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“I cannot thank you enough for what you’ve done, Dominic. Not just for me, but for my sisters,” Amelia said. “You’ve changed our lives.”

The heartache laced beneath her calm tone undid him, and he swallowed the lump of emotion gathering in his throat.

“I have never met someone more worthy of my help than you,” he replied, tracing his fingers over hers, down her arm, and up to her face. “You deserve far more than I can give.”

“You’ve given me everything you can,” she whispered, and then her breath broke into a sob as her eyes misted.

Dominic pulled her closer, tucking her head into his chest as her hot tears splashed over him. He closed his eyes tightly as he grit his teeth; wishing he was a better man. Wishing he was someone he could never be. Even in Amelia’s heartache she was not asking him to stay or change, and that created a feeling of self-hatred Dominic had never encountered before.

He needed to leave; needed to stop dragging out the inevitable and let her begin her new life. The original life he’d promised her. One of peace and freedom away from the society he was shackled to by birthright and responsibility. It took everything within him to pull his arms away from her, to push his body away from the bed and stand on his own two feet.

He did it though, and as he got dressed, Amelia sat up, wiped at her tears, and forced her beautiful face into a mask of calm reflection.

“You really should get some sleep,” he couldn’t resist saying. The urge to care for her was too great not to.

But Amelia shook her head as she drew her sheet-covered knees up to her chest.

“The girls will be awake soon and I need to return to my rooms before they come looking for me. They’ll be excited to know that we are leaving London but will no doubt want to go shopping for a few more things before we depart,” she replied, her voice strained.

“When will you go?” He asked, pulling a clean pair of trousers on.

“Before the sun sets this evening,” she replied, then gave a nod seemingly more to himself than him. “I think that would be best.”

He nodded in return, making a mental note to stay out the rest of the day. He didn’t want to make things any harder by popping back in and out as they were preparing to leave. A single, firm goodbye was going to be best.

As he finished dressing, his mind went back to what Hugo had told him the night before. His friend had given him solid advice, and for anyone else it might have worked- but he wasn’t just anyone else. He was a strange, albeit successful pragmatic man who knew how to use people. There truly wasn’t a good bone in Dominic’s body, and he knew it.

“Make sure to have Theo and the others out to Ellsworth often,” he told her, tying his cravat. “There will be servants and plenty of guards to keep you safe, but your friends should be there too if their families can spare them. I’ll speak to Tristan and Hugo to ensure at least Theo and Seraphina make frequent visits.”

Amelia only nodded. He was now fully dressed, jacket in hand, and nothing left to do but walk out the door. And yet as he tried to will his body toward it, he couldn’t yet face away from Amelia.

“If you need anything, Amelia,” he said, his tone soft as he scrunched his jacket tightly in his fingers. “Write to me. Whatever you need, I will happily provide.”

Something flashed in Amelia’s honey eyes. Words he didn’t need to hear to understand.

Except you.

She gave him another silent nod.

Realizing that he wasn’t going to get to hear voice at least one more time, Dominic nodded in turn, and left. There was no begging. No screaming, no accusations of unfairness as he walked away in silence. There was nothing but the space he created.

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

Four weeks later

“You really do make an amazing mother, you know that?”

Amelia turned to Rose as she felt her friend’s hand rub down down her back and gave her and her other friends a weak smile.

“I am not so sure,” she replied. “Our mothers all pushed us so hard toward education that I thought that giving the girls a nice long break would be good. But sometimes I wonder if it’s what I should be doing.”

She turned back to the girls, her smile growing a little stronger. Since returning to Ellsworth, Amelia had chosen to pause their studies. Not just their academics, but their societal training. They had gone on a different adventure every day, exploring Ellsworth’s grand private property until they learned every part. Though they kept a respective distance, guards followed them everywhere. A directive, no doubt from her husband.

This morning the girls had requested she take them back to the lake and dock they’d found and she readily agreed. Now Sarah and Lydia were stripped down to their chemises, splashing and giggling in the water. It was just shallow enough for it come up to Sarah’s shoulders, which was perfect since none of the ladies knew how to swim.

“Do not doubt yourself, Amelia,” Rose said. “You have no idea how often I have wished my mother would give me a break like this. To be able to not worry about being a lady or even a woman, and just relax in nature.”

“It is quite extraordinary out here,” Ophelia said in agreement. “Perhaps this is what I shall do when my mother finally gives up on marrying me off and allow me to become a spinster.”