Page 78 of Real Earls Break the Rules

He helped her into the carriage, then took the seat across from her. His muscular frame dominated the space, and his thigh brushed her skirts. Now that they were alone she didn’t know how to broach the subject of what had occurred at the ball. Or how to make him acknowledge his true feelings for her.

Leaning forward, he touched her hand. “Amelia, I apologize for last night.”

She bit her lip in dismay. “Do you regret it then?”

His eyes darkened with emotion. “You misunderstand. I’m sorry for what you had to go through, but I don’t regret asking you to marry me.”

“What of the factory and the land? I don’t want to marry a man out of obligation,” she said in a voice that seemed to come from a while off.

“Is that what you think?”

Her eyes rose to his at the intensity of his voice. “What else am I to think? You mentioned honor more times than I can count. After the debacle at the ball, you feel honor bound to salvage my reputation.”

“I’ve done a good job of ruining things, haven’t I?”

“Last night wasn’t entirely your fault, my lord.”

“No, it wasn’t. But I’m glad for it. You are more important to me than a dozen factories or any amount of land.”

She froze, her heart pounding.

He cradled the side of her face with his large hand and searched her eyes. “I love you, Amelia. I’ve been a fool for not acknowledging it sooner.”

She froze, stunned to hear the words. “Truly?”

“Yes. Truly. With all my heart.”

Warmth crept back into her body, and her heart sang with delight. “Oh, Brandon, I love you, too.”

“Thank God.” His hand slid to her nape, and he pulled her close and kissed her tenderly, leaving no doubt in her mind that he meant his words. Happiness bubbled inside her, pure and sweet.

He pulled back to look in her eyes. “I was wrong and selfish to say you can’t paint what you wish under your true name. When you have your exhibition, I’ll be proud to stand beside you.”

She took a quick sharp breath of joy. “But what of your sisters and the dowager?”

“My sisters are strong, independent women, and they would be thrilled to have you as a sister. As for my grandmother, I suspect she wants grandchildren above all else and she will accept and love you as my countess.”

She recalled Eliza’s wise words of advice that when a man truly loves a woman, he wishes her happiness above his own. Amelia would never again doubt Brandon’s love for her.

“Say you’ll marry me and make me the happiest man in the world.”

“I will.” She kissed him with all the pent up longing she felt, and his arms eagerly tightened around her.

The carriage rolled to a stop, and Brandon lifted her head to look out the window. “Damn, but we’re here.”

She touched his cheek. “I’m sorry for what you must do today. I know how hard you worked to make the factory profitable and fair for the employees.”

“My hope is that the new owner retains Begley as the manager. He will have some influence over the laborers, especially the children.”

“You are a good man, Lord Vale. Let’s speak with him together,” she said.

Brandon hopped out of the carriage and helped her alight. Amelia tucked her arm in his, and they entered the factory together. Just as last time, the heat engulfed them like a wet woolen cloak, and the noise was deafening. Workers rushed to man the spinning jennies and equipment. Bits of thread settled on her shoes and clothing. Brandon escorted her farther into the building, but there was no sign of Mr. Begley.

Brandon stopped a muscular middle-aged man with an armful of threaded bobbins making his way up to the power looms on the second floor. “Where’s Begley?”

“Last I saw ’em, ’e was up there,” the man said.

Together, Brandon and Amelia climbed the wooden stairs to the second floor where the power looms were operating, but Begley was nowhere in sight. After asking more workers, Brandon learned that Begley was headed to the bowels of the factory to inspect the coal burning furnace.