Page 7 of His Abandoned Duchess

“Thank goodness for that, Your Grace.” She raised her brows at him, gesturing toward the eggs. “But as you please, husband. I shall enjoy this fine bread and marmalade. You mustn’t wait further for your eggs.”

Richard’s steely expression only solidified more, his fair eyes obscured by the deep furrow of his brow. However, he relaxed back into his chair as he requested his eggs and another pour of coffee.

“That will be all. Thank you.” The Duke addressed the other servants. “Please allow Amelia a moment with my wife alone.”

The three of them were quick to obey, exiting the morning room through the rear door that would take them to the kitchen, where they could await further instruction.

Amelia’s heart beat faster against her ribs, and a sinking sensation filled her stomach so intensely that she had to set down her slice of toast without finishing it. The sounds of footsteps leaving had only just ended when Richard obliterated all hope of having a pleasant morning meal.

“I do not wish to prolong this tension between us, so allow Amelia to set the record straight. I arrived at Heartwick after having read the recent scandal sheet.” Richard reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a crumpled piece of paper. “As you can imagine, I found the words within it most upsetting. There have been direct claims against your reputation, with a number of compelling sentiments used to back it up.”

Scoffing, Amelia tossed down her napkin as she finished dabbing at her mouth. Fire laced through her veins, and she shoved back from the table, getting to her feet.

“How dare you. To believe some petty drivel in the disreputable sheets. The ton’s gossip is just that. My honor and integrity as your wife remain as indelible as they always have.”

He released a long exhale, slurping from his coffee cup. As he set it down on the table, Richard met her eyes, his cold countenance impassive and unreadable.

“This is hardly the first time that one of the scandal sheets has mentioned the Duchess of Blackford, nor the first time that they have reached Amelia in the countryside.”

“But you now saw fit to travel from there to Heartwick. Why? What had become so pressing that you might drag yourself here to endure my presence? Or have you only now been persuaded by the latest on dit that my honor must be challenged?”

Amelia knew her tone was sharp and direct. She was also quite aware that the way she addressed her husband hardly showed him the respect he was likely accustomed to. Still, the man had so wounded her pride that she found it quite impossible to care.

Sliding up from the table, Richard produced the leather-bound account book where Amelia kept her receipts and the tally of each day’s expenses. He held it forward, using the book to point at her accusingly.

“I’ve come to see just what goes on in this estate that exists solely as the result of my family and name. There has been excessive talk of the drums you hold within the manner, and upon looking at the ledgers, I can see a great number of changes that need to be made.”

Amelia scoffed, the swell of anger within her breast now reaching calamitous proportions.

“There is nothing out of sorts with the ledgers. I have accounted for each charge down to the last pence. Even so far as to include that earned back from the offloading of excess supplies.”

Richard shook his head, opening the book and pointing to a single line that was too far and too much waved about for Amelia to read.

“You have brought on and dismissed three housemaids in the past month.” His brows were at his hairline. “There are several notations regarding the gifting of items to several families in the City, and twice now, you’ve paid for the medicinal care of a housekeeper not in our employ. And yet still you continue to hold lavish parties which further drain the accounts.”

Snatching the book from Richard’s hand, Amelia clutched it to her chest. Having the Duke nose through the items down to the last line was akin to having him abscond with a private letter meant for Charlotte or Selina. His prying eyes would search for anything that held the potential to cast her in an unfavorable light.

Items that apparently included her donations and charity to others as mistress of Heartwick Estate.

What a callous, boorish brute!

“I will aid those I am in a position to, Your Grace. Need I remind you that a mistress’s place among her community includes extending various forms of assistance to those amongst it. Furthermore, I have not as of yet come up shy for any of the expenses that cannot be done without. Our food and personal help are paid for regularly, even those I’ve had to dismiss forcriminalbehavior, and this very room is never without warmth, butter, or sugar.”

Refusing to break his gaze with her, Richard stepped forward. As he did, the floorboard beneath his foot squeaked terribly, but he paid it no mind. Her husband was entirely set on pressing into her proximity and coming down on her with his monied air of intimidation.

“This is not the way I will have this estate run. Your fairer disposition is not suited to matters of finance, and I will not have an over-altruistic heart bring this family to ruin.”

Amelia’s palm tingled as she bit back the urge to slap Richard across the face. Her blood boiled, the stays beneath her dress too constriction for the huffing of her breath. Even more, the wrath that swelled in her tongue burned like venom, every effort being used to hold back words of such hostility that her husband might have collapsed to the floor.

“All this,” Richard gestured once more with the ledger, “it has brought a most curious thought into my mind. I dare say that I must wonder if it has been some odd effort to gain my attention. With so few a way to contact me, are these drums and goings on how you sought to force my return?”

Grinding down on her molars, Amelia dropped her stare to the floor before meeting the Duke’s stare again, her blistering with fury.

“I assure you, Your Grace. I would never wish to interrupt your reliableleisureat Blackford, particularly over simple matters that have always been the business of the mistress. While residing alone in Heartwick was not the assumed arrangement when first we wed, I do so now with no great pain at all. I dare say that the manor is better fit than ever it was before.”

In a harsh rush forward, Richard closed the distance between them, towering over her as Amelia stood her ground. The furious crease in Richard’s brows betrayed his ire, and she knew he was scarcely able to keep himself from erupting as if some overblown volcano.

“I will warn you, wife. You should not be addressing your husband in such a manner. I will not hear it again.”

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