A Lady’s Trust

by Callie Hutton

  * * *

  Amelia held her hands up in the air as her wedding dress slithered down her body, the white satin fabric sliding against her skin like a brush of the gossamer wings of a butterfly.

  “Oh, this is a beautiful gown, my lady.” Amelia’s newly hired lady’s maid whispered with reverence as she adjusted the shoulders of the dress and moved behind her to fasten it closed.

  Amelia had to agree. She glanced at herself in the mirror over her dressing table and smiled. Diana was certainly a force to be reckoned with. They had arrived at Madame Moreau’s shop two days before and walked out with a promise for the beautiful gown she now wore. Diana had finagled, charmed and flat-out bribed the modiste to give them a gown she had finished for another woman whose wedding was still a month off.

  “Surely you and your seamstresses are talented enough to make another one in plenty of time for—who did you say the gown was for?”

  “Miss Frances Richards. A lovely young lady,” Madame Moreau said.

  Diana, having patronized the woman’s shop for years had the upper hand in the negotiations. She also mentioned that the new Lady Amelia Rose would be in dire need of an entirely new wardrobe and, of course, they would consider no one else except the talented Madame Moreau to supply it.

  With less reluctance than when they started, Madame Moreau had Amelia try the gown on, and declared with minor adjustments it would be ready in time for her wedding.

  “Come and sit here, Miss and I will fix your hair.” Emily pulled out the chair in front of the dressing table. Amelia sat and studied her face. In a few hours she would be Lady Amelia Rose. As the daughter of a marquess she would keep her honorific.

  Her life would be everything she had thought it would be as a young girl growing up, but very different from what she had expected only a couple of months ago.

  Driscoll.

  She loved her soon to be husband with all her heart. She’d been holding back from him because of her secrets and the fear of what Driscoll would do if she confessed all. She should have known that her soon-to-be husband was not the sort of man who would see her used in such an indecent manner by her stepbrother, regardless of Randolph’s status as her guardian. Because of her lack of trust in Driscoll, she almost ended up exactly where she had fled from.

  “Oh, my goodness, you look beautiful!” Diana swept into the room, dressed in a lovely rose satin gown. She extended her hand to Amelia and helped her rise. “You have a very nervous groom downstairs, checking his timepiece every two minutes.”

  “Am I late?” Amelia asked.

  “No. He’s just anxious to make you his wife.” Diana placed her hands on Amelia’s shoulders. “I am so happy we will be sisters. I’ve always wanted one. You are marrying a fine man. I’ve known Driscoll most of my life. He will make you a wonderful husband.”

  Amelia smiled. “I am certain he will.”

  “Ah, you love him,” Diana whispered.

  “Yes. I do.”

  Diana eased her arm into Amelia’s and moved her forward. “Then let’s go save that poor man downstairs from any further angst.”

  The ceremony itself was almost a blur to Amelia. The line she remembered best was Driscoll’s strong words as he held her hands and stared into her eyes.

  With this ring I thee wed; with my body I thee worship; and with all my worldly goods, I thee endow. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

  Once they were announced as husband and wife, Driscoll leaned close to her ear and whispered, “I love you, Lady Amelia Rose.” He then followed with a kiss that had the vicar clearing his throat and the few guests present chuckling.

  The wedding breakfast followed, with the three Rose brothers, Diana, and staff members from The Rose Room, drinking champagne and wishing them well. Betsy and Margie were especially giddy at the romance that grew right under their noses.

  Amelia looked around at the gathering and then turned to her new husband. She thought of how happy her mother and stepfather would be if they here today to share her joy.

  “Is everything all right? You looked sad for a minute.” Driscoll clasped her hands and eyed her with concern.

  She offered him a bright smile, one filled with the happiness he brought her. “Yes, my love. Everything is fine. Just fine.”

  Epilogue

  “I don’t understand why you won’t let me help you. You’re being foolish.” Amelia sat on the settee in their drawing room, her back stiff, her arms crossed over her middle, glaring at her husband.

  Driscoll ran his fingers through his hair. As much as he loved his wife and was immensely happy with his married state, he feared he would be bald before long, with the way he kept tugging at his hair. No one had ever explained to him how frustrating females could be at times. If not for his occasional visits with Hunt who assured him Amelia, much like his own wife, Diana, was quite normal for a woman, he would view his wife as if she were possessed.

