by Ella Edon
“I didn’t intend to fall in love with her. That’s not what I came here for.”
“I know that, but I’m not about to keep this from my sister.” Derby gestured towards the house. “Do you think she’s going to be happy to find that her husband has feelings for her best friend when she’s pregnant with your child? I’m not keeping something like this from her. It’s not fair to Sarah.”
“What do you expect me to do?”
“Focus on your marriage, not on Amy. And the best thing to do is leave. Put some distance between you and Amy and get your head on straight.”
“What about Sarah?”
“I’m happy for her to stay here, but I won’t keep this from her if you stay.”
Merseyside glared at him. Then his shoulders slumped, and he looked at the ground with a shake of his head.
“I know you’re right,” he mumbled. “But I wish you weren’t.”
Derby squeezed his shoulder.
“You married my sister, Kenneth. That means you’re my family now, and you’re my friend. I love you like a brother. That relationship shouldn’t be jeopardized because of one woman, but I don’t want to take that chance. Amy is too good a person to be relegated to mistress, and you know it.”
“I’d never do that to her.”
“Well, you’ve got two choices: divorce Sarah to marry Amy or make Amy your mistress. You have no cause to divorce Sarah, and the second option is not one to be considered.”
Merseyside looked more forlorn than before. He ran his hands through his hair.
“There are days when I hate myself,” he muttered. He looked up, squaring his shoulders. “I’ll leave as soon as I can. Sarah is welcome to stay here. I’ll take some time to clear my head.”
“Thank you.”
Merseyside squeezed Derby’s shoulder.
“I’m only doing it because you’re a good friend, Daniel, and I do love Sarah. Just don’t hold this against me.”
Derby watched him walk away. This really was a mess. He had never expected that his friend would end up being in love with Amy. And Amy didn’t need to do anything. She just had to be present.
He could understand why anyone would fall in love with Amy. She had stolen his heart a long time ago. It was only just recently that Derby was coming to terms with it.
His father had said love was never simple, and the road was always very bumpy. He was right about that.
Derby wandered into the house, his mind still on Amy. Maybe he could take her out riding later once she settled her mother. It would mean bringing a chaperone with them, but Derby would take that. He would do anything to be in Amy’s company. He would take what he could until he had Amy as his wife.
It would mean saying ‘I love you’ before that. Amy had said it to him several times already, and Derby loved to hear it. It was just tougher to say it back. He could only hope Amy knew and understood.
Meanwhile, he could focus on looking through the various letters Amy had been receiving. His contacts still hadn’t got anything tangible, and that was frustrating. The anonymous writer really was anonymous. It was like he didn’t physically exist.
But someone was writing them, and Derby didn’t think Amy was writing them to herself. He knew her handwriting, and it certainly wasn’t hers. He just couldn’t think of anyone who could go from simpering sweet nothings to threatening to kill her.
Derby was still deep in his thoughts as he headed into his study, and there he saw the mess. Everything was everywhere, the drinks cabinet toppled over with glass shards across the floor, papers strewn everywhere, and there were slashes on the couch by the fireplace.
He was still staring when something exploded in the back of his head, and then everything went black.
* * *
Amy managed to get Anna into her bed, and her mother settled down to sleep. She was snoring gently as Amy left the room. Her energy levels were not as high as it used to be. The illness had completely wiped her out.
James was stumped as to why she was ill so much, but he was upbeat about it, saying that it would get better soon, that Anna was a strong woman, and she would get through it. But Amy was beginning to doubt that. This was something else. However, Amy trusted James to look after her mother. If anyone could get Anna better, it would be him.
Heading back downstairs, Amy could hear loud voices coming from the lounge. It was Hartley and Beatrice. They seemed to be arguing. Hearing her name several times in just a few statements, Amy was under no illusion who they were discussing, and she didn’t want to hear it. She just wanted to go and find Derby. Sitting there watching him shoot, wearing just his shirt-sleeves so she could see the muscles in his back ripple whenever he moved, had been very difficult. Amy’s fingers had itched to take the rest of his clothes off to see if his body was just as solid.
Her face was getting warm again. Amy couldn’t believe the naughty thoughts that flitted through her mind whenever Derby was nearby. Every touch since his declaration that he wanted her, every look in her direction, had Amy shaking with need. She didn’t care if what she wanted could have her reputation tarnished. If it meant having Daniel Nottage, Earl of Derby, touching her naked body, it would be worth it.
Reaching Derby’s study door, Amy started to knock. Then she realized the door was open, and she could see books on the floor. Derby was normally very tidy. Amy pushed at the door, and it knocked against something hard on the other side. She pushed again, and then she heard a groan.
