Page 75 of A Duchess to Reclaim

As she pulled away, she laced her arm through Amelia’s and nodded toward the back of the carriage.

“Walk with me to the other side?”

“Of course,” Amelia agreed, falling in step with her.

They made it to the back of the carriage, but before they rounded the other side, Theo stopped them, and peered around the side.

“What are you doing?” Amelia asked.

“Making sure that Rose is in the carriage and Ophelia and Seraphina are inside,” Theo replied in a hurried whisper.

Amelia’s brows dipped as Theo’s lips pursed and she began to fidget.

“Theo, what’s wrong?” she asked, gripping Theo’s hands.

“I’m going back,” Theo blurted out.

Amelia stared at her in confusion.

“Yes,” she said slowly, then nodded to the carriage.

“No, no, I don’t mean back home. I’m going back to theDevil’s Masquerade,”Theo whispered urgently.

Amelia’s heart twisted with worry and she shook her head.

“No,” she demanded. “Theo?No.You cannot go back there. Wejustfinished cleaning those rumors up, you cannot make a mess of things again!”

“The only reason we got caught last time was because I was not following the rules,” Theo replied quickly, her eyes dancing back and forth between Amelia and the manor, “I know better now, and I will be careful. I’m going.”

Amelia shook her head, still not believing her ears.

“Why?” She asked, “Why would you risk it again?”

“Because I cannot take this anymore!” Theo burst out. Then she quickly pressed her lips together as she once more looked around to make sure they were still alone.

Sympathy poured through Amelia as she watched her friend unravel.

“I cannot take the present. I cannot take watching my mother die a slow, horrible death, I cannot take seeing my brother break a little more everyday under his responsibilities, and I cannot-”

Theo drew in a deep breath through her nose as she closed her eyes, her hands tightening on Amelia’s.

“I cannot keep seeing you pretending to cover up your pain,” she finished, her tone low and remorseful.

Amelia felt her heartache worsen at her friend’s words. She blinked back the sudden wave of tears, saying nothing. What could she say? She was trying to hide her agony as much as she could but she knew all of her friends saw it. They were just kind enough to pretend otherwise.

“I am sorry, Amelia. But I cannot take it anymore. I need a reprieve. A few moments where I am not me. Where I am simply…beautiful and wanted. I want to be Calypso again!”

Amelia shook her head slowly, looking at her friend with pitying eyes.

“It is obvious that you are not going to let me stop you,” she said at last. “You will do as you please. I beg you though, be careful. If someone identifies you again it could create chaos worse than before.”

She tried to pull her hands away from Theo’s but her friend tightened her grip.

“I won’t,” Theo replied. “Because you are going to be there right beside me to ensure that I don’t act foolish.”

Amelia’s jaw dropped and this time despite Theo’s tightened grip, she yanked her hands away.

“Do not be ridiculous, Theo! There is no chance I am going to do this again,” she whispered furiously. “Do you have any idea how much it would hurt Dominic if he found out?”

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