Page 55 of Maid for the Duke

‘Please do.’

‘Do not approach this thinking you are here to save her. Amelie is an extraordinarily resilient young woman who has extricated herself out of a mess of your making and found a way to rebuild her life. I do not know what passed between you, but I can make a guess that she wanted more than to be your mistress. She may stick to that decision and, if she does, let her have her peace.’

‘I am not here to ruin her life,’ he said quietly.

‘Please give Amelie my regards. I planned to call on her at the week’s end, but perhaps I will wait to hear the outcome of your visit,’ Miss Flint said.

‘Thank you.’

He stood, eager to be on his way. He meant to travel on to Berkhall immediately, but he would heed Lady Elizabeth’s and Miss Flint’s words about not barrelling in and exposing Amelie’s real identity. He would wait for her to return home and then request they go somewhere private for their talk. The last thing he wanted to do was cause her more heartbreak and difficulty.

‘You will need a horse,’ Lady Elizabeth said, standing and crossing over to ring for a servant. ‘We have plenty in the stables who would be glad of the exercise. Our grooms will ensure your horses are rubbed down after their journey and fed and rested.’

‘I am in your debt,’ Will said, thankful for Lady Elizabeth’s offer. The journey would be quicker on horseback than in the carriage and now he had finally found Amelie he did not want to delay a moment longer before seeing her.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Amelie strolled through the meadow, feeling the late-September sun on her face, and allowed herself a little smile. Four weeks ago she had been at her lowest ebb, uncertain what she was going to do with her life or how she would survive. It was incredible how much could change in a few weeks.

Much of it was due to the kindness of relative strangers. Although a little surprised to see her at her door, Miss Flint had been true to her word, sweeping Amelie up with kindness and convincing Lady Elizabeth that they should help her. That help had manifested in many ways, from arranging a meeting with the Turner family, who were looking for a music instructor for their five children, to arranging transport to it so she could make her way to Berkhall to meet with the Turners to see if she would be a good fit for the job.

The money she was earning as a music instructor was enough to allow her to rent a tiny cottage on the edge of the village. It was a little dilapidated, with rickety furniture, but they were already starting to make it their own. The people of Berkhall had been welcoming and over the last couple of weeks she had felt herself relaxing, finally convinced that no one was going to find out about her recent scandalous past.

Whilst she worked, the children stayed at home, looked after by her elderly neighbour who was kind, considerate and a bit lonely. It was a good arrangement, with Amelie paying a little every day, but nowhere near as much as she had needed to pay Mrs Creedy. There had even been talk of them attending lessons at the local school, run by the vicar’s wife.

If anyone saw her walking through Berkhall now, they would think she was happy. And she was, to a degree. She was content with her work and ecstatic that her brother and sisters could all stay with her rather than with a stranger. She liked the sleepy pace of the village and thought she could quite happily settle there.

Despite her contentment, recent events weighed heavily on her. Not an hour that passed in which she did not think of Will. She missed him terribly. Even though they had only spent several weeks together, they had been wonderful weeks, a time she could not help but wish would come again, even knowing now how it had ended.

Her heart was still broken. It still pained her to think of Will, sitting alone in his big townhouse, but his loneliness was of his own making.

Amelie rounded the corner and the cottage came into view. Marie, Harriet and Charles would be waiting for her. She had promised to show Marie how to cook one of their mother’s favourite dishes tonight. She was eager her siblings did not miss out on the gifts her mother had given her just because they were younger.

She was halfway up the path to the front door when she heard movement in the road behind her and she looked over her shoulder, thinking it would be one of her new neighbours. The villagers in Berkhall were friendly and always stopped to say hello.

Amelie felt time slow down as she turned to see Will standing there, the reins of his horse in his hand. He looked haggard, exhausted, and her first instinct was to go to him and take him into her arms. Then she remembered his coldness when they had last parted and she stayed just where she was.

‘What are you doing here, Your Grace?’ she asked, her voice low. She did not want to draw any attention to them; did not want her neighbours to become curious and come outside to see what was happening.

‘I’ve been searching for you,’ he said, taking a step closer. ‘For weeks, ever since you left Grantchester.’

‘You do not need to concern yourself with my welfare any longer. As you can see, I am well.’

‘Miss Flint tells me you have secured a position as a music teacher.’

‘I have.’ Amelie kept her answers short. Inside she felt torn. She wanted him to stay and go in equal measure. It felt awfully painful to see him again, to remember the happiness they had shared, even if only for a short time. She was just about to tell him to leave when Charles came running from the back garden, stopping when he saw Will.

The little boy’s eyes widened, no doubt remembering the magical day they had strolled through Hyde Park and eaten ices. That had been the start of better times for the children, and Amelie knew they saw Will as a saviour. He had whisked them away from Mrs Creedy, arranging their stay with the kindly Mrs Hampton. That was the moment which had precipitated change.

Charles slowed for a moment and then changed his mind, his little legs picking up speed, and he hurled himself through the gate and at Will’s legs.

‘I asked Amelie when you would come to visit us. I knew you would come. You need to see my soldiers. I have a new lieutenant.’

‘A new lieutenant,’ Will said, swinging Charles up into his arms. ‘Is he keeping order in the ranks?’

‘You had better come through. You can tie your horse to the fence.’ Amelie reached forward and took Charles from Will’s arms so he could secure his horse. Her brother wriggled from her grip, protesting until she put him down and then he ran back and slipped his hand into Will’s.

Marie and Harriet were sitting on a blanket on the grass in the garden. Marie was reading and Harriet was playing with her doll.