Chapter 1
22 December 1815
This couldn’t be happening.Miss Amelia Fortescue looked from one parent to the other and an icy chill flowed through her body. They were matchmakingagain!“What are you two planning?” she asked, in a low, controlled voice.
“You will make him a beautiful bride.” Her mother continued her line of conversation as though unaware of Amelia’s horror.
“But I don’t know the man!” Amelia swayed in her seat as her father’s ancient travelling coach lurched between the twin stone pillars marking the entrance to Wellworth Park.
“That will soon be remedied,” her father, Baron Fortescue, said, dismissing her objection with a brusque rustle of the newspaper he held open at a report about a recent curricle race to Brighton, which Amelia knew he had bet upon.
“Look!” her mother said, pointing out the window.
Amelia craned her neck to see ahead from her rear-facing position. An expanse of snow-dusted pasture lay beyond the avenue of bare-branched elms through which they drove. Within minutes, the sight of a large and new-built house filled the small carriage window.
“What an impressive home Wellworth possesses,” her mother prattled on. “You lucky girl. He’s a marvellous catch.”
“Indeed,” her father agreed. Having finally finished reading his newspaper he entered the conversation fully. “I’m looking forward to Christmas here.”
Her parents exchanged a meaningful look.
“I’ve heard his house is furnished from Sheraton’s latest catalogue and holds prize-winning artworks,” Amelia’s mother purred.
Do furnishings matter when I don’t even know the man?
Her parents’ conversation batted back and forth, praising Wellworth Park, its owner’s taste, and his wealth. Amelia continued to stare out the window at the wintery scene.
“Just a pity about his war injury,” her mother mused.
Amelia darted her eyes from the view out the window to her mother.What injury?
“I hear he no longer fences or boxes because of his leg, but I’m not sure whether he still rides,” her father replied.
Had he been seriously wounded?
“I can’t understand why a man of his age and fortune joined the army. What a foolish idea! But I’m sure Amelia will not be bothered by that,” her mother said. She turned to her daughter. “As you looked after your grandmother all those years, you have good nursing skills. You’re a perfect match for him. So much better than the usual debutant.”
Is Wellworth both oldandan invalid?“How could you?”
Neither parent answered. Her mother flicked a glance at the baron then leaned forward to pat Amelia’s hands where they lay in her lap.
Finally, her mother replied, “If you were to find Major Wellworth at all acceptable as a husband, we urge you to encourage his advances. That is all. He is very eligible.”
“But I’ve never met him.”
“But you soon will,” her mother said.
“Why would he be making advances?” Amelia’s heart pounded from foreboding.
“See what you think of him before dismissing his suit out of hand,” her father said.
“His suit? He’s already approached you? For me, sight unseen?”
“But he has seen you,” her mother replied.
“Will I have any choice about whether I marry him?” Amelia’s blood curdled in her veins at the thought of such a one-sided union.
“It appears to have been love at first sight for him.” Her mother gave a smug smile.
