Page 36 of The Ruin of Miss Amelia Burrowes

Chapter 15

After a long bath to ease her soreness below, Amelia settled herself to dressing for the day. With the assistance of Woods, her maid, she endured the continuous primping, from the application of creams to her whole body, to the donning of her stays, petticoats, and gown—a luscious deep yellow confection that showed off her bosom magnificently—and finally the dressing of her hair. And this for a day in which she wasn’t preparing to leave the house. There was much about the life of a viscountess that she had to learn.

Of course, she wished fervently to appear as ravishing as she could for Nathan. But she’d been used to much simpler toilettes at home. Apparently, that time had passed, and she’d have to be on her toes to keep up with the everyday dress for Polite Society.

Amelia’s shoulders slumped. If she was even to be accepted by the ton. They’d been certain Lady Carrington would take Nathan’s threats seriously and do her part to repair Amelia’s reputation, although deep down, she wasn’t all that surprised. Lady Carrington had never believed Amelia good enough for her son and had treated her accordingly, though Jonathan had never seen it. Or had pretended not to see it, most likely. Still, she wondered what the lady’s excuse would be. Lord, but she’d love to be a fly on the wall when Nathan paid his call on her this morning.

Smiling at that thought, she gazed into the mirror as Woods settled a brilliant teardrop-shaped sapphire around her neck. A gift from Nathan yesterday for their wedding. It was absolutely stunning and although not exactly meant for day wear, Amelia wanted her husband to know she treasured the present. And what better way than by wearing it?

She touched her neck with the glass stopper of her favorite perfume flacon and at last rose to face the first day of marriage. She’d breakfasted in bed for the first time, lazily eating a bite at a time, luxuriating in the knowledge she wasn’t needed anywhere until much later. Now, though, it was time to take the reins and step into the role of lady of the house, the dream that, in recent years, had begun to fade.

With a light step, she hurried down the stairs to find Mrs. Ashworth, the housekeeper, and give directions about the day. After that mostly successful interview, Amelia continued down to the kitchen to confer about dinner. As Mrs. Campbell knew Nathan’s tastes much better than she did, she let the woman suggest several dishes that would be appetizing to his lordship. As they were also foods she herself enjoyed, Amelia was very amenable to the menu for this evening. She’d need to ask Nathan and come up with several days’ worth of menus to present to the cook tomorrow. “And would you send up some tea and cakes to the drawing room, Mrs. Campbell? Lord Ainsley will be returning shortly, and I’d like to offer him some refreshment.”

“Of course, my lady.” The cook looked at her inquiringly. “Do you have your own blend of tea, my lady? Or shall I use his lordship’s?”

“Lord Ainsley’s blend will do for today. I will have some of my blend sent over from my parents’ house for tomorrow.” Amelia had always been fond of a particular combination of black and Assam teas that she’d been blending for years. Funny she’d forgotten to have it sent over, though with so much going on she really shouldn’t be surprised. What else had she left at her parents’ that she’d have to send for?

Chuckling, Amelia climbed the stairs to the first floor and headed hopefully for the drawing room. She’d only been there a time or two, but she must learn the layout of the house sometime. After only one false move, when she’d surprised two maids cleaning the library, Amelia discovered the large green and gold drawing room, splendid in the early afternoon light that poured in from the back garden. Amelia could’ve stood and gazed at the pleasant vista for hours, but just then the tea arrived, and she sat in an elegant Queen Anne chair, covered in a green toile pattern, and helped herself to the tea and cakes. She’d just begun on a chicken and cress sandwich when Nathan opened the door, striding purposefully across the floor toward her, followed closely by Lord Haversham.

“Good afternoon, my dear. Good afternoon, Lord Haversham. You are come at the opportune moment, just in time for tea.” She pulled an empty cup toward her and began to pour then her gaze took in Nathan’s frantic pace and Lord Haversham’s drawn visage. “Is something the matter?”

