Page 55 of A Necessary Wife

Before she could respond, he led her up the stone steps of the terrace.

The duchess was waiting at the top, and when their eyes met, she gave a little cry and rushed to embrace Amelia as if they had been apart for some time.

At least someone liked her here. Amelia bore the motherly embrace for a few moments and then gently attempted to push the woman away.

“Come inside for tea, my dear.” The duchess put her hands on Amelia’s cheeks, cupped her face, and smiled brightly. “There’s someone waiting to meet you.”

“Who?” Amelia murmured, though she hardly had the will to face anyone new. She followed the duchess inside, doubting tea would lift her spirits but willing to try.

What she found instead was a room full of Westfalls. Jessica, Rebecca, and a lady who could only be Fanny, the Duke of Westfall’s other daughter, given her similar features. All had crystal glasses in their hands, rather than tea.

“Here she is!” Jessica cried. “I told you she was perfect for him, didn’t I?”

She dipped them all a curtsy, and they all dipped back.

Then the ladies rushed over and fussed around her. A glass was pushed into her hand, and her marriage was toasted as she was led to a round table surrounded by chairs. A deck of cards lie in the center, along with a little silver tray of sweets and two bottles. “You must try these,” Jessica whispered, popping one into her mouth.

Amelia declined.

“We all knew it would take an extraordinary woman for our brother to make a second marriage,” Rebecca confessed. “And here she is. He made the perfect choice this time, and I’m so relieved he chose you, Amelia.”

“Welcome to the family,” Fanny said, smiling widely. “You must think it odd we drink before breakfast.”

“A little.”

“In my case, I have not slept since I left London. It is a fleeting visit, and the duchess agreed we could celebrate before I must leave again. I hoped to speak to you both and extend my congratulations.”

“But we are all still cross with Milo for not inviting us to the wedding,” Jessica announced, laughing. “We mean to ring a peal over his head about it quite soon.”

“Yes, we are,” Rebecca said with a dark scowl. “Quite rude not to have at least one of us present.”

She glanced at the duchess, unsure of her welcome again.

“You are among family, my dear,” the duchess said. “What an ordeal these past few days have been for you. Cook has made us some wonderful pastries to lift your spirits.”

“And Papa has opened the wine cellar for us, as well, and offered his best vintages. Our special tea,” Fanny added, with a wicked laugh. “He does not do that for just anyone. He must like you very much.”

Amelia shook her head, confused. After the shock of learning her husband had left her, Amelia thought their jovial mood and the celebration of her marriage was poorly timed. Chatham could very well have gone to London to have the marriage annulled, for all she knew. But she did not say that aloud.

“Drink,” Fanny urged. “I’m sure my brother is entirely at fault for whatever happened last night.”

“Oh, he was terrible. I’ve never seen him that way,” Jessica whispered.

“I have,” Rebecca replied, a look of distaste crossing her face.

“I have too, unfortunately,” Fanny agreed, but they said no more. “He will apologize when he comes to his senses.”

Amelia glanced around the table, her cheeks flaming. They all knew. They knew Milo had left her behind.

She started to rise, but the duchess was suddenly behind her, pushing her back down into a chair. She held tight to Amelia’s shoulders. “We ladies like to get together from time to time to discuss our imperfect spouses and their foolish beliefs that they are always right,” the duchess said, then moved to sit again. “We gather to complain about them and offer each other any advice or support we need.”

Amelia shook her head. “There’s no advice for this.”

“Oh, I’m sure there could be.” Fanny smiled. “Our brother is—and always has been—the most stubborn of creatures. The most serious.”

“The most impossible,” Jessica complained.

“He can be charming,” Amelia said, rising to his defense.