Page 8 of His Abandoned Duchess

The heat billowing off Richard’s body struck Amelia as sure as any attack. He was inches from her, his attention so wholly focused on her that he’d dropped the accounts to the floor as he approached her. Her pulse drummed up faster and faster, the constriction of her gown growing more and more intolerable.

Tensity charged the air between them, and Amelia found herself losing her words as Richard’s devastating good looks claimed her thoughts. His crystalline blue eyes were full of such raw emotion, his own chest rising and falling in quick succession as he breathed.

What is happening? What is this sorcery between us?

Without words, they mirrored each other’s actions by leaning into the separation between them. Richard’s hand found her arm just above the elbow, strong fingers squeezing enough to make Amelia’s body tremble. The warmth of his skin permeated the thin sleeve of her undress, and impossibly, Amelia didn’t remove him at once.

Something in his gaze claimed hold of Amelia, and Richard dropped his chin to look down at her as he hovered so near to her flushed skin. When he made to whisper something, Amelia instinctively turned her head to the side, and the ghost of Richard’s lips brushed over her ear.

“Should you think to be so rebellious again, Amelia, I will find no trouble in teaching you to heed the words of your husband. Inwhateverfashion is necessary.”

Her mind was at war, indecent thoughts tumbling together with the still-flaring flickers of anger. She could not let herself be so swayed like this. It was clear Richard sought to adle her mind with meaningless flirtations.

Stepping to the side, Amelia turned back to him as her arm snagged in his grip.

“I will not submit to you, Richard.”

“So you say now.”

Amelia opened her mouth to retort once more, but Richard was already turning on his heel and heading for the door. She was left with nothing but the lingering warmth of his hand on her arm as the Duke marched out of the morning room without more than a cup of coffee in his system.

She held her stare on the doorway long after Richard had left, eyeing it with such ferocity that her husband could surely feel the dagger edge of her gaze some yards away.

“You will not trample over the life I’ve built here,husband.” Amelia’s hands wound up into tight fists. “I’ll have you out of Heartwick if it’s the last thing I do.”

Chapter Four

The drawing room was a flurry of activity after Charlotte’s arrival. Her brother, Magnus, had, of course, accompanied her, and the two were followed by Selina, Ethel, and Isaac as well. Amelia had instructed the housemaids to warm the room this morning with a fire as the chilled air cut through the estate like a knife. Tea with biscuits had been set out for them all to enjoy, and conversation easily flowed through the airy room.

Amelia had also let it be known that she was at home today for any of those who might call. While the Duke certainly knew that this was a requirement of the mistress if she were to receive any formal invitations for the Season’s events as well as correspondence, he seemed perturbed that Amelia would be remaining within the estate for the day.

The sound of Charlotte’s porcelain cup hitting her saucer drew the Duchess out of her mind. She regarded her with an easy smile, leaning closer so that Amelia might speak in a softer volume.

“He’s returned, as you know, and it has not yet been a full day and the man has seen fit to challenge my every action as mistress of this house. He even dared to mention my dismissal of the past to kitchen maids right after he dismissed Amelia from my own bedroom for the evening.”

Charlotte gasped, her gloved hand going to her lips. “He didn’t. The Duke forbid you from sleeping in your own room?”

“I was apparently quite mistaken in thinking that the largest suite should be mine since the Duke has been residing in Blackford these past years.” Amelia shook her head with a slight roll of her eyes. “And mistaken about everything else as well, apparently.”

“Amelia, that’s terrible. And weren’t the maids caught with their hands in stores, stealing from the estate?” Charlotte asked with her brows at her hairline.

“Indeed they were. I was not about to let thieves continue in our employ, and yet, the Duke did not or would not see reason. He is as high in the instep as any I’ve met and were he in charge of the household staff, I am certain he would prove himself a terrible gull.”

Charlotte snickered quietly as she sipped her tea, and Amelia reached for her own, needing something to do with her hands so that she would stop clenching them into fists.

“It is most cruel of him to inject in your matters of the house, Your Grace. It is clear that the Duke has no true knowledge of all that you have done for Heartwick since you’re arrival.”

Amelia turned to Isaac with a grateful smile. He nodded at her, putting his hand to his chest as he tipped forward in his chair. Sentimentality had always run strong through the man, and he was often one to lay compliments on her, praising the work done in her role as Duchess of Blackford.

While it was always done in earnest, and the man was of a gentle sort, Amelia was quick to dismiss the flattery. She didn’t run the household to earn complements or favor with those around her. This was her home, and though her insistent need to make those around her happy had calmed, Amelia was still committed to making sure the house was well looked after and a place of contentment.

“Thank you, Isaac,” she replied. “In truth, it looks as if the Duke has an issue with nearly every decision I’ve made for the home. But…”

She let the word hang as she glanced over each of her friends in attendance, making sure that they all listened to her words assiduously.

“A plan has come to mind to ensure the Duke is ready to return to the country shortly.”

“Oh, and what pray tell do you plan to do about him?” Magnus asked.

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