Her husband halted before her and dropped to one knee, startling her. “I must confess something to you, my love. Two things, in fact. And neither of them would I wish to burden you with, but I am bound by the vows we took only yesterday to be true to you, which means I must tell you everything, whether or not the news will be…discomfiting to you.”

Heart pounding in her chest, Amelia grasped his hands and squeezed them. “Then tell me quickly, love.” She had no idea what had caused this change in Nathan, but a cold dread seeped into her body.

“I have issued a challenge to Mr. Burke to meet me in three days’ time at dawn in Hyde Park or else be branded a coward and a liar.”

As though a hand had suddenly gripped her throat, Amelia could not breathe. She stared at Nathan, not wanting to comprehend his words, but doing so all too well. Her husband had challenged another man to a duel. A duel where the consequences could be maiming or…death. A sudden trembling made the chair she sat on quake. “But, Nathan…why?” She cocked her head, a thousand things running through her mind. “Does it have to do somehow with Lady Carrington?”

A smile played briefly around Nathan’s mouth, but he controlled it. “Only indirectly. I have dealt with Lady Carrington. She will renew her campaign to exonerate you, my dear. Do not fear. We, however, have a more urgent business to attend to.”

“You mean dueling with Mr. Burke?” The blood which had seemed to drain from her entire body came racing back, making Amelia terribly warm.

“Yes.” Nathan avoided her gaze, which increased her sense of dread.

“What could he have done that was so egregious, Nathan?” She didn’t know Mr. Burke well enough for him to have done anything that would call for Nathan to kill him.

Looking as though he were eating ground glass, Nathan thrust a tattered copy of The Morning Post into her hands. He gazed at her, his face as miserable as she had ever seen it.

Frowning, Amelia unfolded the newspaper. “There is something in today’s paper? I have not had a chance to peruse—”

“It’s from three days before our wedding.” Nathan rose and sat in the chair beside Amelia’s, still holding one of her hands, which he seemed loath to give up.

Tears appeared from nowhere, but Amelia tried to blink them back and focus on the broadsheet. Her gaze caught the words “Miss A. Bur—wes, lately betrothed to Lord A—ly” causing her to stop and read the entire passage. As she read, her mouth dropped open and her hand gripped the paper, crumpling it until she could scarcely make out the words. Her other hand squeezed Nathan’s so she feared his bones might crack.

Finished, she let the Post fall from her fingers. “But it’s lies, Nathan. All lies.”

“I know it is, my love.”

Of course he knew, thank heavens. But all the rest of Society did not. Now they would revile her even worse than before. Never accept her as a member of the ton, nor her sisters, nor her children with Nathan. She turned stricken eyes to her husband. “But why? Why would he lie so egregiously about this?” Her mind hit on the only possible reason. “Was this to retaliate because I would not marry him?”

“Not quite, my dear, although it stems from that fact.” Nathan sighed and rubbed her hand. “After I challenged him, I pressed him to discover what depravity could’ve made him do such a thing.” He shook his head, as though he couldn’t believe what he’d heard. “After I spirited you away from Burke, the man became most desperate. He’d spent rather heavily while negotiations were going on with your father, based on his belief he’d soon be in possession of your dowry. When that did not come to pass, and his creditors began to hound him, he came up with a scheme he believed would keep our marriage from taking place.”

“The…the…” Amelia couldn’t think of anything bad enough to call the odious Mr. Burke. “The…worm!”

Nathan’s eyes flashed approval, and he chuckled. “A fitting description, my dear.” Then he sobered and continued. “He came up with this horrendous lie and chose to tell it to Lord Fanon because he knew I knew the gentleman from White’s. He assumed Fanon would immediately inform me, I would be so incensed I would call off the wedding, and he could then step in and marry you instead, your reputation being so ruined no one else would have you.”

“He thought you’d just dismiss me out of hand? Without even hearing my side of the story?” Amelia shuddered to think she’d been on the brink of marrying such a man.