Page 84 of A Duchess to Reclaim

“I did not participate in anything,” she said, her tone trembling with emotion. “I only came to watch over her. We have both been in so much pain. And I didn’t want to lose her the way I lost you.”

Dominic knew it was true. There was not a doubt in his mind that she had remained faithful even after he had broken her heart. And that very fact hurt him worst of all. That despite her pain, she was still trying to protect those she loved. And she was doing it alone.

“We need to get out of the street,” Tristan said, fiddling with own mask. “Even with our masks on inside Roland knew who we all were, and those no telling what that lecher is spouting.”

“If he can even talk,” Everett retorted, smirking. “Dominic just about knocked out all his teeth, didn’t you, old boy?”

“No use waiting around to find out,” Tristan said before Dominic could reply.

“Theo, I am taking you home and you are going to have alongtalk.”

Dominic watched as Theo and Amelia turned toward another and hugged fiercely. Then brother and sister walked side by side to the Briarwood carriage.

“Where will you go?” Amelia asked, turning to Dominic as their friends drove away.

“Weare going to Ellsworth,” he replied, stepping toward her to take her hands. “And we are going to sort this out.”

Relief filled Amelia’s eyes as he looked down at her, and she nodded as tears began to trickle down her cheeks. Pain struck his heart as he watched her cry. It was he that had caused this, not Theo. He that had put those tears in his wife’s eyes.

He was still viciously angry over the two of them putting them in such danger, but for now, all he wanted to do was get into the carriage with her and touch her the entire way home.

“Everett,” he said, turning to his friend as Amelia tucked herself into his chest. “You should come with us. Get out of London for a few days.”

“I will join you later,” his friend replied, sliding his hands into his pockets as he took a step back. “I am going to get Roland, make sure his mouth will not be a problem anymore. Pay off the other guests so they won’t say a word. This business ends here.”

Dominic nodded, and led Amelia their carriage. Once inside, he pulled her into his arms, grasped a fistful of her hair, and held her tightly to his chest. His heart pulsed with joy as she placed a kiss upon his neck and snuggled in. Tomorrow they would argue. For now, though…for now they would celebrate being together again.

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

“You understand why I am angry,” Dominic stated, his silver eyes hard as he looked at her.

“Of course I do,” Amelia replied, her fingers fidgeting as she sat across from him.

She couldn’t stop taking him in; hated that the table between them was blocking half of the view of his body. She hadn’t forgotten how handsome he was, probably never could, but after weeks apart, he looked absolutely God-like.

Though, she did notice some things. He’d lost weight. His eyes weren’t as clear as they used to be. Another one of those rakish yet sophisticated silver grey streaks and formed in his hair; streaking from his left earlobe to the back of his head.

Had he been as miserable as she had been while they were apart?

They’d spent the entire carriage ride the night before in silence; using that time instead to hold each other, kiss each other. When they arrived back at Ellsworth, Dominic had taken her hand while still in the carriage and hadn’t let go of it until he had her sealed up with him in his quarters.

Once there he’d stripped her down, then himself, but instead of making love like she’d hoped, he’d pulled her into bed with him, tucked her tight against his body, and they’d fallen asleep wrapped around one another.

It was morning, though, and it was time to finally break their silence.

“Tell me why I am angry,” Dominic demanded.

“I risked our reputation again,” Amelia replied, feeling a surge of shame as she said so. “I risked your businesses; everything that we had just worked so hard to get back.”

Dominic’s brows furrowed as he put his elbows on the table and leaned forward.

“You thinkthatis why I am angry?” He asked.

Amelia looked at him, confused.

“Yes?”

Dominic sucked his teeth as he pushed back from the table. His handsome face twisted into a sneer that bared his teeth; making it obvious that she had given him a wrong answer.

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