Mr. Jergen nodded. “Would it help if she were removed to her own—”
“She is my twin,” Sam cut the man off before he could suggest anything offensive. “She will not be pushed out of her childhood home. Without Lady Amelia’s support, I would not be alive.”
Mr. Jergen dipped his chin. “My apologies if I have offended you or your sister.”
“She is not a woman who bends to the will of others, Mr. Jergen, and she does not break.”
“Yes, I see that now. However, in the absence of others within society who have seen you recently alive, Mr. Clark has taken to using your title in public without repercussion from you and has been spending on credit against the Alston estate.”
Sam nodded. “As I suspected. I need to get out of this house and back in the public eye.”
“That will certainly reinvigorate the rumor mill,” Blakewood warned. “Two Lord Alstons?”
Sam grinned. “Good. He deserves to be humiliated in public.”
“Your Aunt Ruth will suffer as well.”
“I know. She’ll lose her position in society. But what can I do? For too long she has plagued Amelia, trying to force a marriage Amelia didn’t want to Nelson, and now this? I’m in no mood to forgive. Amelia isn’t either.”
Blakewood sighed and nodded. “Then what is the next step?”
“I could go outside right now,” Sam offered.
Blakewood snorted.
Sam turned a glare on him.
“I’m being practical, as should you. You’ve been in bed for weeks. You’ve been learning to walk the space of your room. If you attempt those stairs, you might break your neck. I watched you fall from that horse and I’m not keen to see you fall again. Please bear with us, Sam. You haven’t seen you from our perspective.”
“I also prefer you not injure yourself further, my lord,” Mr. Jergen said. “As long as Lady Amelia will allow me entry, we can conduct your business here. I’ll send notices to the shops currently allowing Mr. Clark to purchase on Alston credit and inform them that you will not be responsible for his debts.”
Sam nodded and turned to Blakewood. “And what would you suggest I do with Nelson?”
“We can arrange a meeting with him in public, somewhere many people will see you both together. I’ll lure him there under a false name to ensure his presence, claiming to have proof you’re dead. Until then, keep walking and regaining your strength.”
Sam grinned. “I think Amelia is influencing you.”
After a few more points of business, he concluded his meeting with Mr. Jergen, and Blakewood went to check onAmelia. Now that Sam was alone, he sat in his chair by the hearth and thought about what Blakewood had said. He was playing a delicate game, but it was the only way he could try to prevent his marriage from happening. He needed time to figure out a way to stop it, time he would only be given as long as he remained weak and helpless. Yet for the sake of his family and title, he needed to be capable enough to take care of his business affairs and to be seen outside.
Amelia entered, spotting him by hearth, and Blakewood followed a moment later. “I can’t believe you want to meet with Nelson. He doesn’t deserve to speak to you after what he’s done.”
Sam rubbed his brow. “It’s the only way to quiet him once and for all.”
“He won’t be silent until you’ve heirs to replace him. Only then will he slink away.”
“Then I’d best get on with that,” Sam grumbled. “Though, if I don’t have the stamina to make it downstairs, then I can’t bed a—”
“Alston,” Blakewood warned.
Sam narrowed a glare at him. “She’s a married woman. We don’t have to pretend for the sake of her innocent ears.”
“He’s right,” Amelia said. “I’m under no illusions about what happens between men and women,dear husband.”
Sam turned away. He didn’t need that reminder.
“Perhaps it is fortuitous that you already have a wife waiting?” Amelia said.
“Don’t,” Sam snapped at her. “You didn’t want to be forced to marry and neither do I. You go to bed every night next to someone you love. I’m being forced to marry a stranger.”
