“I do.”
Lord Stanton let out a slow breath, his brows furrowing together. “Then what is to be done? I could permit the courtship to continue, let Amelia make her way through society just as she has been doing but if Lord Wilcox is as determined and as worried as you think, then might he not do something so untoward, so disgraceful that her reputation could be in danger?”
Nathanial nodded quickly. “That is precisely what I would expect him to do. After all, he has never held himself back before. Think of what he said to my brother, what he spoke to him in front of Lady Amelia herself! He was not a kind, pleasant fellow to her then though he pretended to be. I have every belief that he will do whatever he must in order to win this bet.”
“So he could ruin her.” Lord Stanton closed his eyes. “He could force her to marry him, if it came to it.”
A knot tied itself in Nathanial’s stomach. “Yes, he could.” The idea which came to him next was so wonderful, however, that he could not help but smile – though to Lord Stanton’s obvious confusion. “Though there is one way to make certain that such a thing never happens. A way for this to be so secure, that nothing will be able to shake it.”
“Tell me.”
Nathanial spread out his hands, his heart pounding quickly as he prayed silently that Lord Stanton would agree. “I could marry your daughter.”
Silence fell as Lord Stanton’s eyes grew wide, though he did not say a word. Nathanial let his hands fall to his sides, waiting for the gentleman’s response, only to become slowly aware of just how much he desired this. It was what he wanted, he realized. He wanted to marry Lady Amelia, wanted her to be his bride and wanted to take her back to his estate so they might make a home there together. The thought of breaking apart from her, of permitting her to one day be the wife of another was almost painful.
“Very well.”
Nathanial snatched in a breath. “You agree?”
“I do. Though,” Lord Stanton replied, getting to his feet, “it is not I who needs convincing. I have come to the conclusion, Your Grace, based on what you have said that you do truly care for my daughter. However, while I might consent to the marriage, it is not for me to say that yes, she will stand up in church and take her vows. That must be for Amelia to decide on her own.”
Nathanial put one hand to his heart. “I would never force your daughter to marry me,” he said, though Lord Stanton immediately smiled.
“I do not think that you would – nor do I think she will take much convincing,” he answered, making Nathanial’s eyebrowslift in surprise. “I have seen my daughter with you. I have heard her speak of you and I am quite certain that she will agree. And I am glad to know that you care for her in this way, Your Grace. I would not want either of my daughters to marry gentlemen who thought nothing of them.”
Nathanial took in a breath, the significance of this moment sitting heavily upon his shoulders. “I can assure you that I think most highly of Lady Amelia. If you permit it, I would like to go to speak with her now, if she is present?”
“She is. Speak with her and then have her come to talk to me, if you would?”
Nodding, Nathanial excused himself and took his leave, finding himself directed to the gardens by one of the footmen. Swallowing hard, he went out to find Lady Amelia and silently prayed that, no matter what the outcome was, he would find a way to accept it.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Lady Amelia?”
Amelia turned quickly, surprised to the see the Duke of Ashbourne approaching her. “Your Grace, I was not expecting – ”
“Might we speak? It is urgent.”
A knot caught in her throat as she saw the seriousness in his eyes, though her heart leapt when his fingers twined through hers. “Yes, of course. What is it?”
“It is Lord Wilcox.” Leading her to a wooden bench, the Duke sat down as she sat next to him. “He has decided to place a bet in Whites betting book that concerns you.”
Amelia blinked rapidly. “Concerns me?”
The Duke nodded. “He states that he will end our connection. He has placed a bet that he will be successful and I am afraid that he will do whatever he can to make certain it happens.”
Fright began to crawl up Amelia’s spine. “You mean to say that he will behave inappropriately towards me in order to garner such a thing?”
Holding her gaze steadily, the Duke’s jaw tightened. “To be blunt, Amelia, I fear that Lord Wilcox might attempt to ruin youorforce you to marry him instead, perhaps knowing that even if your reputation was torn to pieces, I would still be content to court you.”
A gentle smile crossed Amelia’s face at those words, realizing just how sweet natured the Duke was. It was an aspect of his character she had not seen much of as yet but with those few words, he had proven to her just howmuch his consideration of her had grown. “You are very good, Ashbourne.”
“No, it is not that I am good. It is that I care about you.” There was a fervency in the Duke’s voice which had Amelia’s breath hitching as his other hand sought hers. “I will not let this happen to you. I know that our courtship was only meant to be brief but I – I do not want that.”
Amelia’s eyes rounded but she said nothing, looking back at the Duke of Ashbourne and waiting for him to explain himself a little more.
“I think we should marry,” he continued, quickly. “You must be protected and since I have come to care for you as I do, I think this is the only way for that to happen. When we are man and wife, Lord Wilcox will be able to do nothing to you.”
