Page 21 of A Necessary Wife

“Well, it is true, and the family at large had a hand in my change of heart,” Milo promised.

Father launched himself to his feet. “What you saw at Christmas were married couples who loved each other deeply and were at their happiest gathered together. That is nothing like this ridiculous union you’ve made.”

Milo refused to let his temper get the better of him again today, but he slowly rose to his feet to stand eye to eye with his sire. “It was then I decided what I did want for myself and for my children. They need a mother.”

He set his hand on Amelia’s shoulder and squeezed to let her know he had no regrets.

Father snorted again. “Idiocy.”

Milo glared at his father, having heard the same yesterday, but the duke had turned his gaze on Amelia.

“I thought you of all women would run from another bad match.”

Milo shook his head. “I will not allow you to insult her sensibilities. She knows exactly where I stand on the subject of love and marriage. We want the same thing.”

“I find that hard to believe,” Father growled. “You insult her by claiming to be unwilling to even consider the possibility that a deeper, better connection could be made.”

Amelia shifted a little in her chair and cleared her throat. “Not at all, Your Grace. Like your son, my trust was burned to dust by a mistaken belief that I was loved. As I’m sure you must know, my sister married the man who had proposed to me first. From them, I learned not to believe any protestations of great affection from anyone…even family. Your son has been completely honest with me. I respect him more for his candor and blunt speech than you can possibly imagine.”

Milo squeezed Amelia’s shoulder again. “We expect nothing but peaceful companionship in this marriage.”

“Then you are selling yourself short,” the duke yelled. “If there is not even the pretense of affection, where exactly do her loyalties lie, eh?”

Amelia recoiled from the duke’s fury and stood abruptly.

The previous warmth in the room evaporated. Milo tensed. Father had gone too far.

“Amelia, would you excuse us.”

“Happily,” she murmured. Her gaze shifted to the duchess. “Would you excuse me, Your Grace?”

“Of course, my dear,” Gillian agreed quickly, looking highly embarrassed. “Do enjoy the fresh air and the peace of the garden for as long as you need.”

She nodded and glanced at Milo. “I will be with the children.”

Milo’s fingers caught on her gown as she slipped from the room. He could not be prouder of Amelia for how she’d faced his father’s disapproval this morning. She had the mettle to face any challenge, especially his family. He vowed it would be the last time she was spoken to like that.

Father barely waited until she was out of earshot before beginning again. “This is a mistake you will never recover from. The lack of affection will haunt you the rest of your days.”

Milo folded his arms across his chest. “I disagree, but it is done. This marriage is a fact that not even you can erase.”

Father threw a look of unusual cunning in his direction. “Marriages like yours can be undone,” he suggested.

“Nicolas, please. This is beneath you,” the duchess complained.

“This marriage cannot be reversed, Father. We are wed and bedded.” Milo hoped Father heard his meaning without having to spell it out. “Amelia is my wife, now and forever.”

He’d taken her innocence on the bed upstairs, the sheets the maids would clean today had the proof, and he was duty-bound to Amelia. He had no regrets

But that was not why he would not hear of the marriage being annulled. Amelia had just proven she would make a formidable duchess one day. That, and her interest in his children, were what he needed most.

Amelia was a Westfall. She could be carrying his child even now. Milo regarded his parent steadily, and then Gillian, who had covered her face during the last moments. “See if you can make him understand or we will have to leave immediately.”

Father sucked in a sharp breath but the duchess nodded. At least she seemed the most ready to accept the match. He hoped she might talk some sense into Father while they were visiting his younger sister and husband, as well. For now though, there was nothing more to say.

Father suddenly smiled. “Ah, here is someone to brighten our morning.”

Milo spun on his heel to face the door, and saw the woman Papa had lured to Stapleton in the hope that Milo would propose to her.