Page 18 of A Duchess to Reclaim

Theo’s eyes grew wide in the dim, crimson light, clearly startled that Amelia was there, but she quickly recovered, and smiled as she rose from the man’s lap. As she did so, Amelia reached for her friend’s mask, and smoothly pulled it back down over her face.

“Excuse us, Dionysus,” Theo said, her tone seductive as she joined Amelia by her side.

The man nodded, obviously undeterred by the interruption, and beckoned toward a group of women. Two came forward willingly, each perching on his knees, and he resumed his evening without another word.

Silently, Amelia and Theo walked side by side until Amelia found an empty room, and the two slipped inside.

“I had hoped it was not true,” Amelia began immediately, closing the door behind them.

“That you were not coming to these parties alone.”

“So what if I am?” Theo asked, her tone immediately defensive as she pulled off her mask.

Amelia stopped her immediately, all but slapping it back onto her face.

“Keep. Your Mask. On,”Amelia ground out. “Whether we are alone or not. That is a rule of this place and one of good thumb in general.”

“Why does it matter if everyone invited here is sworn to secrecy?” Theo retorted.

Amelia’s eyes narrowed, shocked at her friend’s immature response.

“How didwefind out about these parties, Theo?” She asked. “Did a masked person come to tell us? No, we found out through gossip that they exist. People talk, whether they are supposed to or not, and if they are willing to talk about the parties they are certainly willing to talk about a woman who is openly breaking the rules!”

Theo’s lips drew into a pout and her shoulders slumped.

“I know,” she sighed.

“Furthermore, we all promised each other we would never come to theMasqueradealone,” Amelia went on, her anger and fear unfurling slowly.

“I said I know!” Theo snapped, her teeth bared as she cast a sharp glance at Amelia through her mask. With the feline shape of it, her friend looked downright predatory.

Amelia reached for Theo’s hand, attempting to soothe her, but she shook it off.

“Why are you doing this, Theo?” Amelia said. “Why are you putting yourself in danger like this? Not just with the rumors, but with your person? You know what goes on here, you know how persuasive such men that are invited here can be? We come together to keep one another in check. To make sure the seduction we receive does not take us too far.”

“I just need this, Amelia. I need to feel free, fully free, for a little while!” Theo replied in a rushed whisper. “I want- I need a few hours every few weeks to not care about anything than my desires.”

Sympathy poured through Amelia as she watched her dear friend fall apart. She knew that Theo’s mother was fading; that she was straddling two lines. One between life and death. The other between sanity and lunacy. It had been hard on Theo, on Tristan too. She had hoped that providing Theo with an open invitation to Ellsworth Manor, she would feel that freedom she so craved- but it was obviously not enough.

“We will figure something else out,” Amelia said gently.

She reached out, and this time Theo did not push her away, but let her friend wrap her arms around her shoulders. She slumped into Amelia’s embrace, quiet sob racking her body.

“This just cannot be the way,” Amelia added, rubbing soothing circles into her friend’s back.

“I know,” Theo whispered through her sobs. “I know.”

Amelia held Theo for a long time, letting her friend get her tears out before they eventually pulled away. Amelia then reached into her handbag, pulled out a kerchief- the one Dominic had given her to wipe her own tears years ago, and dabbed the runny, ruined cosmetics that had dribbled down Theo’s exposed chin.

“Come home with me tonight,” Amelia encouraged. “You can help me with the new aviary I am putting in. Then when it is finished we will both come back to London and stay with your mother for a while.”

Theo nodded, and with her more composed, Amelia faced the door to the room and opened it. She was greeted by a hulking form of man standing there, his hand braced to turn the knob. His silver eyes flashed with rage behind his black devil’s mask, and sculpted lips formed into a smile. Amelia’s heart nearly stopped as she looked up him; her mind racing as she tried to find her words.

“Hello,wife,”Dominic’s deep tone snarled.

CHAPTERSIX

“Dominic,” Amelia breathed, her soft voice sliding like silk over his mind.

---