“Derby?”
The gap was just enough for Amy to stick her head through. She saw the mess in the study. She saw the terrace doors open, curtains billowing in the breeze. And then she saw Derby lying in a crumpled heap on the floor right in front of the door.
“Daniel!”
“Miss Hartley?”
Amy spun around. Dobson was walking towards her. Amy grabbed his arm and tugged him along.
“Come with me. Something’s happened to Lord Derby.”
Dobson followed without argument, and they went outside and through the terrace doors. Amy heard the glass crackle under her shoes. Dobson hurried past her and went to Derby’s fallen form and hoisted him up by the shoulders.
“Clear the couch.” He said as he strained with the body. “We need to get him out of this mess.”
Amy didn’t argue. She swiped the ripped books off the couch and found a cushion near the window, which she put under Derby’s head as Dobson deposited him onto the couch. Amy knelt beside the couch, checking Derby’s head. She felt a hefty lump on the back of his head with her fingers.
“Someone’s hit him.”
“I can’t find any signs of a fight.” Dobson was checking Derby’s hands. “Looks like he was attacked from behind. He was lucky not to be cut by any of the glass.”
Derby stirred, and Amy almost dropped his head. She adjusted the pillow under him and stroked his hair.
“Daniel? Open your eyes, darling.”
Derby let out a moan, and slowly he opened his eyes. He was looking at Amy, but it was a moment before he realized who he was looking at.
“Amy?”
He started to sit up, but Amy urged him back down again.
“Stay still. You were unconscious.”
“Unconscious?” Derby raised a hand to his head and grimaced. “I was wondering why my head was hurting.”
“Someone hit you,” Dobson said grimly. “Probably the same person who vandalized your study.”
“What?”
Derby managed to push up onto his elbows and looked around. His face went white, and he flopped back onto the couch. Amy looked up at Dobson.
“Could you get Lord Derby a brandy? I think he needs one.”
“Yes, Miss Hartley.”
Dobson left by the door into the hall, closing it behind him. Derby was pressing both hands to his head with a groan.
“The world looks strange.”
“Your head’s been knocked about. It’ll pass.”
“And are y
ou real?”
Amy smiled and shifted to sit on the couch, pressing her hand to Derby’s chest.
“I’m very real.”
Then, with a moment of courage, she took Derby’s hand and pressed it to her breast. His fingers were very warm against her skin. Derby stared at where his hand was. Then he groaned and gave Amy’s breast a squeeze that made Amy catch her breath.
“You’re definitely real,” he rasped.
His thumb brushed across her nipple, making Amy jump. She wasn’t prepared for the rush of lust through her body as Derby’s hand molded to her body. If Derby hadn’t been hurt and they weren’t in danger of being caught, Amy would have tugged her dress off and let him feel her bare breasts. This felt far too good.
“You’re a temptation, Amy,” Derby whispered. He sighed and removed his hand, wrapping his arm around her waist. “But if I carry on, someone’s going to walk in on us.”
Amy wished he wasn’t right. She stroked his cheek, liking the feel of his arm around her. It was a sweet, intimate gesture.
“Do you have any idea who could have hit you?”
“No idea. I don’t know why anyone would vandalize my study, either.”
“Maybe…” Amy hesitated. She wasn’t sure if she should point a finger, but it was too big to ignore. “Maybe it was Leicester.”
“Leicester?” Derby frowned. “Why do you think that? He hasn’t been here all day.”
“Well, he could be hiding watching us and then sneak back in.”
“But why would he do this to my study?”
Amy shrugged. She hadn’t thought about that, if she was honest. His name was the first one that came to her.
“Well, both of you are competing for me. At least, Leicester sees it as a competition. And perhaps he wanted to find something in your papers that could take you out of contention.”
Derby snorted.
“No chance. I haven’t got anything that could make his actions pale in comparison. Forgive me, Amy, but I can’t see Leicester doing that. He’s brute force. He would come after me, not go after all this.”
“Then who do you think could have done this?”
Derby was silent for so long that Amy began to get uncomfortable. She tapped his chest.
“Daniel?”
“I was thinking that maybe your father did this, or he paid for someone to do it.”
“Father?” Amy blinked. “Why on earth would he do that?”
“He hates me. You know it. Maybe he was trying to get into my study for the same reason.”
But Amy was already shaking her head.
“No. Father uses his fists. He likes to throw his weight around. And you know as much as I do that he is not a subtle man. He would attack you from the front, not behind.”
“He would attack from behind if it was a man.” Derby pointed out. “Women, he has no problems as they can’t fight back.”
“He’s hit our male servants.”
Derby narrowed his eyes.
“What about a man of Society? Someone of his own social standing or above?”
