Page 81 of A Duchess to Reclaim

Amelia ached upon hearing Theo’s words. On some level she was sure her friend was right…and yet she still found herself immovable.

“Go on,” she urged, her tone full of sorrow. “I will join you when I am ready.”

Theo looked into her eyes for a long, steady moment; her pity clear even in the dim light. After a while though she sighed, nodded, and let go of Amelia’s hand.

“It is all right to move on from heart ache, Amelia,” she said, stepping away. “That is what I am doing. And you should too.”

Amelia said nothing as she watched her friend walk to a nearby group of masked men; all of whom had been intently watching the two women from the moment they’d walked in. They parted for Theo immediately, and one laced an arm around her lower back as they all eagerly began to talk to her.

A few months ago, Amelia would have willingly walked into the group, and would have felt a surge of immense power as she pulled those men into her thrall. Now, though, all she could think of was Dominic, and how much she wanted to be in his arms.

He wassoclose! Had the carriage drove a few more minutes to the west she could have arrived at his London house, walked through the door, and saw him. But she was terrified of what she would find if she did so. Had he moved on already? Was there a woman in his bed right now? Two? Wrapped around him and enjoying his expert skills of seduction?

She shook her head at the thought, knowing she was only hurting herself more by imagining such things. Amelia drew in a shaky breath, doing her best to push the heartache away, and forced herself to take another step into the room.

Perhaps Theo is right,she thought, braving another step.Perhaps this is how I move on from my broken heart.

“What a beautiful dress,” a masculine voice purred into her left ear.

Amelia jerked at the sound, then cursed herself for not paying attention. She knew better than to let her mind wander in a place like this.

“Thank you,” she replied, turning toward the man.

A shiver went down her spine as she took in the man’s well-tailored navy blue jacket and the tamed sandy-colored curls that framed his simple black eye mask. He smiled at her, his thin lips spreading even thinner as he showed off his white teeth. There was something familiar about this man…

He held up a champagne drink in each hand, and offered one to her.

“A beautiful woman like you deserves to always have a drink in her hand,” he said, “It is a shame no one has brought you one already.”

“The drinks here are a little too strong for my liking,” she replied, forcing a smile as she stepped away. “Besides, I am not thirsty. Thank you, though.”

“Oh, come now,” he said in a patronizing tone, following her. “A strong drink helps lower our inhibitions. You want to relax, do you not?”

Another shiver went down Amelia’s spine as she wracked her brain. His voice was familiar as well. Sheknewthis man. And while at one time that would have amused her, she now grew nervous over the fact.

“Not at present, sir,” she replied, less polite this time.

She glanced back at where Theo had just stood, and she began to tremble with worry as she saw that she was nowhere to be found.

“If you’ll pardon me, I promised to keep an eye on my friend, but I have lost track of her,” she told him, walking away.

“Allow me to help you,” he replied.

“No,”she demanded, her tone harsh as she began to take more determined steps.

“This room is full of willing women, sir. I suggest you go find one who wants your company.”

Not caring if she offended him or not, Amelia straightened her shoulders and walked away with purpose. Familiar or not, she wanted nothing to do with him, and now she had to make sure her focus was entirely on finding Theo. She walked by each group in the main ballroom, studying the masks carefully at a distance so that she wouldn’t have to interact with anyone. When she found no trace of Theo, her heart sank even further. Now she would have to leave the main room and look through the private ones, and Lord knows what she would stumble upon in there.

She had just finished checking the second room to no avail when, as she was stepping back into the hall, was grabbed by the arm. Amelia’s head whipped toward the person with the tight grip, and her alarm turned to anger as she saw the man from before.

“I am not interested!” She seethed. She tried to wrench her arm out of his grip but it was too tight.

Her effort only made the man’s smile grow wider.

“You are here, are you not?” He asked, pushing her against the wall. “That immediately makes your statement untrue. Or is this your game? You like telling men no. Men that have a right to you. So that they must force you. Is that it, Amelia? Did I play my game too softly with you before?”

Amelia’s blood ran cold as she heard her true name leave the man’s lips. Suddenly all of the points of familiarity connected, and she realized who the man was. She reached up her free hand with a quickness and pulled the man’s mask off; confirming her suspicion.

---