“Do not worry yourself. I will be fine. Now, go be with your family.” Tears threatened to escape as Amelia watched her best friend trek out of the room. She knew she would miss her a great deal and could not imagine finding a friend like Sarah in her new, temporary home.
After taking a few calming breaths, she regained her composure and wandered out into the garden. The sun warmed her face as she dropped her parasol and closed her eyes, tipping her chin toward the cerulean sky. A slight breeze caressed her curls and rustled her skirts. How she would miss her beloved England.
SCANDALOUS ENDEAVORS
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Richard strolled towardhis aunt’s private sitting room determined to speak with her. He prayed Amelia had not already done something rash. His heart clenched at the very thought of her being engaged, or worse, wed to some Englishman.
He never should have sent her back to London. What a fool he had been to try and deny his feelings for her. Anger at himself for ruining her had clouded his judgment. He knew she did not want him, but he made love to her anyway. Then after he left her, the words she had spoken rang in his head. Had he been wrong? Did she want him? He would never forgive himself if his actions pushed her into another man’s arms.
Aunt Grace sat reading a book when he entered her sitting room. He cleared his throat to get her attention.
She smiled up at him. “Richard dear, it gladdens my heart to have you back.”
He moved farther into the room. “I must know what Lady Amelia has done.”
“Whatever do you mean?” She placed the book on her side table.
After pouring himself a brandy, he sat in the chair across from her. “I discovered her plan to wed before I left London. I must know if she was successful in her scheme.”
Aunt Grace studied him with her warm gaze. “Something happened between the two of you.”
Sweat coated his palms as he lifted his glass for a drink. Should he tell his aunt how he ruined Amelia? That he was back to claim her? “Aunt Grace, my reasons are of no consequence.”
A knowing twinkle crept into her gaze. “Lady Amelia has decided to go to America. You will find her in the garden, but do not tarry, she is set to sail at dawn.”
His heart skipped a beat. America, she was planning to go to America. Had she simply run out of time, or had she fallen in love with him too? He had to go to her. Convince her to stay, to marry him. He walked to the door before turning back to Aunt Grace. “Thank you.”
She nodded her head, a wide smile tugging her lips. “Go quickly, dear.”
* * * *
As though pulled by an invisible thread, Amelia found herself standing in front of the fountain where she had first kissed Richard--the stone lovers a monument to all she once wished for.
An intense ache took hold of her body. Tears streamed freely from her eyes and glided unrestricted down her cheeks as she crumpled into a shaking heap of black parramatta silk and crape at the base of the fountain. Her shoulders lifted of their own accord as sobs racked her body. “Why?” The question left her mouth, floating away on the breeze.
Pushing herself off the ground, she turned and kicked the fountain. The Duke of Goldstone had proved himself unworthy of her tears. He was a rake who’d used her and then thrown her away without a care. The rake could not even be bothered to listen to what she tried to tell him. Wiping the tears from her cheeks, she peered into the pool of water. “I will waste no more energy on him.” She straightened her back determined to leave the memories and pain behind when she sailed away on the morrow.
“Lady Amelia, I have been searching all over for you.” The familiar voice of Lord Shillington reached her ears. “I was told I would find you in the garden.”
Amelia twirled to face the intruder with a smile pasted in place despite the turbulent emotions churning within her. He ambled toward her, than came to an abrupt stop merely a foot from where she stood.
“I must speak with you right away,” he said, a wide grin seated firmly on his face. “I simply cannot stand the thought of you leaving England. I have thought of little else since the declaration left your tender mouth.” He took a few steps closer.
Alarm bells rang in the back of Amelia’s mind. “Lord Shillington, what is this about?”
His smile deepened, and his gaze settled on hers. “It is no secret that I have been enamored by you for quite some time now--”
She glanced away, panic welling up in her. “Do not continue on this path, I beg you. My mind is made up. I will go to America.”
Lord Shillington took hold of her hands. “Amelia, I have to say this. Look at me, please.”
Against all reason, she returned her focus to him, granting her permission for him to continue on with a faint nod of her head.
“I intended to wait until your time of mourning ceased, but circumstance will not allow for it.” He released her clammy hands as he slowly lowered himself to balance on one knee. “My dearest Amelia, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Richard’s smooth baritone boomed through the air like a crash of thunder. “You are wasting your energy, Shillington. She’s already spoken for.”
