by Laura Beers
Edmund clenched his jaw at that news. “Rawlings.”
“That is correct,” his steward replied as he pointed to Rawlings’s parcel of land on the map. “I have attempted to negotiate with him on multiple occasions, but he refuses to even meet with me.”
“That is disconcerting to hear,” Edmund muttered. “I want you to make him an offer he won’t be able to refuse.”
“I am not sure any amount will entice him to sell.”
Edmund pursed his lips together. “I don’t care what you have to do,” he declared. “I want that land.”
“Would you be willing to allow Mr. Rawlings to remain in the manor and farm the land?”
“No,” he growled. “I want him gone.”
His steward nodded. “Understood, Your Grace. I will see what I can do.”
“Do not fail me on this,” Edmund ordered.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Mr. Ridout said as he straightened from the desk. “I still have many negotiation tactics at my disposal.”
“I am glad to hear that.”
As Mr. Ridout started rolling up the map, Morton stepped into the room and announced, “Miss Blackmore is waiting for you in the entry hall.”
“Thank you,” he replied, rising. “Please inform her that I will be there shortly.”
His steward stepped back from the desk. “Will there be anything else, Your Grace?” he asked.
Edmund grew solemn. “Report back to me the moment Rawlings agrees to sell.”
Mr. Ridout tipped his head. “As you wish.”
Coming around his desk, he said, “I trust that you can see your way out.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Edmund departed from his study and hurried to the entry hall. The moment he stepped into the room, Amelia turned to face him and smiled, transforming her lovely face. She was dressed in her grey riding habit, and her hair was neatly coifed.
“Your Grace,” she greeted with a slight curtsy. “I am so pleased that you will be joining me on my morning ride.”
“I hope that is amenable to you,” he said, coming to a stop in front of her.
“It is,” she replied, her smile turning smug. “It will give me the pleasure of beating you in a race.”
His lips twitched. “I hardly doubt that to be the case.”
“We shall see.”
Edmund extended his arm to Amelia and he escorted her out the main door. “Will you allow me to assist you onto your horse?”
“That would be most thoughtful of you,” she replied as they stopped in front of a chestnut mare.
He intertwined his fingers and bent over. Amelia placed her booted foot into his hands and rested her hands on his shoulders. He gently lifted her up until she was situated on her side saddle.
“Thank you,” she murmured as she adjusted the skirt of her riding habit.
A short time later, they were racing through the fields, and Edmund was pleased that his horse was in the lead. He glanced over his shoulder and saw a look of deep concentration on Amelia’s face as she urged her horse to go faster.
As they crested a hill, he reined in and waited for Amelia to do the same. “I think we should give our horses a rest.”
“I think that is wise,” Amelia said as her horse came to a stop next to him. “Perhaps a break will be good for this horse.”
“Why do you say that?”
Amelia gave the chestnut mare a chiding look. “I can’t seem to coax any more speed out of her. It is as if she is content being second best.”
“That horse is rather docile compared to some of my other horses.”
“I will have to request one of your other horses for my ride tomorrow, then,” Amelia said as he watched her effortlessly dismount.
Edmund dismounted and remarked, “I have no doubt that you would handle any horse spectacularly.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I love nothing more than leaning low in the saddle and feeling the wind on my face. I have even been known to jump a hedge or two.”
He chuckled. “I find that does not surprise me in the least.”
Amelia came to stand next to him, her eyes roaming the valley below. “It is beautiful here.”
“It is,” he agreed. “I ride to this spot nearly every morning and take a moment to admire my lands.”
A comfortable silence descended over them as they each retreated to their own thoughts. Finally, he spoke, hoping she found his words genuine. “I can’t thank you enough for what you did for me and Sybil.”
She smiled over at him. “You don’t need to keep thanking me.”
“But I find that I must.”
“I have no doubt that you would have eventually discovered the truth on your own.”
He huffed. “You give me too much credit.”
“Perhaps you don’t give yourself enough.”
Edmund shifted his gaze away from hers. “I don’t deserve your praise.”
“And why is that?”
“Because I have wasted five long years with Sybil because of my hardened heart,” he expressed. “I let my anger consume me, leaving me a shell of the man that I once was.”
Amelia turned to face him. “What’s done is done,” she said, “but you have a chance to start over with Lady Sybil. To be a real father to her.”
“I don’t think I can be the father that Sybil needs.”
“Why do you say that?”
Edmund felt tears forming in his eyes as he admitted, “When Alice needed me the most, I wasn’t there for her.”
“When was this?”
Closing his eyes, he admitted, “On her deathbed.”
“May I ask what happened?” Amelia asked, compassion evident in her voice.
Edmund let out a shaking breath. “I was with Alice when Sybil was born, but I stormed out when I saw that she had blonde hair and blue eyes. I thought it was further proof that Sybil wasn’t truly my daughter.” He sighed. “The servants all believe that I was furious that my wife hadn’t delivered a boy. But that wasn’t the case.”
He lowered his head in shame as he continued. “I went to my study and started drinking. It wasn’t long before I was passed out on the sofa.”
