“You would stay?” she asked.
“Gladly,” Amelia said.
The answer came so easily that it surprised Amelia. Yet as soon as the words left her mouth, she realized they were entirely true. One month ago, she had arrived at Anderton Manor frightened, confused, and desperate. Now, the thought of leaving made her chest feel painfully tight. Somewhere along the way, this house had become home.
Valerie lowered her gaze. “I thought perhaps you were eager to leave.”
“Eager?” Amelia repeated. “My dear girl, this has been the most meaningful month of my life.”
Valerie’s eyes widened.
Amelia smiled sadly. “Before I came here, I spent years allowing other people to decide everything for me. Then I arrived at Anderton Manor and somehow acquired a duke, two children, a dog, a cat, and enough emotional turmoil to last several lifetimes.”
That earned a laugh. A proper laugh.
“There she is,” Amelia said warmly. “I was beginning to miss you.”
Valerie shook her head, smiling despite herself. “You make everything sound ridiculous.”
“That is because most things are ridiculous,” Amelia replied. “Society simply disguises the fact beneath expensive clothing.”
The laughter faded, but the sadness in Valerie’s expression seemed lighter now. Amelia silently thanked heaven for that. She hated seeing David or Valerie unhappy. The realization struck her unexpectedly. When had she started thinking of them as people she needed to protect? The answer frightened her slightly because she already knew it was far too late to stop.
Valerie reached forward and hugged her.
The gesture surprised Amelia so much that she froze for a second before wrapping her arms around the girl. Valerie rarely initiated affection. In fact, she guarded her emotions more fiercely than Gabriel ever had. Feeling the young lady cling to her nearly brought tears to Amelia’s eyes. She blinked rapidly and blamed the room’s excessive amount of candlelight.
“You had better stay,” Valerie muttered against her shoulder.
Amelia smiled and rested her cheek against the girl’s hair. “I am working on it.”
“You sound uncertain.”
“I am uncertain.”
Valerie pulled back and frowned.
Amelia laughed. “But I am also stubborn.”
That seemed to satisfy her. As Valerie returned to the mirror, Amelia watched her reflection thoughtfully. Tonight would be the young lady’s first ball. Soon, she would step into society and begin a new chapter of her life. Amelia felt fiercely protective and ridiculously proud all at once. Whatever happened after tonight, she intended to stand beside Valerie every step of the way.
And for the first time since arriving at Anderton Manor, Amelia realized something important.
She was done allowing other people to decide her future. Not her parents. Not society. Not even the Duke of Anderton. This time, she intended to choose for herself.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Lady Provie?” Amelia asked, setting a hand against the door. “May I ask what you are doing in my room?”
Amelia stepped fully into her room and stared at the unexpected visitor occupying the small sitting area beside the fire. Lady Provie sat comfortably in one of the armchairs as though she owned the room, her gloved hands folded neatly atop her walking cane. For a moment, Amelia simply blinked at her in confusion before closing the door behind her.
Lady Provie lifted her gaze slowly and regarded her over the rim of her spectacles.
“You may ask,” she replied in a measured tone, “though whether I answer is another matter entirely.”
Amelia suppressed a sigh and crossed the room. “I shall consider that an answer altogether, then.”
A faint sound escaped the older woman that might have been amusement. “You are bolder than most governesses I have known.”
