“I knew you still loved him.” Catherine handed over Amelia’s bouquet of flowers and smiled smugly.

Julia rolled her eyes. “Well, everyone does now. It’s hardly a great secret. After all, they are getting married in front of over one hundred people.”

Catherine put hands to her hips. “Yes, but I knew it before everyone else. I was the one who caught them kissing.”

Amelia managed to control her blush at the thought of the many secretive kisses she and Nicholas had enjoyed since the announcement of their engagement. To be finally properly allowed to be affectionate with him would be wonderful.

“Shh about the kiss,” Emma hissed. “We do not need anyone to think we Chadwick girls are any more scandalous than we already are.”

Of course, Amelia’s sisters knew all about the kiss and some of the details of the proposal. Once their engagement had been announced at the ball, her sisters had pressed her for every tiny detail until her head spun with it all. It had been hard enough to believe it was actually happening without having to convey it all to them.

“Do you think Amelia’s marriage will make us a little more respectable?” Emma asked.

Catherine snorted. “Not likely. The old bats of the ton have long memories.” She thrust up her chin. “Besides, I have no intentions of bowing and scraping before them, do you?”

Julia laughed. “Old bats. Do not let mother hear you say that.”

“Well they are.” Catherine crossed her arms.

“You might not care for their opinion,” Amelia said, “but do try to be on your best behavior today. Nicholas has quite a few important friends here today.”

“Oh he won’t care.” Catherine waved a hand. “He will only have eyes for you.”

Emma gave a dreamy sigh. “I did not think love was that interesting but seeing how Nicholas looks at you, Amelia...well, perhaps love is not all that bad.”

Amelia smiled, her chest warm with love for her wonderful, silly sisters, and overflowing with it for her husband-to-be. All those years of waiting and hoping had come to fruition, and only Nicholas truly knew her. For most people, they would only ever know her through her books but behind closed doors, she could finally be something more than the sensible older sister.

“Love suits Amelia,” Julia agreed.

“Won’t find me falling in love,” Catherine stated. “Never, ever.”

“Ha, who would want to love you anyway?” Emma scoffed. “You are every man’s worst nightmare.”

“Emma,” Amelia scolded. “That was cruel.”

Catherine shrugged. “She’s only being truthful. No man wants a woman like me—or any of us. And I do not care a fig.”

Amelia shook her head. Catherine did not care for men but she was still young. Once she turned twenty, she’d wager Catherine would care a lot more for men. As for her other sisters, Julia was too busy digging in the dirt or chasing animals to care about love. Emma was perhaps keener but then she was the second oldest. However, if Emma could not settle on a hobby, how could she expect to settle on a man?

“Nicholas wants Amelia,” Julia pointed out. “So much so that he procured a special license for them to wed.”

“Amelia is the exception, and far more deserving of love than any of us,” Emma said.

“That’s true,” Catherine agreed. “All those years of looking after us, you deserve happiness.”

Tears swelled in Amelia’s eyes. She had spent so many days worrying for her sisters, it was hard to believe she would not see them every day.

Emma darted forward with a handkerchief and dabbed Amelia’s eyes. “Now don’t you cry. You’ll set the rest of us off.”

Julia nodded and sniffed. All three of her sisters looked a little teary, even Catherine who kept her head slightly turned away so no one could see.

As Amelia opened her arms to her sisters, the vestry door pushed open. Amelia nearly dropped her flowers. “Lavinia!”

Lavinia swept into the room and embraced Amelia quickly. “I’m sorry I’m a mess.” She motioned up and down her spotless gown and perfect hair. “We travelled all night and I had no chance to change.”

“You look perfect,” Amelia said. “But we did not expect you to be able to come.”

“And miss out on my big sister’s wedding? Never.” Lavinia patted her hair. “I insisted we must come at once, even if I could not make the wedding, I had to see you all. It feels like it has been too long already.”

“It has,” Amelia agreed.

“I always knew he was destined for someone better, you know.” A twinkle appeared in Lavinia’s eyes.

Amelia scowled. “Better?”

“Oh yes, I would have bored Nicholas to death. Thank goodness he came to his senses. As soon as I heard of your engagement, I just knew you’d be perfect together. With your imagination and his adventurous spirit.”

Amelia knew that. She had known it for a while she supposed. But to hear her sister say as much, filled her with gratitude. Her vision grew misty again.

“Stop it.” Julia thrust the handkerchief back at her.

“I shall only be a few miles away,” Amelia reminded them all, sniffing. “You can see me every day.”

“Try and stop us,” Catherine declared.

Amelia opened her arms and her sisters flung themselves at her. The five of them laughed as Amelia nearly toppled backward from the weight of them all.

“Whatever the future holds,” she assured them. “We will always have each other.”

“Always,” they agreed.

THE END

If you loved Amelia’s story, grab Julia and the Duke for more Bluestocking Brides fun

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