“There is no shame in that,” Amelia attempted.
“You don’t understand,” he said, bringing his gaze up to meet hers. “When I finally awoke from my drunken sleep, I discovered that Alice was dead. She had died a few hours after giving birth from a fever. Had I known…” His voice stopped.
“That wasn’t your fault.”
Edmund shook his head. “Alice cried out for me multiple times on her deathbed, but the servants couldn’t rouse me. I was too drunk,” he shared. “She needed my help, but I failed her. Don’t you see, I failed her when she needed me the most.”
Amelia stepped closer to him and put a hand on his sleeve. “You couldn’t have known that she would succumb to a fever.”
“I should have been with her, rejoicing in the birth of our daughter,” he choked out. “Instead, I had plans to divorce her.”
“Yes, you should have been with her,” Amelia quietly agreed, “but nothing you do now will change that fact.”
“Alice wanted to speak to me about Sybil. She wanted me to love our child,” he shared, his voice growing tight. “Right before she died, she made her lady’s maid vow to her that she would pass the message along to me.”
A tear slipped out of his eye, but he made no move to wipe it away. “Even though I was adamant that Sybil was not mine, that is the reason why I always took an active role in hiring nurses for her or ensuring she had the finest dresses and toys. It was the only way I could appease my conscience.”
Amelia didn’t speak for what felt like hours but was probably only minutes. Finally, she said, “What happened was tragic, but it is time that you forgive yourself.”
Edmund scoffed. “How can I?” he asked. “Especially since I know now that Alice had been carrying my own child. I treated her so horribly...” He stopped as his words
turned into a sob.
In the next instant, he found himself wrapped up in Amelia’s arms. He brought his arms around her waist and pulled her in tight, finding comfort in her embrace.
After a moment, he leaned back slightly to look into her eyes. “How are you not disgusted by me? By my actions?”
“You are a good man, Edmund,” she said. “You just made a mistake.”
“A terrible mistake.”
Amelia gave him a timid smile. “I won’t argue with that, but it is time to come to terms with your past. That is the only way you can move forward.”
“I don’t think I can.”
“I do,” she replied. “I think you can do anything if you set your mind to it.”
Edmund’s eyes roamed her face as he remarked, “You have entirely too much confidence in me.”
“Perhaps, but that is my choice,” she said. “Besides, I have seen the way you interact with Sybil. I have no doubt that you will be a wonderful father. And that is what Alice wanted more than anything.”
His eyes met her gaze. “Do you mean that?”
Amelia’s lips quirked, drawing his attention towards her perfectly formed lips. “I don’t know why you sound so surprised.”
Unable to resist, he lowered his mouth to hers. He felt her shock, felt her hesitation when he kissed her. He heard the quick intake of her breath, and then he felt her relax into his arms.
Summoning every ounce of will he possessed, he ended the kiss and stepped back from her, dropping his arms. Amelia stared back at him with wide eyes.
“I know I should apologize,” he stated softly, “but I don’t regret kissing you.”
Edmund was pleased to see a rosy blush tint the tops of her cheeks as she shifted her gaze away from his. Maybe, just maybe, Amelia held him in some type of regard.
“It might be best if we head back now,” she suggested.
“I would agree.”
As he moved to help Amelia onto her horse, Edmund hoped that this would not be their only kiss. She had fit so perfectly in his arms, and her touch seemed to thaw his hardened heart. A heart that he thought was impenetrable until now.
13
“He kissed you?!”
Amelia put a finger up to her lips and shushed her lady’s maid. “Someone might hear you,” she admonished.
Leah lifted her brows as she sat next to her on the bed. “No one is going to hear us in the privacy of your bedchamber.”
“That may be true,” Amelia replied, lowering her finger, “but I can’t take any chances.”
“Why did you let him kiss you?”
She shrugged. “It just sort of happened.”
“His lips happened to meet yours?” Leah asked with a knowing look.
Amelia gave her lady’s maid an exasperated look. “No, but it all happened so quickly,” she admitted.
“Did you kiss him back?”
Amelia nodded. “I did.”
“That’s good, isn’t it?”
“No, that is awful,” Amelia replied. “I am supposed to be finding the duke a match, not encouraging him for myself.”
“Are you encouraging him?”
“I don’t know.” Amelia paused. “Mr. Rawlings warned me to be wary of the duke, but I find myself doing the opposite.”
“Maybe that isn’t a bad thing?” Leah questioned. “For all we know, Mr. Rawlings may be the duke’s nemesis.”
“I don’t believe that to be the case. He seemed trustworthy on the two occasions I have spoken to him.”
“But the duke doesn’t?”
Amelia shook her head. “I find him to be trustworthy, as well.”
“Then you are in a dilemma, because you can’t find them both to be trustworthy,” Leah remarked.
Amelia bit her lower lip. “I must admit that I am beginning to see His Grace in a whole new light,” she said. “He has a vulnerable side that I find quite appealing.”
“Are we speaking about the same duke?” Leah joked.
Amelia laughed. “When we are not at odds with one another, I find him to be quite pleasant.”
