“You… you want me to marry you?” Amelia could barely speak, her voice hoarse as the Duke nodded, his eyes searching her face, waiting for her to respond in the way that he hoped. It was clear that he had every desire for her to agree though Amelia did not quite know what to say in response.
In some ways, this was the most wonderful moment of her life and in others, she found herself upset that the Duke’s desire to wed her came solely from the need to protect her rather because of any true feelings. Yes, he said he had come to care for her but that could mean so many things, Amelia could not be sure that it matched what was a growing affection for him deep within her own heart. In truth, she considered, she was actually falling in love with the Duke of Ashbourne and in that regard, she ought to be thrilled at his proposal.
And yet, her heart still ached a little. To be his wife, to marry him and take her place by his side was one thing but to love him when he did not return her feelings was quite another. Dare she say anything to him? Dare she tell him that this was what she felt?
“You have not said anything.” The Duke’s hands pressed hers. “This must be such a shock, I know but I do think it’s for the best. You will be protected, Amelia. You will be cared for in all aspects of your life. You will be a Duchess and – ”
“Yes.”
The Duke’s eyes widened, his eyebrows lifting as he looked back at her. Amelia’s heart thudded, the silence between them growing as they looked into each other’s eyes. She had given him her answer, had spoken from the depths of her heart and now the Duke of Ashbourne was looking at her as though he could not quite believe what she had said.
“You… you will marry me?”
Amelia nodded, licking her lips.
“Goodness.” The Duke of Ashbourne closed his eyes. “We are to marry.”
“Only if you truly wish to,” Amelia said quickly, seeing his eyes open again almost immediately. “If you do not wish to, if there is any sort of regret or reluctance, then – ”
“OfcourseI wish to!” The Duke shuffled himself a little closer to her as they sat together and Amelia’s heart turned right over in her chest. “I want nothing more than to make you my wife.”
Amelia managed to smile, aware of just how momentous a moment this was.
“And I will make sure that you are always considered, always cared for, always happy,” the Duke murmured, softly. “This may be a hasty marriage but our connection will be a long one. One that I am determined to make a happy one.”
“I thank you for your kind consideration,” Amelia replied, though her brow furrowed over the word, ‘hasty’. “Might I ask why it must be so quick? Will our engagement not be enough to push Lord Wilcox back?”
“No, I do not think it will.” The Duke rubbed one hand over his chin and then sighed. “I would not have desired a Special License nor such a hasty ceremony but it must be done. Thetonwill, no doubt, speak of it at length and exclaim over it all but what else is there for us to do? If Lord Wilcox is to be defeated, then we must marry as soon as can be.” His eyes searched hers. “Would tomorrow suffice?”
Amelia’s breath wrapped around her chest. “Tomorrow?”
“Or the day after that?”
The suddenness of it made Amelia’s heart clamor furiously but she found herself nodding, finally realizing the significance and the seriousness of what the Duke was telling her. “Very well. The day after tomorrow would suit very well, Ashbourne. It gives me time and opportunity to have one or two things prepared.” No doubt, her mother would do much exclaiming and there would be nothing but frantic whirlwind of activity until then but that was what would have to be done. She swallowed tightly, trying to take it in. In two days time, she would be the Duchess of Ashbourne rather than Lady Amelia. She would not be returning to her father’s estate, she would be moving herself to the Duke of Ashbourne’s estate. She would be mistress of it. She would have a new life, a new situation and she would have to understand and be contented with that within two days.
“It is a little overwhelming. I can see the shock in your eyes.”
Amelia nodded slowly, looking down to see where their hands joined. “But it is the right thing. My heart desires it.” Lifting her eyes slowly up to his, she saw him smile. “Iwillmarry you, Ashbourne. And I will do it in two days time.”
***
“What do you mean, you are to marry?”
Amelia put out one hand to her sister. “I must marry the Duke of Ashbourne.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened. “Youmust?”
“Yes, I must. Father is explaining it to mother now. I have spoken with him also and father is quite contented with the match though he did leave the final decision in my hands.”
Charlotte’s eyes were so wide, Amelia could not help but laugh softly, seeing her sister’s astonishment.
“It is a good thing, Charlotte. I will be glad to marry him, though I am sorry that it will be before your own.”
“Oh, I care very little about that!” Charlotte waved one hand, dismissing Amelia’s words. “But this is all so very hasty, I do not understand. I thought this courtship was not meant to last, that it was only to be a brief moment until society accepted that ‘the beastly Duke’ was not as beastly as they believed.”
“Yes, but Lord Wilcox has put an end to that idea,” Amelia replied, before quickly explaining what it was Lord Wilcox had done. Charlotte caught her breath, her hand flying to her mouth as worry ran right through her expression, leaving Amelia to finish her explanation quickly and quietly.
“Thus, I must marry within a few days.” Her hand squeezed Charlotte’s. “You will be my bridesmaid, will you not?”