  He sat alongside her and took her hands. “Sweetheart, let me repeat myself. Again. You cannot deal cards at the club. You are my wife. It is not proper for you to be out and about in your condition. You are seven months pregnant and can’t be on your feet for any length of time.”

  “I don’t care about propriety.”

  He shook his head no.

  “I can sit on a chair.”

  He shook his head.

  “I can take breaks.”

  He shook his head.

  “I will only work half a shift.”

  He shook his head.

  Amelia sighed. “You know, husband of mine, one day your head is going to fly off your shoulders with all the shaking it does.”

  He smiled.

  “You’re laughing at me!” Suddenly she broke into tears. Driscoll stood and ran his fingers through his hair. Hunt also told him a pregnant wife was an even more difficult woman to live with.

  “Please, honey, don’t cry.” He sat down again and looked at her very unhappy, red eyes and sighed. He was not going to give in, but perhaps a compromise would work.

  “What if I bring you to the club and you work on the books with me?”

  She took the handkerchief he handed her and wiped her cheeks. “Really?”

  He breathed a sigh of relief when she didn’t pick up the book alongside her and hit him on the head with it. “Yes, really.”

  Her smile broke out like the welcoming sun on a cloudy day. “I would like that. I get so lonely sitting here by myself every night.”

  He slapped his thighs and stood. “Then it is settled. I will be leaving in a few minutes, so go do whatever it is you need to do before we leave.”

  With a bit of a struggle, she rose from the chair and waddled off. Despite his reluctance to have her anywhere except at home safe and sound, it would be nice to have her company, and working side by side as they did before.

  * * *

  It had been months since Amelia had been in the club. When they were first married, she continued dealing until they found a replacement, which took some time since they were also forced to replace John. For a while after that she worked with Driscoll on the books until her pregnancy was confirmed. Then the man she married, who had been so easy to live with and complacent about most things, turned into a stranger who watched her every move, and handled her as if she were made of the finest crystal.

  Their very active and satisfying bed sport would have come to an end with his concern about hurting the babe had she not finally purchased some scandalous undergarments and in desperation, seduced him. She still grinned at that evening. One of her best memories.

  It felt good to be back where it all started for them. She’d been shocked to receive a letter from Randolph, apologizing for his behavior and asking for her forgiveness. He’d used the money Driscoll had given him to start a small business. She nearly lost her breath laughing when he said he had opened a haberdashery in New York City, and was doing quite well. Life was certainly full of surprises.

&nbs
p; She and Driscoll had been working on the ledgers for over an hour when Dante entered the office. “I will be gone for a while.”

  “Home Office?” Driscoll asked.

  “Yes.”

  “How long?”

  “Not sure.”

  “When?”

  “Now.”

  “We’ll handle everything.”

  With that snappy terse and very confusing conversation, Dante offered them both a salute and left the room.

  “Whatever was that about?” She asked.

  Driscoll smiled. “Dante has an assignment for the Home Office that may take some time. He will be gone while he’s working on it, and I have to cover the club. However, I do have Keniel to help. He’s turned into quite a good manager.”

  “You understood that narrative from the pithy conversation I just witnessed?”

  “Yes.” He actually looked confused. “Didn’t you?”

  “Noooo.” She dragged the word out. And men thought women were strange creatures.

  Driscoll closed the ledger he’d been working on with a definite thud. “Let me speak with Keniel and make sure all is well for tonight.” He walked across the office and rested his hip on the edge of her desk, facing her. He leaned over and cupped her chin in his warm hands. “Be ready when I return.” He touched her lips lightly, with his, brushing back and forth, just enough to tease, but not satisfy. “I have the need to spend some—shall we say quiet—time with my wife. In our bedroom.” With a wink he slid off the desk and she sat there fanning herself as he left the room.

  Did you like this story? Please consider leaving a review on either Goodreads or the place where you bought it. Long or short, your review will help other readers discover new authors and make purchasing decisions!

  I hope you had fun reading Amelia and Driscoll’s love story. A Lady’s Trust is the second book in the Rose Room Rogues series.

  If you missed the first book in the series, Hunt’s story, get a copy of A Scandalous Portrait and catch up on his romance.

