Amelia blushed. She felt as if she knew hardly anything about the man she married. Even more so seeing him here. “I’m learning, Elizabeth.”
“Lizzie—all my family calls me that.”
“Then I’d be proud to do the same.” Amelia glanced at Hugh and found him smiling at the pair. She returned the gesture and linked arms with her new sister-in-law.
Lizzie began to guide them up the stairs toward the house. “Amelia, you do not know how happy I was to hear my brother had found a bride. I’ve long told him he needed to settle down and be as happy as all his friends. But I was sorry not to be able to be part of the wedding. Was there a reason for the great rush?”
Amelia looked over her shoulder. Hugh had gone tense, his face lined with worry. She realized he didn’t want his sister, who obviously worshipped him, to know that he’d blackmailed her into wedding him. That their marriage had been one of cold calculation, not some kind of whirlwind romance that had swept her off her feet.
She supposed if she were cruel, she could use that fact. Hurt him by telling the truth. But that seemed pointless. It would only create disillusion in his sweet, kind sister and would not change what had happened.
“I did not expect such a quick marriage either,” she said, treading carefully so that nothing she said was a lie. “But the moment Hugh came into my life, it was clear that there was no other option but to wed him. He made me an offer I could not refuse, after all. Once you know your future, there is no point in waiting.”
Lizzie released her arm as they entered the foyer and turned to her with a dreamy smile. “Oh, how very romantic,” she cooed, and for a moment there was a flash of sadness on her sweet face. “How lucky for you both—I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you, my dear.” Amelia said. She glanced up the stairs to see Theresa coming down. She’d not seen her maid since earlier in the morning, when she’d come in to help Amelia dress before the servants rode ahead to the estate.
Hugh turned toward the butler, who had been standing by quietly in the shadows. “Masters, good to see you. May I present the Duchess of Brighthollow.”
Masters executed a low bow. “A very hearty welcome to you, Your Grace. We are so very pleased to meet you. The household staff will greet you tomorrow, as to give you time to rest yourself before you are overwhelmed.”
Amelia stepped toward the man with a smile. “That is very kind, Masters. I look forward to meeting them all in the morning when I am more prepared.”
The butler looked toward Hugh. “Supper will be served in half an hour, Your Grace. All your favorites, of course.”
Hugh’s smile was genuine as he came closer and patted the butler’s shoulder. “Tell Mrs. Masters how grateful I am for that. I have missed your wife’s cooking.”
Masters puffed up a little at the compliment before he returned to proper butlerly coolness. “I shall. The bags arrived an hour ago, so all should be settled for Her Grace upstairs.”
“Excellent. I see that her lady’s maid is already here,” Hugh said, inclining his head toward Theresa. “Good evening, Theresa. We have a little time, Amelia, if you’d like to go up and change for supper.”
Amelia stared. She’d been so wrapped up in watching him interact with his servant and his sister that she hadn’t been prepared to speak. “Er, yes,” she said. “I wouldn’t mind changing out of my travel clothes. Half an hour you said, Masters?”
The butler nodded.
“Very good. I shall see you all then.”
She turned toward Theresa and followed her upstairs toward the duchess’s chamber awaiting her. But she wasn’t wondering about the room she would inhabit or thinking about supper or anything else.
All she could think about was Hugh, even as she walked away from him. She had thought him an ogre in London, a beast who would rip her away from a future she had so carefully planned and so deeply desired. But along the road to his estate, her thoughts about him had shifted somewhat. She’d seen his kindness and his passion. She’d even watched some of his walls lower.
Here, there was even more change to take in. He obviously loved his sister fiercely. And she loved him in return. He was kind to his servants and relaxed in the walls of this estate.
So who was the true man she had married? The ogre? The passionate lover? The loving brother? The kind duke? Who was he?
And with their bad beginning, would sheeverreally know?
Hugh watched as Amelia laughed at something his sister had said to her. It warmed his heart to watch the two women interact through supper and now as they stood in the parlor together, giggling like old friends. Lizzie could be so reserved, but it was evident she liked Amelia. They would be good for each other.
Amelia’s gaze slid to him, and his body went on alert. She was good for him, too. At least when it came to wanting. He hadn’t let himself feel that for a long time. Oh, he’d taken women to bed, of course. Robert refused to let him be a monk. But that longing, that tug of insistent desire?
Thathe only felt with her.
She smiled at him, but then she reached up and covered a yawn with the back of her hand. He shook his head. Perhaps tonight she didn’t need overwhelming passion. After a whirlwind wedding, two days on the road and one night where he kept her up making love, perhaps the best gift he could give her was to let her sleep.
“Lizzie, I know it’s early, but I think it might be time for me to turn in,” he said.
Lizzie pivoted and her eyes went wide. “Oh, goodness, I wasn’t thinking of your very long drive. I know I am exhausted every time I make the ride from London. Of course you two must need to rest.”
