Seth frowned and wondered at the change. He had to practically beg her to attend the theatre the other evening and she attended the masquerade with reluctance, but now she was the one insisting on another outing. Was it really because she wanted to enjoy entertainments, or was she up to something?

  Though, in truth, he could not imagine what ulterior motives she might have for making him take her anywhere. It wasn’t as if anything particular happened last night to alter her perception. She’d not danced with anyone and only stood with Tessa and Lady Bethany.

  It could simply be that once Blythe had experienced being out again, surrounded by other people, she became aware of what she had been denying herself and wished to enjoy other activities. For that reason, he would happily accompany her while formulating plans on how to win Frances back, if it was even possible.

  When Frances had agreed to live with Bethany, she had not anticipated being asked to accompany her on outings every day. Today Bethany and Tessa had decided to attend Astley’s Amphitheatre because Tessa’s husband, the Duke of Ellings, had never been. Frances thought they would go on without her but Bethany insisted Frances join them.

  She had thought it rather odd that he had not attended previously until she recalled that he was an American, and being an heir is what had originally brought him to England not so long ago.

  At first, she thought to decline the invitation, but changed her mind because if she remained home and alone in her set of rooms, she’d likely only think about Seth, as she had all through the night.

  Frances had struggled with longing to be in his arms again and wondering if it was a mistake to have rejected his request to call on her, and then remembered the pain when he rejected her and left her behind. She could not trust him even if he was the cousin of her employer and he certainly did not deserve her friendship, let alone love.

  As she hadn’t been to Astley’s Amphitheatre in a few years and recalled enjoying it, Frances determined that it would be a good distraction to keep her mind off Seth, but as soon as they settled in their seats, Tessa stood and waved to someone.

  Frances looked to see whose attention her employer wanted and then nearly groaned when it turned out to be Seth and his sister.

  She should have remained at home.

  Why was he even here? This was not the type of entertainment that Lord Seth Claxton enjoyed, at least not according to gossip. Had his sister convinced him to join her? It was the only reasonable explanation. Didn’t he have a gaming establishment to run or a mistress to visit?

  He smiled and started in their direction as Tessa had her husband move further away so that there was space enough on the bench for two people between her and Tessa.

  If Seth and his sister must join them, why couldn’t they sit on the other side of His Grace?

  As they approached, Lady Blythe and Seth greeted them and Tessa reached out to take Lady Blythe’s hand.

  “I am so happy that you decided to join us.”

  Had she been warned that they’d have these additional guests, Frances would have found an excuse to remain home.

  “I had forgotten how much I enjoyed attending Astley’s Amphitheatre,” Lady Blythe said as she settled next to her cousin which left the only vacant seat beside her.

  How impolite would it be to simply leave? Certainly, she would be able to hail a hackney to take her home.

  “Lady Bethany, Miss Hawthorn, it's a pleasure to see you again,” Seth greeted as he took his seat beside Frances.

  She acknowledged him only with a nod and continued to face forward.

  “Oh, my brother has arrived,” Bethany said as she stood.

  If Shrewsbury joined them, they'd have to sit even closer and the last thing Frances wanted was to have her leg pressed against Seth's even if there were layers of clothing between them.

  “As we are crowded, I will go join him,” Bethany said and was gone before anyone could stop her. This did allow Frances to scoot away from Seth, but he moved closer to her again, which left more room for his sister, Tessa and His Grace. Despite having no one else to speak with, she did her best to ignore Seth even though she was very much aware of the heat radiating from his body and the all too familiar citrus cologne that wafted toward her.

  Certainly, there was enough room that he could sit closer to his sister and why did he make her so nervous? Frances had never been anxious around him before, not even that first day when he appeared in the cottage and she recognized him as the duke’s second son, so why now?

  He shouldn’t and she’d already lost one night of sleep because of him. Therefore, she would simply ignore him and if that was not possible, cool politeness was all she’d offer, then permanently put him from her mind once she returned home.

  Luckily, it was not long before she was delighted by the magicians, clapped for the jugglers, held her breath during the sword fights, laughed at the melodramas and closed her eyes during the tightrope walkers because she did not want to watch anyone suffer a horrific fall. They did not and Frances was quite glad when their performance came to an end.

  “It appears you have not gotten over your fear of heights,” Seth observed.

  For but a moment, when she’d been afraid for the tightrope walker, Frances had forgotten Seth was seated beside her and then he spoke.

  “It appears the only thing that has not been cured from my younger years,” she responded.

  “Are you inferring that you needed to be cured from me?” he asked quietly.

  “You may infer whatever you wish from my response,” Frances answered then turned her attention to the horses and their riders entering the arena.

  The equestrian acts managed to keep her mesmerized, which allowed her to easily ignore the gentleman seated beside her. Frances was also envious of their talents. She could ride a horse, of course, but had had none of the talent she witnessed by the riders performing.

  “I recall that I often saw your younger sister, Miss Hope, galloping across the fields. In fact, I am not certain I ever saw her not on a horse, other than in church of course,” Seth commented. “Has she had the opportunity to come to Astley’s Amphitheatre?”

