Amelia clutched at her neckline, even though her dress was safely laced up and modest. She could only imagine the scene Letitia stumbled upon when she opened the door. Herself, disheveled and red-faced, eyes closed, with Stephen standing behind her, his hands on her waist, his lips a hair’s breadth from the nape of her neck.
Women had been ruined for less.
“Letitia…” she managed hoarsely, but the older woman simply talked over her.
“Dukes cannot go around ruining innocent women,” Letitia sighed. “And now that there are witnesses?—”
“Everybody out,” Stephen interrupted, his eyes blazing.
The poor butler vanished at once, with Madeline and Tristan in hot pursuit. Marjory wavered until she met Amelia’s eyes.
Go, Amelia mouthed.
Marjory retreated down the hall reluctantly.
Letitia’s eyebrows rose, and she met her grandson’s eyes firmly.
“I said,” Stephen murmured, his voice low and a little dangerous, “everybody out.”
Letitia appeared to be holding back a smile. She met Amelia’s gaze, but Amelia turned away at once.
“Very well,” she whispered. “I shall leave you to discuss this.”
She retreated at last, closing the door behind her. Once she was gone, Amelia let herself sink onto the window seat. She let out a brief, hitching sob.
“Amelia?” Stephen asked, looking rather baffled. “What’s the matter?”
“What’s the matter? What’s thematter?” she burst out. “It’s too much, that’s what the matter is! Oh, I’ve never been so humiliated in my life. They saw me like… like that!”
“It could have been worse.”
She glared up at him. “It could have been better, too. And now, because I could not control myself, becauseyouwould not put distance between us, I am ruined. And… and worst of all, I believe that Letitia set it all up. Why would she do that to me? Why does she hate me so?”
“Hate you?” Stephen frowned. “You are wrong.”
“Am I?”
“Yes. My grandmother is trying to help you and force me into doing what she wants.”
“And how on earth does she plan to achieve that?” Amelia snapped. “I’mruined.”
“Both of us are ruined,” he responded sharply.
Amelia gave a harsh laugh. “Don’t be ridiculous. You cannot possibly compare our situations.”
“No, I suppose not,” he murmured, folding his arms.
He still had not put his jacket or cravat back on, and the muscles in his chest and shoulders strained against the fabric. Amelia swallowed hard, forcing herself to look away.
“My grandmother knows me well,” he added. “One may do whatever one likes behind closed doors, but now that we have been seen…embracingeach other, the secret is out.”
“Can’t you tell your friends and butler to keep quiet about it? I will speak to Marjory.”
He scratched the back of his neck with a sigh. “It is not that simple. There is only one solution now, and my grandmother knows it. She knows what choice I will make.”
“Send me away, I suppose,” Amelia responded bitterly. “If she thinks she is helping me, she is sorely mistaken.”
“I will have to marry you,” Stephen stated bluntly.
