He took the daisy and twirled the stem. “Amelia, it won’t be that bad.”
She sent him a pointed look, as if to say, yes, itwasthat bad. David decided to broach the other concern. “And…it will get easier with Christine. I know she’s not been easy to like, given her behavior. But once she gets better acquainted with you, she’ll come to realize that you’ll be not only a new mother, but a friend.”
Her expression grew strained, as if she didn’t believe that at all. He stood and was about to leave, when he saw that she was fighting back tears. Amelia wasn’t one to cry, but it seemed that she was on edge.
“What else is bothering you?” he asked quietly.
She took a breath, gathering her composure. Though her eyes still gleamed, she admitted, “From the moment I’ve stepped into this house, I’ve felt sixteen years old again. I’m told what I can and cannot do. I’m not permitted to make any changes or do anything that would alter the household. I don’t feel like your wife at all.”
He was caught by the unhappiness in her voice and he took her hand, drawing her closer. Without words, he guided her arms around his waist, while he framed her face. “Don’t you?”
“Not really.” Her words were the barest whisper, and he drew his thumb across her cheek and over her mouth.
Without asking her leave, he kissed her. There was a hint of salt upon her lips, revealing earlier tears.
He didn’t want her to be unhappy here. But every time he touched Amelia, it was as if the years of grief disappeared for a moment. The light of her presence twined around him, healing theraw edges. Amelia had been right; it was hard to enjoy happiness again, to take pleasure in another wife after so long. His instincts warned that he should tighten his heart against any emotions. Friendship was acceptable. But love was dangerous.
She sighed against his mouth, pulling him closer. The warmth of her arms and the velvet softness of her mouth beckoned him toward another means of forgetting.
He knew he should let go of the past and move forward. But no one had ever told him how hard that first step would be. It was as if she were melting away the hardened ice of grief, easing him with the balm of her touch.
And when she pulled back from the kiss, he found that his hands were shaking.
Amelia sat at the end of a dining room table that could host twelve people. The earl sat on the opposite side, at the head of the table, with his daughter beside him. Christine sent Amelia a triumphant look, as if she’d planned it this way.
No, more likely it was Mrs. Menford, the housekeeper, who had placed the pair of them so far apart, her husband would need an ear trumpet to hear her.
This wouldn’t do at all.
Amelia picked up her silver and marched to the end where Lord Castledon sat. She took a place at his right and feigned ignorance. “I hope you don’t mind my joining you. It was lonely at the far end with only a pepper pot to speak to.”
Fortunately, the earl nodded, not seeming to care where she sat. But Christine kicked Amelia beneath the table, so her father wouldn’t see.
“Ouch!” Amelia said, rubbing at her shin. She sent an incredulous look toward the young girl, who was ignoring her.
“Are you all right?” David asked.
She was tempted to tell him what his daughter had done, but that would only make the girl into a stronger enemy. Instead she said, “Yes. I bumped my leg by accident.”
Christine appeared confused, as if she’d expected Amelia to rail at her. But Amelia had three sisters and knew that the girl was trying to provoke a fight to gain her father’s attention. She stared at her stepdaughter as if to say,I know what you did, and it won’t work with me.
But David was not oblivious to his daughter’s behavior. His gaze narrowed upon Christine. “Did you kick Amelia under the table?”
“I didn’t!” she insisted. “I was only stretching my legs. She must have bumped into me.” The young girl put on an expression of false innocence. “Papa, I promise you, I would never kick anyone.”
He eyed Amelia. “Were you attacked by the table leg?”
She bit her lip. “I can’t say for certain. It may have been an imaginary dog who kicked me. Or perhaps a ghost?”
“Or a ghost dog,” David said drily. He seemed aware of her tactic and turned back to his daughter. “I don’t believe your mother would have approved of lies, Christine.”
“I didn’t lie,” she said weakly. She held her father’s gaze without blinking, for nearly a minute. “Don’t you believe me?”
Soon, her eyes welled up, and he let out a sigh. “Christine, I know what you did. Apologize to Amelia at once.”
The girl glared at her. “I apologize for my leg accidentally hitting yours.”
It was no accident at all, but Amelia forced herself to remain serene. “I accept your apology. Accidents do happen.”Though not in this instance.
