That much was true. The notorious Highlander didn’t play by the rules, and he wouldn’t hesitate to defend her against any harm.
“He’s in love with her,” Victoria added. “For as long as I can remember, he’s been there.”
Amelia knew it, but despite Margaret’s feelings, her sister would never wed a commoner. She had set her sights on a titled lord sinceshe was ten years old. Prim and proper Margaret would never consider marrying anyone whose blood wasn’t as blue as the sea.
It should be Margaret marrying the earl. Not her.
Victoria held out a package wrapped in brown paper. “I brought you something. It’s a wedding gift for tonight.” She exchanged a glance with Juliette, and her sister’s mouth curved in a smile. “Madame Benedict would be furious if she knew I held it back from the last delivery. She has dozens of orders, but without Mr. Sinclair to deliver them to the crofters, this may be the last of Aphrodite’s Unmentionables.”
Although her sister had meant it as a present, the package reminded Amelia of Lady Sarah and the woman’s blackmail demands. In the past few weeks, she’d done nothing at all to meet the woman’s demands. She worried that Lady Sarah would make good on her threat, but thus far, she had not revealed their secret. Before Amelia took the package, she asked her sisters, “Have either of you heard from Lady Sarah?”
Victoria exchanged a glance with both of them. “No. But I’ve told my husband about it. Jonathan sent her a note in return, with a warning.”
Amelia thought back to the first encounter she’d had with Lady Sarah. Although they could easily have her arrested for blackmail, using the note as evidence, it would still bring out their involvement in Aphrodite’s Unmentionables. “Before you do anything, I want to speak with her once more. There may be a way to gain her silence.” She wasn’t certain of how, but she intended to write to the woman and settle the matter.
“Let me know if you have any difficulties,” Victoria urged. Beneath her sister’s tone, she caught the warning, and Amelia promised she would.
“I think you should open Victoria’s gift,” Juliette said, changing the subject. “Go on. Let’s see the unmentionables. Are they terribly wicked?” The gleam in her sister’s eye suggested that they had to be.
I might not need them, Amelia thought to herself. Lord Castledon had already offered her the chance to wait before consummating their marriage. This marriage would protect her family’s name and prevent scandal from touching them. But there would be no love in it, only friendship.
The thought bothered her deeply, for shewanteda wedding night.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of, when you share his bed,” Victoria assured her. “And if you wear this, Lord Castledon won’t be able to keep his eyes—or his hands—off you.”
“I’m not afraid,” Amelia lied. “It’s just that all of this was so unexpected.”
“Do you want to marry the earl?” Juliette asked, frowning suddenly.
“Yes.” She did, though she harbored no illusions about the sort of marriage they would have. “Though I don’t think he particularly wants to marry me.”
Juliette’s face softened. “You’re so wrong. I’ve seen the way he’s watched you over the years. He likes you a great deal.”
“As a companion, perhaps. Not a wife.”
“Men don’t know what they want,” Victoria pronounced. “Once he sees you in these unmentionables, every last thought will leave his brain.”
Amelia wasn’t certain. Even after the earl had kissed her, he’d gone silent, as if she’d broken an unspoken rule. And yet…she wanted to marry this man. She wanted to see if there was any way of learning who he truly was, when he wasn’t grieving for his wife.
“I’ll try,” she managed, taking the dark blue lacy garment from her sister. When she touched the silk chemise meant to be worn beneath her corset, she tried to imagine what he would say if he did see it. Would he want to kiss her or touch her? Or would he retreat again?
For a moment, she allowed herself to daydream of what it would be like to feel his kiss again, to experience the weight of his body against hers. Hard upon soft, muscled flesh to womanly curves…
“You will enjoy your wedding night,” Victoria said, but Amelia hardly heard any of her sisters’ attempts to cheer her up. Instead, she put on her shoes and braced herself for what lay ahead.
Chapter Eight
David stood before the clergyman, at precisely ten o’clock in the morning, in Lord Lanfordshire’s parlor. He had gotten a special license from the archbishop a few days ago. They had decided to invite only family and to have the wedding at the baron’s home, in order to avoid gossiping tongues.
Amelia looked terrified, her face a pale contrast against the spray of pink roses in her hair. Her gown was the blue of a summer sky, though she looked ready to flee.
David felt the same way. All last night, he’d questioned whether he was doing the right thing. He’d read his daughter’s letter at least a dozen times, wondering if Amelia would make a good mother for her.
Or whetherhewould be a good husband to Amelia. He might be saving her reputation just now, but in turn, he was giving her a life shadowed by loss. Her gaze was downcast, and he caught the telltale trembling of her hands.
This was not the Amelia he knew so well. This was not the young woman who would speak her mind and order him around. She looked utterly miserable, like a daffodil crushed by a windstorm.
David wanted more for her. He wanted to bring back the amusing moments they’d shared when they were cheating at games. He wantedto see her smile, to hear her laugh. To kiss her until her lips were swollen and her eyes held the haze of unfulfilled desire. Though he tried to stifle the buried needs, he couldn’t deny the effect she had upon him.
