given our agreement, I insist that you leave this house immediately. I'd heard you'd gone north, I assumed to visit relatives and so went to visit my aunt, only to learn on my return that you've been spending your time even more openly in Dexter's pocket. I will not stand for it. Now-"
"To which agreement are you referring, sir?"
Her tone finally penetrated; Percival stiffened. "To your agreement to marry me, of course."
"Mr. Lytton-Symthe, I can with a clear conscience swear that I have never, not ever, given you the slightest encouragement to believe I would welcome your suit."
Percival frowned at her as if she were splitting hairs. "Well, of course you haven't! Not the sort of thing a wellbred young lady would speak of-quite rightly, too. But I've made my position plain, and as there's no impediment to our marriage, there's no reason for you to say anything."
Her eyes narrowed to slits. "Oh, yes, there is. If I intend to marry a man, I will tell him-you may be absolutely sure of that. I will tell him out loud, in plain words and without the slightest blush! I will make up my own mind who I will marry, and I will definitely voice my decision. If you'd done me the courtesy of asking, I would have told you that in your case, my answer was and will always remain: No."
Percival continued to frown. "No? What do you mean: No?"