Page 2 of Married to the Highland Devil
“I was not,” he answered, and she heard the scrape of his chair sliding along the floor. This proved he rose to his feet.
Amelia did the same then carefully stepped out of the curtains, so he could see her. “I would like my tea, Lord Melbury,” she said, maintaining her composure.
“Would you like me to come back some time tomorrow?”
“No.” She raised her right hand to stop him. “I shall not receive any more calls from you, Lord Melbury. Thank you for your time.”
Amelia curtsied, and she heard the man’s gruff murmur, followed by footsteps, then the thud of the door closing.
“That was definitely not it,” Lily said to her as she turned and walked to her right to get to the window.
“No, it was not,” Amelia agreed then turned towards the window. She drew in a deep breath to steady her shaky insides then released it again. “I smell flowers,” she told Lily. “Spring is fully here.” She paused for another sigh, then shook her head. “I cannot believe my father would do this to me. Sell me out to whatever gentleman charms me first.”
“He is only doing this to find you a companion, My Lady,” Lily encouraged as always. “It is not such a bad thing to have someone to love and keep you company now, is it?”
“I do not wish for any of that, Lily.” Amelia frowned and shook her head. “I like it here. Why do I have to marry and leave?”
Lily touched her shoulder lightly as she came to stand by her side. “It is a lovely sight outside, My Lady.”
Amelia instantly felt the warmth from the girl’s body. They had grown up together, and Lily was the closest thing Amelia had to a friend.
“You will never be alone even if you have to leave the estate. You have me…You will always have me.”
Both women exchanged light smiles.
“You have one more caller for the morning, My Lady,” Lily began after the silence festered. “Your father will not be pleased to learn you turned Lord Melbury away.”
“You heard the man. He’s egotistical, and I do not think he understands the meaning of marriage. He talks about himself all the time, and there’s no room for anyone else.”
“But the others—”
“The others were just the same, Lily. You sat there; you heard them. They could not even come up with something crazy to entertain me. I cannot wed any of them.”
Lily took her hand, and Amelia turned towards her. She tried to focus on her face but could make out nothing as always. It had been this way for a long time now.
The shadows, the blurred lines were all she could see.
Amelia was used to it by now. She no longer had the wistfulness of a child. She no longer wished for her sight; the shadows were enough for her.
“Besides, what’s to say that these gentlemen would want to wed a lady like me? I cannot be the wife they require. I am not perfect.”
“You do not need to be, My Lady,” Lily assured her. “Just one more gentleman for the day. Surely this one might turn out to be different from the others?”
“I highly doubt that,” Amelia answered dryly then let her shoulder slump forward. “All right. One more gentleman.”
Lily nearly squealed then she released Amelia’s hand and hurried away to the door.
Amelia returned to her spot behind the curtains, and when she heard the heavy thuds of footsteps walk in, she straightened her spine and sat upright.
A loud gasp tore out of Lily next.
Amelia heard it, and her brows snapped up in attention. “Lily?” she called, wondering what had happened.
“My Lady,” Lily answered in a flustered tone, “there is a …”
“My Lady,” the grave voice echoed through the room and caused Amelia to rise to her feet without thinking. She nearly took a step forward but stopped herself.
He sounded steady. His deep baritone also had a silky feel to it, and it whooshed over her like the gentle spring breeze she had enjoyed earlier.
