Page 58 of The Earl's Bluestocking Bride
CHAPTER 14
Amelia twistedher hands in her skirt, anxious to hear Andrew’s response.
He blinked at her rapidly, obviously taken by surprise. “There’s no rush to consummate the marriage. We can take some time to get comfortable with each other.”
The tightness in her chest loosened, but a nasty voice in the back of her mind whispered that he wasn’t really offering a reprieve for the sake of her comfort, but because he wasn’t attracted to her.
She did her best to ignore that thought, but then another struck her. Her mother would not be pleased if she delayed the consummation of their marriage.
She gritted her teeth. Her mother didn’t get to have an opinion. Amelia was married now, and according to the terms of their marriage agreement, the only opinion that mattered was her own—and wasn’t that a novelty?
She smiled. “Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”
“You’re welcome.” His eyebrows pinched together, and he opened his mouth as if to ask her something, but then closed it again, clearly thinking better of it.
“Has a maid been assigned to me?” she asked.
“Not yet.” He studied her closely. “You can either share a maid with my sister, hire one of your own choosing, or select one from among the housemaids. Which would you prefer?”
She considered briefly. It would be nice to have her own maid, but she didn’t intend to participate in societal events often, so any maid she employed would likely be bored most of the time if they had no other duties.
“Will it upset your sister if we share?” She didn’t want to create any friction between them when they’d only just met for the first time hours earlier.
“Not at all.” He tilted his head. “Kate doesn’t have much cause to go out, so caring for both of you won’t be too much of a burden for her maid, Margaret.”
“Then I will share.” At least for now. She could reassess once she had a better idea of how the household functioned.
He backed toward the door. “I’ll send Margaret in.”
“Thank you, Andrew.”
He flashed his teeth. “You are very welcome, Amelia.”
With that, he left the room, a jaunty swing in his step. She laughed to herself. Of course he was in a good mood. His family’s fortune was significantly improved, compared to what it had been yesterday.
Perching on the edge of the bed, she was surprised to find the mattress much softer than her one at home.
No, not home. Her parents’ house. This was home now.
She wished she could lie back and close her eyes but feared that if she tried, the dress would tear at the seams. It didn’t seem the type of ensemble that would handle much strain.
Light footsteps tapped down the corridor outside, and then a woman perhaps a few years older than Amelia entered the room and curtsied deeply. She was petite, with dark hair and a freckled face. Amelia recalled being introduced to her outside, although she might not have remembered her name if Andrew hadn’t mentioned it.
“My lady.” She rose but kept her eyes on the floor. “His lordship said you’re in need of my services.”
Amelia clambered to her feet. “Thank you for coming, Margaret. I’d so appreciate it if you’d help me get out of this gown. I feel like I can’t breathe properly with it on.”
She turned her back to Margaret, and the maid started loosening the ties. The pressure on Amelia’s rib cage eased bit by bit until the gown slipped from her shoulders. She stepped out of it, and Margaret swept it out of the way.
“Would you like your hair undone too?” Margaret asked.
“That would be lovely.” Amelia padded to the chair in front of the dressing table and sat. While Margaret searched for a hairbrush, Amelia leaned closer to the mirror and carefully extricated the tiara from her hair. She set it on the table, far enough away that neither of them would accidentally knock it.
“It’s a beautiful tiara,” Margaret said wistfully. “I’ve never seen one like it.”
No, Amelia imagined she hadn’t. Aristocratic women only tended to wear their best jewelry for royal appearances or weddings.
“It was a wedding gift from my parents,” she said.
