“I assure you, I am not involved in anything unscrupulous—”
“You and I both know that is not true,” she interrupted.
Gideon’s gaze sharpened on her. The day had begun too pleasantly to spoil it with discussions of the Masked Rogue. “Enough of that. Have you any plans for today?”
Amelia blinked at him, clearly taken by surprise. “I don’t, no. None at all. Unless you consider aimless strolls through the castle's halls like a phantom as plans.”
That made him laugh and she let out a small giggle herself. “Ah, she jests! I would never have guessed. But since you lack any worthwhile plans, perhaps you wouldn’t mind accompanying me for a promenade through the park?”
“Worthwhile plans?” she questioned with an arched brow. “I don’t know if I should feel quite affronted.”
“Well, I insist nonetheless,Your Grace.” Gideon rose, and with a flourish of spontaneity, took her hand and pressed a kiss to its back. “Take a moment to ready yourself while I arrange for a carriage. Pray, don’t deprive me of your absence for too long now, darling.”
Hyde Park was teeming with Lords and Ladies by the time they arrived. Amelia felt a surge of panic at the sheer number of people who would see her and Gideon together. The private soiree was one thing, but being out in public with the Duke, in broad daylight, set her nerves on edge. She managed to hold it together well enough as Gideon assisted her in exiting the carriage, but when she accepted the arm he’d offered to her, she realized that her hands were trembling.
As they strolled along a bustling walkway, Gideon drew her closer, concern lacing his voice. “Your social nerves catching you out again?” he whispered.
“How did you— oh. Yes,” she nodded silently.
“What’s the matter?”
“N-nothing. I am just surprised you remembered something of me, that is all. I am used to repeating myself usually.” Abruptly, she put a hand to her lips. “That came out as quite pitiful, didn’t it?”
Gideon chuckled. “As a Duchess, you will soon find the trick is getting people to forget.”
Amelia frowned. “I’m… I’m not sure how you manage it. Even as the Masked Rogue—” She quickly cut herself off, stopping, handrising to her lips again. “I’m sorry, it’s the nerves. Oh, this was a terrible idea! We should go back—”
Gideon paused as he turned to her. “Balderdash. We are not going anywhere. It was a slip, it has happened more than once between myself and Lewis. Besides,” he looked around, watching as Lords pressed forward, uptight and splashing back their coats like peacocks flaunting their feathers, and ladies flocking to titter behind their fans at every gentleman that passed by, “I am sure they’re far too concerned with their ritualistic game of courtship to bother with little old us.”
Amelia glanced about, grimaced, then took his arm again as they continued forward. “I was just saying, I am not sure how you manage to keep so composed when you know eyes must be trailing your every move. I’m quite clumsy and quick to lose my good sense, especially if it feels as if others are paying keen attention to me.”
“Do you think that they are?” The question held no incredulity, just sincere curiosity. Gideon even began scanning around as if he hadn’t even considered the fact that they might be the center of attention right now. It almost made her smile.
“You are the Duke of Stanhope,” she stated, brows furrowing, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “Undoubtedly, there were many ladies eager to be in the position I now find myself in. Not to mention that before we met, I was quite looked down upon like a lost puppy, so I’m sure that many were surprised and a little disbelieving when they learned that youmarried me… I suppose it only makes sense that a few glances and glares would be sent my way then.”
“I understand,” he said, sounding oddly gentle. He guided her down another quieter trail that led adjacent to the serpentine. “Though I do not know how best to stop it.”
“You don’t have to stop it,” Amelia quickly responded, slightly surprised by his eagerness to help.
“Why not? It is causing you discomfort,” he reasoned.
“Yes, but… it is out of your hands. Besides, it was me that got us into this mess, it is only fair that I face the consequences, no matter how trivial they might be… in the grand scheme of things.” Regardless of her optimism, Amelia’s heart warmed by his consideration. He sounded serious too. “But thank you.”
“For someone who is apprehensive in social settings, you sure do speak a lot when you have the chance,” he grinned. “I feel I could listen to you speak all day if I do not bother to interject.”
Amelia flushed. “Pardon me, I do that sometimes. To alleviate my nerves. It is a habit I picked up from my sister—”
Gideon glanced at her but did not break his stride. When she bit her lip and made it clear she wasn’t going to continue, he began again. “Well, you should at least be comfortable,” he insisted. “Even if you are not happy.”
“I did not know that my happiness was any concern of yours.”
Gideon raised a brow at her. He turned down another path and she suddenly realized that he was moving away from the more crowded trails. “Goodness, Amelia, you make it seem as if I am some devil who preys on your misery. Surely you do not think me to be so terrible? Gideon Terrell, the Terrible. Has quite a ring to it, actually.”
She giggled. “I suppose you do havesomeredeeming qualities. You did make an effort just now to ease my discomfort at being out in public again. So I suppose you aren’t a complete devil.”
Gideon gave her a look of mock astonishment. “A compliment veiled beneath an insult!” he observed, sounding awed. He drew in closer and explained as if he needed to clarify, “Usually, it is the other way around, you see.”
Amelia felt her tongue loosening. She had started to feel more comfortable in Gideon’s presence. “Yes. I am teasing you,Your Grace,” she laughed, playfully smacking his arm. “Is that so hard to believe? Goodness, you embarrass me sometimes. You make it seem as if you witnessed a miracle.”
