Chapter 30
Amelia was sick with dizziness.
She faced her grandmother in the parlor, alone. Kate had been asked to take the unruly children and stay out by her Amelia’s grandmother. And her grandmother’s physician had been asked to wait outside.
For a woman who was ill, her grandmother looked awfully healthy. Amelia wouldn’t doubt she would live forever.
“Well, what do you have to say for yourself?” her grandmother demanded.
“I did as you asked,” she said. “I am engaged to Lord Blackthorn.”
“Yes, but it’s what you are not saying that is my concern.”
What had her chaperone said to her grandmother? The dreadful woman had threatened her multiple times while in London, but she never thought her grandmother would actually come here. Keep your mouth shut, she thought.
“Have you lost your tongue?” her grandmother barked. “Speak.”
“I did as you asked,” Amelia said again. “I am engaged to Lord Blackthorn.”
“Are you sure that is all?”
Her eyes lifted and met her grandmother’s shrewd gaze. “Since you refuse to speak the truth, I will tell you exactly what has reached my ears. You spent the last several weeks reaching out to the very people I ordered you to stay away from. Then, you have gone about late in the evening to God knows where without Mrs. Pots.”
Amelia had learned quickly that saying nothing was better than telling her grandmother the truth. Keep your mouth shut. “Has he touched you?” her grandmother demanded. “Are you ruined?”
Amelia jerked in fright. She recalled her last night with Richard, how he had touched her, pleased her. No, this woman could not know the truth.
But before she could answer, her grandmother said, “I thought so. You’re no better than your mother.”
Amelia kept her eyes lowered as tears brimmed. This couldn’t possibly be happening.
Her grandmother sat down on the couch. “Tea,” she blurted out. When the maid peeked in, she added, “Go fetch Lord Blackthorn. Tell him my granddaughter wishes to see him immediately.”
“Right away, madam,” the maid said.
Fanning her face, she murmured something to herself, clearly irate. “I knew I should have never allowed you to leave Scotland. Nevertheless, you are here and the wedding must happen. Today.”
“Today?”
“I managed to procure a special license, so yes, it will happen today.” She stopped to catch her breath. “And it will be noted that my will is going to be revised. You will not inherit my money or my properties upon marriage. Instead, the earl will receive a small dowry once you are married.”
Amelia’s breath caught. Was she not going to be allowed her inheritance? This couldn’t be happening. “How small?”
“I will discuss that with the earl,” her grandmother snapped. “Once you have produced a child, a healthy one, and that child reaches the age of five, you and the earl will receive my estate and properties.”
Five years, Amelia thought with dread. This was not part of the plan. She did not want to have a baby. What would happen to the girls?
The three-legged dog started to bark in the hallway, followed by laughter. The door swung open, and the children ran into the room, the physician chasing them. Francis, carrying the dog, ran straight to Amelia for protection.
“He tried to kick my puppy,” Francis said, pointing her finger at the doctor.
“I tried to keep them out, madam.”
“Get that filthy animal out of here,” the old woman said. “And that unruly child too.”
When the physician walked toward them, Amelia leaned in and kissed Francis’ forehead. “It’s all right. I will be done soon. Go find your sisters.” Then Amelia looked at the man and said, “She is quite attached to the dog.” She saw that the doctor understood.
Once they left the room, her grandmother narrowed her eyes. “I see that it was a grave mistake to allow you to come here. Grave, grave mistake.”
Not only was Amelia to inform the earl his estate had burned down, but now this…
Blackthorn woke to a pounding headache.
Last night, he had visited Zara and thought perhaps another woman might slake his thirst for Amelia.
It hadn’t.
Instead, he spent the evening talking to his former mistress about his current predicament and she had listened patiently. Then after an hour, she asked him to leave, that clearly, he needed to think this through on his own.
After, he had gone to a tavern and drank. Then drank some more. What the bloody hell was he getting himself into? What did she mean to him? He was supposed to settle his father’s accounts and leave London. Instead, he had been drinking like a drunk, cursing himself.
He couldn’t give her what she wanted.
What any woman wanted.
He was incapable of it. He’d known this for a long time, knowing if he didn't die in the field, he’d die alone in peace without attachment to anything or anyone. It was what he had always known his life to be.
You bloody fool.
He sat up on his bed as his valet came into his room. “Miss Knight wishes your presence immediately.”
“Immediately?” Blackthorn frowned. What was she up to? Had she discovered relevant information regarding Millie? That must be it; why else would she call on him in such haste?
“Yes, my lord.”
“Help me get ready.”
It took about fifteen minutes to get dressed, and he skipped breakfast. Stepping out of his London house, he rushed down the street to Amelia’s townhouse. It wasn’t long before he stepped up the stairs that led to the front door. But even before he could alert the household of his presence, the door swung open.
“Please, come in, my lord,” the butler said.
He walked into the quiet foyer, then followed the butler to the parlor. There was a peculiar quiet in this house, one that made him uneasy. When he entered the parlor, he saw Amelia, quiet and with her gaze lowered, sitting next to an unfamiliar older woman and a vicar.
“Lord Blackthorn,” the older woman said, standing up to greet him.
“Madam,” he said suspiciously, still looking at Amelia. Has she been crying? She wouldn’t look at him, and in that instant, he suspected this woman may be her grandmother.
“What is going on here?”
Still, Amelia would not look at him.
“Is it not clear?” her grandmother said. “It’s your wedding.”
“Miss Knight?” he said, looking at her. Still, she said nothing.
“My granddaughter told me everything. So you see, my lord, it is your duty and honor to take proper action.”
Dread filled him. “I need to speak with my fiancée. Alone.” He was not about to allow this spiteful woman to have her way without speaking to Amelia first. “Everyone out.” He saw her grandmother start to protest, but his eyes told her that if she did, she would pay dearly. Once everyone was out and he shut the door, he sat down by Amelia’s side and sighed.
“Amelia?” he said softly.
Slowly, she looked up at him, tears dripping down her cheeks.
“Tell me, what is this about?”
She wiped the tears with her finger. “Isn’t it obvious? She discovered what I’ve been up to and now she demands that I marry quickly before it becomes scandalous. She knows about our dalliances.”
“I see,” he said.
“There is more,” she started. “Somersby Hall…”
“What about it?”
“It’s destroyed,” she said, her voice weak. “Burned down.” The last words came out between sobs.
His initial reaction was confusion, but she explained what had happened, and that the girls were safe and with her. Furthermore, she went on to explain that she had meant to inform him of the news, but her grandmother had showed up, having learned of Amelia’s actions from Mrs. Pots. In the end, he understood.
But he was angry—at who or what, he wasn’t certain. All he knew was that she could have been hurt, and that troubled him greatly. “I’m happy to hear you and the girls are safe,” he said. He was more than happy that she was all right. If anything had happened to her, he would never have forgiven himself for not being there.
“And she changed the terms of the will.”