Amy already knew the answer to that one.
“He wouldn’t do that. Father knows his place in Society. Just.”
“Precisely. The man’s a coward, Amy. He attacks women and men below him, men that he knows won’t fight back. But attacking an earl from behind? Hartley would most certainly do it. Especially if it’s involving me.”
He did have a point, and Amy knew he was right, but she was struggling to come to terms with it. Her father was a mean man, and she didn’t care much for him, but he was still her father. Amy closed her eyes and slumped on Derby with a heavy sigh.
“I’m such a mess.”
“How so?”
“My parents are divorced, and I’m stuck with my father. Mother wanted me to come with her, but the judge said she was lucky enough to get a divorce. She shouldn’t push her luck by demanding a child went into her custody. Once Mother walked away, she was meant to have given up her parental rights.”
Derby’s arm tightened around her.
“I know. Life’s never fair.”
“I won’t argue with that.” Amy rubbed her eyes. “I don’t begrudge Mother for walking away. Father would have killed her one day. And she’s happy now with James. I just wish I had been able to go with her.”
“But, she never completely left you.” Derby was stroking his hand over her hair, cupping the back of her neck in a warm hold. “And you’re not a mess, Amy. I’ve never seen you as a mess.”
“You always knew how to make me feel better.”
Amy opened her eyes as Derby shifted. He sat up, still holding onto Amy. Amy didn’t stop him as he pressed her against his chest.
“Trust me,” He whispered against her mouth, “I haven’t even got started.”
His kiss had Amy moaning. She slid her arms around his neck, and Derby crushed her to him, tilting her head to the side as he deepened the kiss. He shifted her onto his lap, and Amy gasped when she felt his hardness pressing against her leg. She whimpered and wriggled. Derby broke the kiss with a groan, burying his face in her neck.
“If you keep doing that, Amy, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
Amy giggled. She was moments away from telling him she wanted to see him lose control. Derby just made her throw caution to the wind.
Then an amused voice came from the doorway that had Amy almost toppling off Derby’s lap.
“I take it you don’t need your brandy anymore, my lord.”
Derby caught Amy before she upended onto the floor and steadied her. Dobson was in the doorway, holding a glass in his hand. His face was expressionless, but his eyes were twinkling.
Amy groaned and turned away. She was sure her face was bright red. Derby hugged her to him before beckoning Dobson over.
“I’ll have it, Dobson. And then would you escort Miss Hartley back to her mother? I think I might get accused of something if she stays here.”
“Mother’s gone back to bed.” Amy reminded him.
“Lady Merseyside is up now.” Dobson put in. “I just took her a drink in the library.”
Derby grunted as he took the brandy from his valet.
“Then take her to my sister. Just don’t leave her on her own.” He winked at Amy over the rim of his glass. “I’ll come and find you later.”
Amy didn’t want to leave, but Derby was right. He was going to get into trouble, and he was concerned about her reputation. Carefully, she slid off his lap and stood before him, brushing her fingers over his hair.
“Don’t overdo anything,” she said.
“I don’t plan to.”
* * *
Dobson escorted Amy to the library and then left her alone. He didn’t say a word about what he had seen, but Amy knew the man was going to have something over his master. Derby was not going to live it down.
Amy entered the library to find Sarah sitting on the window seat, staring out into the gardens. She was looking pale, her expression faraway. Her hand was absently pressed to her belly. Amy thought her friend needed to go back to bed. She still didn’t look well.
Apparently, pregnancy did a lot of things to your body. Some people managed to cope and barely get sick, and other women were sick so much it could wipe them out. Sarah was leaning towards the latter group.
Amy approached her.
“Sarah?”
Sarah didn’t respond. It wasn’t until Amy touched her shoulder that Sarah reacted, jumping with a gasp. Then her expression cleared as she stared at Amy.
“Amy. Forgive me; I didn’t hear you come in.”
“I noticed.” Amy sat on the window seat beside her. “Are you all right? You look a bit subdued. Is it the sickness again?”
“No, not this time.” Sarah sighed, still rubbing her stomach. “I guess I’m just trying to get used to the fact my marriage’s honeymoon period might have worn off now.”
“Why do you say that? I saw your husband earlier, and he looked h
appy. He’s devoted to you.”
“He’s been a lot more withdrawn from me lately,” Sarah said. “When it was just us, he was loving and affectionate towards me. And for some days after the honeymoon, that carried on. But now he will barely talk to me. I don’t know what’s going on. Then half an hour ago, he came to me and said he had to go back to our estate. His mother was not well again, and she demanded that he came back. I tried to argue against it, but Kenneth said it wasn’t up for debate.”