Page 42 of His Abandoned Duchess

Charlotte smiled in a way that spoke volumes. Amelia could see the sympathy and loving sternness behind her eyes. The woman silently pleaded with Amelia to see the reality that lay around her. Still, it managed to astonish her. It was certain that emotions were running high, and something had been building between the Duke and Amelia.

She had just been unwilling to admit what it was.

“I…I have never been in…love, Charlotte.” Amelia chuckled roughly, her chest aching. “What am I to do about it?”

Her friend squeezed her hand, bringing the back of it up to her lips and kissing the delicate fabric of Amelia’s glove.

“I do not know, my dearest friend. I am not experienced in the way of these things either. Perhaps you should try once more to speak to the Duke, to yourhusband.”

Amelia sighed, the sound bleeding into that of an exhausted scoff. “The thought is both dreadful and seems especially futile. I spoke to the man the other day, and after all that, he insulted me as no one before him has managed to do. I feel as if I am nothing to Richard, a means to an end.”

“I am sorry, Amelia. Still, perhaps you should hear the news before it reaches you from elsewhere.”

“What news?”

Her heart dropped, and a dread that was still unplaced wormed itself into her stomach. Amelia knew Charlotte’s countenance like she knew the back of her hand, and there was a layer of distraught tension stretched beneath her otherwise sunny exterior.

“The Viscount St. Vincent. He was…he was attacked, I’m afraid. The man is most gravely injured. It happened shortly after his departure from the dinner party. The physicians have been with him all night according to word spread through the evening.”

Amelia’s stomach dropped. She remembered the offense she’d paid to Richard before she’d stormed off, accusing him of being jealous of the Viscount’s interactions with her. Dread crawled up her spine. Amelia had not meant for the Viscount to suffer any ill will. Had Richard been so upset that he did something rash?

No, he wouldn’t. That is not the type of man Richard is.

But Amelia found it challenging to dismiss the worry. “That is awful news, Charlotte. God, that poor man. He is a terrible rake but in no way deserves to suffer as such. Have the others been able to put forth any clues regarding the culprit? Magnus and Isaac were in attendance as well as Lord Emerton himself.”

Shaking her head, Charlotte’s eyes dropped to the space between them on the settee. “I’m afraid not. My brother was tied up in conversation with Ethel, and both Lord Emerton and Lord Ellingham were in the dining room, I believe. Too far from the scene to have been valuable witnesses. None of the group was outside when the Viscount left.”

Amelia felt a wave of concern. She had left abruptly after her disagreement with Richard. She had not seen the Viscount outside when she left and had the coach return her to Heartwick. Richard had been forced to hire a yellow bounder to deliver him back home. As far as she knew, the Viscount was still in attendance at the dinner party when she left.

“I feel so awful for the Viscount. I had accused Richard of being envious of the man. I would hate to think that the two of them came to blows over it.”

Charlotte straightened, her brows raising and then pinching together. “Do you truly think that the Duke had something to do with the attack?”

Amelia shook her head, realizing at once that she could not bring herself to think so poorly of the Duke, no matter what they had said to each other.

“No, that is not what I mean. I only worry. I was not there, and my imagination is running away with itself.”

Neither of them spoke for a moment. There was much to consider with regard to her personal stake in the future ofthe Duke, and it seemed in the health and well-being of the Viscount. After another moment, Charlotte stood from the settee, offering a hand to Amelia.

“Well, we shall hold the man in our thoughts and hope that this is all sorted out quickly. Let us finish our outing before the weather sours on us.”

Her friend had always been quick to steer a subject away from the serious, but Amelia had to agree with her. There was little that she could do for the Viscount except to pay her respects, which she would arrange with his steward so as not to disturb him. Amelia stood up, joining Charlotte once more, and they set off to tour the rest of the shops.

As they stepped out onto the street, however, Amelia bumped into a tall gentleman who sought to enter the hat shop. She stumbled back, caught by the elbow by the person who knocked into her.

“Apologies! I did not mean to send you flying like that. But it appears to have been a good means for locating you.”

Amelia paused, shaking herself as she looked up at the man who addressed her.

“Hugh? My goodness. What are you doing here?”

Stepping back, Amelia looked over Richard’s brother, remembering the Duke’s rather intense means of keeping her from speaking to the man.

“I was looking for you, actually.” Hugh’s expression switched from the surprise to a reflection of his discomfort. “Might I have a word in private with you?”

Swallowing hard, Amelia studied the young man before her. His eyes pleaded in earnest for a moment of her time, and Amelia had been welcoming to Hugh’s presence when they met last. He was a pleasant man as far as she could tell, and she had to admit that curiosity as to his relationship with Richard peaked within her.

“Of course.” She turned to her friend. “Charlotte, it has been so wonderful to see you. Would you please excuse me to hear the appeal of Lord Hugh?”

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