The Importance of Being Scandalous

by Kimberly Bell

  “None of that, sweetheart. She’ll be right as rain in no time, making you feel silly for worrying.”

  “Yes. Yes, she will.” Amelia tried to force herself to believe it.

  Nicholas was sitting down to tea alone—Philip had gone upstairs to see their father and Fletcher had pressing county fair business to see to—when Jasper arrived, full of righteous indignation.

  “There you are!” Jas complained.

  “Was I supposed to be somewhere else?”

  “London, where I left you.” Jas waved the question away. “Montrose raced out here this morning. Has it worked? Is he finally setting Amelia free? What the devil is going on? I hate being uninformed.”

  Nicholas ignored the dramatics, focusing on the oddity in Jasper’s tirade. “How do you know about Montrose’s movements?”

  “I have a boy watching his house.”

  Nicholas stared at him.

  “Don’t look at me like that. Honestly, you should have thought of it, but at least one of us is taking your situation seriously.” Jasper sat down. “So, is he?”

  “I don’t know.” Nicholas hoped it had. Maybe what he’d said to Montrose had an effect after all. “Did you ask Amelia before you left? She’d be the one to know for certain.”

  Jas shook his head. “She’s here, too. Left before he did.”

  Dread struck Nicholas in the gut. “Oh no.”

  “What now?”

  “He’s chasing after her. What if he tells her? Oh, bloody hell.”

  “Tells her what?”

  “I told him I wanted to marry her.”

  “Oh.” Jasper considered for a moment. “Bloody finally.”

  “I haven’t told her I want to marry her. She can’t find out like this.”

  Comprehension dawned. “Ahh. Yes, I imagine his delivery might be somewhat lacking in romance.”

  He needed a solution. Fast. “Could I beat him there, do you think? Maybe he stopped to change.”

  “Afraid not. He arrived in the company of Lady Bishop an hour ago.”

  Nicholas didn’t bother asking how Jasper knew that. “Don’t spy on my intended.”

  “She’s not your intended until you stop being a coward and declare yourself. And she accepts you. That’s also a requirement, if I remember correctly.”

  “I’m not a coward.”

  “You have had every possible opportunity to tell her before this.”

  “The moment wasn’t right.”

  “The moment will never be right. Coward.”

  Nicholas put his cup down. “If you keep calling me a coward, I will call you out.”

  “Admit that you’ve been a dolt for not telling her. You know I’m a better shot than you. You’re only in a panic now because there’s a chance you could lose her.”

  If she found out he was planning to marry her anyway, she’d think he was no better than Montrose. Amelia had made her stance on marriage very clear.

  Nicholas stood up. He needed to see her. He needed to explain. If Montrose thought he was going to ruin this for Nick, he’d better be prepared for a fight.

  Chapter Eleven

  Embry sat across from her in the parlor. Amelia hadn’t yet said two words, not that anyone would have noticed around the avalanche of adoration tumbling from her mother.

  The doctors had come and gone, and Julia was on the mend once again, but it was one scare too many. That any of them, especially her mother, could think of idly socializing at a time like this was offensive. Julia was better, no longer sweating through her sheets, but still weak enough that moving around her room was about all she could manage.

  “Your carriage was so comfortable, Lord Montrose. Is it new?”

  Embry frowned. “No, not especially.”

  “Ah. Then it must have been the extraordinarily fine company. And fine looking as well, if I do say so.”

  “Thank you.” He looked around the room uncomfortably, settling on Amelia.

  “You’re so splendid in grey,” Lady Bishop continued. “Do you think you’ll wear grey for the wedding?”

  “Perhaps. Lady Bishop—”

  “Please, call me Felicity. We’re family now.”

  “Felicity,” he said with a nod. “Perhaps Amelia and I could have a few moments alone?”

  Lady Bishop sent him a knowing smile. “Of course, of course. I’m sure you two have quite a lot to talk about.”

