Too scared to move, and after what seemed like hours, Amelia heard her Uncle Josiah say, “You fool, Charles! Look what you have done!”
She could not help but peek around the door once more.
“I did not kill her!” Lord Lambert protested, unsteady on his feet. “It was you who struck her. I had no reason to kill the woman.”
“It was you who invited her here,” Uncle Josiah said. “This is all your fault. Why on earth would you promise her so much money? She was lucky we gave her a shilling.” He gave an angry sniff. “Well, when someone comes searching for her, I will have no choice but to tell them what you did.”
“You would not…,” Lord Lambert said, his words slurred. “Josiah? Do not do this to me!”
“Do not grovel,” Uncle Josiah replied. “I will help you out of this. After all, we are family.”
Family? How was Lord Lambert family?
“We will bury the woman tonight,” her uncle continued. “I have just the place in mind. There is a glen in the wooded area beyond the garden. Few know of it and it will not be difficult to dig there.” He nodded. “Yes, then no one will learn what you did.”
“What I did?” Lord Lambert demanded. “This was not my fault! I did not wield that candlestick.” The manner in which he looked down at his hands showed his uncertainty.
“Quiet, you drunken fool! I will help you in this, but you must do something for me.”
Lord Lambert threw up his hands. “Fine. What do you ask of me?”
“From now on,” Uncle Josiah said, a sly smile on his lips, “when you desire money with which to game, you come to me. You will not use any other funds. If you win, you may keep what you earn, but if you lose, you will owe me. Do we have a deal?”
“You bastard!” Lord Lambert hissed. “This is blackmail!”
Uncle Josiah gave a maniacal laugh. “No,” he replied. “It is power, and you are well aware of how much I hold. So, do you agree to my terms, or do I send a messenger for the constable?”
Lord Lambert gave a sigh of defeat and fell more than sat into a chair. “Very well. I agree.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
All these years, Amelia had told no one, not even her mother, what she had seen. The telling of her secret gave Amelia a sense of power she never knew existed. Aunt Eleanor stood wide-eyed behind the desk, but she was not as astonished as Uncle Josiah. The man had taken a step back as if Amelia had struck him.
Filled with this new strength, she straightened her back further. “If you continue to harm me, my aunt, and especially Mother, I will tell everyone what I know.”
When her uncle pursed his lips, her bravado wavered. She knew that look all too well, for it always proceeded a punishment. “And who would believe you?” he asked. “You are a servant, a bastard child. Your word means nothing.”
It was as if time stood still as Amelia’s life flashed in her mind. Images of the suffering she endured from this man, both verbal and physical, assaulted her. It was as if her uncle’s words tore at her very soul. He could destroy her. She wanted nothing more than to curl up and hide in a corner, to be as far away from him as she could.
A rustling behind her made her turn, and she was surprised to see Christopher standing in the doorway. “What makes you think that she cannot be taken at her word?” he demanded as he took a step into the room. “You dare imply that the word of even a servant has no bearing when it comes to murder? Yet, Amelia is not just a mere servant, is she? She is your niece.” His chuckle held little mirth. “I, however, am one to whom my peers pay heed. What I have heard may be hearsay, but I heard you admit from your own mouth what you did.”
The fire in Christopher’s eyes told Amelia all she needed to know. The panic melted away and confidence filled her as she turned back to her uncle.
“What you say is true,” she said. “I am what you say. Although my word may not carry the same weight as yours, it will still have people questioning you. The ton will always wonder if a poor servant girl had spoken the truth. They will stop to consider if collaborating with you is worth the risk.” She narrowed her eyes at him, and although her heart continued to pound in her chest, she added, “This ends today.”
For a moment, the world stopped. The room grew quiet, the only sounds the crackling of the wood on the fire and the staggered breaths of her uncle.
“Very well,” he said, seething. “Remain here. I do not care.” He then turned to Aunt Eleanor. “What you have done to Mother is unforgivable. I will sell everything Charles and I have owned together just to see you suffer!” Spittle flew from his lips as he spoke.
“That is why I am here,” Christopher said as he came to stand beside Amelia. “Lady Lambert and I have a business arrangement.” When Uncle Josiah went to interject, Christopher added, “Oh, this has little to do with you, Mr. Parker, I promise. You will receive your portion of the sale as was agreed when you signed the contract.” He removed a sheaf of papers from his inside coat pocket. “The shipping fleet that runs from Dover to Calais we discussed earlier? I believe we agreed on one pound if I remember correctly.”
“Indeed, we did, Lord Beaumont,” Aunt Eleanor said with a wide smile. “I will sign my name as soon as my brother leaves.”
Uncle Josiah glared at Christopher. “You would not dare!” he spat. “You would never sell such a lucrative business for a pound! You only mean to frighten me.”
Christopher gave him a half-smile. “If this was even last week and you had accused me of telling a lie, I would have thought nothing of it, for I have told many lies to protect the ones I love.”
Much to Amelia’s delight, he glanced at her when he said this.
“However, I no longer do that. Trust me that I will do exactly as I say.”
