“Yes, well, that is water under the bridge, isn’t it?” Nadine chimed in hastily. “I’m sure within the week, everyone will have forgotten and moved on to the next thing.”
“I wonder…” Gideon’s voice trailed. Amelia hardly heard him. His hand was suddenly on her thigh.
Vaguely, she knew that her cousin had continued speaking, but Amelia could not hear anything over the roaring in herears. Every nerve ending seemed to be aflame, the warmth concentrating in her core. His fingers danced up along her thigh, then retraced their path, igniting a trail of desire. Amelia somehow found the strength to push it aside, hating how cold and disappointed she felt when he was no longer touching her.
She chanced a look at him and wasn’t surprised to see him smirking, though his focus remained on Nadine. As discreetly as she could, Amelia shifted her legs away from him, hoping that would dissuade him from making any other bold moves. She cupped her teacup with both hands in a measure to calm her racing heart.
“Pardon me, Your Grace,” Harold said suddenly. “You alluded earlier that yesterday's events were onlypartof the reason for your visit. Is there something else you wish to discuss?”
“Indeed, there is, my lord.”
Without warning, Gideon took Amelia’s hand in his, placing them both on the table. All eyes fell to their clasped hands. Amelia went as still as stone, hardly breathing.
She didn’t know what to expect from her uncle but the identical look of disdain that crossed both Barbara’s and Nadine’s faces was precisely what she’d predicted. Barbara, however, was more adept at masking it.
“Your Grace, I—I do not understand,” Barbara said, an uncertain smile fluttering on her face.
“Though I cannot excuse my ungentlemanly behavior at last night’s ball,” Gideon began, “I must also confess that it was only because I had fallen in love with Lady Amelia at first sight.”
“Inlove?” Amelia gasped, making all eyes turn to her. But she could only see him, staring at him in disbelief.
He squeezed her hand. “Yes, my love. And it warms my heart to know that you feel the same.” He turned his attention back to her stunned relatives. “Hence, I stand before you to formally request Amelia’s hand in marriage, and to seek your approval, Lord Hendale.”
For the first time since Amelia stepped into the dining room, Harold was at a loss for words. “Your Grace, I…I don’t know what to say…”
“Love?” Barbara repeated, sounding suspicious. “You truly feel love forher?”
Amelia felt a pinch of shame at her aunt’s tone, but to his credit, Gideon did not falter, nodding decisively. “ForAmelia,yes I do. I have desired for little else but to have her be my bride. Which is why I have sent for a special license and have already begun the wedding preparations, anticipating the viscount’s permission, of course.”
Harold cleared his throat, straightening in his chair. “Well, far be it from me to deny my niece such a fortuitous match. You have my blessing, Your Grace.”
“Wonderful!” Gideon smiled down at Amelia. “Then we shall be wed come next week.”
Next week?!
He released her hand, returning his attention to his tea as he began detailing the wedding arrangements he’d made thus far. This time, Barbara was far less eager to partake in the conversation and Nadine sat in stony silence. Amelia, too, made no attempt to join in, still reeling from the Duke’s words.
Love? Surely he did not mean that. But even if he hadn’t, it didn’t change the fact that, very soon, she would be a married woman. All the things he’d whispered to her in her bedchamber went racing through her mind and a shiver of trepidation crept down her spine. Everything was moving too quickly and she hadn’t planned this far ahead.
And right now, one single looming question dominated her thoughts. What would happen on the night of her wedding, when they were alone?
CHAPTER 8
The week had passed by in a blur, yet the gravity of Gideon’s decision seemed to weigh heavier with each passing hour. Even though he had boldly lied to Amelia’s family about his love for her, securing her uncle’s approval with little trouble, Gideon hadn’t truly come to terms with what it would mean in the end.
Marriage. A word that signified the end of his carefree bachelorhood, instead, replaced with sharing his life, his space, his time, with a lady he’d only just met.
The slight discomfort of his polished shoes and the tightness of his cravat reflected just how out of place he felt, as he fidgeted, casting furtive glances toward the chapel's grand entrance. Lady Amelia was bound to appear at any moment and, in the meantime, her family anxiously waited in the awkward silence. Because Gideon didn’t think much of this wedding, he hadn’t cared to invite anyone, claiming that he wanted it to be an intimate event with his future family. Thankfully, no one questioned it.
Feigning attention to Lady Hendale’s endless ramblings, Gideon’s gaze remained fixed ahead, his thoughts adrift. And then, as though answering his silent call, the doors gently parted to unveil Amelia.
Time seemed to still for Gideon. He hadn’t imagined she would appear so… enchanting. It seemed the viscount had offered up a generous sum for her to purchase a new gown, one that draped around her lovely curves and flared slightly at her shoulders—while revealing a tempting hint of her décolletage. In her hands, she clutched a bouquet of peonies and lavender, and her hair was elegantly styled in a soft chignon with a few tendrils framing her innocent face. Vaguely, Gideon heard the melodious strains of the pianoforte coming from the side, and the few assembled guests settled into their seats. Yet, for Gideon, all that existed in that moment was Amelia.
His soon-to-be bride.
She was nervous. She couldn’t meet his eyes, walking a little too slowly down the aisle toward him. Gideon’s heart raced as he envisioned what it would be like to let that dress fall at her feet, the tantalizing blush that would surely bloom on her cheeks as he slowly, teasingly removed her shift. It would never happen, he knew. She was far too reserved to ever let him get that close to her. And that should have been a good thing—yet Gideon felt a twinge of disappointment at the mere thought.
She avoided his gaze, her attention fixed firmly on the chapel’s flooring. The priest, who had been waiting behind Gideon, began the ceremony the moment she came to his side, and Ameliadidn’t say a word to him even when he murmured that she looked beautiful.
