by Laura Beers
“It doesn’t matter what I want—”
His mother spoke over him. “Amelia risked her own life to save mine, Edmund,” she reminded him firmly. “A young woman like her doesn’t come around very often. You owe it to her.”
“I am well aware of that, but I don’t think I can convince her to stay.”
“Will you not at least try?”
Edmund tapped his finger on his desk. “I suppose I could offer to increase her wages.”
“I daresay that won’t make a difference.”
“How exactly did you go about finding Miss Blackmore to be your companion?”
Ellen shifted in her seat, averting her gaze. “She is the daughter of a dear friend, and I asked her to come to Harrowden Hall to be my companion.”
“I see,” he replied. “You must admit that Miss Blackmore doesn’t truly behave in the way a companion should.”
“I disagree. I have no objections to how she acts.”
Edmund pursed his lips together as he debated about what he should do. Surprisingly, he didn’t truly want to see Miss Blackmore gone, but he wasn’t about to beg for her to stay.
He rose from his chair. “I will go speak to her, but I can’t make any promises.”
A bright smile came to his mother’s lips. “Thank you, son. That makes me so happy.”
“But first,” he said, walking over to his mother, “I need to escort you back to your bedchamber.”
“Thank you,” his mother responded, rising from her chair.
As he assisted her back up to her bedchamber, Edmund knew he was a blasted fool. He had never been in the uncomfortable position of asking someone to remain in his employ. He had always dismissed at his whim, never regretting his decision.
Now his mother’s companion had quit, and he must try to convince her to stay. What could he even say that would sway her? He had no idea, but he had better think of something.
10
“Do you think this is wise?” Leah asked as she removed the clothes from the armoire.
Amelia nodded as she knelt beside her trunk. “I do. I believe it would be nearly impossible to find a match for the duke. He may be willing to marry, but he has no desire for a love match.”
“Did he say that?”
“No, but it is rather obvious.”
“That is a shame,” Leah murmured. “You would think after his first marriage that he would be more open to the possibility of love.”
“One would think.”
Leah walked the clothes over to the bed and laid them down. “I think it might be best if we depart tomorrow morning.”
“I agree,” Amelia replied. “I would like to avoid staying at a coaching inn, if at all possible.”
“It is a shame that we are leaving so quickly,” Leah muttered.
Amelia turned to look at her lady’s maid. “Why is that?”
A blush came to Leah’s cheeks. “I have just started becoming acquainted with Bartlett, and he is rather sweet to me.”
“Is that so?”
Leah’s gaze turned downcast. “I know it is probably wishful thinking on my part, but I think he fancies me.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. I imagine you have had many admirers over the years.”
“That has hardly been the case.”
“I’m sorry, Leah,” Amelia responded, not knowing what else she could say.
Her lady’s maid gave her a sad smile. “Regardless, we are set to depart tomorrow.”
“Perhaps he will write to you.”
Leah shook her head. “It would be best if we parted ways now.”
A knock came at the door, and Leah stepped over to open it, revealing the duke. She dropped into a curtsy. “Your Grace,” she murmured.
Rising, Amelia smoothed out her riding habit. “May I help you with something, Your Grace?”
The duke met her eyes with a steady gaze, but she could see a flicker of nervousness. “I would like to speak to you for a moment.”
Amelia pressed her lips together. “I believe everything that needs to be said between us has already been spoken.”
“I don’t think that is the case, Miss Blackmore.” There was something in his voice that caused her to pause, and it was that something that compelled her to do his bidding.
Amelia tipped her head. “As you wish, Your Grace.”
The duke glanced around her chamber. “Perhaps we could take a turn around the gardens,” he suggested.
“I would like that,” Amelia replied as she crossed the room.
The duke stepped back from the doorway, and they walked side by side down the hall. Neither of them spoke as they made their way towards the rear of the manor. As they stepped outside onto the gravel footpath, the duke said, “Thank you for agreeing to speak to me.”
“Of course.” Amelia had to admit that she found herself overly curious as to what he intended to say.
He glanced over at her and surprised her by saying, “I would like you to stay on as my mother’s companion.”
“You would?” Amelia had to admit that she hadn’t been expecting that.
“I would,” he replied. “I am willing to increase your wages.”
She frowned, displeased by his offer. “I’m afraid that does little to entice me.”
“Then what would entice you, Miss Blackmore?” he asked curiously.
“I’m sorry, Your Grace, but I think it would be easier if I left.”
The duke nodded. “Yes, it most assuredly would.”
“Then why are you asking me to stay?” she asked with a furrowed brow.
“It would be much easier if you left, but that doesn’t mean I want you to go.”
Amelia stopped on the footpath, unsure if she’d heard him correctly. “You want me to stay?”
The duke’s black Hessian boots ground the loose gravel as he turned to face her. “You weren’t entirely wrong with what you said back in my study.”
“I wasn’t?”
“No, and I found it somewhat refreshing that you were bold enough to speak your mind.”
She let out a disbelieving huff. “Now I know that you are teasing me.”
