“Nor was I,” Charlotte murmured, as Amelia swallowed tightly, recalling that they were soon to be departing for home and though the journey was not overly long, the drive through a summer storm would not be a pleasant one. She pressed her lips together, worry beginning to drive through her mind but, perhaps sensing Amelia’s concern, Lady Ashbourne turned to her quickly.
“You will both have to stay until the morrow,” she declared, though the Duke of Ashbourne immediately lifted his head, his eyes narrowing at his mother. “You cannot be sent home in a summer storm! Your parents will know that this is what has been decided, I am sure, though I can send a message to them if you would prefer.”
Amelia looked to Charlotte but Charlotte immediately shook her head. “Pray, do not. I am certain my mother and father will understand where we are and what has happened. No doubt they will have been taken by surprise by this storm, just as we have been!”
Lady Ashbourne nodded. “Very good. I will have rooms prepared for you both and you need not worry, there will be a few spare night things for your comfort also. I always keep many things for times such as this!”
“Thank you, Your Grace. You are very kind.” Amelia smiled at the lady, only for the Duke himself to interrupt.
“It may be over very quickly,” he said, as rain began to hit hard at the windows, followed by another crack of thunderwhich made Amelia start violently. “You may find yourselves able to return home just as you had anticipated.”
Amelia did not know what to say, looking from the Duke to Lady Ashbourne – who had gone rather red in the face – to Charlotte, who was now looking down at her plate.
“I… I apologise.”
Looking up, Amelia took in the rather red face of the Duke of Ashbourne, seeing the look of regret on his face, his eyes darting from place to place as though he had only just realized what he had said.
“Your safety and comfort is of the greatest priority, of course.” Clearing his throat, the Duke gestured to them both. “Forgive my hasty speech. I assume that you will both desire to return home as planned but as my mother has said, we are more than able to accommodate you here.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Amelia kept her gaze steady, looking at him. “I think it would be wise for us both to remain here overnight, if the storm continues to rage. The roads have been very dry certainly but they can easily become very muddy very quickly.”
“You are quite correct, Lady Amelia.” Lady Ashbourne looked again at her son, her gaze hard, before she smiled in Amelia’s direction. “Of course you must both stay here. I will have the servants prepare rooms for you both at once.” Clicking to the waiting footman, she quickly gave them directions as Amelia looked to Charlotte, seeing how her sister caught her lip between her teeth for a moment, clearly a little anxious.
“Mayhap a message might be sent to my parents, if it would not be too much trouble. I am certain they would be glad to have whoever you send reside there until the storm is over.” Amelia looked to Lady Ashbourne who nodded quickly. “It would bring relief to my mother’s mind, I am sure, to know that we intend to reside there.”
The Duke coughed. “I could ride, I am sure.”
“Pray, do not think that you must go yourself, Your Grace,” Amelia replied, quickly. “I do not wish to trouble you. If you do not think it wise for any of your servants to be sent out in this weather then I am sure my mother and father will understand what has happened.”
“I will send a footman,” Lady Ashbourne said, before her son could speak though Amelia caught the way the Duke’s jaw tightened. He was, she thought, attempting to be respectful by not speaking over or against his mother though, no doubt, he would have liked to have had whathehad decided to be the way forward. In a way, Amelia considered, she respected him in that though she was still rather displeased with the obvious way he had suggested Charlotte and she might still return home this evening.
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Charlotte now looked a good deal less concerned, her smile returning. “Your kindness is greatly appreciated.”
“But of course.” Lady Ashbourne gestured to them both. “Now, let us all enjoy our dinner and thereafter, there will be cards and tea in the drawing room. What say you to that?”
Amelia, who had enjoyed a very nice afternoon in Lady Ashbourne’s company, for the lady was both easy to speak with and never short of conversation, found herself smiling, relaxing now despite the storm outside. “I think that would be lovely, Your Grace.” Turning her head, her heart jolted as the Duke scowled, though he quickly pushed it from his features when he caught her eye. “And you, Your Grace, will you be joining us?”
His tight smile did not offer Amelia any sense of pleasure in her question. “Alas, Lady Amelia, I shall not be joining you. I am afraid that I have matters of business to attend to.”
“I see.” Amelia did not return his smile but instead, simply looked at him for a moment longer before taking her attentionback to her dinner. This was a very strange circumstance, she considered, though she was glad to be kept safe from the summer storm. Staying at the Beastly Duke’s estate was certainly unexpected and from the way he continued to scowl, Amelia was sure he had no desire for them to linger.
“What do you think of him, then?”
Amelia smiled as she sat down on the edge of her bed, looking across at Charlotte. “Of the Beastly Duke?”
Charlotte nodded. “Yes, what do you think of him? I myself must confess that the term, ‘Beastly Duke’ does seem to fit his demeanor. Did you see how eager he was for us to consider returning home?” She gestured to the window. “Even though the storm rages? Even though the lightning and thunder still rolls above us?”
“He did apologise for that, however,” Amelia replied, gently. “Let us not criticize him for that. Though yes, I will admit that I was displeased with how eager he seemed to have us removed from his house.”
Charlotte sighed and shook her head. “He does not seem to be pleased by anything. Talk of London and society did not bring a smile to his lips. Whatever we spoke of, all he did was sit and look down at his plate and paid us very little attention.”
“Not that I gave that much attention, given just how conversational Lady Ashbourne was.” Amelia smiled as Charlotte laughed softly, her ire gone in a moment.
“Yes, she is quite lovely. I think her a very dear lady and I should be glad to be in her company whenever she might wish it. It is very good for her to invite us here, though I do think that she might have another thought as to why she has done that.”
“And what is that?”
Charlotte’s eyebrow lifted. “Because she wishes to introduce you to her son.”
