Page 40 of A Duchess to Reclaim

“It hurt,” she rasped out.

Dominic’s body grew rigid as a murderous rage filled his silver eyes.

“Amelia,” he bit out, “I need you to be clear. Did he take your virtue without your permission?”

“No,” she half-sobbed, half-breathed. “No he did not get that far but he tried. And ever since…ever since I have tried to regain some control, some right back to my own body. It’s why I like theDevil’s Masquerade.I can feel beautiful and vulnerable, but yet I still have full control of myself. No one can touch me without my permission. And I…I have come to love withholding that permission.”

Dominic was silent a long moment as they stayed locked together, but after a few moments, Amelia was dying to know what he was thinking. Feeling.

“I need to know something right now,” he forced out, his tone vibrating with an edge. “No teasing, no pretense. Amelia. Did you feel that way- the way you did when Roland touched you- when I kissed you?”

Heat fanned over Amelia’s cheeks as she trembled in his arms.

“No,” she confessed. “No one has made me feel what you have made me feel. And I may hate that, but I…” She couldn’t believe what she was about to confess… “But I also enjoy it.”

Dominic’s rigid body released a deep breath, and to her surprise, he pulled his hands away from her and took a step back.

“You may have your aviary,” he stated calmly, walking back around his desk. “I will send word to Ellsworth to resume construction. I accept your deal.”

Amelia was left to stand on her own, feeling strangely cold and discontent as she watched Dominic go back to work.

“My sisters sent word that my father is out of town for a few days,” she said, changing the subject. “If you don’t have anything planned for today, I think I shall go visit them. It’s been a week since they’ve come to Ellsworth.”

“Go,” he said dismissively, not looking up from his paperwork. “Have a pleasant time.”

* * *

“Sister!” Lydia and Sarah called in unison as they raced down the stairs.

Amelia mentally pushed away the immediate dread she felt upon stepping into her father’s house. Memories of the last time she’d been inside plagued her mind. The fear, the worry she felt as she’d put on her best dress; knowing absolutely nothing of where she was being taken or what was about to happen to her.

“My darlings!” Amelia gushed, opening her arms to hold them close. She smiled wide as she held them, the painful memories from earlier already sliding away.

“I can’t believe you came back to London,” Lydia said excitedly. “Are you going to be here more often?”

“Oh, I think not,” Amelia sighed, taking their hands. “But I am here for the time being, so I thought I’d hold our lessons here. Have you been practicing your finger work since your last visit?”

“Yes,” they both chirped as they led her to the parlor where the pianoforte sat.

“Go warm up with a few scales,” she encouraged them both, “while I have a quick word with your governesses.”

Amelia waited until they were both seated on the piano bench and focused on the keys before she turned to her sisters’ governesses, Miss Chiron and Miss Gerhardt.

“How have they been?” She asked.

“Lydia is staying on task with all of her lessons and is excelling in her reading and piano,” Miss Chiron stated proudly.

“Sarah is quite taken by books as well, but her musical talent lies more in singing. She’s also taken quite an interest in lacemaking,” Miss Gerhardt replied with a warm smile.

“That is wonderful news,” Amelia sighed with relief. “I am happy to hear it. And my father? Is he still balking against the idea of you being here, or has he accepted your presence?”

Worried that her father had given up raising his daughters properly after he’d been so low to take her to auction, Amelia had hired the governesses to not only help them with their education, but to keep watchful eyes on her sisters while she could not. She had been sure when she’d first sent them that her father was going to retaliate, but she’d never heard from him.

“The Lord is gone most days,” Miss Chiron replied, her smile waning a little. “But he does spend time with the girls when he is home.”

“How is he with them?” Amelia asked quickly, worried.

The governesses shared a brief, tense look.

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