Page 119 of The Earl's Bluestocking Bride
Florence sputtered and turned to Andrew. “Are you going to let her talk to me like that?”
Andrew moved over to stand beside Amelia. “Yes,” he said simply. “I am.”
Pride swelled in his chest. He took his wife’s hand. She was strong, and he admired the hell out of her. Not only had she refused to let her insecurities get the better of her, but she was finally standing up for herself and fighting for what she wanted and deserved.
“But all I did was tell the truth,” Florence protested, her hands on her hips.
“No,” Amelia said. “You told the truth at the Benton ball, and while I think that was petty of you, I can understand why you did it. You lost Andrew. I know how upset I’d be if I lost him. But when you came here today, it wasn’t about spreading the truth. It was to create a scene. There’s no excuse for that. Now leave, or I’ll have the duke escort you out.”
One side of Florence’s mouth hitched up, and cruel amusement filled her eyes. “The duke doesn’t take orders from you.”
“Perhaps not,” Ashford agreed. “But I consider the countess to be a close friend, so I’m going to support my friend by escorting you to the door.”
He brushed past Amelia and stopped beside Florence, gesturing for her to leave. When she didn’t move, he began to reach for her, but she quickly darted out of the way.
“Don’t touch me,” she spat.
She shoved past them, jostling Andrew and stepping on Amelia’s skirt, but she kept walking, so he didn’t comment on it, simply relieved to see the back of her. Ashford followed close behind, no doubt to ensure she actually left the property.
Andrew guided Amelia fully inside the office and closedthe door. She was holding herself rigid, as if she wasn’t sure how he was going to react to her treatment of Florence.
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “I’m so sorry you were subjected to that. I never expected that she would have the audacity to turn up at our ball.”
“I know you didn’t.”
He couldn’t quite decipher her tone. She didn’t sound upset, necessarily, but her voice was loaded with emotion.
“Perhaps it was for the best,” she continued, extracting her hand from his. “We had to face each other at some point, and now, she will no longer view me as someone she can walk all over.”
He couldn’t believe how calm she was. “I suppose that’s certainly true.”
“Besides.” A small smile quirked her lips. “I got to look my demons in the eye and come out on top. But you’d better not put me through anything like this again. I deserve better.”
“Better?” He shook his head. “No. You deserve everything.”
And he would make sure she got it.
He drew her into his arms, moving slowly and giving her time to resist if she didn’t want him. She melted against his chest, tilting her face toward his. He kissed her.
At first, it was the lightest brushing of lips, but then a delicious whimper escaped her, and she pressed closer, deepening the kiss.
He hummed his approval and cupped her bottom, wishing he could feel more of her through the fabric of her skirt. He flicked his tongue along the seam of her mouth, tasting the faintest hint of champagne, perhaps from her drink before the ball had begun. Her tongue met his, and they entwined, sliding sensuously against each other.
His hand curved around the side of her neck. The skin was smooth as satin beneath his fingers. He tilted her head back, and her lips left his. Her eyes fluttered open, the blue ofthem like pools he could swim in. They were slightly glazed, hazy with lust. The most beautiful things he’d ever seen.
“How did I get so lucky?” he asked, grazing the pad of his thumb along the ridge of her cheekbone.
She flushed. “I think I’m the lucky one.”
She wasn’t, but he knew it would take time and patience to prove that to her. He kissed her again, this time pouring his heart and soul into it, holding nothing back. She allowed him to drag her into a maelstrom of desire. Eventually, she pulled away.
“Our ball is still going just down the hall,” she said. “We should get back to our guests.”
Andrew stood firm. “I don’t care about that. I don’t care about most of the people here. Other than my family, and Ashford, they can go to hell for all I care.”
She laughed but covered it quickly. “Even my parents?”
“Especially your parents.” He kissed her forehead. “I appreciate that your father is helping me regrow my fortune, but he hasn’t done right by you. He seems to view life as some kind of challenge for you to overcome, and perhaps that’s made you stronger, but it’s a father’s job to be there when his daughter needs him, and he’s let you down.”
