He frowned and the good feelings left him. “No,” he said softly. “Lizzie is in Brighthollow. With the wedding tomorrow, it would be impossible to get her here in time. But I have written to her. I would very much like to join her at the estate after the wedding so you could meet her. If that would be agreeable to you.”
She glanced up at him, and there was no mistaking the surprise on her face. “You are asking me?”
“I’m sure that is not what you expect, given the nature of our engagement,” he said. “But I hope you’ll soon learn that I have no intention of forcing you into a life you do not wish to lead. If you say you will not go, I’ll make other arrangements. But my shire is…it’s wonderful, Amelia. Beautiful and quiet. My sister will adore you, I’m sure.”
She seemed to ponder the reasoning, and then she nodded. “I think that sounds lovely. I would be happy to join you there.”
The ballroom was just a few steps away now, and he found himself sorry for that fact. This was the first time that anger and betrayal were not pulsing between them.
It seemed she had somewhat of the same thought, for she turned toward him, stopping their progress as she looked up into his face. “Brighthollow…Hugh,” she whispered, and his stomach clenched as she said his name for the first time. “I-I don’t like how this situation was created. But I was very rude to you in the carriage two days ago. I’m…I’m sorry.”
He expelled a long breath and then shook his head. “You deserve every bit of emotion you feel, Amelia. I deserve it, too. So if it helps to pour it over me, I will not fight you. But I do hope you will leave the door open to the idea that I’m not the ogre you think I am. At least not completely.”
“I hope you’re not,” she said, her blue gaze never wavering from his. “Or else we shall both be very unhappy.”
He said nothing, for there was no response to be had. He just took her hand and led her into the ballroom, where their engagement would be announced and their future sealed.
For better or for worse.
Amelia stood beside the dance floor, the first time she had been alone all night. Her engagement to the Duke of Brighthollow and the surprise that the wedding would be the next day had been announced almost as soon as the ball began. Since then she had been surrounded by people, asking questions, sizing her up, making assumptions.
The duchesses had been wonderful, of course. One of them had always been at her side, as if they were on guard to keep people from being cruel. At least to her face. She had no doubt horrible things were being said behind her back.
But now she was alone, and for the first time she could consider her situation. When the announcement had been made, she had expected a cold fist of dread to make itself known in her stomach, but that hadn’t been the case. If anything, she had stood there, positioned between her father and Hugh, and she had felt…well, it wasn’t exactly excitement, but there was an anticipation that wasn’t entirely unpleasant. She accepted this was her future. She was uncertain about Brighthollow, but she intended to make the best of it.
There was little else to do.
She turned slightly and caught her breath. Hugh was coming across the room toward her, with that dark focus drilling into her as it always did when he looked at her. Her stomach came alive and her breath grew short as he came near her.
“Brighthollow,” she whispered as he reached her. She could not help but note that every eye in the room followed him, sizing up their interaction. Heat filled her cheeks at the focus of the crowd and the varying expressions on their watchful faces.
He glanced over his shoulder to where her eyes had strayed and frowned deeply. “I can offer you two options, Amelia.”
She forced a weak smile. “And those are?”
“Dance with me, knowing that it will be a show for them, or take a walk with me in the garden. The moon is full and the lanterns are lit. It should be a bit of a respite from the exhibition we are meant to put on.”
She stared up into that stern face. That achingly handsome face that sometimes didn’t reflect emotion and made it easy for her to judge him as cold or cruel. Tonight, she saw just a flutter of something beneath the surface. He was offering the respite for her.
And that gave her a strange kind of hope.
“The garden sounds lovely,” she said with hesitation, for being alone with Hugh was always…complicated. “I wouldn’t mind the air.”
“Excellent,” he said, and smiled as he took her hand and tucked it in the crook of his elbow.
She stared. Had she ever seen his smile before? It certainly relaxed his face, made him infinitely more handsome. It made him…younger, somehow. More carefree.
He guided her from the room and out onto the terrace. A few couples were gathered here and there, enjoying the moonlight. She even caught a glimpse of the Duke and Duchess of Sheffield focused on the stars. She was pointing at a few and he smiled indulgently as he watched her.
Hugh guided her to the stairs that led down to the garden and steadied her as they made their way from the house, the party, the people and into the quiet and calm of his garden.Hergarden, too, she supposed, once the vows were said tomorrow.
She drew in a breath as she stepped away from him and looked around. She did love a garden, and this one was lovely. The grass was well tended and the flowers taken care of.
She felt him watching her and shivered before she pivoted to face him. “Do you regret my choosing this over dancing?”
The corner of his mouth quirked up in another shadow of a smile, and with the moonlight on his face he looked a little…wicked.
“Not at all,” he said. “Although had you chosen to dance, I would not have been sorry, either.”
