But no, this was more. So much more.
“I don’t want a husband who pretends I don’t exist, whenever problems happen.” She started to pace across the garden, and he rather liked the way her hair was falling out of its arrangement, her green eyes filled with fire. She was a beautiful woman, and one who never failed to speak her mind. He’d always liked that about her.
“Well?” she demanded.
David blinked, not realizing he’d been supposed to answer that. He’d been contemplating the best way to show her he cared.
“I wasn’t trying to ignore you,” he said. “It was a terrible week, and if I was inattentive, it was because I was afraid of losing Christine.”
Her expression grew pained. “It wasn’t that I needed attention, David. I wanted to ease your pain, to share it between us. Don’t you think I worried about her, too?”
He knew she had, for she’d been as exhausted as he was. Every hour that his daughter had fought for her life, he’d looked across the bed, and Amelia had been there. “I’m not explaining myself well.”
“No, you’re not.” But she stopped pacing and waited for him to try again. That, at least, gave him hope. He was reaching the end of his list of arguments, and he decided that Dr. Fraser was right. Women were far too complicated, and words weren’t going to get him anywhere at all.
“I’ve made mistakes,” he admitted. “I’ll likely make many more in the next few years. But give it time, and our marriage will be just fine.”
“I don’t want our marriage to be just fine,” Amelia countered. “I want it to be wonderful.” Her voice was wistful with longing. “Iwant you to kiss me as if you love me. I want you to smile and enjoy the life we have together. And I want to share your bed at night and awaken with you beside me.”
“I can give you that,” he said quietly. But Amelia appeared unconvinced.
She let out a sigh and offered, “I suppose, to you, a good wife sits in the corner and embroiders handkerchiefs. That isn’t the woman I am.”
“I would never expect that of you,” he pointed out. “But neither am I a knight, charging up on a white horse, to sweep you away to live in a castle.” He didn’t want her creating illusions about what their life would be like.
“I’m not a young girl who still believes in those things,” she said. “But you did save me from Lord Lisford.”
Her reminder gave him a reason to hope. “The man was going to ruin you. You didn’t deserve what he did.” He glanced around him. “I don’t suppose you deserved this, either. But you’re trapped here, and that’s the end of it.”
She wasn’t going anywhere. Not if he had to chain her to his side.
“Trapped?” She frowned, and he sat down where they had shared a picnic only a few days earlier.
“Yes. You made the decision to wed me, and I’m not allowing you to leave. Especially if you love me.”
Her face was flushed and incredulous that he’d changed his tack. “I could change my mind. I might not really love you.”
“But you do.” He crooked his finger. “Come here, Amelia.”
“No, I won’t. I’m leaving with Juliette and Lord Falsham within the hour.”
In a sudden move, he stood and caught her around the waist. “You’ll be too busy to go with them.”
“Doing what?”
He drew her close and murmured against her mouth. “Embroidering handkerchiefs.” His hands moved up her spine, and he appreciated the lush curve of her hips, and the way her body fitted to his.
“Have you lost your mind?”
He was beginning to think that he had. It was far better to simply take command of her and do as he pleased than to try and justify it to her. He wanted Amelia to stay with him, and stay she would.
“I hate embroidering,” she said.
But then he moved his hands to her breasts and flicked the tips with his thumbs. “No, you don’t. You like it quite a lot.”
Her mouth dropped open as she suddenly caught his hidden meaning. David seized his opportunity and kissed her hard. He gave her no opportunity to argue with him, not after all that they’d been through together. For so long, he’d mistakenly believed she was little more than a girl, unable to accept the responsibilities of caring for a household. She had proven herself to be a more commanding woman than Katherine, taking charge of what she wanted.
Just as he was doing now.
