“What is there to do?” Derek made his way over to the sideboard and splashed some brandy into another glass. Then he strode back over and took a seat behind his desk. He pushed the drink across the desktop to Adam.
Adam slid into the chair next to Lucy and hefted the snifter in his hand. “Precisely my point,” he replied, taking a sip. “Lucy asked me to go speak with the young lady just now, and it didn’t help.”
“Well, perhaps not yet,” Lucy said, bringing her teacup to her lips. “But something’s sure to trigger her recollection sooner or later. I suggest we talk to her, take her out of the house, anything to expose her to something that might spark a memory for her.”
Derek set his glass aside and folded his hands in front of him on the desktop. “That’s a good idea.”
Lucy smiled and nodded. “Thank you, darling. To that end, I propose we take her to the Findleys’ ball tomorrow night.”
Adam nearly spit his mouthful of brandy. “Take her to the Findleys’ ball? Have you gone mad?”
Lucy scrunched her nose at him in reply. “What’s so mad about it? Dr. Archibald told us to act normally. We’ve been planning to attend the ball.”
Adam took another long sip of his brandy. Apparently alcohol was in order if he was to have this conversation with his sister-in-law. “How in the devil can we bring her with us? The daft girl will be telling everyone that I’m someone named the Duke of Loveridge and she’s my betrothed.”
Derek grinned. “There is that consideration.”
Lucy got up and crossed over to the sideboard where she dropped another lump of sugar into her teacup. “Not if we manage her interactions properly.”
“How do you intend to do that?” Adam asked. “Keep her from speaking all evening?”
Lucy stirred her tea with a tiny silver spoon. “I’ll enlist Cass and Jane to meet us there. They’ll help. It won’t be so difficult. We’ll just spirit her away before the butler announces her. She may well see someone or something that reminds her of who she is.”
“Or it will further prove to her that she and I are betrothed and in Society together,” Adam replied.
“What will she wear?” Derek asked Lucy, steepling his fingers over his chest.
Adam glared at his brother. “You cannot actually be entertaining this notion.”
Derek shrugged. “I think it’s better than keeping her locked away in a bedchamber.”
Adam scrubbed a hand across his face. “She’s lost her memory. Until she recovers it, she belongs locked away in a bedchamber.”
Lucy proceeded as if Adam hadn’t said anything. “I’ll have my modiste come in the morning and alter one of my gowns for her use.”
Derek nodded. “Adam, you’ll need to pretend to be her betrothed, escort her there, et cetera. We’ll tell her that I’m your younger brother.”
“I repeat,” Adam said, leaning forward and pressing a finger to the desktop. “You cannot possibly be entertaining this insane notion.”
Lucy lifted her nose into the air. “I don’t see why you think it’s so insane, Adam. It’s our best chance of helping her remember who she is. Besides, she’s clearly a member of the ton. Her manners and speech are quite refined. Perhaps someone at the ball will recognize her and she’ll be reunited with her family before the night is through.”
Adam groaned. That was the argument that convinced him.
CHAPTER TEN
Adam woke the next morning and dressed in a blue coat, white shirt, and tan buckskin breeches, with black-top boots and a white cravat. Today was the day. He might have agreed to escort the mystery lady to the Findleys’ ball this evening, but he intended to have it out with Derek first. Adam stared into the looking glass as he tied his cravat. He groaned. What was happening to him? It was as if life had paused ever since Lady Magnolia—or whatever her name was—had come into it yesterday afternoon. He hadn’t even remembered to give Derek the piece of his mind he’d intended. Instead, the conversation he’d had with his brother yesterday had centered only on what to do with their mystery guest. It was madness. Very well. He’d been understandably distracted by the lady’s accident, but no more stalling. He would go directly downstairs this morning and inform Derek in no uncertain terms that he didn’t appreciate his older brother’s intervention in his assignment. The first order of business would be his living arrangements. Adam had been staying at Derek’s town house, but it was time for him to move out and get his own apartments, using his own money.