Josiah rounded on Amelia. His face could have done a tomato proud. “You will never be allowed to return to Chatterly Estate,” he growled. “Just you wait and see!” And with that, he hurried from the room.
Her aunt followed close behind him, and a moment later, the slamming of the front door reverberated throughout the entire house.
Amelia closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath to bring her heartbeat under control. When she opened them, she was startled to see Christopher looming over her.
“Are you all right?” he asked, concern etched into his features. “Did he hurt you in any way?”
She shook her head. “No. I feared he might strike me, but he did not.”
Then all the emotions of the day barreled over her at once, and she began to sob. Christopher wrapped his arms around her and she buried her face in his chest.
“You are safe now,” Christopher whispered as he stroked her hair. “He will never hurt you again, nor will anyone else.”
She looked up at him through her tears and smiled. “I have so much I wish to explain,” she said.
“As do I.”
Footsteps reminded them that they were not alone, and Christopher pulled away from her just as her aunt entered the room once more.
“I believe Josiah will no longer trouble us,” Aunt Eleanor said with a smile. “In fact, I doubt we will hear from him again.”
“How can you be so sure?” Amelia asked.
Her aunt pursed her lips in thought for a moment. “I do not know what all you overheard, but the murder was not the only secret of which I was aware.”
This surprised Amelia. “There is more?”
“Indeed.” Aunt Eleanor indicated the chairs beside the fireplace. “The journal your mother sent with you tells of a secret that will keep him quiet for the foreseeable future. It belonged to my mother, your grandmother. You see, it seems my mother had an affair and that is how Josiah came to be.”
“So, I did hear you correctly; Uncle Josiah is not a Parker.”
Her aunt shook her head. “He is not. I hope to never expose that truth, but if I must, I will do so.”
“And what about Mother?” Amelia asked. “Do you believe he will retaliate against her because of what we
have done?”
“I forgot,” her aunt said, walking over to the desk and retrieving a folded piece of parchment. “I received a letter from your mother just this morning. I meant to show it to Josiah but the opportunity never arose.”
She handed the paper to Amelia, who unfolded it and began to read. It appeared that things had changed at Chatterly Estate, but the final paragraph is what caught her attention.
Mother suffered apoplexy yesterday and has lost her ability to speak. I have taken on the task of caring for her as her health continues to fail. I doubt she will ever show affection to anyone, least of all to me, but as long as she breathes, I will see to her needs. She has no one else who will take care of her, least of all Josiah.
I write also to warn you to beware of our brother, Eleanor. He considers the needs of no one other than himself, and at times I fear what he may do.
Please tell Amelia that I miss her terribly and that I love her dearly. I will join her when I am able.
Sighing, Amelia refolded the letter and returned it to her aunt. “What sad news,” she said. “Grandmother may have always been cruel, but I would not wish her to fall ill.”
Her aunt smiled at her and then turned to Christopher. “Lord Beaumont, I am sure you have many questions, but I must admit, your presence here today, although welcomed, was quite unexpected.”
Christopher chuckled. “I was ready with an apology for calling without notice, but now I am glad I came. Mr. Parker came to see me several days ago, and he said some things that made me rethink my opinion of him. I do not believe I have ever met such a contemptuous man. I then remembered that my father mentioned several business dealings with the Parker family, so I decided to research them. In doing so, I learned that there exist several contracts that heavily favor my father, all of which bring in a great deal of profit for Mr. Parker. What better way to convince the man that he does not have the power he believes he possesses?” His smile had a mischievousness to it.
“Then I am indebted to you, my lord,” Aunt Eleanor said. “If there is anything I can do in return, feel free to ask.”
“As a matter of fact, there is one request I would like to make.” He looked at Amelia. “Might I have a moment with your niece before I leave?”
Her aunt chuckled. “You may. In fact, I have some business to discuss with Forbes. I will have tea brought up, as well.” And much to Amelia’s surprise, the woman left the room, leaving Amelia and Christopher alone.
***
For a moment, fear took hold of Christopher, but when Amelia took his hands in hers, that fear dissipated. He was uncertain if it was her innocent blue eyes, or perhaps it was the simple burlap dress she wore, but he remained steadfast to speak from his heart.
“When I met you at that hotel in Stratford,” he began, “I was immediately mesmerized by your beauty. Yet, there was more than your beauty that caught my attention, for you possessed a strength about you that I admired. I understand now why you had to lie. If I had an uncle as terrible as yours, I would do what I could to protect myself.”
A tear rolled down her cheek, and Christopher brushed it away with a thumb.
“I had to fight down the feelings I had for you back then. It was a constant battle, and I used every excuse I could to justify keeping you at a distance. I told myself an earl could not care for a maid. I compared you to other women who have hurt me. Yet, no matter what I do, your face is what I see when I close my eyes. Perhaps society would agree with my rationale, but deep in my heart, I know it makes no difference. Do you remember Allison, the woman you saw me speaking with at Galpin’s party?”
“I do. She was the woman you believed to be married but was not.”
