Edward watched her too. Her hands twisted in her lap, though not violently—more as if she were lost in thought. When she finally looked up, her hands settled. “I forgive you.”
His Grace closed his eyes briefly. “Thank you.” Then he drew himself up. “Now, the matter of your sister. From what I heard, it appears Edith and her friend have been creating false rumors in the hopes of ruining you beyond repair.”
Amelia’s lips pressed into a line. “Essentially.”
“What part exactly does Miss Brooks play in all of this?”
Edward shared a look with Amelia. “Miss Brooks attempted to ensnare me last Season and was subsequently required to convalesce in the country until the rumors died down.”
“Edward had nothing to do with her ruin though, Father,” Amelia added. “I imagine Edith only involved her because she had motivation to help in my own ruin.”
His Grace nodded slowly, letting out a slow breath. “It appears I have even more to apologize for than I believed. I did not know of the scandal when I allowed Edith to invite her. I was made to believe it was simply a dear friend of Edith’s who would benefit from a Season connected to our name. Rest assured, your sister will be made to see the wrongness of her actions. And I will do my best to squelch the rumors here tonight.”
“I am sorry if they will taint our name. And your political plans.”
“That is nothing.”
Amelia’s eyes narrowed, as if trying to see if he was in earnest. “Truly?”
“Of course.”
She hesitated, and Edward could sense she wished to ask something else.
“You disbelieve me?” His Grace asked, his expression showing how much that thought pained him.
“No. Not now... it is only that I wonder why, then, you forced me to marry Edward.”
Edward’s brows raised.
Amelia’s mouth twisted in a small, teasing smile. “Not that it has turned out for the worse, but I am simply confused,” she assured him, turning back to her father even as she patted Edward’s arm.
Edward captured her hand in his. Amelia shot him another smile.
“Oh.” His Grace shifted uncomfortably. “In all honesty, Iwasworried about your reputation, first and foremost. And then there was the matter of your—” He stopped himself, glancing at Edward.
“My scars?” Amelia asked, her voice wavering.
The duke nodded. “Yes.”
Edward held Amelia’s hand tightly. “They do not matter to me. Amelia is so much more than her appearance, and her appearance is so much more than what she has been made to believe.”
His Grace ducked his head. “Thank goodness she was right.”
“She?” Edward and Amelia said simultaneously.
“Yes, Lady Anderson. She assured me Lord Norwich was not as he appeared. Therefore, I had no qualms in your marrying him, Amelia. I was led to believe the two of you would suit, and I thought the connection would please your mother. I am inordinately glad to see that I was correct.”
“Mother—what do you mean?” Amelia asked at the same time that Edward said, “Lady Anderson?”
His Grace chuckled, looking between the two of them and appearing far more at ease now than he had the entirety of their conversation. “Why, your mothers were friends.”
Edward looked at Amelia at the same time she looked at him. Their faces must have been mirror images of each other—both shock and confusion and a healthy dose of wonder written into their features.
“You never said,” Amelia spoke while still looking at Edward. She spun to face her father. “Why did you not tell me at the first?”
His eyebrows raised. “Did I not?”
“Good heavens, Papa, that is a rather large thing to leave out when your daughter is begging not to be married to a man.”
