She crossed her arms over her chest, color high on her cheeks. “You owe me more than an explanation. Both of you do.”
“I am sorry,” Noah said, rocking back on his heels as he settled his hands on his hips. “I was only trying to help.”
“You were trying to help Oliver do exactly what?” Amelia was not one to back down when she sensed foul play.
I gritted my teeth and forced my mind to formulate an explanation. “I was nervous about tonight, and Noah was trying to help calm my nerves.”
“By kissing you?” Confusion furrowed her brow. The fact she hadn’t bolted was a promising sign.
“Why don’t we all sit down and have a sherry, and Oliver can start from the beginning?” Noah suggested, walking out of the bedroom before either of us responded.
Amelia turned on her heel and stormed back toward her room, outrage in her stiffened spine. This was not a promising start to my marriage. I followed them both and entered the gas-lit room. Decorated in shades of burgundy and gold, the room had a fireplace with real wood imported from the United States. Two settees were situated on either side of the fireplace.
An eerie silence settled between us as Noah poured the wine from the sideboard. Amelia bundled her gown in her fingers, the fabric pulling at her legs. I wasn’t sure if she knew she was showing off more than was proper, but then I didn’t think she’d appreciate me pointing it out.
“I’m sure this is quite a shock for you,” I said, taking the seat next to her. She moved as far away from me as possible.
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to articulate what I wanted to say. “And while it looks bad, I assure you Noah was simply trying to help. If you are mad at anyone, it should be me.”
“How long have you two been, um, kissing?” she asked, looking at Noah as he approached. Hurt turned her lips down, her face ashen.
Noah handed a glass of sherry to her and one to me but said nothing. He was leaving this all up to me because this was my burden to bear.
I took the stemmed glass, the coolness a welcome sensation against my heated palms. I wanted to drink it down in the hopes of assuaging my guilt. I hurt her. The one thing I didn’t wish to do. “Only since recently.”
“Is that why you put off asking for my hand?” She drank deeply from her glass.
“I didn’t put off asking for your hand, Amelia. Grandmama was sick, you know that.” I had to clear up the misconception once and for all. “I always knew I’d marry you. You’re my best friend. I love you.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes. “I know you love me, Oliver. But do you desire me?”
“Of course I desire you, Amelia. I just, well, this has nothing to do with you. I...” My throat went impossibly dry, and I swallowed the contents of my glass. I lowered the glass and stared into the empty crystal. “I’ve never bedded a woman before, and I wasn’t sure...” I trailed off, unsure how much was wise to disclose.
“Noah was kissing you.” She tilted her chin and stared at him. He was standing in front of the fireplace, one elbow on the mantel. “Was what happened between us a lie?”
I snapped my head up, catching the flush of color that highlighted Noah’s face. He swirled the wine in his glass before he shook his head. “No, I desire you, Amelia. I told you as much. I also desire Oliver. I’m sorry if you are offended in any way, but things aren’t always as they seem.”
“What happened between you two?” I asked, my shock wearing off by the revelation.
It was Amelia’s turn to blush. “I was inebriated, and I went into Sally’s room to find a book when Noah caught me. We, well, you hadn’t proposed, so I wasn’t officially engaged.”
“So you bedded Noah because you thought I wasn’t going to propose?” I asked, my own temper pricked.
“No, not bedded. I am a virgin if that’s what you’re afraid of. We simply exchanged some rather heated...um, embraces.” Amelia plucked at the skirt of her gown again before she seemed to rally herself. “But if what you are telling me is correct, you are guilty of the same crime.”
“There’s no crime involved. Simply a misunderstanding,” Noah said.
“You are the one who’s in the center of all this.” Was he playing some sort of perverted game to pit me and Amelia against each other? “You seduced Amelia, and you seduced me.”
“Technically, no, he didn’t seduce me,” Amelia said. She tightened her lips together and blew out a breath. “I instigated our kiss, and when he tried to end it, I pressed the issue.”
“So you desire Noah as well?” I asked, caught off guard.
“It would seem both of us are enamored of him.” Amelia leaned back on the settee, and her lips started twitching. Irony shone brightly in her eyes. Noah finished off his sherry and settled the glass on the table next to my settee. “Well, his kisses anyway.”
“Now, this is a tangled bit of a mess.” Noah began to laugh, embarrassment reddening his cheeks.
“Indeed. You have been playing both sides of the fence.” The ridiculousness hit me as well, and I stretched out my legs, the tension leaving me. “If I didn’t know better, I would say you planned this all along.”