The duke shifted his gaze towards the trees. “My entire life, everyone has told me exactly what I wanted to hear. No one has dared to defy me before. Until you came.” He brought his gaze back to meet hers. “Why is it that everyone else is afraid of me, but you aren’t?”
Amelia eyed him curiously. “Do you want me to be afraid of you?”
He shook his head. “Heavens, no.”
“I must admit that I don’t intimidate easily, Your Grace.”
The duke resumed walking. “You must think me a terrible person for neglecting Lady Sybil in such a fashion,” he said.
“I just find it odd.”
He pointed towards an iron bench sitting in front of a small pond. “Would you care to sit, Miss Blackmore?”
Amelia sat down, half-expecting him to claim the seat next to her. But the duke remained standing.
He stared off into the distance for a moment, then spoke quietly. “My marriage to Alice was a complete and utter failure. I may have been beguiled by her beauty at first, but then I started to see her for the person she truly was.” He sighed. “We just viewed life so differently.”
He kicked at the loose gravel. “We would quarrel about everything, no matter how petty it was,” he shared. “She wanted to live in London, far away from me, but I refused to let her go.”
“Why?”
The duke winced. “I told her that she needed to produce an heir first. Then, I cared not what she did with her life.”
“Oh,” Amelia murmured.
“I was not as patient as I should have been with her. I had taken her far away from her family, and she missed them terribly,” he admitted. “But it didn’t seem to matter to me. I was so blinded by anger that I didn’t act rationally.”
The duke ran his hand through his brown hair, tousling the thick strands. “I just never exp
ected that Alice would betray me in such a horrendous fashion.”
Amelia could hear the pain emanating from his voice. “May I ask how she betrayed you?” she asked.
“I caught her kissing another man,” he explained. “She tried to deny it, said that nothing happened between them, but I didn’t believe her. How could I?” His jaw clenched so tightly she could see a muscle pulsating below his ear. “A short time later, she announced that she was with child.”
“No,” Amelia gasped, bringing her hand up to her mouth. “You don’t think…” Her words trailed off.
“What else was I supposed to think?” he demanded, his voice taking on an edge. “When Sybil was born with blonde hair and blue eyes, it confirmed to me what I already knew.” He sat down on the bench and shifted to face her. “That is why I don’t spend time with Sybil. She is not my daughter.”
Amelia could hear the heartache in his words, and she knew that he believed what he was saying to be true. But it was wrong. He was wrong!
Starting off slowly, she said, “I am sorry that Alice hurt you. However, Lady Sybil may have been born with blue eyes, but she has amber-colored eyes now. Much like yours.”
“That is impossible,” the duke declared. “My mother has constantly told me that Sybil has blue eyes.”
“I am not sure what to say, but I have seen Lady Sybil’s eyes myself,” Amelia stated. “And they are most definitely not blue.”
“But what of the blonde hair?” he asked. “Alice and I both have dark hair.”
Amelia gave a half-shrug. “I was born with tufts of blonde hair, but it wasn’t until much later that it turned brown.”
The duke jumped up from his seat and walked a short distance away. He kept his back to her for a long moment. Finally, he turned around and asked, “Are you somehow insinuating that Sybil could be my daughter?”
“I am,” she replied. “Your eye color is quite rare. I have never met anyone with amber-colored eyes before.” She paused. “That is, until I met you and Lady Sybil.”
His face paled. “How is that possible?” he asked, his voice strained. “I was so sure that Sybil wasn’t my daughter.”
Rising, Amelia attempted gently, “Mistakes can happen, Your Grace.”
“No! Not like this!” he exclaimed. “If what you are saying is true, then I have neglected my own daughter for five years.”
Amelia walked over to him and placed a hand on his sleeve. “It is not too late to make amends,” she said. “Your daughter is still young and needs a father.”
The duke looked down at her hand. “I don’t know the first thing about Sybil,” he remarked dejectedly. “I have practically banished her to the nursery since she was first born.”
“Then let me help you get to know her.”
He looked at her in surprise. “You would help me?” he asked. “Even after the way I’ve treated you?”
Amelia smiled. “I’m still not entirely sure what a companion does, but I think this might fall under my responsibilities.”
To her astonishment, the duke smiled back at her. “I would be most grateful for your help, Miss Blackmore.”
“I suppose I should go instruct my lady’s maid to unpack my clothes again.”
The duke slipped his hand over hers. “Thank you for staying,” he said. She could hear the sincerity in his voice.
“You are welcome, Your Grace.”
“No,” he said with a shake of his head. “I don’t ever want to hear you say ‘Your Grace’ again.”
Amelia gave him a puzzled look. “What would you have me call you, then?”
“Call me by my name,” he replied, “Edmund.”
Her brows shot up. “You wish me to call you by your given name?”
He nodded as he watched her intently.
“Then I suppose it is only fair that you call me by mine.”
He smiled again. “I would like that, Amelia.”
Amelia found herself distracted, hearing her name for the first time from his lips. She decided she rather liked it.
They stood there for a long moment just staring into each other’s eyes. There was an expectant silence between them as if they each wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. But then, just like that, the moment passed.