  “Yes,” Frances answered without taking her eyes off the performance. “She enjoyed it very much during her first Season and the following summer she attempted many of the same tricks. Uncle Edmund had tried to put a stop to her activities because he was certain Hope would fall and break her neck. In time she ceased doing tricks with the horse and began racing. Next year she plans on entering flat races for women.”

  “And he approves?” Seth asked.

  “He does not, but Hope is four and twenty and has a mind of her own. She behaved the perfect debutante and miss to wed and please him. As that has not happened, she now wishes to pursue what she enjoys.”

  “I recall you also being independent.”

  “I was given little choice.” Once her parents were gone and her uncle left her siblings and cousin to be raised by servants and a governess, they each found their own interests and comforts and learned to rely on themselves and each other, but not the adults in the household.

  “May I call on you?” Seth asked in an abrupt change in conversation.

  Frances stiffened and looked at him. She’d foolishly been lulled into a pleasant conversation, even though she had been determined to ignore him. “For what purpose?”

  “I have missed you.”

  Chapter Seven

  Her eyes hardened for the briefest moment then they were simply emotionless. Cold.

  “I miss the person I thought I once knew.” Frances stood. “You are not him so therefore, there is no reason for you to call.”

  “It is still me,” he whispered.

  “No, you are not,” Frances argued. “You had me believing you were one person and even though you tried to warn me, I did not learn the truth until I came to London.”

  That blasted reputation, that he did not bother to correct, had damned him in her eyes and polite Society. “I was young and foolish.”

  “Perhaps in the beginning but when you walked away from what we shared, you were five and twenty, mature enough to know who you were or wanted to be and you chose to be a rogue.”

  “I most certainly did not,” Seth argued.

  “Then perhaps you should have altered your behavior.”

  She was correct, but back then he had no desire to do so because it kept the matchmaking mamas and misses seeking a husband away from him until he was no longer forced to endure Society.

  “Let me call on you so that we can discuss this matter in private.”

  Frances glanced around, which made Seth do as well. They were surrounded by people but none of them were paying them any mind. Then again, they could be pretending to watch the horses and riders while listening to every word they shared.

  “It is not necessary, Lord Seth,” she whispered. “You made a choice five years ago. If you miss me…well, you have no one to blame but yourself.”

  “I know.”

  Frances tilted her head and studied him. “Tell me Lord Seth, do you enjoy breaking hearts?”

  “No, of course not and that was never my intention.”

  “Your actions speak otherwise.”

  The audience erupted in applause as the entertainers took their bows.

  “Good day, Lord Seth.” Frances then stood and marched away. He attempted to go after her but a crowd came between them.

  Blythe grasped his elbow. “Was that not enjoyable?”

  He'd not seen his sister this happy since the day she married.

  “Yes, it was.”

  “Did you enjoy your conversation with Miss Hawthorn?”

  “We spoke little.”

  “I cannot recall. Were the two of you acquainted when we all lived in Laswell?”

  “We were, but she is also two years younger than me.” He still marveled that nobody ever learned of their decade long friendship, and grateful that nobody had or they would have been intrusive, much like gossiping matrons in a ballroom.

  Blythe studied him for a moment. “For some reason I was under the impression that you had at one time been close.”

  It is not possible that Blythe knew of the past he shared with Frances. “Why would you think so?” he asked slowly.

  “Because she does not seem to like you.” Blythe laughed.

  “Spoken from the heart of a sister.” He chuckled.

  After Seth escorted his sister home, he went on to The Emerald Garter to oversee the establishment, except his mind wasn’t on the books in his back office, or the players. It was on Frances. He was more determined than ever to renew their acquaintance and the return of their friendship, if it was at all possible.

  Her eyes burned from lack of sleep. Not just last night, but the two nights before and all because of Seth. Frances had not seen him for five years and then encountered him three days in a row.

  She also needed to put him from her mind and eradicate him from the one small place where he still lingered in her heart or she might never sleep again.

  Stifling a yawn, Frances entered the dining room seeking a strong cup of tea. “I thought you would never wake up,” Bethany complained from the end of the table where she sipped tea.

  “I did not get to sleep until the early morning hours.” She had a recollection of the sun rising before sleep finally claimed her. But even that had been fitful and when she woke again, she had simply lain in bed wondering what to do and what she would say if she happened to see Seth again. “What time is it?”

  “Noon.”

  Her eyes widened. “Noon?”

  “Yes, noon.”

  This needed to stop. She could not continue to lose sleep. It did not matter if he wanted to call on her or not because she would not allow it. Frances knew that she could not trust him, but was more afraid that she could not trust herself.

  “I will ask Cook to prepare something for you to eat, but we need to hurry,” Bethany said, pulling Frances from her thoughts.

  “Why?”

  “We have an astronomy lecture to attend.”

  Frances blinked at her. “Astronomy? You wish to attend an astronomy lecture this afternoon?”

  “Yes,” Bethany answered brightly.

