Page 90 of The Lord I Once Loved

She was going to see my mother, and everyone in the ton was going to know our family’s secret. But that paled in comparison to the idea of Turley hurting her. I knew, with full certainty, that I would weather the repercussions of my mother’s status a million times before allowing him to put a finger on Amelia.

I didn’t stop to say goodbye to her cousins. I gave Nicholas a serious nod and ran out of the house, emerging on the busy street of Mayfair. It was a sunny day, and it was as if nothing was wrong in London at all.

But Lord Turley had her.

And I had to ger her back… no matter the cost.

Chapter Seventeen

Amelia

Onemoment,Iwasstanding in the bright sunlight outside of Will’s townhouse, squinting in the sunshine. My mind was troubled after the events of the night before, of course – I had rejected Will after he had told me that he loved me. Hadn’t I hoped and dreamed that he would love me back?

And now I had rejected him.

I thought that I had done the right thing, and I had certainly been honest with him. I couldn’t love the drunken way that he behaved. But after a night to think over it, I wasn’t so sure anymore.

I had decided that I had to leave his home, finally. I had to get a little space. My cousin Louisa would know what to do.

But just as I was stepping onto the cobblestone Mayfair street, I saw a flash of black in the corner of my eye. Suddenly I was pummeled from behind, my body hurtling forward toward the bumpy ground.

I caught myself with my hands and felt jagged cuts rip open where they met the ground. I tried to spin around, but then I felt yanked upwards by the ribbon around my dress. I resisted and the ribbon ripped, sending me face down onto the ground once again, my hands now sticky with blood.

I screamed.

And then a leather gloved hand wrapped around my face, muffling my scream into near silence.

The next few minutes were all a blur.

I struggled, but whoever was attacking me was nearly a foot taller than me and much stronger – I didn’t stand a chance.

I felt myself being pushed into a carriage. We were moving fast, the streets below us rough and bumpy. Before I could get a look at the man, my eyes were blindfolded… and suddenly, a searing pain hit the back of my head.

Then, everything was black.

“Will!”Iscreamed,myvoice smaller and higher than I last remembered.

I was standing at the edge of a small rocky outcropping. It was a brilliant summer day and temperature was warm. Below the outcropping by only about five feet was a sparkling brook. In this particular spot, the water had pooled to create a deep swimming hole.

I knew the spot immediately. It was the brook just beyond Rosehill Manor, on the edge of the woods.

“What, silly?” A boy’s voice emerged from somewhere behind me, and I turned to find myself staring at Will. He was young and sandy blonde, with skin freckled by the sun. His arms and legs were lanky, as if he had just begun to grow into a man.

“Well, are you going to jump?” He asked, his eyes full of laughter.

I turned again and looked at the edge of the rocks. It was a small cliff, and I’d seen the local village kids jumping into the pool many times. But at the idea of jumping, my heart began to race. I imagined myself at the edge of the precipice, and a cold sweat broke out along my brow.

“I can’t!” I exclaimed, looking up at him with wide, fearful eyes.

He didn’t laugh, and his eyes were tender.

“Of course, you can.” Will said, and I felt him take my hand.

His palm was warm and dry. He pulled me to the edge of the rock, and I let him. The fear was still there – but somehow, with Will next to me, it was… subdued.

He grinned down at me.

“We’ll do it together, Amelia. I promise, nothing bad will happen to you.”

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