Page 100 of The Lord I Once Loved

At the after party, Cassie had whispered to me conspiratorially that her new governess was a million times worse than myself. I had just rolled my eyes… but it had made me laugh.

As the last guests bid their farewells, I found myself standing in the grand hallway of Will’s townhome, finally alone with him.

My townhome, I mentally corrected myself.

Yes, that was going to take some getting used to.

“How do you feel, Lady Marsden?” He said, a sly grin tugging at his lips.

I felt my heartbeat quicken, and my face blush red.

“I feel…” I trailed off, glancing around the townhouse.

I had been here so many times, yet now, it looked foreign to me. The grand staircase, the finely embroidered curtains, and the intricate portraits of Will’s ancestors… it was all, suddenly, overwhelming. Sure, I was Will’s wife now. I was theLady Marsden. But I was still just a penniless orphan beneath it all, wasn’t I?

I was still just Amelia.

He narrowed his eyes, watching my expression shift from happiness into anxiety.

“What’s wrong?”

I bit my lip, trying to calm myself.

“I don’t know, I just… I don’t know how to be this.” I gestured vaguely around the room, not making eye contact. “I don’t know how to be a… viscountess.”

To my surprise, Will burst into laughter.

I glared at him, feeling a hint of annoyance.

“Amelia, dearest, you will be the best Viscountess Marsden there ever has been. I mean, really, how could you be any worse at being in the ton thanIam?”

He let out another laugh and then continued.

“Think about it. In the past five years, I have scandalized not only London, but most of thecontinent. They’ve yet to take away my Viscount card. I think you can hardly do worse.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but I found that I had nothing to say. He was right. I rolled my eyes, and he grinned cockily.

“Whatever.” I retorted, a smile betraying my true feelings.

As if by habit, his hand slipped to the jacket pocket where he had always kept his flask. I felt my stomach clench for a moment. I was sure he’d stopped drinking so heavily… but perhaps I was wrong.

What if I was wrong about everything?

He noticed my eyes following his hand, and he smiled kindly.

“Just an old habit. I’m sorry.”

I felt relief wash over me.

“No, no… I’m sorry too. You shouldn’t feel like I’m watching you all the time.”

Will leaned against the banister, stretching his long arms above his head. He then unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt.

“Oh, you’re not watching me? Seems like you are.” He grinned, and I felt my face blush red again.

Iwaswatching him.

Before I could think of anything to say in response, he had stepped towards me, and I was paralyzed by his ocean blue eyes. He reached out a hand, and I let my hand fall into his.

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