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"Would it please you to know that I never loved her? 1 liked and admired her, but... it was nothing
compared to what I felt for you."
"No, that doesn't please me in the least. It's even worse that you put ambition before all else."
"I'm a man who's trying to support himself and someday a family with an uncertain career. I don't
expect you to understand."
"Your career was never that uncertain," Amelia shot back. "You had every promise of advancement,
even without marryingRowlandTemple 's daughter. Leo told me your talent would have taken you far."
"Would that talent were enough. But it's naive to
think so."
"Well, naivete seems to be a common failing of the Hathaways."
"Amelia," he murmured. "It's not like you to be cynical."
She bent her head. "You don't know what I'm like now"
"I want the chance to find out."
That drew a glance of startled disbelief from her. "There's nothing to be gained by a renewed
acquaintance with me, Christopher. I'm no wealthier, nor am I more advantageously connected. Nothing
has changed since we last met."
"Perhaps I have. Perhaps I've come to realize what I lost."
"Threw away," she corrected, her heart thumping painfully.
"Threw away," he acknowledged in a soft tone. "I was a fool and a cad, Amelia. I would never ask that
you overlook what I did. But at least give me the opportunity to make amends. I want to be of service to
your family, if at all possible. And to help your brother."
"You can't," Amelia said. "You see what's become of him."
"He is a man of remarkable talents. It would be criminal to waste them. Perhaps, if I could befriend him
again . . ."
"I don't think he would be very receptive to that."
"I want to help him. I have influence withRowlandTemple now. His daughter's elopement left him with a
sense of obligation toward me."
"How convenient for you."
"I might be able to interest Leo in working for him again. It would benefit them both."
"But how would it benefit you?" she asked. "Why would you go to such trouble on Leo's behalf?"
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"I'm not a complete villain, Amelia. I have a conscience, albeit a somewhat underused one. It's not easy
to live with the memories of the people I hurt in the past. Including you and your brother."
"Christopher," she murmured, throwing him a distracted glance. "I don't know what to say. I need some
time to consider things "
"Take all the time you wish," he said gently. "If I can't be what I once was to you ... I will have to be
satisfied as a friend-in-waiting." He smiled slightly, his eyes filled with a tender glow. "And if you should
ever want more . . . a single word is all it will take."
CHAPTER TWELVE
Ordinarily Cam would have been pleased by the arrival of Lord and Lady St. Vincent
atStonyCrossPark . However, Cam wasn't looking forward to the prospect of tellingSt. Vincent about
his decision to quit the club.St. Vincent wouldn't like it. Not only would it be inconvenient to have to find
a replacement manager, but the viscount wouldn't understandCam 's desire to live as a Roma.St. Vincent
was nothing if not an enthusiastic advocate of fine living.
Many people feared St. Vincent, who possessed a lethal way with words and a calculating nature,
butCam was not one of them. In fact, he had challenged the viscount on more than one occasion, both of
them arguing with a vicious articulateness that would have sliced anyone else to ribbons.
The St. Vincents arrived with their daughter Phoebe, a red-haired infant with an alarmingly changeable
temperament. One moment the child was placid and adorable. The next, she was a squalling devil-spawn
who could only be soothed by the sound of her father's voice. "There, darling,"St. Vincent had been
known to coo into the infant's
ear. "Has someone displeased you? Ignored you? Oh, the insolence. My poor princess shall have
anything she wants . . ." And, appeased by her father's outrageous spoiling, Phoebe would settle into
hiccupping smiles.
The baby was duly admired and passed around in the parlor. Evie and Lillian chattered without stopping,
frequently hugging and linking arms in the way of old friends.
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