Yes, her husband was always there, even when he wasn’t in the room with her, filling up all the space and making her want him. Heart and soul, body and mind.
There was a light knock on the parlor door, and she straightened and faced it. “Enter.”
Masters put his head into the room. “Your Grace, the Duchess of Willowby has arrived. Are you in residence?”
Amelia sighed. She had expected Diana far earlier, based on their conversation from a few days before. In fact, she had been expecting all the duchesses to descend upon her, driven to wheedle her forgiveness out of her.
“I’m home,” she said. “Send Her Grace in, thank you.”
Masters went to fetch her guest and Amelia took her time folding the letter from her father and putting it away. She stood, smoothing her skirts, and faced the door with something resembling a smile.
Diana swept in a moment later and immediately crossed the room to hug Amelia wordlessly. Amelia buckled against her friend, drawing deep breaths so she wouldn’t humiliate herself by weeping.
She had done enough of that in private.
“Sit,” Diana ordered gently, as if this was her parlor, not Amelia’s.
But Amelia could not deny her, so she did as she was told and watched as Diana hustled to the sideboard. “Should I order more tea?”
Amelia chuckled. “It seems to be your house, Your Grace.”
Diana turned with a smile. “I’m sorry, I’m being thoughtless and pushy. Lucas says it is in my nature to take care of others. The healer in me, you know.” She came back to the settee and took a place next to Amelia. She searched her face. “The bruise has healed a great deal. It should be gone in a day or two.”
“If only the rest was so easy,” Amelia sighed.
“Yes, if I could patent a salve for a broken heart, I would double Lucas’s fortune.” Diana shook her head. “But that is not possible.”
Amelia worried her lip. “I assume Hugh has gone to you two.” Diana’s silence was the answer. “Did he sent you as his agent?”
“No.” Diana said immediately. “Quite the opposite. There have been many offers to come and talk to you by all the duchesses and half the dukes. He has asked everyone to leave you be, respect your wishes to be left alone. I’m certain he would be angry if he knew I was here.”
Amelia ducked her head. “So everyone knows then?”
Diana smiled. “They’re a family, Amelia. I was like you, alone most of my life, and in the beginning the idea that all the friends and their wives were so intertwined was unsettling. But you’ll see, as you come to know everyone, that it is truly magical. You end up with a heart full of sisters and brothers to turn to. People who won’t judge and who accept you for exactly who you are.”
Amelia clenched her hands together. That sounded like heaven. “IfI come to know everyone. I don’t even know where my marriage stands at present.”
“That’s why I’m here,” Diana said, patting her hand. “To help you through this, since I thought you might need a friend.”
Amelia laughed, though she felt little humor. “Aren’t you a little biased?”
Diana’s laugh was heartier. “Oh yes, I am. But so are you.”
Amelia let out her breath slowly. “I am.” She glanced at Diana. “He lied to me. My father, I expected that from him, as much as it hurt. He always saw me as a tool to be wielded. But I hated it, and Hugh knew how much I did. I never expectedhimto…”
Diana nodded as Amelia trailed off, unable to continue. “I cannot imagine. Especially since it is so obvious that you care for him.”
Amelia flinched. “Yes, that is true, too.”
“Do you love him?” Diana’s question was gentle, but Amelia felt her seeking gaze. She nodded without looking up. Diana retook her hand. “He made mistakes. Two very bad ones. The first was before he knew you. The second was when he was afraid to lose you.”
Amelia bent her head. As she’d spent the days and nights alone, she had come to much the same conclusion. “He should have told me,” she said.
“Yes, he should have. But he didn’t,” Diana said.
Amelia shifted, feeling a swell of protectiveness toward Hugh. “But…he meant to. Didn’t he?”
“He did. He has said as much to all of us, as he paces our halls, tormenting himself. He hates himself for not doing so, and for putting you in danger because of it.”