“I am glad to hear that.”
“What am I going to do?” Amelia asked, her shoulders slumping. “I have never been in the uncomfortable position of developing feelings for one of our clients before. My sisters would be furious if they ever found out.”
“Sometimes these things cannot be helped.”
Amelia let out a deep sigh. “I can’t in good conscience pick myself as a suitable bride for His Grace.”
“Whyever not?”
“Because we are being paid by the duchess to find him a bride, not match him with myself,” Amelia asserted.
“That is ludicrous,” Leah claimed. “After all, the duke is showing you favor.”
“That may be true, or he could have been caught up in the moment,” Amelia attempted. “Perhaps he even regrets kissing me now.”
“Do you truly believe that?”
“I don’t,” Amelia said, shaking her head.
“Good, because I don’t either,” Leah replied. “You are just scared to admit that you care greatly for His Grace.”
“Maybe you are right.”
“There is no ‘maybe’ about it,” Leah contended. “That is why you have been hiding away in your chamber since your morning ride.”
“I did read to the duchess for a few hours.”
Leah smiled. “My apologies.”
“It might be time for us to return to Town,” Amelia suggested. “I have completed what I was sent out here to do.”
Her lady’s maid’s smile dimmed. “You want to leave?”
It was her turn to give Leah a knowing look. “Is this because of Bartlett?”
“It is.”
“If I leave, will you be coming with me?” Amelia found herself asking hesitantly.
A sad smile came to Leah’s lips. “Of course,” she replied. “It isn’t as if Bartlett has given me a reason to stay.”
“Do you want him to give you a reason?”
Leah bobbed her head. “I do, very much.”
Amelia found herself stunned by her lady’s maid’s declaration. It was a long moment before she responded. “I hadn’t realized things had progressed so quickly between you two.”
Leah smiled. “I find Bartlett to be quite charming.”
“Are you so unhappy being under my employ?”
“You must know this has nothing to do with that,” Leah replied, reaching for her hand. “You should know that I consider you a dear friend.”
“I feel the same way.”
“But I think I am in love with Bartlett,” Leah whispered.
“You are?”
Leah bobbed her head. “Whenever I see him, I get so happy I can barely contain my smile.”
“That does sound promising,” Amelia agreed.
A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Leah rose from the bed and moved to answer it. As she opened it, she dropped down into a curtsy and murmured respectfully, “Your Grace.”
Amelia walked over to the door and saw Edmund standing in the hall, holding Sybil’s hand.
“Would you care to join us on a walk around the secret garden?” Edmund asked, looking unsettled.
Amelia tipped her head. “I would.”
A relieved smile came to Edmund’s lips. “Wonderful.”
“Should we invite your mother to come along?”
“I already did,” Edmund revealed. “She is going to rest before supper, but she encouraged us to invite you.”
As Amelia stepped into the hall, Sybil reached for her hand. “Papa is going to show me a secret garden.”
“Is he?” she asked.
Sybil bobbed her head. “It is so secret that it is behind a gate.”
“Did your father tell you that I have been to the secret garden before?”
“No, he didn’t,” Sybil said, her eyes wide. “What is it like?”
“It is enchanting,” Amelia answered.
&
nbsp; “Are there unicorns in there?”
Amelia fought to keep a straight face. “No, I can attest that there are no unicorns in there,” she responded.
Sybil pouted. “That is a shame. Miss Long recently read me a book about unicorns.”
They descended the stairs and Morton opened the main door for them. As they stepped outside, Edmund started leading them towards the secret garden.
“Has the rest of your morning been pleasant?” Edmund asked, glancing over at her.
Amelia nodded. “Yes,” she replied. “I spent a few hours reading to your mother.”
“That was nice of you.”
“Well, that is my job,” Amelia joked.
Edmund cleared his throat. “Yes, of course it is.”
Sybil looked up at her and asked, “Do you think you could read to me before bedtime tonight?”
“I would be happy to,” Amelia replied.
The little girl smiled approvingly. “Perhaps you could find another book about unicorns in the library.”
Amelia glanced over at Edmund, who gave her a quick shake of his head. “I doubt we will find another book on unicorns, but I think I might be able to find something else that you will enjoy,” she said.
Sybil turned her attention towards her father. “Do you think I could get a unicorn as a pet?”
Edmund opened his mouth and then closed it, looking entirely unsure of himself for the first time, maybe ever.
Taking pity on him, Amelia spoke up. “It is nearly impossible to catch a unicorn from the wild.”
“It is?” Sybil asked.
“It is,” Amelia confirmed. “They live deep within the forest and they are tremendously good at hiding.”
“They are?”
Amelia smiled. “I think it would be best if your father purchased you a pony for the time being.”
Sybil scrunched her nose as she appeared to be pondering what she had just said. “I think you are right. I wouldn’t want to take a unicorn out of the forest, and I do love ponies.”
“Then it is settled,” Amelia declared.
Edmund glanced over at her and mouthed, “Thank you.”
Amelia tipped her head towards him and was rewarded with a smile. A smile that caused a little pleasant flutter of feeling inside of her.