  When Lady Bishop left the parlor, the silence stretched out between them. If he wasn’t going to say anything, Amelia might as well. “Lord Montrose—”

  “Amelia,” he said at the same time.

  They lapsed back into temporary silence.

  “I wish you would go back to calling me Embry,” he said.

  “That was before.”

  “Before what?”

  “Before I realized I couldn’t marry you.”

  Embry stood up, pacing across the carpet. “Amelia, please. I didn’t come here to fight with you.”

  He didn’t belong here. If he wasn’t going to throw her over, then he had no business in her house. “Why did you come?”

  “To see you. To spend time with you.” He sat down beside her, taking her hands. “To put this nonsense between us to rights.”

  Amelia pulled them back, scooting away to give herself more space on the settee. “My feelings are not nonsense.”

  His face clouded at her retreat. “This difficulty between us is my fault.”

  Not this again.

  “I’ve given you too much time to think. The strain of all the preparations have caused you to doubt.”

  “Hardly.”

  He ignored her, scooting closer. “I thought by allowing you to hold off on selecting a date that I was allowing you time to adjust to your new social standing, but I’ve seen the error of my ways.”

  A feeling of dread crept in. “Lord Montrose—”

  “I’ve spoken with your mother, and we have chosen a date next month. Once we’re married, you can let all of this indecision go and devote yourself to the task of being my wife.”

  He was utterly delusional. So was her mother. “I won’t marry you.”

  “You will. Need I remind you of the lengths I am prepared to go to make you see sense?”

  No, he didn’t need to remind her. Amelia was well aware of what was at stake.

  His face darkened. “If you’re thinking Nicholas Wakefield will find some foolish scheme to disrupt our union, please disabuse yourself of the notion.”

  “What does Nicholas have to do with anything?”

  Embry took her hand again. His grip tightened when she tried to pull it back. “I know you harbor a great affection for each other, but I’ve written to the Marquess. Soon Wakefield will understand the impossibility of his position, and I don’t want you to be heartbroken when that happens.”

  He’d written to Nicholas’s father? Amelia pulled away from his grip, but he held tight. “What the devil are you talking about?”

  “It’s for your own good Amelia, and his.”

  This time, when she pulled away, he let her go. “I’m not entirely sure what you’re talking about, but I am quite certain, whatever it was, that you have grievously overstepped!”

  “You’re my fiancée. It is my responsibility—”

  “You have no rights where I am concerned.”

  He stood up and took her by the shoulders. “I have every right, and I will dare whatever I must to keep you.”

  His fingers bit into her shoulders and the hardness in his expression was extremely unsettling. Amelia’s anger drained away, replaced by fear. She took deep breaths, willing herself to stand still and keep her expression smooth.

  “Mia, do you know where I left my—” Julia came through the parlor door. “Oh, am I interrupting something?”

  Julia? She wasn’t nearly well enough to be walking around. Still, Amelia had never been gladder to see anyone in her life.

  Embry’s hands fell away and a polite smile fell into place. �
��Not at all.”

  “Excellent. You don’t mind if I steal my sister away, do you?”

  He obviously did mind, but his manners wouldn’t allow him to say so.

  Julia was already pulling Amelia through the door with a weak grip. “I’m afraid we’ll be busy for a while, but I’m certain Mother won’t mind keeping you company for the rest of your visit.”

  They left Embry behind, making it to the stairs before Julia’s knees buckled and Amelia had to hold her up.

  “You shouldn’t be up,” Amelia insisted. “What are you doing?”

  “Nora was listening at the door for me.” Julia’s breathing was labored. “You should have told me he frightens you.”

  “It doesn’t matter, Jules. You really shouldn’t be—”

  Julia stopped her until they made it to the top of the stairs. “I wanted to be selfless. I wanted you to have a husband and a family but…not like this.”

  The tension drained out of Amelia’s shoulders. They were only words, so they shouldn’t mean that much to her, but they did.

  Julia smiled. “I’ve missed you all the time you were gone. I don’t think I could bear it if you left me for good, and I hate myself for it because I should be a better sister. A better person.”

