Page 92 of A Duchess to Reclaim

They had balked quite a bit when he had told them they would be resuming their studies earlier than they expected, but each evening after their family dinner, the girls would go to his office and report everything they learned. Amelia often sat in on these, amused with how business-like their little meetings appeared.

“It is not so bad,” Dominic answered presently. “I have even started teaching them a few things about business. More for my enjoyment than theirs, I am sure.”

“They love it,” Amelia interjected, and Dominic smiled at her.

“And their real father?” Everett asked.

“I have heard nothing of him. Have you?”

Amelia’s smile faded as Dominic shook his head.

“No,” he replied, “and I hope it stays that way. The business I gave him was strong. It would take quite a lot of mismanagement for him to run it into the ground.”

Amelia felt a tinge of guilt as Dominic said this. He would not speak much on what he’d had to do to get her father to sign over custody, but she had no doubt that it had cost her husband a great deal.

Soon, perhaps, they would have a child of their own to add to the family. But she wanted to wait until she was sure her father would not cause any more problems for them. For now they were simply enjoying being together, and get used to becoming guardians for two young ladies. As promised, Dominic had yet to travel without her. He now took most of his meetings there in Ellsworth, and when he absolutely had to go into London, Amelia was with him.

She would mostly visit with Theo, Rose, Ophelia, or Seraphina while he conducted his business; sometimes they would all gather together as they always had. At the end of the day, though, Dominic would always come to collect her, and they would travel home. Often using the privacy of the long carriage ride to give in to their raging desires.

Another gun shot went off, and as they all looked toward the sound, they saw Ophelia deposit the pistol into Everett’s hand and quickly walk away.

“I changed my mind,” she said, stomping toward the picnic table. “I do not like that.”

Amelia couldn’t help but chuckle at Ophelia’s frown as she took a seat and picked up a scone; looking absolutely appalled by the experience.

“We tried to warn you,” Tristan teased.

Ophelia glared at him.

“Hush, you. I need your taunting like I need a husband.”

Tristan glowered right back at her, making everyone chortle at the exchange.

Everett carefully put the pistol back in the wooden box Dominic had used to carry it outside, locked it, and brought it back to the table.

“How do you enjoy that?” Ophelia asked, turning to Amelia.

Smiling, Amelia shrugged.

“I do not know,” she replied, “I suppose I like a lot of things I’m not supposed to.”

At her side Dominic choked on his food. He knew she was talking about much more than guns or her growing enthusiasm for boxing. They had tried quite a few new things in the bedroom as of late; many acts that Amelia was sure her blue-stocking friends would find most degrading. She however, found them quite wonderful.

“Back to the topic of business,” he choked out, bringing his cup of tea to his lips to clear his throat, “I have discovered the location of the mysterious new Caldermere heir, Allistair Harleigh.”

“My cousin?” Seraphina asked quickly, appearing interested at the new information.

Dominic nodded.

“Where is he?” She asked.

“In Scotland,” Dominic replied. “He has established himself quite well there and it is taking longer than predicted to get everything sorted. It will still be a while before he can come to London and claim his inheritance. But he has offered me a meeting, so Amelia and I are going to go in a few weeks.”

He then looked around at his friends with a grin.

“In addition I have found another brewery for sale there. I’ve already put in the bid and will be touring it when I go. Anyone else want to buy in if I secure it?”

“I do,” Everett answered quickly. “Business is soaring with the other, and I have found a few more venues that are looking to partner with me. It would be good to provide some options.”

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