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around her sister’s face. “You may be older, but so is he. He doesn’t want a young girl out of the schoolroom. He wants a woman.”
    “I don’t know about that.” Her sister stared at the opposite wall. “He never looked at me before.”
    “Only because you never gave him a chance. He’s a kind man, even if he is a bit too boring for my tastes.”
    Liar , her conscience chided. You didn’t find him at all boring on the night when you danced with him.
    She could never have imagined the strange response that his simple touch had awakened. If she could feel that way with a man who didn’t interest her, what would it be like to kiss a man she was in love with?
    Heaven, she was certain. It would be Heaven with a capital H and angels singing.
    “The earl would suit you perfectly,” Amelia said. “I believe that. And I’ll find out everything I can about him.”
    Or, at least, she would when she spoke with him next. The less Margaret knew about this drive, the better.
    “Take your maid along as a chaperone, and that will suffice,” her sister suggested.
    Amelia nodded, inwardly relieved that the secret meeting could go on as planned. This was her best chance to see Lord Lisford without him paying a call upon her here. The broken engagement made that impossible, and she didn’t want to cause a rift between herself and Margaret.
    She wanted to believe that the viscount hadn’t been right for her sister and that, in time, Margaret would come to accept it, if Amelia married him.
    But then her sister’s warnings came rushing back. That the viscount had only been using Margaret as part of a wager. That he’d said everything she’d wanted to hear.
    Amelia walked toward the window, wondering if she was betraying Margaret by allowing Viscount Lisford to take her out driving. But then, what if this man was meant to be the love of her life? Should she turn her back on that, for Margaret’s sake?
    She didn’t know what to think. It bothered her to be torn between her own desires and loyalty to her sister. I adored Lord Lisford first , her heart reminded her. Before Margaret even noticed him. Surely that meant something.
    A knock sounded on their door, and when Margaret called for the visitor to enter, Aunt Charlotte came inside. “I have news to share with the both of you,” she said. “Your parents have returned to London. You’ll be moving back in with them tomorrow.”
    “But—so soon?” Amelia blurted out. Although her father, Lord Lanfordshire, had returned from fighting in Spain several years ago, she had never expected this. The baron loathed society, and he’d seemed perfectly content to dwell in Scotland, aside from his visits to assume his duties in the House of Lords. She and Margaret had resided with their aunt and uncle, more often than not.
    “I received a note from Beatrice today. Your mother is eager to see both of you and has asked you to join her tomorrow at breakfast.”
    “Why not this evening?” Amelia asked. “We could all dine together as a family.” But when she cast a glance at Margaret, her sister shook her head discreetly. Best to tread carefully then.
    “I invited her, but after the long journey from Ballaloch, she wanted to rest.” Aunt Charlotte’s face grew strained. “I think that she and your father need some time to—” Her words broke off, as if she’d suddenly changed her mind about what she’d been about to say. “Never mind. Tomorrow, I’ll have the servants help you pack and move back to your family’s town house.”
    Though Amelia kept her expression neutral, it was as if Fate were dashing her plans into pieces. Her suspicions were aroused by Charlotte’s insinuation that something wasn’t right between her parents. And why wouldn’t they want to see their daughters immediately?
    Amelia murmured her agreement, but she had already decided to send a note to Lord Lisford, asking him if they could meet earlier. As long as she returned before breakfast,