Page 65 of Royally Wed
“How can you be so certain?”
“Because first of all, ew. That would be beyond gross.” She made a gagging sound. Lovely. “Willie is practically family.”
“And?” Amelia lifted a brow. She needed a more solid argument than Eleanor’s disgust at the idea.
“And she’s married. She and Henry just went on a fancy ski vacationto Klosters. They seem perfectly happy.” Eleanor grabbed her phone. “Look, it’s all over Instagram.”
Amelia scrolled through a half dozen images of Wilhelmina and Henry, adorably clad in matching Moncler parkas, in front of picturesque views of the Swiss Alps. They did indeed look happy. But appearances could be deceiving.
She handed the phone back to Eleanor. Eleanor looked at the picturesagain, peering at them more closely this time. She sighed. “I’m not sensing any kind of marital discord here. You don’t really think she and my father are sleeping together, do you?”
Amelia grew very still. Maybe she should tell Eleanor about the pocket watch. It was the only compelling piece of evidence.
If she did, Eleanor would probably confront her father. Did Amelia really want that? Now,right before the ceremony? No. At least she didn’t think she did. She’d never been quite so unsure about what she wanted before.
Asher’s image flitted briefly through her mind... his impossibly square jaw, the fathomless blue of his eyes, his musical hands.
She inhaled a ragged breath.
Eleanor reached for her hand and squeezed it tight. “I mean, you’re getting married in less than twenty-fourhours. I know he’s my dad, but if you don’t trust him, you need to say something. But honestly, I think you’re worried about nothing.”
Could that be true?
Amelia had been so convinced when she’d first seen the engraving on the pocket watch. But no one seemed to agree with her. Not one other person. She was beginning to feel like she was seeing things that weren’t actually there.
“Someone’sat the door.” Eleanor’s gaze flitted to the closed door, and she stood. “I just heard a knock. Should I let them in?”
Amelia hadn’t heard a thing, but she’d been pretty preoccupied with trying to figure out if she was delusional or not.
“I’m sure it’s James,” she said. Then louder, she called, “Come in.”
As the door opened, she realized her mistake.
It was Asher, not James.
She knew beforeshe saw him. The air felt different somehow—thick with longing, just as it had the night before in the Blue Room. Her breath caught in her throat, and she knew she should do something to stop what was about to happen. Get up. Run to the door. Tell him to go away beforeEleanor saw him.
But she couldn’t seem to make herself move. Because somewhere in the midst of her panic, there was an unmistakableswell of relief at the thought of seeing him again.
He’d never come to her room before. Not once. She’d told him she never wanted to talk to him again.
Yet there he was.
Asher stood at the threshold, with his hand still on the doorknob. He was wearing a suit, and the knot in his tie was loosened just a bit. He must have just returned from rehearsal.
Without thinking, Amelia blurted out hisname. “Asher.” It tasted sweet on her tongue. Decadent. Like fresh strawberries with the finest cream.
He frowned, and it wasn’t until his worried glance flitted to Eleanor that Amelia remembered they weren’t alone. For a moment, she’d been struck with such unexpected joy, she’d forgotten everything else. Everything and everyone.
“Wait, you’re Asher?” Eleanor swayed. Liquid sloshed over therim of the glass in her hand and dripped onto the floor.
“Yes, I am,” he said, without elaborating.
Amelia shot to her feet, but she was too late. Everything had already begun spinning in a terrible, terrible direction. “Eleanor, Asher is...”
“He’s no one. You mentioned that already.” Eleanor lifted a brow, and the corner of her mouth quirked up into a half grin. “He doesn’t look like verymuch like a no one, though.”
Oh God.
Asher’s eyes went hard. Flinty.
He didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to.
“Wait.” Amelia shook her head. “That’s not what I mean. I didn’t...”
“She’s right. I’m no one,” Asher said. “I’m sorry to have disturbed you. This was a mistake.”
Then he turned and walked away, shutting the door firmly behind him.
