Chapter Twenty-One
‘It wasn’t supposed to happen the way it did.’ Amabel sat forward on the edge of the armchair, her gaze fixed on Florence as she spoke. ‘But I had to find a way to stop the marquess from proposing to me.’ Her eyes flicked guiltily towards Leo. ‘Apologies, my lord.’
‘You didn’t want to marry him?’ Florence’s hand was so tight on his arm, he thought she might be trying to constrict his blood flow.
‘No. I was in love with James. Desperately so, but my parents would never have agreed to the match while a marquess wanted to marry me.’
‘Didn’t it occur to you to simply tell me that?’ Leo interjected. ‘If I’d known your affections were engaged elsewhere, I would never have proposed.’
‘Honestly? No.’ Amabel looked awkward. ‘Forgive me for saying so, my lord, but you aren’t the easiest of men to talk to.’
‘Then why not simply refuse my proposal? Or compromise yourself with Major Vaughan?’
‘Because it wasn’t so easy. My parents must have suspected there was some affection between James and me because he wasn’t invited to the ball. As for saying no, if they’d thought for even a moment that I was giving you up for him, they would have cast me off without a penny and we’d never have been able to marry.’
‘So you arranged to meet me in the library and then sent Florence in your stead so we could be caught together?’
‘No!’ She jerked her head back. ‘You weren’t supposed to be caught, but it all went wrong.’
‘What did?’ Florence spoke softly, letting go of his arm finally. ‘Amabel, what really happened?’
‘The truth is, I told you everything that day. When we went for a walk in Hyde Park, I told you all about James and how I was afraid that my parents had other plans for that night. I said that I didn’t know what to do and then…well, we agreed that you would talk to the marquess for me. You know, explain the situation and ask him…politely…notto propose to me.’
Florence’s shoulders went rigid. ‘You mean, I volunteered?’
‘Not exactly.’ Amabel squirmed in her seat. ‘I asked you if you would mind saying something, and you agreed…eventually.’
‘Eventually?’
‘I was too frightened to do it myself!’ she burst out. ‘I knew I’d babble and say the wrong thing and just make everything worse, whereas you’re so practical and resourceful, you were bound to do it right. It seemed like such a good plan. So I arranged the meeting in the library and then gave you a signal.’
‘That’s why you seemed nervous.’ Leo twisted towards Florence, remembering the strange way she’d behaved that evening. ‘You weren’t stalling for time. Therewasa message. You were just trying to decide how best to tell me.’
‘There was hardly time for her to tell you anything.’ Amabel sounded exasperated. ‘My father decided to show the Malverns his first edition of Fielding, and then more people joined in, and I didn’t know how to stop them. I followed them all to the library, thinking that perhaps I could cause a distraction, but it was too late. They walked straight in and found you.’ She heaved a deep breath. ‘Even then, I thought it would only be a minor scandal. I thought that my parents would just give Florence ascolding and send her home.’ She gestured around the room. ‘I never imagined it would lead to all this.’
‘Let me get this straight.’ Leo sat forward. ‘You thought that half a dozen members of thetoncould find us alone together and it could all be brushed aside and forgotten?’
‘Yes.’ Amabel lowered her head again. ‘I know it sounds foolish now, but I wasn’t thinking clearly.’
‘I even asked you about the message. I asked you and you denied any knowledge of it.’
‘I panicked.’ She peeked back up at Florence. ‘I know it was awful of me not to defend you, but if I’d told the truth my parents would have been furious with me. And what good would it have done when you were already compromised? Whereas keeping quiet…’ She swallowed visibly. ‘It was the only way I could be with James. And it worked. My parents agreed to our marriage just a week after your wedding.’
‘In other words, you traded Florence’s future for your own?’ Leo narrowed his eyes.
‘Not intentionally.’ Amabel looked pained. ‘And I thought that maybe you could find a way out of it, but everything just happened so fast.’ She stretched a hand out to Florence. ‘And you forgave me. When you were locked in your room, I bribed one of the maids to let me in, and you said you understood and forgave me.’
‘So you knew the truth on our wedding day?’ Leo turned towards Florence, his heart twisting. She hadn’t spoken for a few minutes now, staring straight ahead with an oddly detached expression, a stillness about her he’d never seen before. She hadn’t even seemed to notice Amabel’s outstretched hand. ‘You told me it was a misunderstanding, that the circumstances weren’t what they seemed, but you wouldn’t explain. Why didn’t you just tell me? Why take the blame?’
‘Because she was protecting me,’ Amabel answered. ‘I knew that if she’d said anything at that point, you might have been angry enough to tell my parents, so I begged her to stay quiet. But it wasn’t going to be forever. Once James and I were married and the announcement was published, we agreed she could tell you everything.’
‘Only she hit her head and forgot it all first.’ He glowered.
‘The love letters…’ Florence murmured suddenly. ‘They’re yours, aren’t they?’
‘Love letters?’ He gave a start. ‘What love letters?’
‘Mine.’ Amabel turned to gaze lovingly at her husband. ‘The most beautiful words you’ve ever read. I gave them to Florence for safekeeping on the day of the ball in case Mama searched my room. I thought I’d be able to reclaim them later.’
