Page 43 of Maid for the Duke

‘They think I am a contender for your affection.’

‘You are a contender for my affection.’

She gave him a withering stare. ‘You know what I mean. They think I might be someone respectable who you might consider marrying. Do people not know of your arrangement with Lady Elizabeth Dreadon?’

‘No. There was never any need to make the details public. Besides, it is not a formal arrangement. If Lady Elizabeth chose another, there would be nothing to stop her from marrying them instead.’

‘Apart from the handshakes your fathers exchanged some years ago.’

‘Apart from that.’

Amelie glanced around again. Despite her reservations about coming here tonight, she was thoroughly enjoying herself. She felt safe behind the mask, her identity truly hidden, and she enjoyed seeing Will in this environment. Added to that there was the thrill of dancing. This was one of the best evenings of her life. It also helped that Will was here with her, guiding her through, that perfect mix of concern and humour.

‘Perhaps we could have one more dance, and then we could slip away.’

‘How can I refuse such an offer from the most beautiful woman here tonight?’

They waited for the musicians to start playing again, taking their place in a long line of dancers for a quick-paced cotillion. Soon Amelie was laughing as she danced, feeling her heart beat faster with the exertion as they stepped in and out to the beat of the music. All too soon the dance came to an end, however, and Amelie executed a pretty curtsey in front of Will.

‘We should make our escape before any of these gentlemen start to vie for your attention and ask you to dance,’ Will said, before lowering his voice further and leaning in to whisper in her ear. ‘I do not want to share you.’

There was possessiveness to his voice that sent a shiver of anticipation through her. She liked the thought of her being desirable to other people made him jealous. Even though he was the one who had put a time limit on their affair, she could tell he didn’t like the thought of her falling in love with someone else one day.

Before anyone could catch them, they hurried across the main courtyard, retracing their steps to the entrance. Their carriage was waiting a little way down the road and Will quickly helped her inside. Once they were settled, he thumped on the roof and they took off towards Grantchester.

‘I know that was probably very ill-advised,’ Amelie said as they left the city behind them. ‘But it was one of the most wonderful nights of my life. When this is all over, I will treasure the memory of tonight, so thank you, Will.’

‘It was my pleasure,’ he said, lifting her hand to his lips and kissing it. ‘Do you know, I must have attended hundreds of these events, and normally I always feel ill at ease, but tonight…’ He let the sentence hang, unfinished. He seemed distracted, not quite himself, so Amelie moved to sit next to him, allowing her body to sink into his, hoping in some small way she could give him comfort.

Chapter Twenty

As Amelie walked along King’s Parade she felt contented. It was another glorious summer’s day and she was out and about in the city. The house was cleaned, everything for dinner prepared, and the only job she had left on her list of tasks for today was the shopping at the market.

A few days earlier she had travelled back to London to see her brother and sisters, delighted to find them thriving and happy with Mrs Hampton. Amelie had stayed with the kindly woman for a couple of days, taking the children out for long walks across the fields near Tranquillity House and teaching them some of the French songs their mother used to sing. Of an evening, once the children were in bed, Amelie found Mrs Hampton to be good company. The older woman did not press Amelie for any details of her relationship with the Duke, instead talking to Amelie about her own life, the time she had spent in the Beescroft household and her memories of Will and Catherine as children.

Amelie had returned to Grantchester a couple of days ago, refreshed and rejuvenated by her visit to see her family and eager to fall into Will’s arms. He had missed her greatly the few days she had been away and they had fallen into bed together and not emerged for a whole day.

Now Amelie had sent Will back to work on his book and she was shopping for a few essentials. As she wandered through the market, she stopped at a few stalls, inspecting the produce. Her mind was elsewhere, so she only caught fragments of the conversations that were happening around her, but she stiffened when she heard her own name mentioned.

‘Apparently he is holed up somewhere in Grantchester with this entirely unsuitable woman: Amelie. I heard she was a working girl from London.’

Amelie edged closer, her cheeks burning.

‘He took her to the ball at Trinity a few days ago. I heard she was beautiful. Typical man, only thinking with his nether regions,’ the second woman said before they both let out a cackle of laughter.

‘I don’t begrudge a man his pleasure, but you would think he would be a little more discreet. Parading a woman like that around with respectable people…’

‘I wish he would parade me around. Have you seen him? I caught a glimpse of him the other day and he is a very attractive man. I don’t blame this Amelie for dropping her petticoats.’

Trying to be as invisible as she could, Amelie moved away. She had heard enough, and the last thing she needed was somehow to arouse the suspicions of these women. If they knew she was the one they gossiped about she would be hounded from the marketplace, cast out for being a woman of loose morals.

As Amelie hurried back along King’s Parade, her empty basket banging against her legs, she felt a swell of panic. This has always been a possibility. They had both known they were taking a risk, but as the weeks had passed they had grown complacent. It had seemed so safe and secluded in Grantchester, and most of the time they spoke to no one else. River View Cottage had been their own little haven, but they had forgotten the world was always watching.

She could not believe the women in the marketplace knew her name. She was no one, so insignificant that it should not matter what her name was, yet the gossips had ferreted out that piece of information.

Amelie wondered how long it would be before the rumours reached London. It would be impossible now for her to return to Ashmead House. With a flush of shame, she wondered what Mrs Potter would think of her. She hated the thought of leaving the older woman when her health was failing, but she would not be allowed back, however altruistic her intentions.

Amelie walked fast, her head bent so she did not have to look anyone in the eye. It might have been her imagination, but she thought she felt people looking at her, watching her. It was a relief to get away from the city and her pace only slowed a little when she reached the meadows that led to Grantchester.