“About my daughter, no doubt,” Lord Stanton chuckled, leaving Nathanial smiling. “Well, I hope this courtship is a successful one, that it leads to a happiness for you both.”
Nathanial lifted his glass, surprised at how much his heart yearned for the very same thing. Even though this was meant to be for his benefit, was meant to come to an end in a few short weeks, he found himself longing that it would, in fact, lead to a happiness for them both. “Yes, Lord Stanton,” he murmured, lifting the glass to his lips. “May it be as you say.”
***
“Good afternoon, Lady Amelia.” Nathanial bowed, having been shown into the parlor where Lady Amelia and her sister sat together. They had both quickly set aside their embroidery and had risen to their feet, bobbing a curtsy as he came a little further into the room.
“Good afternoon, Your Grace,” Lady Amelia and Lady Charlotte murmured, though Lady Charlotte quickly cast a glance towards Lady Amelia that was full of meaning and not one that Nathanial was able to ignore. No doubt the sisters hadspoken, though quite how much Lady Amelia would have told her sister, he did not know.
“I have just come from speaking with your father,” Nathanial continued, coming to sit down near Lady Amelia, as she gestured for him to do so. “I am sure that you know already that his response was a favorable one.”
Lady Amelia smiled at him and Nathanial’s heart squeezed with a sudden, endearing affection for her. She was bright eyed, a gentle hint of color in her cheeks and a smile which spread light up into her eyes. She looked to be pleased that her father had accepted their courtship though Nathanial did not let himself believe that it was for any other reason save for what she herself had told him. This was a practicality, a kindness towards him which he both accepted and appreciated, but surely there could not be any sort of feeling for him? That would be more than he deserved, more than he had ever expected and certainly more than he could even imagine.
“Yes, I know that my father was to offer his acceptance,” she said, as Lady Amelia smiled back at him. “I do hope you are glad with that outcome?”
“Veryglad,” Nathanial replied, with a little more fervency than he had meant. Coughing lightly, he lifted his shoulders and then let them fall. “It is what we had both hoped for, is it not?”
“It is.” Lady Amelia tilted her head. “I do hope you did not doubt that, Your Grace.”
“I do not.”
Lady Ameila smiled. “I do hope then, Your Grace, that you will find that very soon, society will begin to look at you with greater contentment and with a kinder eye than they do at present. I am certain that these rumours will all come to an end very soon and that Lord Wilcox will not be able to do as he intends – which is to make you out to be a very unkind gentleman.”
“Thanks to your help, I am certain it shall.” Nathanial looked back into Lady Amelia’s eyes and saw how they sparkled. His own heart leapt and with a small sigh, he reached out and, on impulse, touched her hand. “You are very kind, Lady Amelia. Please do know that I have a heart that is full of gratitude towards you for what you have done for me.”
Lady Amelia smiled back at him and, much to his surprise, rubbed her thumb across the back of his hand for a moment. The brief touch made his heart quicken all the more and he could not speak for the tightness in his throat. At that very moment, however, Lady Stanton came into the room and Nathanial withdrew his hand from Lady Amelia’s at once, rising to greet the lady in once. Their conversations continued long into the afternoon and, when it came time for Nathanial to make his way home, he realized that, for the first time, he had enjoyed the company and the companionship of others so much, he was disinclined to return home.
And it was all thanks to Lady Amelia.
Chapter Nineteen
“My dear Lady Amelia, I have heard the most extraordinary tale!”
Amelia smiled and then inclined her head as Lady Violet came towards her. “Good evening, Lady Violet. This is the most wonderful ball, is it not?”
Her friend waved a hand, dismissing Amelia’s remarks and instead, focusing on what it wasshewanted to talk about. “Yes, yes. However, as I have said, you must tell me at once if what I have heard is true.”
Amelia smiled softly. “If it is to do with the Duke of Ashbourne – ”
“Yes, the Duke of Ashbourne!” Lady Violet interrupted, grasping Amelia’s hand. “I have heard that he has asked to court you!”
Charlotte nudged Amelia lightly, making her chuckle. They had already discussed whether or not Lady Violet might be one of the first to hear of Amelia’s attachment to the Duke of Ashbourne and it appeared that they had been quite correct.
“Then is it true?” Lady Violet asked, her fingers squeezing Amelia’s. “The Duke of Ashbourne, the one known as ‘the Beastly Duke’, has asked to court you?”
Amelia nodded. “It is true.”
Lady Violet snatched in her breath, her hand releasing Amelia’s and then pressing against her own heart. “Goodness!” Her eyes flared. “You have not accepted him, have you?”
“I – I have.” Amelia’s smile faded as she took in Lady Violet’s rounded eyes and somewhat horrified expression. “You do not think this a bad connection, do you?”
“I do. Of course I do!” Lady Violet threw up her hands. “The Duke has a dark demeanour whereas you are nothing but brightness and joy. He does not smile whereas the only thing you can do is smile! There is a sorrow to him whereas you have no sorrow within your own heart. There is no connection there, no similarity between you.”
Amelia swallowed hard, then took Lady Violet’s hand again. “My dear friend, you need not think of me in that way. Yes, there are so many differences between myself and the Duke of Ashbourne but that does not mean that there cannot be any connection between us. There is a tenderness to him that is not seen by many, I think.”
“Besides,” Lady Charlotte put in, quickly, “Amelia is only going to be courting the Duke of Ashbourne for a short while, until thetonthink better of him. It is not because there is anything serious between them.”
Lady Violet looked first from Charlotte to Amelia and then back again before she let out a long, slow breath of relief, her shoulders dropping. “Oh, I am so very glad to hear it. You are showing him a kindness only then, yes?”