Edmund dropped his hand and took a step back. “I will go inform my mother that I have successfully convinced you to stay.”
“And I will go see to unpacking.”
As they started walking back to Harrowden Hall, Amelia couldn’t help but feel that something had shifted between her and the duke. Something that she wasn’t quite able to explain.
“You asked her to stay?” his valet queried in surprise.
Edmund nodded. “I did.”
“But why?” Bartlett inquired. “You have wanted to rid yourself of Miss Blackmore since she first arrived.”
“That may be true, but our situation has changed.”
“Meaning?”
Edmund stepped over to the mirror and started tying his cravat. He didn’t want to admit that Amelia had pointed out that Sybil had amber-colored eyes like him. Only his mother was aware of his claim that Sybil wasn’t his real daughter. A claim that he now suspected wasn’t true. But why would his mother lie to him?
He realized that Bartlett was still waiting for an answer. “I feel as if I am duty-bound to take care of Miss Blackmore,” he said. “She did rescue my mother from the runaway horse and cart.”
“Have you considered compensating her for the rescue and sending her on her way?”
“I tried, but she isn’t interested in money.”
Bartlett looked at him in disbelief. “A paid companion who isn’t interested in money?” he questioned. “That seems rather far-fetched, Your Grace.”
“I agree, but she even asked for her wages to be docked in lieu of Miss Long’s.”
“What a peculiar companion.”
“She certainly is,” Edmund concurred, stepping back from the mirror. “She also has the uncanny ability to speak her mind at the most inopportune times.”
Bartlett approached him with a clothing brush. “Well, I must admit that I am pleased Miss Blackmore isn’t leaving just yet.”
“Why is that?”
His valet began brushing down his sleeves. “I have grown rather fond of Miss Blackmore’s lady’s maid, Leah.”
Edmund lifted his brow. “You have?”
“I have,” Bartlett replied, taking a step back. “It came as a bit of a surprise to me, as well.”
Walking over to the door, Edmund paused with his hand on the handle. “I wish you luck, then.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
He was walking down the hall towards his mother’s room when Amelia stepped out from her bedchamber. She was wearing a pink silk gown that highlighted her comely figure perfectly. He shook his head, silently chiding himself. That was something he was definitely not supposed to notice about his mother’s companion.
“Good evening, Amelia,” he greeted, coming to a stop next to her.
“Good evening, Your…” She stopped, correcting herself, “Edmund.”
He smiled approvingly. “I was on my way to speak to my mother. Would you care to join me?”
“I would,” she replied, returning his smile.
They walked the short distance to his mother’s room, and he knocked on the door.
“Come in,” he heard his mother order.
Reaching for the handle, he opened the door and stood to the side for Amelia to step inside. Then, he followed her into the room and saw his mother was still laying on the bed, dressed in a white wrapper.
“Why aren’t you dressed for dinner?” Edmund asked.
She put a hand up to her forehead and sighed. “I’m afraid I am not feeling very well this evening.”
“Shall I call for the doctor?” he asked, stepping closer to the bed.
“No, that won’t be necessary,” his mother replied, lowering her hand. “I believe I just need som
e rest.”
Amelia spoke up. “I would be happy to stay with you this evening.”
His mother shook her head. “That won’t be necessary,” she said. “I would feel awful if I ruined tonight’s dinner for both of you.”
“Nonsense,” Amelia replied. “I would be happy to read to you. I found the most interesting books in the library that I think you would enjoy.”
“You are kind for offering, but I would prefer to be alone,” his mother responded with a smile.
Unable to curb his curiosity any longer, Edmund asked, “What color are my eyes, Mother?”
She looked at him with a bemused look on her face. “They are amber-colored…” Her voice trailed off as her eyes squinted. “When did they change color?”
“What do you mean?” Edmund asked.
His mother sat up in her bed and stared deep into his eyes. “Your eyes are bluish-grey now.”
Edmund exchanged a worried look with Amelia, then returned his gaze to his mother. “Have you noticed a change in your eyesight?”
“Not recently,” his mother admitted. “I have a harder time reading, and I’m afraid I can’t see things that are too far away. I’m sure that was the reason I froze when the horse was barreling towards us. I couldn’t judge how far away it was.”
“Have you spoken to the doctor about this?”
“No,” his mother said. “I just assumed it is because I’m getting older and my eyes are getting weaker.”
Edmund placed a hand on her shoulder. “I am going to send for a physician to look at your eyes.”
“Why?”
He frowned. “My eyes have not changed colors, Mother. They are still amber-colored, as are Sybil’s.”
His mother leaned her back against the wall and stared up at him in astonishment. “Sybil’s eyes are amber-colored?”
“Yes, they are.”
“How did you discover that?”
With a side glance at Amelia, Edmund revealed, “Miss Blackmore informed me of that earlier today.”
“That means that Sybil must be your daughter.”
“I suppose so.”
A broad smile came to his mother’s face. “What wonderful, wonderful news!” she exclaimed. “Does this mean you will finally start spending time with her?”