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Of all the fun that being a rake could be, running into old flings wasrarelyenjoyable. But something about this time had been different. If Amelia hadn’t been there, would I have reciprocated Miss Cowper’s advances? She was certainly beautiful, and not innocent in the least…
It didn’t make any sense to me. Why would Amelia stop me? I couldn’t fathom it.
Before I could ponder it further, my thoughts were interrupted by a man a few paces down the town road. He was crying my friend’s name frantically.
“Amelia Allen!” The deep voice cried.
We all turned towards him. Amelia’s face lit up when she saw who it was, and she practically ran towards him. Miss Radcliffe and I hastened to catch up.
“Uncle Thomas!” She responded, catching her breath. “How good it is to see you. I told Uncle Nicholas I would try to visit you if I was in the area. What luck that we should run into each other!”
The man nodded, his expression a mixture of worry and impatience. Amelia turned, as if to introduce us to her relative, but before she had a chance to do so, the man spoke in a rush.
“Amelia, you have not heard, have you?”
I watched her face fall, suddenly consumed by worry.
“Heard what, uncle?” Amelia stammered.
He looked troubled. He opened his mouth to speak, and then reached his arm out, grabbing her hands.
“Nicholas, dear. He’s been in an accident in London. We just received news last night… Richard has called the doctor, but we don’t know what will…”
“What happened?” Amelia asked, her voice panicked.
Her uncle shook his head, his expression pained.
“An accident at the docks, or so they said. I barely know anything. I would be on my way to London, but my own wife is pregnant…” He looked as if he was holding back tears.
Amelia embraced him, and then held his hands firmly in her own.
“He will be okay, I am sure of it. I will go to London straight away, uncle.”
A single tear escaped the man’s eye.
“I know you will, Amelia. You are a good girl. Godspeed.”
Amelia turned to us, her expression suddenly resolute. Cassandra began to move towards her, her arms outstretched, but Amelia brushed her off, her eyes focused on the lane back to Rosehill. Without sparing a moment, she began to walk – nay, almostrun– down the lane.
“I must go. Now.” She said resolutely.
And, seeing her conviction, I knew better than to argue. I could not blame her. We were both essentially orphans.
Whatever family we had left, we had to cherish.
Chapter Seven
Amelia
ThewalkbacktoRosehill seemed to take an eternity. I nearly ran the entire way, not bothering to keep my skirts out of the muddy lane. I could think of little else but what my uncle Thomas had told me: that my other uncle, Nicholas, was injured.
Louisa and Richard must have been beside themselves. They were just about the only family I had left. I couldn’t stay here, in Devonshire, while they suffered in London.
No, I had to go to their side.
I could only pray that Lady Radcliffe would allow it.
I burst into the drawing room at Rosehill, oblivious to Cassandra or Lord Marsden’s presence.
