Page 28 of A Necessary Wife

“I cannot stop you. It is your home, your family,” she whispered, and at the thought of months spent waiting to leave this unfriendly place, tears stung her eyes. Amelia refused to let them fall again, though. She had learned to hide her disappointments.

She sat stiffly as the duchess’ handkerchief was again pressed into her hand. The woman meant well, but she was another stranger and could be almost as powerless in her marriage as Amelia seemed to be.

Eventually, the duchess sighed. “Very well, I will leave you in peace, but should you ever need a woman to talk to, I’m told I’ve been a comfort to others when they are troubled. I would always keep your confidences, my dear. The women in this family always support each other.”

“I’ve nothing to share,” Amelia whispered.

She watched the duchess leave, and sighed as the door closed before she crumpled into a ball of misery.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Milo took a deep breath and lifted his hand. He paused there a moment. He had not seen Amelia for the rest of the day. Upon his return to the manor after escaping Phillipa, the duchess had waylaid him and informed him that Amelia had become unwell and was lying down in the care of a servant. She’d asked not to be disturbed, so he’d taken the children away from the manor again, trying to explain why he’d married. Lucy didn’t understand still, but Adam thought it would be acceptable if Amelia sometimes tucked him into bed at night instead of a servant.

But when Amelia had cried off from attending the dinner meant to announce their marriage, too, he’d become uneasy. He’d questioned the duchess about the seriousness of her sudden illness and been assured it was the minor inconvenience all women suffered.

The duchess had lied to his face, but he’d held his tongue. He of course knew when his wife’s courses were due so he could only conclude that Amelia was avoiding him due to their earlier discussion of the Christmas holiday. He made no fuss in front of the guests, but determined not to let the night pass without speaking with his wife.

They had argued, and she had stormed off before he could put Phillipa in her place.

They were not off to a good start in this marriage, and while it was his fault they were at odds, he refused to grovel. He’d done that too many times before with his first wife to resolve their differences.

He finally knocked on the door to his bedchamber and waited anxiously for a sound from within. It was slow in coming, but Amelia finally appeared, peeking through the gap rather than face him directly. She did not look unwell but her expression was one of distrust.

“Can I help you, my lord?”

“I hoped to have a word with you if you are feeling better,” he said quietly, but inwardly, he winced. He really had made a mess if this with her welcome. “In private.”

Amelia came out into the hall rather than inviting him into his own room and crossed her arms over her chest. She wore a dull green robe that did nothing for her complexion. But it matched the mood between them.

Sour.

She stood stiffly, eyes shifting restlessly around the hallway behind him, refusing to hold his gaze for more than a moment. “What do you want to talk about?”

“The duchess insisted you were unwell and not to disturb you today but,” he began, studying her face. “I could not stay away any longer. I had to know how you fare.”

“I did not ask her to do that, and I am not ill. If I was, I would tell you myself.”

He nodded. “She did it to keep us apart then.”

Amelia shrugged. “I am not responsible for the actions of others.”

“No, you are not and I did not think you were,” he agreed, glad to know his suspicions were correct, that the duchess meant to protect Amelia. “I wish to apologize for today. I should have realized that the decisions I made long ago required a discussion with you. I should have mentioned the winter holiday with my family.”

“Yes, you should have on both counts.”

“It is an adjustment, being part of a pair again,” he confessed.

“I wouldn’t know what that is like,” she told him. “I have never been considered anyone’s equal.”

He winced. “No, I suppose you might not have. But you will soon, I swear,” he promised, and meant it.

Amelia regarded him steadily. “That remains to be seen, my lord.”

He moved closer to the doorway. “Can I be forgiven?”

“Are we staying?”

“I’d like to discuss that with you.”