  “I’m not leaving you. Not ever.” Embry could do his worst.

  “You might, eventually. Embry isn’t the only man in the world.”

  Amelia shook her head. “I was so wrong about Embry. I can’t believe all the things I didn’t see. I won’t marry, ever. I won’t run the risk of being wrong again.”

  “Mia.”

  Amelia regained her senses. They were standing in the hallway, having an utterly private conversation where anyone could hear them. She led the way back to Julia’s room. “We can discuss it later. Right now, we need to get you back to bed and me out of this engagement.”

  Julia nodded. “You should get into a fistfight at a ball. Or visit a gaming hell!”

  Leave it to Julia to suggest only extreme solutions. Amelia had hoped to stay relatively within her comfort zone while convincing Embry to jilt her. “Don’t you think we could find something a little less—”

  “Likely to succeed? Certainly. What color would you like me to wear to your wedding?”

  Amelia sighed. “Fine. I can think of a few people I’d like to slap. Do we know of any gaming hells?”

  Julia was asleep again, this time without any residual fever, when Amelia was summoned to the study by her father.

  “Amelia. Sit down please.”

  She sat. The atmosphere was much like the times she’d been called to task for something she and Julia had done, only this time Amelia had done it all on her own.

  “Lord Montrose spoke with me before he left.” Lord Bishop pressed two fingers to the bridge of his nose. “He’s asked me to forbid you to see Nicholas Wakefield anymore.”

  “Was that all he said?” Convenient of him not to mention that he was blackmailing her.

  “He feels quite passionately about it. Montrose believes Wakefield is a bad influence on you.”

  “Papa, that’s ludicrous.”

  “I agree. Much as it pains me to admit it, I am well aware it is the other way around. I tried to explain that to him, but he refused to see reason.”

  “Yes, he does that.”

  “He’s quite devoted to you.”

  Too devoted. “I won’t stop being friends with Nicholas.”

  “No, I don’t imagine you will. You two have been thick as thieves since you were children. Still, I’m concerned about you, Mia.”

  “Because of the race in Hyde Park?”

  Her father’s expression darkened. “Honestly, Mia. What on earth were you thinking?”

  “Does it matter? What’s done is done.” She couldn’t tell him, but she refused to lie to him.

  “Mia, it might not hurt if you saw a little less of Nicholas.” Her father fumbled with the pen on his desk. “Marriage lasts a very long time, and giving a little ground here and there can go a long way.”

  Amelia looked her father in the eye. “Nicholas is the only person who stood by us, Papa. Don’t ask me to give him up.”

  Lord Bishop sighed. “I won’t ask it of you. Just consider what I’ve said.”

  “Thank you.” Amelia rose to leave.

  “Was Montrose telling the truth? Did you truly win two hundred pounds in a wager?”

  “I did.”

  “And something about using children as hazards?”

  Amelia choked out a laugh. “Not intentionally. Some boys wandered onto the track. Dio jumped them. She was amazing.”

  “It sounds like you were amazing.”

  “I appreciate that you think so, Papa.”

  “I always will, darling.”

  It was a good moment, one she hated to ruin with less pleasant matters, but something had to be done and there might not be a better time. She settled back into her chair. “Papa, we need to talk about Mother.”

  “Is everything all right? She seemed fine when I saw her.”

  There was no easy way to approach this. “Did you know that mother has given Nicholas the cut? He came to see me in London and she refused him entry.”

  A frown creased his forehead. “That can’t be right.”

  “It is,” Amelia insisted. “She also told Julia not to go to my engagement party.”

  Lord Bishop frowned. “Your sister said she didn’t feel up for it.”

  “Because Mother told her to say that. This engagement, the return to society, is turning Mother into someone else entirely.”

  “I know she’s been exceptionally involved with your engagement and she can be trying sometimes, but—”

  “Did you not wonder why I came on the train alone? Julia was sick, and Mother didn’t want to leave London.”

