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he loves
horses. Those two qualities are very high on my list for an ideal
husband. If there’s one like him in London, there must be more.
Perhaps one of them will be able to look beyond my work with
horses, and will think I make the perfect wife.”
    “It’s likely we’ll run into him at some
assembly or other. And he now has reason to request an
introduction.” Amelia always saw the brighter side of a situation.
“Perhaps he’ll have his brother with him, and perhaps I’ll be with
you.”
    “You never told me you have an interest in
Knightwick, Amelia.”
    Her friend looked off at the row of houses
across the street. “I’ve no aspirations to marry an earl’s heir. My
grandfather was in trade, and my father is only a baron. My income
isn’t enough to attract a titled gentleman.”
    “Well then, you may marry any man you
choose. Many would want a wife like you. Your hair is such a rich
shade of brown, and the shape of your eyes is so striking. You are
enjoyable to talk to and you carry yourself well in company. You
are the perfect bride for any gentleman.”
    Amelia laughed. “If only the right gentleman
would come along. I’ve had two Seasons for some man to think I am
perfect, and I stand before you an unmarried, unattached
woman.”
    “I’m very grateful for that. Who would I
talk to if you were an old, married woman already?”
    They reached their intended shop and walked
inside. “I need just the right shade of lavender, not too wide, to
match one of my dresses,” Joanna explained.
    Joanna examined the goods for sale, asking
for cuts of laces and ribbons for various garments, and thread to
match. Once they were back on the street, her thoughts returned to
Knightwick. “You don’t really want a man like him, do you?”
    “Who, Knightwick? Why would I not? You
aren’t referring to that Cambridge incident, are you?”
    “No, silly. I meant that he’s such a rake,
of course,” Joanna said.
    “Why, because he keeps a demimonde? I’m
certain even your brother has used the services of one.”
    “Amelia!” Joanna glanced about, but the
people walking near them appeared not to have overheard. “His
employment of a demimonde is reason enough. But there are other
allegations. What about the young lady Lord Knightwick jilted?”
    “I heard that was all gossip,” Amelia said.
“He’d not made any declarations toward her, nor paid her any
particular attention. She was merely the daughter of a friend of
his aunt’s whom he called on once or twice out of consideration for
the older ladies’ friendship.”
    “Hmm. I suppose people do tend to make too
much of many tidbits they hear. But I’m still not certain I’d care
to have such a man as a husband.”
    “He would be your brother if you married Mr.
Lumley.”
    Joanna shook her head with a laugh. “I never
claimed I wished to marry Lumley. I only hope to find a man such as
him, who would let me continue to train horses.”
    As they rounded the corner, they stopped
abruptly to avoid collision with a man who was barreling down the
walk while reading a piece of paper in his hand. He halted and
nodded at them. “I beg your pardon, ladies. How rude of me. Why,
Lady Joanna, it’s delightful to see you again.”
    Joanna recognized the scarecrow who’d been
with her brother at Newmarket. “I don’t believe we’ve been
introduced, sir.”
    He bowed. “Sir Frederick Aldwen. Your
brother and I are…business associates.”
    She was no more comfortable in his presence
there than she’d been at Newmarket. Taking Amelia’s arm, she
stepped around him. “I shall let my brother know we saw you. Good
day.”
    He spun around and fell into step beside
her. “Yes, it is a nice day. Very pleasant for walking. You’ve been
shopping?”
    “Yes.” She tried to tread the fine line
between polite and disinterested.
    “I planned to call on your brother this
afternoon. Perhaps, if you aren’t otherwise occupied, I could give
you a ride home?”
    Closing