Page 26 of A Necessary Wife

“Indeed, he is,” Amelia agreed, tickling the baby’s cheek.

Xavier turned toward the touch, a sign he was hungry for his mother’s breast.

Jessica turned him up on her shoulder and patted his bottom instead of feeding him, though. Her gaze flickered between Amelia and Milo. “Of course, when you have one of your own, Amelia, we shall say the same about your bundle of joy, too.”

“I hope so,” she murmured, though what the duke might think of any child of hers was troubling.

When she glanced up again, Chatham was watching her with the strangest expression on his face. One she wasn’t able to fathom.

“We’d best be off,” he announced suddenly, snapping out of his reverie.

Jessica pouted. “Oh, it’s too soon for you to go. Can’t you stay a little longer?”

“No. There will be plenty of time to catch up with each other over the coming weeks of our stay. Coming, Lady Chatham?”

“Yes, of course.” Amelia stood, surprised by the way Chatham was rushing her away from the first friendly encounter she’d had here. She bid Mr. and Mrs. Whitfield goodbye, with a promise to call again soon.

She waited until Quigley Hill was some distance away before she let her smile drop. “Jessica tells me we’ll return to Stapleton for Christmas.”

“Yes, I always come home for the holiday.”

“For two whole months?”

“Yes. Everyone does it now.”

She stopped walking. “Do I have any say in where I go or what I do?”

His eyes widened, and he stopped, too. “Did you expect to go to your brother’s home instead?”

“No, of course not.” But she had dreams of a Christmas in her own home that would go unfulfilled if they returned here.

“Good,” Chatham said, exhaling, and continued walking after his children, leaving her behind. He directed them away from the manor house and disappeared under the trees instead.

Amelia fumed silently for a few moments and then spun on her heel.

She should have known not to give her trust so easily, but because she thought she had known Chatham’s character well enough, she’d allowed his courtship, brief as it had been, and asked too few questions about his future plans.

Her experience had taught her that all men lie, or at least omitted certain facts, to get what they want at all times. Chatham had seemed an open book. He’d been clear about his motives for marriage. He wanted her to mother his children…but had he lied about wanting to give her a life of her own?

Would she have any say in anything that mattered?

Chatham was making all the decisions and just expecting her to agree with him and not make a fuss.

Amelia headed toward Stapleton Manor, appalled by her discovery that she might have been duped. No man had ever considered her their equal.

“Lady Chatham?”

She walked faster at hearing her husband call.

“Lady Chatham! I demand you stop this minute.”

Amelia stopped, turned, and stood still as the earl rushed toward her.

He grasped both her arms. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Back to your room.”

“But they are playing. My children have spent too much time in the nursery in recent weeks, so I thought it would be nice to stay outdoors since the weather is so fair.”