  Suspicion tainted Lord Bishop’s expression. “Your mother enjoyed society a great deal, before we were forced to remove ourselves.”

  “She enjoys it a great deal now. More, I lately suspect, than her affection for her children.”

  “I’m sure that’s not true.” Lord Bishop sighed.

  Amelia crossed her arms. “I’m not sure of it at all.”

  Her father sighed. “I’ll speak to your mother. I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding, but I’ll get to the bottom of it.”

  “Thank you, Papa.”

  It wasn’t a misunderstanding and something had to be done about it. Amelia intended to rid herself of Embry and get her life back. That also meant returning her mother to someone Amelia recognized.

  The walk to the Bishop house felt longer than ever, especially with his nerves causing Nick to perspire as if it were the height of summer. Amelia had to hear him out. She just had to.

  Nick half expected to be turned away when he arrived, but was instead greeted by a very welcoming Mrs. Polk. “Lord, but it’s good to have everyone home—including you, Lord Nicholas. The house doesn’t feel right with Lady Amelia and Lady Bishop gone.”

  “Was there something in particular that brought them back?” he asked.

  “Och! You don’t know? Lady Julia took poorly.”

  Oh no. “I’m sorry. I can come back another time.”

  “No, no, no. She’s turned the corner now. Feeling much better, and I imagine Lady Amelia could use some cheering. She takes it so hard, you know, and you always make her feel better,” Mrs. Polk promised as she left to go find her.

  Nick wasn’t certain of that—he just hoped she wouldn’t toss him out on his ear.

  “Lord Nicholas. What are you doing here?” Lady Bishop stopped her path down the hall when she saw him through the open doorway of the parlor.

  “I came to see Amelia.”

  “She’s with Julia right now and I don’t think—”

  “Nicholas!” Lord Bishop boomed. “No one told me you were here.”

  “Just popping by to see Amelia.”

  “Of course, of course.” Lord Bishop clapped him on the back. “I hear m
y wife has been playing a little trick on you in London, pretending to give you the cut.”

  “Ah, I...” Nicholas had no idea what to say to that.

  Lady Bishop didn’t, either. Her face was a picture of shock.

  “You know, obviously, that it was only a jest. You are always welcome anywhere a Bishop hangs their hat.” There was an element of steel in Lord Bishop’s voice that Nicholas was starting to admire.

  “Of course, Lord Bishop.”

  “Anyhow,” the older man said. “Lady Bishop and I will leave you to it. Don’t let Mia get you into any more trouble. I’m sure Lord and Lady Wakefield are up in arms about that race fiasco.”

  “I don’t think they’ve heard yet, but I’ll be sure to keep my wits about me.”

  “Good man.” Lord Bishop led his wife out of the room with a firm hand on her arm.

  Amelia came in as they left, not looking the least bit surprised at what passed between her parents.

  “What was all that about?” he asked.

  “My father has promised to rein my mother’s ridiculousness back to a manageable level.” Amelia collapsed in an unladylike puff of skirts onto the settee next to him. “Though how he’ll manage it, I don’t know. What are you doing back?”

  “There was some trouble with my father. He’s getting worse.”

  “I’m sorry, Nick.” Her hand closed over his. The warmth of it spread out across his entire body. She wasn’t screaming or giving him the cold shoulder. That was a good sign.

  “And Julia? Mrs. Polk said you had a scare.”

  Amelia blew out a sigh. “A couple of them. She’s all right now, but it’s been awful. Somehow it’s harder now that we’re grown. I still feel as powerless as I did when we were little, but I’m too old to run away and live in the woods.”

  The first time Amelia had done that, Lord and Lady Bishop had been too busy with Julia to notice she was gone. Nick had noticed. He found her in a tree, crying and shivering. They stayed in the branches all night sharing his jacket and making up stories where the three of them featured as epic heroes overcoming insurmountable odds. The Wakefield search party found them in the morning when they came looking for Nicholas. They sent him to Eton shortly after.

  Nicholas squeezed her hand. His decisions were his own now. No one would be sending him anywhere.