An almost violent shiver rolled through her. Not regret. Not fear. Knowing Mr. Beckworth was near, Amelia was never afraid. At times, she could feel a little embarrassed, true, but… she trusted him to an extent that she’d never trusted anyone.
Otherwise, she never could have allowed…
She hadn’t only allowed it, she’d welcomed it, and then…
She’d loved it!
All of it!
She loved being close to him. She loved seeing the teasing look in his eyes. And although they seemed to argue as much as anything, she loved talking with him. Because he listened to what she had to say.
He gave her choices and all of it made her feel alive. It made her feel… real.
And when he smiled, she basked in it. It meant she was special for simply being herself.
But where was he now?
Plenty of time had passed since he’d disappeared up the stairs—more than enough for him to deal with his visitor. Amelia slid to the edge of the table and hopped down to the floor.
Her knees were weak, and she had to use her gown to wipe between her legs, but although her hands were a little shaky, she was otherwise…
Feeling rather wonderful, really.
He would have returned if he could. And although a little voice at the back of her mind offered the idea that he’d already forgotten all about her, she refused to entertain it.
He had called her“Love”!
What would he have said if Mr. Stubbs hadn’t interrupted him?
A cool breeze swept in from the tunnel, and she hugged her arms, feeling gooseflesh beneath her fingertips.
She’d discovered something here—a sense of who she could be. Standing in the center of a smuggler’s den, it felt fresh and exciting, but also a little fragile.
Even that feeling was precious.
Like a seedling in spring, she’d opened herself up to a whole new world.
Most notably, to Mr. Beckworth. To his world.
Given time, perhaps she’d make friends of Fanny, Bessie. She could eventually take trips into the nearby village—once Mr. Beckworth knew she was safe from whatever he was protecting her from, of course.
She’d found a freedom here that was nonexistent for her anywhere else.
A fluttery sensation tickled her from inside. Whereas before meeting him, she’d been resigned to her future, she actually looked forward to it now.
When she impulsively twirled around, a collection of vibrant colors caught her eye—silks? Pausing, she found herself wondering what else he might have hidden down here.
Amelia looked around, her curiosity rising. She could stand to wait a few more minutes before going upstairs on the off chance that Mr. Beckworthwasreturning. Why not?
She crossed the room to examine the fabrics and was not disappointed.
A few scraps of damaged silk and threads littered the table, but at one end, someone had stacked several bolts. Noticing fine designs woven into the material, she recognized them as Sarsnet Silk.
She didn’t touch them, but peered at the textures closely. These were smuggled goods, smuggled by…the King.
Amelia smiled. She was beginning to understand why he’d been crowned thusly. In this world, in this… underworld, he took care of his kingdom.
And staring at the fabrics, she imagined making a life here. Although she was better at embroidering, she knew how to sew. In fact, she’d sewn a few dresses for herself.
