“No. No.” That particular dress was even worse. “You’ve done wonderfully, Mary. Thank you.”
Mary didn’t appear convinced, but she curtsied and left the room.
Amelia grimaced at her reflection once more before quitting the room as well. Perhaps Lord Norwich would laugh outright at her appearance and provide an opportunity for her to request a few new dresses be made. Broaching the subject of her pin money on her own seemed far too delicate a topic even for her.
“Amelia.” The familiar, deep voice sounded behind her, and she turned to face her husband, her heartrate jumping at the admittedly attractive sight of him. The corner of his mouth lifted as he closed the door to his room. “You look wonderful.”
Whether it was her nerves or something else entirely, she could not contain the unladylike laugh that escaped just then.
“I take it you still do not appreciate my compliments.” Amusement laced his voice as he offered her his arm.
“No, it is not that. Though you are correct: I do not appreciate false praise.”
“It was not false. But if not that, then what?” he asked as they traversed the hall and descended the stairs together. It felt oddly... intimate. Which was a strange thing to take note of, being that they weremarried. Not that their marriage was really a marriage.
Goodness. Thinking on that circular reasoning was practically asking for a headache.
She refocused on the question Lord Norwich had asked.
“It is only that I find it hard to believe anyone could look wonderful in a dress such as this.” Amelia flicked her hand against one of the many flounces to accentuate her point as they entered the drawing room to await dinner.
“You do not like your dress? Whyever did you have it made then?”
Amelia shot him a dry look as she lowered herself into a chair. He settled on the couch beside her. “Knowing my sisters as you seem to, I am surprised you think I had any say in my dresses for the Season.”
Comprehension dawned on his features, and a small smile danced across his lips. “I apologize. I simply assumed you had an unhealthy preference for... all of that.” He gestured to her dress, and Amelia winced.
“I assure you, it was painful to even leave my rooms in such a creation.”
“You ought to have others made then.” He leaned toward her, his elbow resting on the arm of the couch. “Why have you not already?”
Amelia lowered her eyes to her lap, playing with one offensive flounce when next she spoke. “I... did not wish to presume...” As much as she’d been hoping for an opening into the conversation of her pin money, she still felt terribly awkward now the moment had arisen.
“Oh, good heavens, you think I would begrudge you new dresses? Amelia, look at this home! It is ostentatious to the extreme. I assure you, the Norwich title has far too much in the way of finances. You could not possibly put a dent in our coffers withthreenew wardrobes!”
Amelia felt the relief wash over her, but she still struggled to look up from her hands. Her confidence always seemed to fail her at the most inopportune times.
“I will have Mrs. Huckabee go over the particulars of your pin money tomorrow if that is agreeable.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“It is no trouble. I apologize for not seeing to it before now.”
“Dinner is served, my lord, my lady,” Coombs announced, and Amelia shot to her feet. Lord Norwich rose more slowly beside her, then offered his arm. She took it, and together they entered the dining room.
When she settled in her customary spot, she was surprised to see Lord Norwich lowering himself into the chair beside her. Her eyes darted to the end of the table, where she’d assumed he would sit. Catching her glance, Edward lifted a shoulder, appearing abashed.
“Do you mind?”
Did she? “No, not at all.” Notat all? That was a bit of an exaggeration, wasn’t it?
He smiled and settled back slightly.
It was awkward while the footmen served them, but the silence was near deafening when the servants returned to their stations at the walls.
Twice their gazes caught over a glass or a bite. Once, Lord Norwich seemed about to say something, then shook his head and continued with his food. Amelia found herself staring at her fork as if it was the most interesting thing, if only to avoid catching his eye yet again.
But when she finally looked up, there was no avoiding it.
