Page 63 of A Necessary Wife

“Not Samuel’s chambers but…” Her eyes slid to Amelia.

Amelia understood perfectly and was incensed. Was this woman sneaking about outside her husband’s bedchamber and listening to them? Had she come to seduce him? Clearly, she chose the wrong moment. Amelia worried about how much she had heard, as well. She valued her privacy, and would not like her husband gossiped about for crying over his late wife.

The duchess caught her eye. “Amelia dear, you were the last of us to return from upstairs. Did you hear anything untoward?”

“No, not a thing.” She scrambled to offer a plausible explanation to end the conversation…then thought of something just a bit amusing. “Oh, now that I think of it, there was a moment between myself and Chatham that may have been misunderstood by anyone who strayed into the family wing.”

Jessica raised a brow and sat forward. “Oh, do tell?”

“Chatham discovered I was ticklish,” she said, wrapping her arms about her ribs.

Lady Ashcroft appeared skeptical. “Ticklish?”

“Indeed. He proved extremely persistent and I had to get my revenge, too.”

Jessica laughed. “So much like my husband. Once Giddy has me in his clutches, he never lets me go until I beg for mercy.”

“Your Grace, I must apologize for my appearance. I failed to notice the rumpled state of my gown after the tickling, but I should have changed before rejoining you.”

“There is nothing you ever need to apologize to me for, my dear Amelia. You are married to a Westfall. We cannot help that our husbands have roving hands.” The duchess grinned as if it was perfectly normal behavior.

Amelia inclined her head, thankful to be believed, noticing Lady Ashcroft was less than pleased with the way the conversation had turned out. She’d clearly hoped to stir up suspicion. They resumed their conversations about fashions popular in London, and she breathed a sigh of relief that the moment had passed. It was not long after that when the woman excused herself, claiming an errand, and departed the room.

The duchess glanced her way. “Was everything all right upstairs, my dear?”

“Yes, it is now,” she said firmly. She did not explain, and the duchess asked no further questions again.

Her Grace stood a little unsteadily. “You will make an admirable duchess one day. Loyalty is important in our family.”

So was the ability to spin a tall tale to spare a husband’s reputation.

“Indeed, yes,” Jessica murmured. “Phillipa is a skilled manipulator of the truth, too. Never believe her when she claims to know more about your husband than you do.”

Amelia nodded. “I should go looking for my children.”

“Ah, I’m afraid the duke stole them away to visit the stables some time ago.” The duchess peeked out the window. “He said they needed some air. Lucy, particularly.”

“Of course.”

“I do expect him to return soon, though,” the duchess said. Then she whispered, “If he doesn’t, I might never act as hostess for another house party. This lot is so dreary. All they do is eat and pick at old grievances or look to start new ones.”

Amelia stifled a sigh. Nothing about society had changed, and likely never would. “How is Charles this afternoon?”

“Sleeping again. He has taken your husband’s advice firmly to heart.”

Amelia doubted her husband had much to do with settling the child, but she did not argue the point. “I’ve observed babies, children go through phases. One only has to be patient until they remember how they must behave.”

The duchess grinned. “That holds true for Westfall men, in particular.”

“I’m sure you are right.”

The duchess suddenly sighed, and when Amelia turned, she spotted the duke entering the room, but not with her children in tow. Would she have to chase them all over the manor to spend enough time with them each day?

The duke seemed to steal away with them often, effectively limiting her time alone with them. He didn’t even apologize for the inconvenience he caused her.

When the duke noticed her standing by his duchess’ side, he smiled. “They are outside, exhausting the boot boy and a footman with a game of chase.”

Amelia excused herself immediately and went in search of them. She had just spotted them through a window, and was on the verge of stepping outside, when heavy footsteps rushed toward her.