But when he pulled away and rolled off of her, getting up to help her back to her feet, he knew this wasn’t over. Not even close. And losing his wife might still be a very strong possibility.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“What will happen now?” Amelia asked as their carriage turned back into the drive at the London estate an hour later. It was the first thing she had said to Hugh since they got into the vehicle.
He jolted in surprise, like he hadn’t thought she would speak to him ever again. “Lucas says the department has enough evidence to mark the case as a justifiable end to a bad criminal. Our names will be kept out of the report, it seems.”
She dropped her chin. “Like it never happened.”
He let out his breath. “I suppose.”
“Only it did,” she whispered, glancing up at him and flinching as she flashed back to the moment Hugh had stepped in front of her, ready to take a bullet to save her life, and said that he loved her. She would never forget it.
“Yes, it did,” he said, reaching for her hand. She let him hold it for a moment, then slid it away. He sighed again. “I want to talk to you about this, Amelia. I want to talk to you about everything.”
She nodded. “You owe me an explanation. But you also owe your sister the same. She will want to know about Walters, too. And his end.”
He turned his head. “It will hurt her.”
“Yes,” Amelia agreed. “But the alternative is to lie and I think you’ve done more than enough of that. The truth is what this situation requires, Hugh. I suggest you start telling it.”
The carriage door opened and she took the footman’s waiting hand and stepped out. Stepped away from Hugh and up into the house. She knew he was trailing behind her, she felt his presence, just as she always felt his presence. It was unavoidable. Looming.
Comforting.
But today she couldn’t get lost in that. Today she deserved more than his comfort. She deserved to know the answers to her questions. She deserved the anger she felt in her chest.
She had earned it.
As she stepped inside, Diana and Lizzie rushed into the foyer. Lizzie’s face was pale as she hurried to embrace her brother. Diana came to Amelia, and her fingers reached out to gently trace the bruise on Amelia’s cheek.
“I’m so glad you weren’t permanently harmed,” she whispered as she hugged Amelia. Amelia almost buckled at the embrace, but managed to keep herself upright.
“It is thanks to your husband,” she whispered, and then glanced back at where Lizzie and her brother were still hugging.
Diana’s eyebrows lifted. “How bad?” she asked.
“Bad,” Amelia said. “Lucas is unharmed. He saved our lives.”
Diana nodded slowly. “He is good at that.”
“He stayed behind to finish up with the reporting. He said he would see you at home.”
“Then I’ll leave you now, for it seems your family has much to process together. But I hope you’ll let me see you again, perhaps tomorrow or the next day.”
“Of course,” Amelia said, leaning up to kiss her cheek. “Thank you.”
She moved into the parlor as she heard Diana say her goodbyes. Her hands shook as she tried to pour herself tea, sloshing hot liquid onto the saucer before she managed to get the cup filled. As she took the first sip, Lizzie and Hugh entered the room.
And again, she felt his eyes on her. It was like the beginning of their relationship, when he’d sometimes just watched her. Reading her. At the time, that had made her nervous. She didn’t understand it or him.
Now she did and it took everything in her not to rush into his arms and let him comfort her.
Lizzie moved over to her, and Amelia set her teacup down as she was pulled in for a hug. When she backed away at last, Lizzie stared at her face in horror. “Oh, Amelia,” she breathed. “Did he do that to you?”
Amelia reached up to touch the bruise, which now ached dully. “He did,” she said, determined not to lie, if only to set a good example for Hugh. “He wanted to do worse, but…but he cannot any longer.”
Lizzie shook her head and looked at Hugh in question. “What?”
