Amelia blinked, a little surprised at how quickly she wanted to refute that, how eagerly she wanted to tell Lady Violet that no, in fact, she was all the more determined to see if this courtship would lead to a happiness for them both rather than what she had agreed with the Duke. “I – I… yes, I suppose that is true. I am going to be assisting the Duke of Ashbourne in attempting to encourage society back towards him. After what Lord Wilcox has said of him, it seemed desperately unfair to me that thetonhas begun to reject himandhis brother simply because he is the Duke’s brother! My parents have no urgency when it comes to my marriage so I might as well connect myself to the Duke of Ashbourne for this Season and, in the next Season, find myself a suitable match.”
The more she spoke, the heavier Amelia’s heart seemed to become. Even though Lady Violet laughed and expressed her relief that there was no true connection between the two of them, Amelia could not join in with her smiles. Now that her courtship had been agreed, now that thetonwould soon know of her courtship, she did not seem to want to release the Duke from it. The thought of ending their courtship, of ending their growing closeness, seemed to bring an almost physical pain.
“Lady Amelia?”
She turned, only for a smile to blossom across her face, her eyes settling on the handsome face of the very man she had been thinking of. “Your Grace, good evening.”
“Good evening.” He held out his hand. “I must dance with you, I think.”
She took the dance card from her wrist. “Because you are obliged to due to our courtship?”
He chuckled and took it from her. “I suppose that might be a part of it, Lady Amelia, but I would like to step out with you. Though, given that we are now courting, I will take your waltz! I think that should set theton’s tongues wagging all the more, since we have danced the waltz once already.”
She laughed, aware of the wriggling heat which wound its way up into her heart. “Thank you, Your Grace. I look forward to dancing with you again. I presume that you have spoken to some within thetonabout our engagement?” Her gaze strayed to Lady Violet. “Lady Violet has heard of it already.”
The Duke of Ashbourne chuckled and Amelia was caught by how his entire expression lit up, how his gaze was fixed to hers rather than looking to anyone else. It was as though everything within him was focused solely on her, as though she were the only one within his view and she could not bring herself to move even a little for fear that it would shift his interest.
“I have not spoken to anyone within theton, though I have told my mother and my brother. That will be why thetonknow of it now, for my mother was utterly delighted with the news.” His expression softened, a tenderness in his eyes. “She thinks very well of you, Lady Amelia. As do I, of course.”
“You are very kind to say so.” Amelia smiled, her own heart quickening at the softness about his expression. “I am glad that your mother thinks this is a good connection. Although… ?”
“She does not know that our courtship is an arrangement, no,” the Duke answered, clearly aware of her unspoken question. “I did not think it would be a good idea to upset her.”
Amelia nodded, then took the dance card back from him. “Of course not. I quite understand that.” Smiling, Amelia’s stomach twisted as the Duke of Ashbourne looked away. She had not thought about the pain this courtship might cause Lady Ashbourne when it came to an end. Indeed, she had not thought about what her mother and father might think also. Would it cause them pain also?
“The waltz, then,” the Duke said, looking back at her. “I am sure my brother will dance with you also. He was quite thrilled with the news.” With a smile, he inclined his head and then turned away and Amelia, her heart sore, watched him leave with troubled eyes.
***
“My lady.” The Duke swept into a bow and Amelia dropped into a proper curtsy before stepping forward into his arms.
“I hear that thetonare rather astonished at our news,” he said, as the waltz began. “Have you had a good many questions?”
“I have had a good manylooks,” Amelia laughed, though immediately smiled so that he would not think it was a bad thing. “I have been quite contented with the outcome, however. Yes, there has been surprise but that was to be expected.Especially since my own mother and father were just as surprised!”
The Duke’s arm clasped a little more tightly around Amelia’s waist and she caught her breath, the laughter rushing into something a little more weighty, something that made its presence all the more significant. She swallowed hard, breathing out slowly as the Duke whirled her around the floor. Did he know how she felt? Could he see into her eyes and tell just how much she desired this nearness? How much her very being seemed to burn with the yearning for more? More of him, more of his closeness, more of his presence beside her? Her eyes closed briefly, her trust entirely in his arms as he led her in the dance, her feet following his in step and in time. She had given herself up to him entirely and the closer they became, the longer they danced, the less Amelia wanted to be pulled from him.
Her stomach dipped when the music came to an end and she was again looking into the Duke of Ashbourne’s eyes. When he smiled and stepped back, her toes curled with the sheer pleasure of having him smile at her.
“You dance beautifully, Lady Amelia,” he murmured, dropping into a bow. “I do not think I have danced with anyone who dances as well as you.”
“You are much too kind with your compliments,” she replied, curtsying quickly before accepting his arm. “That is one thing you must continue to do when this courtship comes to an end.”
The Duke of Ashbourne turned his head sharply, the happiness in his expression gone in a moment. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that you must continue to compliment whichever young lady you intend to be in company with,” she said, trying to smile even though a heaviness pulled her lower and lower. “I am sure there will be many once our courtship comes to an end.”
Amelia looked away, aware of the sharp pain in her heart as she spoke. The Duke of Ashbourne remained silent as he returned her to her waiting mother and though he smiled briefly, there was not the same light in his eyes as had been there before. Amelia swallowed tightly, aware that something within her was changing and yet, being almost afraid to consider not only what it was but what it might mean.
Chapter Twenty
Nathanial chewed on the edge of his lip as he finished writing the guest list for his upcoming ball. It was the first time he had ever thought about throwing a ball and having spoken of it previously, he had promised himself that he would do so without delay. For whatever reason, after dancing with Lady Amelia the previous evening, he had felt the urge to do so growing steadily, to the point that he did not – and could not – ignore it.
A light rap at the door had him calling for whoever it was to enter and, much to his surprise, his brother came into the room.
“Highcroft.” Nathanial gestured for him to come in. “You do not have to knock, you know.”
“I donotknow.” The smile on his brother’s face was a little lackluster. “You have always encouraged me to give you the space you require without interruption.”
