“You wanted to drown,” Diana whispered.
“I know it’s wrong.”
“Wrong?” Diana shook her head. “That is called passion, my dear, and it is not wrong. Youshouldfeel passion for the man you will marry. You should feel that delicious warmth low in your belly when he watches you from across a room. You should feel the tingle when his hand brushes your skin.”
Amelia blinked. “But—”
“But nothing!” Diana interrupted. “I know your mother is no longer with you. Has anyone talked to you about such things?”
Heat burned Amelia’s cheeks “Not really. My maid mentioned just a few bare-bones details about what a man might want. It sounded somewhat terrifying.”
Diana laughed softly. “Oh, that will not do! You are to be married tomorrow, and so I must share with you a few things about passion. If you would like to hear them.”
Amelia thought of the feel of Hugh’s hands skimming her body. Of his mouth on hers and the way her body had felt boneless and hot. About how she wanted so much more even if she couldn’t define whatmorewas.
“Yes,” she said, perhaps a bit more strenuously than was required. “I will take any advice on that count that I can get.”
“Excellent,” Diana said. “Firstly, on the subject of kissing…”
Chapter Ten
Hugh had always known he would marry. It was his duty, after all, to do so and produce heirs and spares to carry on his family name and legacy. He’d been studious as a boy, thinking on every problem, planning it out. He’d believed he would marry before thirty-five and produce a child every two years after until he had enough sons to guarantee his line would carry on.
It had been a plan of necessity. No heart required.
As the years went by, though, as he watched James, Simon, Graham, Ewan, Baldwin, Lucas and Matthew each find true love…his view on marriage had shifted. Love seemed to make them all so very happy. He’d been jealous of that happiness from time to time. And so he had begun to wonder if he could experience the same emotion.
But now, as he stared across the room filled with his friends toward the woman he had pledged his life to not an hour ago, he was torn.
Amelia was his wife. And it was not the cold, emotionless bond that he had accepted would be right as a young man. Nor was it the glorious, loving relationship he had come to covet in the past few years.
He wanted her. God, how he wanted her. But he also knew she despised him and the lie that had been told to force her to the altar. He knew she loved someone else, his greatest enemy.
Their future was set, but it was not clear. She was accepted by his friends, of course. Not one of the dukes or duchesses had been anything but kind to her. Even now Robert danced with her, and there was no hint of the hesitations he had expressed previously as he smiled down at her.
But what did that mean for them? That she would be comfortable in his group of friends, but never in his arms? Would she always hesitate, as she had when the minister had asked her to pledge her life to him? She had looked up into his eyes in that moment and he’d seen all she felt she was losing by agreeing to the terms forced upon her.
“My friend, congratulations.”
He turned at the sound of Kit’s voice and found both him and Lucas approaching. Hugh slung an arm around Kit, and together the three watched Robert and Amelia dance.
“She is beautiful,” Kit said softly. “Is that why the rush after our last discussion about the lady?”
Lucas exchanged a brief look with Hugh, but remained silent.
“It’s complicated,” Hugh muttered. “I don’t want to get into it. At least not right now.”
Kit didn’t press. Instead he said, “Will you stay in London?”
“I think not. If it is agreeable to her, I would like to depart for Brighthollow tomorrow. I know Lizzie will want to meet her. And it will help us escape the whispers about our rushed union and—”
He broke off. He wasn’t about to add the other thing he felt they needed to escape from: Aaron Walters. He didn’t like the idea of the man being so close to Amelia. Of her being tempted by him. Every day that concept grew less and less acceptable.
“It looks as though Robert has finished his turn,” Kit said. “If you don’t mind, I will ask the lady for the next.”
“By all means,” Hugh said with a smile.
Kit nodded to his friends and then slipped off to charm Amelia just as all his friends were working to charm her.
