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Her smile widened. “I’ll do everything I can to aid Amelia with the preparations until you can join us.”
Her words caused a small frisson of unease to unfurl in his abdomen. He was about to ask her to explain further, but movement out of the corner of his eye had him turning to look at the stairs. Amelia and Mary were descending, the latter saying something that amused Amelia. But her smile was reserved.
He couldn’t stop staring as she descended the stairs and joined them and he tried to discern what was happening. He wanted to demand an explanation from Louisa, but there were too many people crowded into the hallway, their voices filling the space. And if he was being honest, he couldn’t shake the irrational fear that if he looked away, the woman he loved would disappear forever.
When Amelia’s gaze met his, he could see the wariness reflected in their depths. He needed to apologize for his selfish behavior and set things right with her as soon as possible.
One by one, his sisters and brothers-in-law exited the house. Amelia’s friend trailed behind them.
With one last glance at Amelia, Mary said, “I’ll see you outside.”
“Is your friend leaving today as well? I thought you were going to ask her to stay.”
Amelia met his gaze and inclined her head toward the drawing room.
Dread settled over him as he followed. “We can speak after everyone leaves.”
Amelia took a deep breath and looked at him, her shoulders pulled back and her fingers entwined at her waist. “I’m going with them.”
He could only stare at her for several moments, wondering if he’d heard her correctly. Finally he shook his head. “No—”
“Yes. I have to go. You wanted to guard my reputation, and this is how we do that. I’ve spoken to your eldest sister and she agrees. I’ll be staying with her, which will give you time to decide whether you’ve changed your mind about our future.”
“I haven’t. I’ve already told you that. Wewillbe getting married.”
He reached for her, but she took a step back. His arms dropped to his side, emptiness beginning to fill his heart.
“I do want that, but you don’t trust me. You accused me of using you as research.”
“I was shocked, and my accusations weren’t without reason at the time. Surely you can see that.”
Her eyes shone, and he had the horrible suspicion that she was holding back tears. “I do, which is why we need some time apart. I let my fear rule me. I should have been honest with you from the start, and for that I am sorry. But you need some time to decide whether you can learn to trust me again, because I won’t accept anything less than that in a marriage. I don’t want you to marry me just because you feel you have to save my reputation.”
“That’s not why I want to marry you.”
“I hope not.” She turned and walked out into the hallway.
“Don’t go, Amelia.”
She didn’t reply as she took her hat and gloves from the butler and followed her friend outside.
Numbness filled him as he followed. He wanted to grab hold of Amelia and keep her at his side, but she’d outmaneuvered him. The horrible thought occurred to him that perhaps it was she who had changed her mind.
But no, she wasn’t that good of an actress. He’d seen clearly that she was nervous around him when they first met and for some time afterward. He knew now that was because she hadn’t been comfortable with the half-truths she’d told him. But the time they’d spent together since becoming intimate—that was genuine. He’d seen the real Amelia, and he had no intention of letting her go.
He shook hands again with his brothers-in-law and allowed his sisters to draw him into another hug.
“Take good care of her,” he said when his oldest sister pulled back.
“I will. Come to London soon so we can finalize the wedding arrangements.”
He nodded. “I’ll send word.”
Amelia smiled as she dipped into a curtsy, but it didn’t reach her eyes. He didn’t miss the sympathetic look Miss Trenton cast his way before she followed Amelia into the carriage.
Finally, when everyone was inside, the carriages pulled away. His sisters waved to him from the windows, but Amelia, who was leaving with Louisa and Overlea, kept her gaze averted.
He took several deep breaths as he wrestled with the urge to demand that his own carriage be prepared so he could follow them. He stood in silence, watching as the carriages drew farther away. He vowed this wouldn’t be the last time he saw Amelia. He knew that if she desired it, Markham would help her disappear into the country somewhere.