  He took one look at the painting and all the air in the room disappeared. . .

  The Earl of Huntington (Hunt) is a silent partner in a successful gambling hell run by his two brothers. A well-respected member of the ton, he moves about in Society as an unknown agent for the Crown on its most sensitive matters.

  Lady Diana is a long-time friend of Hunt's with the ability to embroil herself in difficult matters that require his assistance. Once again, she needs his help, but this situation could be a major scandal if discovered.

  Against his better judgment, Hunt agrees to her scheme, but this time the circumstances cause him to see the woman he’d always considered just a friend in a different way. The passion and desire that sparks between them must be squelched since she would never do as his Countess… Scandal follows her every move.

  Want to read the rest of the story? Visit my website:

  http://calliehutton.com/book/a-scandalous-portrait/

  Look for An Inconvenient Arrangement, book 3 in the Rose Room Rogue series.

  Dante Rose, along with his two brothers, splits his time between their very lucrative gaming hell and working undercover for the British Government on sensitive matters. He is also quite the rake, and as his father’s by-blow, has no title, and therefore no need to ever marry and produce an heir. He loves the ladies and his life exactly the way it is.

  Lady Lydia Smythe, daughter of Viscount Sterling has an unusual talent. She can read, write and speak seven languages. She is occasionally called upon by the Home Office to help in a case that requires her knowledge. As a bright, independent woman, she has no need of a man since she supports herself quite comfortably with her assignments from the Home Office, a job she dearly loves.

  When Dante and Lydia are summoned to the Home Office and given an assignment that requires them to work together, sparks fly. Some of them good, some of them not so good. She abhors rakes, gambling, and just about everything Dante stands for. Dante balks at having to bring a woman into his investigation. But when the investigation turns dangerous, will he acknowledge his growing feelings for Lydia and protect her?

  Visit my website for more information:

  http://calliehutton.com/book/an-inconvenient-arrangement/

  * * *

  You can find a list of all my books on my website: http://calliehutton.com/books/

  About the Author

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  USA Today bestselling author, Callie Hutton, has penned more than 45 historical romance and cozy mystery books. She lives in Oklahoma with her very close and lively family, which includes her twin grandsons, affectionately known as “The Twinadoes.”

  Callie loves to hear from readers. Contact her directly at calliehutton11@gmail.com or find her online at www.calliehutton.com.

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  Praise for books by Callie Hutton

  A Study in Murder

  "This book is a delight!...A Study in Murder has clear echoes of Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and of course, Sherlock Holmes. You will love this book." —William Bernhardt, author of The Last Chance Lawyer

  “A one-of-a-kind new series that's packed with surprises.” —Mary Ellen Hughes, National bestselling author of A Curio Killing.

  "[A] lively and entertaining mystery...I predict a long run for this smart series." —Victoria Abbott, award-winning author of The Book Collector Mysteries

  "With a breezy style and alluring, low-keyed humor, Hutton crafts a charming mystery with a delightful, irrepressible sleuth." —Madeline Hunter, New York Times bestselling author of Never Deny a Duke

  The Elusive Wife

  “I loved this book and you will too. Jason is a hottie & Oliva is the kind of woman we'd all want as a friend. Read it!” —Cocktails and Books

  “In my experience I’ve had a few hits but more misses with historical romance so I was really pleasantly surprised to be hooked from the start by obviously good writing.” —Book Chick City

  “The historic elements and sensory details of each scene make the story come to life, and certainly helps immerse the reader in the world that Olivia and Jason share.” —The Romance Reviews

  "You will not want to miss The Elusive Wife.” —My Book Addiction

  "…it was a well written plot and the characters were likeable." —Night Owl Reviews

  A Run for Love

  “An exciting, heart-warming Western love story!" —New York Times bestselling author Georgina Gentry

  “I loved this book!!! I read the BEST historical romance last night...It's called A Run For Love.” —New York Times bestselling author Sharon Sala

  “This is my first Callie Hutton story, but it certainly won't be my last.” —The Romance Reviews

  An Angel in the Mail

  “…a warm fuzzy sensuous read. I didn’t put it down until I was done.” —Sizzling Hot Reviews

  Visit www.calliehutton.com for more information.

  Copyright © 2021 by Callie Hutton

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  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.