  “Why? Is that not the reason for hosting salons? Those are discussions that can be held here.”

  “Yes, but this lecture is on the discoveries made by Caroline Herschel.”

  “Who is she?” Frances enjoyed reading but was not as knowledgeable in the sciences as Bethany, or the arts like Tessa.

  “Caroline Herschel was the first woman to discover a comet and detected three nebulae. She was the world’s first professional female astronomer and has presented to the Royal Society.”

  “Is she giving the lecture?” Frances asked. While astronomy was not an interest of hers, Caroline Herschel certainly sounded fascinating.

  “Someone else is giving the lecture,” Bethany answered.

  “I have little interest in attending.” In fact, Frances would be happy to just enjoy an afternoon at home. “You and Tessa can go without me.”

  “You must go,” Bethany insisted. “People who attend lectures about a female astronomer are the very people who would be interested in attending our salons.”

  “Several people already attend,” she reminded Bethany. Sometimes the ground floor of the house was nearly overflowing.

  “Mostly women. We need more gentlemen, especially ones who are willing to gamble.”

  Without money being lost at the tables, the salon could not remain open.

  “What if there are only women at this lecture?” Frances asked.

  “Tessa and I have attended similar lectures previously and they are mostly attended by men.” Bethany grinned. “Now that Tessa has married and convinced her husband to join us, we will attract attention.”

  “I still do not think it is necessary that I go as well.”

  “It is,” Bethany said. “Consider it as part of your duties.”

  “I was hired to manage the gambling room.”

  “Which we will no longer need if we do not have gamblers.”

  They did have gamblers, but there could be more. They had yet to have all tables filled on any night. “Very well, but I am not promising to enjoy it.”

  “You do not need to, just simply be available for discussion and to talk about Athena’s Salon whenever given the chance.”

  “Very well, but only if you promise that I can spend the afternoon tomorrow in my set of rooms. I have barely been given time to become accustomed to them.”

  Bethany blinked. “Why remain at home when there is so much to see and do?”

  “Some of us require more rest.”

  “We will see what tomorrow brings.” She grinned again. “Now, go change and by the time you are ready, Cook will have prepared something for you.”

  Frances glanced down at her simple day dress, perfectly appropriate if one was not leaving home or receiving callers, not for attending a lecture. With a sigh, Frances returned to her chamber. At least she knew that an astronomy lecture was one place she could count on Seth not being.

  Chapter Eight

  “If Tessa invited you to the lecture, why can you not go with her?” Seth asked as their carriage pulled up before the lecture hall. He hoped to escort Blythe inside, locate Tessa and hand his sister off and depart.

  “I am afraid that I will want to leave, especially a lecture, and would not want to inconvenience our cousin, especially since her husband will be with her.”

  Seth would rather spend the afternoon doing anything but attending a lecture on astronomy.

  “Once I am more comfortable being out in Society again, I will no longer ask you to accompany me,” Blythe promised.

  “I do not mind. I just wish we were doing something far more enjoyable.”

  “You never know. You might just like the lecture.”

  He snorted as he stepped from the carriage, but quickly amended his opinion when he saw Frances standing with his cousin, His Grace and Lady Bethany.

  After assisting Blythe from the carriage, he offered his arm and led her to Tessa, though his eyes were on Frances.

  “Since when did you develop an interest in astronomy?” he asked his cousin.

  “My interest is in the audience.” She grinned then walked toward the entrance followed by Frances and Lady Bethany. He and Blythe followed.

  “What did she mean by the audience?” he quietly asked Blythe.

  She paused and looked up at him with a small smile. “I realize that you have only just rejoined Society, but certainly you know what our cousin has been up to.”

  “I have no idea, other than she married the Duke of Ellings a few months back.”

  Blythe laughed. “I will let her be the one to explain.” His sister then let go of his arm and quickly caught up with the others, leaving Seth to stroll behind and wonder what she had meant. By the time he joined them, they were already seated. Unlike yesterday, there was not an empty seat beside Frances as she was seated between Blythe and Lady Bethany.

  He paused and was about to sit when Blythe stood. “Please change places. The man in front of me is quite tall and I cannot see over his head.” She then settled in a seat behind someone shorter, leaving the space beside Frances free, which he quickly claimed.

  “It is a pleasure to see you again, Miss Hawthorn.”

  “Lord Seth,” she nodded.

  For the shortest time yesterday she had been friendlier, but quickly recovered. He could only hope that in time she’d be less cold to him.

  “Is astronomy an interest of yours?”

  “No,” she answered.

  “Then why are you here?” Not that he minded.

  “Likely the same reason as you. Lady Bethany asked me to join her and I am certain your sister begged you to bring her.”

  He frowned. “Yes, she did.”

  Frances huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.

  “What is wrong?” he asked quietly.

  She glanced in one direction and then the other before she stood and turned to Lady Bethany. “I find that I am developing a headache. Thank you for inviting me, but I am returning home.” Frances then marched away, leaving those who had come with her staring at her departure.