“I have never done such a thing,” Amelia denied, though her breathy voice betrayed her.
He chuckled, a sound rich with mirth. "Oh, but you have. And it's haunted my thoughts since last we met. So much so that I've already sent for a special license."
Amelia’s eyes widened in disbelief. “B-but you haven’t even sought my uncle’s blessing!”
“A simple matter.” He seemed more concerned with touching her hair, toying with her silken locks, occasionally letting them slip through his fingers only to brush them back from her face. Amelia was certain that she was as red as a tomato. “True, I may have skipped certain… formalities. But I simply could not wait for…”
“…For what?”
He captured her gaze again, another devilish smirk touching his lips. “Our wedding night.”
Amelia’s breath caught, and she tried to swallow past the sudden tightness in her throat. “Your Grace—”
He interrupted her with a frown, his fingers caressing her cheek, “I would much prefer if you called meGideon. We will soon be man and wife, after all. Let us do away with these formalities.”
“Your Grace—” she tried again, but her voice faltered as his lips hovered temptingly near her ear.
“I do wonder what you will sound like on that night, Amelia,” he murmured huskily. “Will you finally cry out my name then?”
“T-this is highly improper,” she whispered, her body so hot that she thought she might burst into flames.
“If you think this is improper, my dear, just wait until you are truly and wholly mine.”
Gideon cupped her chin, compelling her to meet his gaze. Which didn’t take much since Amelia felt like a puppet on his strings, acting without thinking on urges she’d never thought were possible. She detested this man, despised every fiber of his being. But right now, she couldn’t find any of that hatred. It was buried under layers of need and her eyes dipped to his lips. His smirk grew wider.
She braced herself, certain he was about to claim her lips. But a sharp stab of disappointment lanced her when there was a knock on the door. Amelia thought he would pull away but he remained where he was, still holding her chin, clearly content to ignore whomever it was.
But the knock was enough to snap her out of whatever trance she’d fallen into and she shimmied out of the gap from between his hard body and the wall. She dabbed at her cheeks as she hurried away, hoping it would hide the blush.
Amelia’s hand closed around the door handle when she realized that Gideon was still very much visible. She shot him a glance. “Hide!” she hissed.
Gideon raised his brows innocently, pointing at himself. “Me?” he mouthed.
Amelia couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Surely he didn’t think she could open the door to reveal a gentleman in her chambers? She gave him an incredulous nod and he chuckled, raising his hands in defeat. She didn’t take his eyes off him as he made his way over to her and positioned himself beside the door, where he would be obscured from view when it opened.
Praying he would not do anything to reveal his presence, Amelia opened the door at last. But the last person she wished to see stood on the other end.
“I hear the Duke of Stanhope has come to visit,” Nadine stated in a pinched voice, dressed in an elaborate sea-green attire thathad clearly taken much effort to assemble. She folded her arms, managing to sound both accusing and smug.
“Oh? Is that so?” Amelia answered. “I did not know. I have not left my chambers all morning.”
“Apparently, he’s here for you,” Nadine pressed, her eyes narrowing.
“For me?” Amelia pointed a finger against her chest, feigning shock.
“Oh, don’t play innocent. Everyone and their pets are speaking of your little rendezvous with him at last night’s ball. Tell me, Amelia, did you follow him out there?”
“I really have no idea what you’re talking about.” Growing frustrated, Amelia asked, “Is this why you’ve come here?”
Nadine raised her chin, doing a marvelous job of glaring down at Amelia even though they were the same height. “Mother has asked that I fetch you. Apparently, His Grace will be staying for tea.”
“Very well. I shall be down shortly.” Amelia attempted to shut the door but Nadine’s hand shot out, preventing her from doing so. With all the patience she could muster, she opened it again slightly. “Is there anything else?”
Nadine narrowed her eyes again, looking Amelia up and down. Then she finally said, “It’s nothing. Be down in five minutes.”
With a flounce, she turned and retreated down the corridor. Amelia sighed, shoving aside her annoyance. It was obvious that Nadine only wanted to have the last word.
She closed the door—and nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw how close Gideon had moved to her.
