Amelia’s lips lingered on the rim of her glass, and she peered up at her betrothed. “You did,” she admitted. “Forgive me.”
A moment passed in silence, until the Duke—Nicholas—spoke again. “Even your uncle’s solicitor laughed at the fourth clause.”
“Idid not find it particularly funny.”
“It must be the first time in all of history such a thing was written in a marriage contract.” He leaned forward with a grin and turned back the pages of the document. “Nicholas Whitmore, Duke of Avon, shall provide his wife, the right honorable Amelia Tate, £1000 yearly in the event of divorce or annulment.”
“Why does that amuse you? We agreed to as much aloud.”
“Verbatim, yes. But you realize that once the marriageisannulled, the stipulations within the contract become void. I shall be liable to no such thing.”
Amelia frowned, outplayed. “It is still good to have it in writing,” she argued, leaning over to slip the marriage contract away from him. She eyed his signature beside her uncle’s and was overcome by a strange sensation. “I do not think it dawned on me until this moment that we are truly to be wed.”
“Will you put down your glass? You are making me nervous.”
She rolled her eyes and did as she was told. “Worried I will ruin yourpreciouscontract?”
“After we have labored over it for hours? Why should I not be? But no, I jest… Cold feet? I think you are made of sterner stuff than that,” he said, his voice lilting in amusement. Everything seemed to amuse Nicholas to some degree.
“We agreed we had little choice but to marry. Why should I get cold feet?” She leaned back in her seat, thinking. “Though it would not be completely unreasonable to have doubts, would it? There are still many things I do not know about you. And many things you do not know about me.”
“A woman like you cannot have very many secrets.”
“Hm.” Amelia did not want to answer him either way.
“But if there is something bothering you…” Nicholas gestured for her to ask him. “By all means, tell away, while they prepare the drawing room.”
Amelia was not sure it was wise to know too much about him. They had spent many hours in each other’s company over the last two weeks, and she found him to be mostly agreeable.
Sometimestooagreeable.
But I have heard rumors about his past. The paramours he has taken and his rakish friends. They say his father was an honorable man. But Nicholas seems to be different. Would it be dangerous for me to learn more? If this marriage is for show alone, perhaps it is better to remain ignorant.
Her curiosity got the better of her.
“Alright. There is one thing.” She leaned forward suddenly. “Why did you not go to London yourself to secure the license? I asked Uncle Benjamin, and he said he did not know—that you gave him some sort ofwritwith your signature instead. I expected you to travel with him. Would that not have been the proper thing to do, to meet the archbishop yourself?”
She felt more than she saw Nicholas tense on the other side of the desk. He tapped on the wooden armrests, and Amelia waited for his answer.
“I suppose you will learn the truth eventually. I may as well tell you now,” he murmured. “I am not welcome in London at present.”
“Not welcome bywhom?”
“The courts.”
Amelia started. “What do you mean,the courts?”
Nicholas eyed her, but when it was clear she would not let the matter drop, he continued with an exasperated sigh. “The courtshave ordered me to remain in Oxford for six months. I am not to set foot in London until that time has elapsed. The consequences would be most dire indeed.”
“What in heaven’s name did you do?” Amelia thought the worst and quickly bridled her thoughts. “A court order is a serious thing.”
He laughed. “I am fully aware. Before you jump to a most unfortunate conclusion, rest assured that the matter is mostly a misunderstanding.”
“That seems unlikely.”
A growl, then, so faint she almost missed it. The sound made her skin prickle.
“It concerned a duel,” he said. “A man sought to duel me, and I refused. He claimed that my refusal was a greater slight on his honor than the grounds which had called for the duel in the first place. I would not budge, and neither would he. I brought the matter to the courts, and they ordered my immediate departure from London for our safeties both.”