Christopher nodded. “Yes, that is she. I did not tell you the entire truth about her. I mentioned that I had been engaged twice before? She was the first. I believed I loved her, but in truth, I realize now I never did. We were to be married, but she broke off the engagement. It was not until the party that I learned that she never wed the man for whom she left me.”
“Oh, I see,” Amelia said, taking a step back from him. “Do you wish to be with her?”
“Not at all,” Christopher replied. “In fact, that night I told her that if I were to marry, it would be for love. I do not love her. I should have been honest with you, but I felt such shame for what I thought were my failings that I could not tell you the truth.”
“I hold no anger toward you,” she said in a quiet voice.
Her words made him smile. “Now I will tell you another truth,” he said, the last of the doubt leaving him. “When we were in the garden and you shared your heart with me, I admit that I was as frightened as a pup in a bear cave. But I am no longer afraid.” He placed his hands on her arms. “I love you, Amelia. I do not care if you are a maid, a friend, or even the Queen herself. You have brought out the best in me and have shown me that my way of thinking needed much improvement.”
“Oh, Christopher,” Amelia whispered. “Your words mean so much to me. Your actions were no different from others of your station, and I cannot fault you for them. To know that you care for me leaves me feeling breathless. I have seen such changes in you, all for the better.”
He smiled down at her. “You have taught me that there is hope in trusting someone again. We have taken a journey so few will even consider because of shortsightedness, but I can see beyond what others are willing to see. And on that journey, we have encountered what few find: Love. And I want to always share that with you.”
***
As Christopher held her hands, Amelia’s heart soared above the clouds. Each word he spoke touched her soul, for he spoke from his heart.
“That night we met, you saved me, just as you did the following day. In fact, if it were not for you, I would never have made it to Rumsbury. I would have been returned to Chatterly Estate and forced to live out the remainder of my life as a servant. However, you did more than save my life; you redeemed me.”
He smiled down at her. “I am so pleased we met,” he said. “My life is forever changed.”
“As is mine,” Amelia said. “When you thought me a servant, you showed kindness despite your reservations. You spoke to me as an equal and treated me with respect. For the first time, I felt like the lady my mother always tried to tell me I was. I know I am not, but it was so nice to be seen as more than a maid. The journey to Rumsbury was long, and I found refuge here at Scarlett Hall. Yet it was the journey my heart took that was all the longer. I found what I was hoping to find and thought I would never experience. Love.” She placed a hand on his cheek. “I do love you, Christopher. I never thought I could have anyone as wonderful as you, and it is my hope that we continue what we started.”
Christopher nodded, took her hand and kissed it. “I would like nothing more,” he whispered. “To continue this journey together and discover new things with you at my side.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, and that wonderful burning coursed through her body, sparking a greater desire, an urgency that was stronger than it had been before. After the kiss ended, he held her in his arms and a sense of safety and comfort came over her.
“I have told you before,” Christopher whispered as he kissed her head, “you, Miss Amelia Parker, are a lady like no other.”
Amelia giggled and her heart swelled with pride. No matter what others believed, she would become the lady she always dreamed to be, one who had found love despite the treacherous road she had been forced to take.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
It had not yet been two weeks since Josiah stormed out of Scarlett Hall when Amelia was greeted by Forbes in the foyer.
“Miss Parker,” the friendly butler said with a bow, “you have a guest waiting in the study.”
“Christopher has called?” Amelia asked, and before she could allow the man to respond, she hurried down the hallway, her skirts flowing about her feet. She could hear her mother chastising her.
“You really should show a bit more restraint, Ame
lia,” she would say. “You must never allow a man to believe you are eager.”
When she opened the door, however, it was not Christopher who waited.
“Mother!” A heartbeat later, she was throwing her arms around the woman as tears clouded her eyes.
“Oh, Amelia,” her mother whispered in Amelia’s hair. “I told you I would come, did I not?”
Amelia nodded and wiped at her eyes. “When did you arrive? Does grandmother know? Oh, have you heard about Christopher?” She could not stop the barrage of questions, but rather than become angry, her mother simply laughed.
“I am able to answer no more than one question at a time,” the woman said, still chuckling as she led Amelia to the sofa. “Now, let me see. I arrived late last night and kept your aunt awake far past her bedtime.”
For the first time since entering the room, Amelia noticed her aunt sitting behind the massive oak desk. Amelia smiled at the woman but returned her attention to her mother.
“I do wish to learn more about this Christopher, but for now, I have some things I must share with you.”
“I am so pleased you are here,” Amelia said. “What happened that caused you to leave Chatterly Estate?” Whatever had happened had to have been great, for her grandmother never allowed anyone a chance at happiness. Perhaps her grandmother had put her horrible ways behind her!
“Your grandmother is dead,” her mother said, a thread of sadness in her voice. “And although it pains me to say so, the woman remained steadfast in her judgment against all of us. However, we must mourn her—.”
“I do not understand,” Amelia said, anger rising. “She called us sinners! And she hurled accusations at me for being a bastard child when her own son is no better!” Not until she saw her mother’s frown did Amelia realize she had raised her voice. “I am sorry, Mother.”
Vows of Honor: Secrets of Scarlett Hall Book 6 Page 20