Spreading out her hands, Amelia smiled, an idea coming to her. “Then, if you wish to find yourself a little happier in society, would you not let me help you?”
The Duke’s eyes grew wide, his hand falling back to his side. “What do you mean?”
“Permit me to help you,” she repeated, though the idea – now that she thought of it a little more fully – was, no doubt, immediately going to be dismissed by the Duke. “If you wish it, at any social occasion we happen to be at together, then I might, perhaps, be present with you, aiding in conversation and the like so that you do not appear so severe.”
The Duke’s lips quirked and Amelia immediately dropped her head, mortification searing through her. Hewasgoing to laugh at her, mock her suggestion and tell her that the last thing he needed was her help.
“Pray, forget that I ever made such a suggestion. I – ”
The Duke’s hand caught hers just as she turned away. Sparks shot up her arm and she spun back towards him, only for the Duke’sotherhand to reach out to steady her. The smile on his lips faded away, his eyes rounding as he looked at her.Amelia swallowed hard, looking back at him as he released her, though his gaze remained steady.
“I was not about to laugh at you, Lady Amelia. Your suggestion is nothing but kindness itself.” Putting one hand to his heart, he inclined his head. “If you think that you can do anything to encourage my reputation to be a little less than darkness, then I should be glad of it.”
Amelia’s eyes rounded, surprise pushing through her heart. “Truly?”
“I mean every word,” he swore, the severity of his gaze convincing her. “I do not know what it is you can do but – ”
“I might have to correct you at some points,” she interrupted, seeing him frown. “I already admitted that I spoke harshly to you last evening at the ball given that I thought you rude. What happens if I must do so again? Will you turn from me? Will you give me a curt answer and thereafter, turn away entirely?”
The Duke cleared his throat, considering. Looking away, he took in a breath and then, nodding to himself, returned his gaze to her. “If you wish to speak to me in such a way, if I am deserving of such firmness, then yes, I shall accept it. My mother and my brother have both spoken to me this very day of my reputation and of my seeming desire to cling to the ‘beastliness’ spoken of me. I wish to prove them wrong. I wish to prove to myself that I can do a good deal more than simply remain within my own house and linger in my own company.”
Again, surprised by his honesty, it took Amelia a few minutes to regain her speech. Seeing that there was no lie in his eyes, no teasing smile at the edge of his mouth, she let out a slow breath and then nodded. “Very well. We have an accord, Your Grace.”
A flitting smile lifted his features and on seeing it, Amelia’s breath hitched, her eyes flaring as heat rippled from the top of her head all the way down to her toes.
“It seems that we do, Lady Amelia.”
“Might I ask if you are to be at the ball this evening? Lord and Lady Jeffersons’ ball?”
He nodded. “I am.”
She managed a smile, despite the fact that every part of her seemed to be suddenly all of a tremble. “Then let us see if this evening might bring any sort of improvement to your reputation, Your Grace.”
The smile on his face grew and Amelia averted her eyes for fear that the heat within her might grow all the more. It was not often that she had seen the Duke of Ashbourne smile – even less, seeing him smile with a genuine happiness in his eyes – and now that it was there, now that it was ever present, lifting his features, she did not quite know what to do with the feelings that such a small thing brought to her. Much to her relief, her mother came to stand by her elbow, inquiring whether they were now quite contented, given the smile she had seen on the Duke’s face. Amelia heard the Duke of Ashbourne’s retort, confirming that indeed he had articulated everything he deemed necessary and that Amelia had been most kind in her understanding, and then he took his leave.
“That seems to have gone very well. I do not think I have ever seen the Duke smile in such a way.”
Hearing the note of interest in her mother’s voice, Amelia looked to her at once. “He apologised for being very brief in his conversation during our dance last evening, that is all.”
“That was very good of him.”
Amelia laughed, chasing away the strange sensations within her heart. “I would have preferred it from him last evening sothat the dance might have been a little more enjoyable, but I shall accept his apology nonetheless.”
“That is good.” Lady Stanton took her arm and then they began to walk together. “We should go to find your father and Charlotte now, for we cannot linger long. There is still dinner and then the ball this evening!” She looked to Amelia. “Are you looking forward to it?”
“I – I am.” Amelia frowned, a little surprised at just how much she was looking forward to stepping into Lord Jefferson’s house and into his fine ballroom. But was it the ball she was so excited about? Or was it the company she was to find within?
Chapter Ten
“Mother?”
Nathanial inclined his head as his mother turned towards him. “You look quite radiant, I must say.”
His mother smiled. “Thank you, Ashbourne. You are very kind.”
“No, I am not.” Seeing how her smile immediately disappeared, Nathanial sighed and shook his head. “You spoke to me with great directness this morning, Mother. I want you to know that I have been considering what you said.”
A faint hint of color climbed into her cheeks. “My son, I spoke harshly. I did not mean – ”
