Chapter 3
It hadn’t been the first time Hiro had saved her arse—as her brother might hoarsely mutter—from danger. In fact, it likely wasn’t the seventy-third time Hiro had saved her. After a certain amount of time, there had been no point in continuing to count.
She did happen to get into trouble often, didn’t she?
Still, Amanda couldn’t help but feel light on her toes as they strolled back to the Royal Hotel…or in her case, practically skipped.
“You’re in a good mood,” he remarked as they passed one of the memorials.
She’d been peering at the gardens, a smile on her face. “Edinburgh in the snow is magical, I do not care if you cannot see it. Even the memorial stones in St. Cuthbert’s Kirkyard were lovely.”
“Yes, right up until we were attacked.”
“You were attacked, Hiro. I was merely a bystander.”
He rolled his eyes but—peering up at him from under her bonnet rim—she saw the ghost of a smile on his lips.
“You were magnificent, by the way.” He was always magnificent.
But he dismissed her words, merely patting her gloved hand to reassure her. “That is why your brother sent me with you.”
“Is that the only reason why you stayed with me?” The question had blurted from between her lips before she could clamp down on it.
Stupid lips.
She’d sounded so pitiful, so desperate.
The longer it took Hiro to respond, the bigger the pit of dread in her stomach grew.
Finally, his chest expanded as he took a breath. “I stayed with you because you needed me. For protection. For support.”
And for a few other things.
Amanda swallowed, hating the desperation in her question she nonetheless had to ask. “And have you not enjoyed our time together, even a little bit?”
He glanced down at her, his dark eyes carefully free from expression. “I think you know that answer, Mandy.”
As she exhaled, part of her was grateful. But she also wondered exactly what he meant. He’d enjoyed their time in bed together; she knew it. As gentle a lover as he was, as much as he made certain she’d find pleasure in the act…he was careful to spill outside her body, but spill he did. Frequently.
He’d called her a temptress. A siren.
Now that she considered it, hurrying past the shops, she wasn’t certain those were compliments.
Amanda wanted him. She always wanted him, and suspected she always would.
But did Hiro want her the same way?
“So, when shall we leave for Effinghell? Christmas is only a fortnight away.” His voice held a note of false cheer, and Amanda thought it telling that she could recognize it as such.
“Definitely a good time to be with your family. And after that, the South of France—then I believe you mentioned wanting to be in Quebec by Carnaval?”
Amanda had mentioned she’d always wanted to experience their ice festival, but this year… “Actually,” she began slowly, picking her way through her thoughts, “I had a different idea for the Christmas season this year.”
It had been an old legend in a dusty book in the hotel library which had piqued her interest, and she had to admit herself intrigued. In the last three years she and Hiro had seen all sorts of local festivals and legends, but this one…
It would be foolish to be this close and not to investigate it, wouldn’t it?
“Oh?” Hiro hummed. “You need to see your family for Christmas day, but then we’ll go gallivanting off somewhere before Epiphany, I suppose. The South of France? Morocco? India again? Or shall we venture all the way to Hong Kong and hope to receive a better reception than last time?”
Scoffing, she nudged him with her hip. “That would have gone better if you had not insisted you could speak Cantonese.”
“I can speak Cantonese,” he replied stiffly, “just…not as well as you.”
Chuckling, Amanda shook her head as they turned toward the entrance of the Royal Hotel. “We have had some adventures, have we not, Hiro?”
Hopefully, the greatest was yet to come. If she could convince him to visit Northumberland.
Hiro merely hummed—in agreement, she hoped—as he slid his arm from hers. They approached the grand entrance, with the footmen jumping to hold the doors for her without releasing too much of the warmth inside the hotel, and Hiro settled two steps behind her, holding her purchase.
As a servant would.
Amanda hated this. She hated having to pretend to be someone she wasn’t—a lady. A duke’s sister. A duke’s pampered sister. As she stepped into the lobby, she had to fight to keep the sneer from her face. None of these women, and few of these men, had lived the adventures, the joy, she had.
They hadn’t tested their bodies and their resolve against the elements. They hadn’t climbed mountains or forged rivers or hiked deserts. And none of them had a companion half as wonderful and noble as Hiro.
She glanced over her shoulder at him—just as she heard her name called.
“Lady Amanda! Good heavens, Lady Amanda, is that you?”
Her eyes widened in surprise, and she whirled about to see an older couple hurrying toward her, their arms outstretched in welcome. Amanda pasted on a false smile and accepted their effusive cheer.
“Lady Amanda, I declare! Kermit Boobtitsky, at your service. You remember my wife, the Lady Tilly?”
Amanda bobbed a polite curtsey, having absolutely zero—perhaps one might say negative—idea who these people were. The fact that Lady Tilly pulled her into a hug told Amanda they knew who she was, though that wasn’t entirely helpful.
“Oh my goodness, you look so like your mother, my dear. We were in school together, I attended your sister Amelia’s wedding three years ago—no, was it four?” The kindly older woman flapped her hand dismissively. “A lovely wedding, and your mother tells me Amelia is expecting, how delightful!”
A truly impolite subject, although perhaps Amanda only felt that way because she hadn’t heard about her sister’s good fortune.
Perhaps if you wrote home more often, you would have heard.
Perhaps she should visit Effinghell for the holidays.
Still, she forced a smile. “Lady Tilly, of course, how lovely to see you again. And Lord Kermit.” Niceties observed, she began to turn away. “If you will excuse me—”
“Nonsense!” boomed Lord Kermit—and it was indeed a boom—as he laughed. “My Tilly insists you join us for tea, don’t you, my dear? See? Tea! Immediately.”
Amanda met Hiro’s eyes, and was surprised to see, instead of amusement, a strange sort of blankness. She tried to offer a pained smile, to let him know she really didn’t want to be with these people…but he looked away.
He looked away and then the ass bowed.
“Lady Amanda, I shall be certain your bags are deposited in your room. With your lady’s maid.” Which she didn’t have. Hiro knew that, but the pretense was necessary to preserve her reputation. He inclined his head again. “If you have need of me, please do not hesitate to ring.”
God, she hated when he turned back into the bodyguard.
Still, she watched him march stiffly toward the stairs, then pasted on a smile and turned back to her mother’s friends.
Prepared to pretend to be a dutiful obedient lady who absolutely had not eaten ram’s bollocks with her tea while in Siberia, or dived naked for oysters in the South Pacific. Pretend to be a lady who cared what Society thought of her.
At least for a little while.