Page 107 of The Lost Duke of Wyndham

And then—good heavens, Grace could not believe she was saying it, but: “I will come visit you, should you wish.”

The dowager swallowed, and she looked straight ahead when she said, “That would be acceptable.”

Grace was saved from further reply by the arrival of Amelia, who informed them that they would depart momentarily. And indeed, she’d had barely enough time to settle into her seat when the carriage wheels creaked into motion, and they began to roll forward.

No one spoke.

It was better that way.

Several hours later, Grace opened her eyes.

Amelia was staring at her. “You fell asleep,” she said quietly, then put her finger to her lips as she motioned to the dowager, who had also dozed off.

Grace covered a yawn, then asked, “How much longer do you think we have until we get there?”

“I don’t know.” Amelia gave a little shrug. “Perhaps an hour? Two?” She sighed then, and leaned back. She looked tired, Grace thought. They were all tired.

And scared.

“What will you do?” Grace asked, before she had the chance to think better of it.

Amelia did not open her eyes. “I don’t know.”

It was not much of an answer, but then again, it hadn’t been a fair question.

“Do you know what the funniest part of it is?” Amelia asked quite suddenly.

Grace shook her head, then remembered that Amelia’s eyes were still closed and said, “No.”

“I keep thinking to myself, ‘This isn’t fair. I should have a choice. I should not have to be traded and bartered like some sort of commodity.’ But then I think, ’How is this any different? I was given to Wyndham years ago. I never made a complaint.’”

“You were just a baby,” Grace said.

Still, Amelia did not open her eyes, and when she spoke, her voice was quiet and full of recrimination. “I have had many years to lodge a complaint.”

“Amelia—”

“I have no one to blame but myself.”

“That’s not true.”

Amelia finally opened her eyes. One of them, at least. “You’re just saying that.”

“No, I’m not. I would,” Grace admitted, because it was true. “But as it happens, I am telling the truth. It isn’t your fault. It’s not anyone’s fault, really.” She took a breath. Let it out. “I wish it were. It would be so much easier that way.”

“To have someone to blame?”

“Yes.”

And then Amelia whispered, “I don’t want to marry him.”

“Thomas?” Grace asked. Amelia had spent so long as his fiancée, and they did not seem to have any great affection for one another.

Amelia looked at her curiously. “No. Mr. Audley.”

“Really?”

“You sound so shocked.”

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