“And I imagine your wife feels the same. I have not had the chance to know Lady Norwich well, but I have known her father and older sisters for years. And I was dear friends with her mother. It is the worst possible thing to lose a mother, as you know, and if I had to hazard a guess, your wife has not felt much in the way of affection these past years. You must change that, Edward. Youmust. My mortality stares me in the face more strongly each day. And if I have learned anything at all in my years, it is that all we can hope for in this life is to spend our days with those we love, bettering their lives as best we can. There is no greater joy than creating happiness in another’s soul.”
The generally unaffectionate Lady Cromwell looked out the parlor window with such emotion on her face that Edward felt he was intruding by simply looking at her. He turned his gaze to his hands until he heard her clear her throat.
“Even your mother felt the same.”
Edward’s head jerked up.
“Yes.” Lady Cromwell glanced at the window again, then at him. “She told me as much in her final days. She wished she’d tried harder to repair her relationship with your father. After the incident, she was so hurt she not only shut him out, but she locked the door and built multiple castle walls. By the time she realized she had a choice in how her marriage may end up, it was too late. They had laid a thick, solid foundation of misery that she couldn’t possibly penetrate.”
“It would not have helped. Not with my father. No amount of her attempts would have broken through his arrogant indifference.”
Lady Cromwell was silent for a moment before dipping her head a fraction. “Even still, she felt it all the same.”
He took a deep breath, returning his gaze to his hands. His stomach twisted in discomfort and pain.
“You must try, Edward.” Her voice was soft.
When he looked up, he groaned at her expression of sympathy. What could he say?
“I do not know how, Lady Cromwell.” The admission hurt, and he looked away again, speaking in a low voice as he rubbed at his temples. “My parents were forever against each other; how am I to convince a woman such as Amelia to care for a man like me when I have no understanding of what to do? I have already tried and failed.”
“They were not always at odds, my boy. But love, unfortunately, turns bitter when not properly cared for. I do not want that for you. And despite what you may think, neither would your parents. As for what to do, I believe I may be of service there. You must know Lord Cromwell and I got on famously.” Her eyes twinkled, and Edward could not help smiling at the mischievous look.
“Very well, what am I to do?”
“First, we must convince her of the depth of your love.”
“Love!” Edward sputtered.
Lady Cromwell shot him a venomous look. “Do not tell me I first need to convinceyouof your own feelings, for they are plain as day.”
Edward stood, pacing to the window, agitation coloring his hasty steps. Lady Cromwell stayed blessedly silent.
Love? Did he love Amelia? He was certain he cared for her. That much was obvious. But how did one know if one was in love with a lady? She had taken up permanent residence in his mind. He admired her frankness and humor but also her thoughtfulness that showed in her interactions with him and others. Never before had he noticed small details in another woman, such as the way Amelia’s eyes changed colors dependent on what she was wearing, how she twisted her hands together when she was unsettled, how she tilted her head to the side when determining how to respond. He wished to know her better. He wished to be with her always, even now. He wished she would trust him enough to tell him about her scars and what had happened to cause her to feel so much pain around her family.
But did he love her?
Like a suddenly illuminated room, the truth of his feelings flooded him. He did. He did love her. He was entirely in love with his wife. He’d meant to woo her, but instead, it would seemshehad wooedhim.
He looked up, eyes wide, and caught Lady Cromwell’s gaze. She chuckled.
“There you are. Now we’ve settled that, it is time to discuss convincing the object of your affections of the truth of those feelings.”
Edward did not move, leaning instead against the wall near the window, still attempting to process the revelatory experience he had just had. He loved Amelia. Well, of course he did; how could he not love such a passionate, brilliant woman?
“First, you will need to tell her, but I believe you may have to ease her into it.” Lady Cromwell chuckled again. “That seems rather contradictory, but your Amelia seems the sort who may be frightened away by a sudden onslaught of affection.”
My Amelia.That certainly sounded nice. Edward listened with half an ear to the grand plans Lady Cromwell was forming. A smile appeared on his face, small at first but growing with each passing minute. He was in love with his wife and he finally had a purpose. He would do everything in his power to change her opinion of him.
***
Amelia paced the hallway outside of Lord Norwich’s book room. Her hands pulled and twisted each other against her stomach. Could she do it? Could she ask such a favor of him?
She hadn’t a clue where her marriage stood. A fortnight ago, he had been calling her ridiculous pet names and sending her love poems. But now their interactions were stilted, and for the last two days, she only saw him at breakfast and dinner.
Yet despite his generally pleasant, unaffected demeanor toward her, Amelia had occasionally caught her husband studying her with such an intense gaze that she could feel it all the way down to her toes. She did not know what to make of it, and yet here she was, preparing to ask the man for a monumental favor.
He was going to believe her daft. Shewasdaft.
