Even with her eyes closed, Amelia recognized Clem’s familiar voice. If anything, it made her cry even harder.
“I’ve missed you so much, Amelia.”
Margie, who was not the sort of pet to endure any affection whatsoever, oddly enough, burrowed her head into Amelia’s neck.
The calico fur was as much a balm as Clementine’s soothing words, even if the cat’s claws were digging into Amelia’s shoulder.
“I’ve missed you too,” Amelia managed. To Clementine, but also to Margie. But why were they here? And whynow?
Only distantly aware of the others still in the room, shuffling awkwardly at the sight of her unseemly display, Amelia gulped on a hiccup.
“What on earth are you wearing?”
The sound of her mother’s voice, heavy with disapproval and disgust, shocked Amelia out of her tears. As though it had been summoned from the dead, a snake of shame and humiliation reared its head and slowly wrapped itself around her.
She wasn’t acting properly at all. And herclothes, herhair—!Amelia’s world—the world she’d been born to—had been turned upside down since meeting Mr. Beckworth. On the heels of her mother’s rebuke, it suddenly righted itself.
Wronged itself?
Amelia stiffened and opened her eyes. Looking over Clementine’s shoulder, she stared right at Fanny, who had magically appeared and was hovering in the foyer.
When their eyes met, Amelia must have wordlessly conveyed her need. Because the maid was suddenly in the doorway, grasping Amelia’s arm. “I’ve your bath prepared, my lady.” Her voice was so soft, so gentle. “Why don’t you come with me?”
Amelia had never felt such a massive wave of gratitude, but also relief. She was nowhere near ready to attempt to explain herself, especially not like this. Even as a child, as an infant, her parents had likely never seen her so disheveled, any sign of mess or improper behavior managed by nannies or her governesses.
Why, oh why hadn’t she gone up to her chambers to change before barging in here?
For a moment, the room fell silent. Clementine loosened her arms and, meeting Amelia’s eyes, nodded.
But first…
Amelia glanced back into the room, but when her gaze landed on Mr. Beckworth, she only saw the top of his head.
Feet flat on the floor, he was leaning forward, resting his forearms on his thighs with his head hanging just above them.
Look at me.
But he remained staring at something fascinating on his boots.
Look at me.
Nothing.
And suddenly, those niggling doubts became impossible to ignore.
Amelia turned back to Fanny and blinked. “Yes,” she said. “I would appreciate that very much, thank you.” A bath was precisely what she needed, but she stood frozen in place until Clementine took hold of Amelia’s other elbow. Between Clem and Fanny, the two young women provided Amelia with all the support she needed to climb upstairs to her chamber.
What now?
Unfortunately, the answer was clear.
Because he had always told her.
This was only temporary.
REUNITED
Fanny hadn’t fibbed when she’d announced a bath had been prepared, though Amelia wouldn’t have been surprised if she had, if only to help her avoid what had obviously been an… impossible situation. Even though she hadn’t known the maid for very long, it just seemed like the sort of thing Fanny might do. But no, the bath was in fact waiting for her, the water hot and fragrant. And minutes after arriving in her chamber, Amelia found herself seated in the tub as Fanny began unwinding her braid—or what remained of it, anyhow.
