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Amelia blanched. The man couldn’t possibly be saying what she thought he was. She would never disrespect her husband so much as to have extramarital relations, let alone with a man hired to replace the estate’s longest-standing employees.

In any case, she would not hear more of this conversation. Amelia turned toward the door, crossing the long room so that she might open things up and have one of the maids or the butler show Mr. Stanley out. She would speak to her husband about ensuring he didn’t return after he had gone.

“I assure you, Mr. Stanley, whatever services you think you might render here are not required. And now I do believe it is time for you to be going. I shall have one of the servants show you out.”

But just as she was reaching for the knob, a meaty hand grabbed hold of her arm, and Amelia yelped.

“We’ll have none of that, mistress. You haven’t given my offer its due consideration.”

Yanking, Amelia attempted to pull her arm free of Baldwin’s grip. Still, he held firm, his fingertips pressing into the delicate skin behind her elbow tightly enough to bruise.

“Take your hand off Amelia at once. This is absurd!”

But though she trashed against his hold, Baldwin did not relent, and Amelia lost her footing as the man began to walk her into the wall next to the door.

“Now, now. Your husband was quite insistent that this is what was required to set him at ease. You wouldn’t want to disappoint the Duke, would you?”

Unease coated Amelia like wearing a chemise that had not thoroughly dried, her skin clammy and chilled. She shook her head, still working to get her arm free by now shoving at Baldwin’s arm with her free hand. In her distraction, however, the man was able to get another grasp on her waist, his fingers beginning to bunch up the fabric of her skirts.

“Unhand me!”

Panic gripped Amelia, sending her pulse into a wild rush that beat through her temples and neck. But then the door next to her flew open, and Richard barged in, followed by his friend, Frederick.

He went straight for the man, grabbing him around the throat and hauling him off of her. Amelia was left gasping against the wall as Richard threw Baldwin to the floor.

“Get out of my house! Should I see you dare to come near it again, I shall have you thrown into the darkest corners of a prison cell!”

Frederick scooped up Mr. Stanley and yanked him forward, dragging him from the room toward the front door. All Amelia could do was blankly stare forward as she caught her breath. Everything spun around her, and just as quickly as Richard had entered, she began to slide down the wall.

A sure grip found her elbows, and she flinched, relaxing when she realized that it was her husband guiding her to the sofa. As they walked together, Richard shouted out through the now-open door to the study.

“Get him off the property! Be sure he is blacklisted throughout the City! He shall never work in Town again!”

Dazed, Amelia felt the softness of a cushion take her weight as she was set down. When she looked at her hands, they trembled slightly. Richard was seated next to her, and as the shock of the last few moments receded, a terrible anger filled her to bursting.

“Who did you bring into our house? That man…How could you let this happen?!”

Richard stared back at her, his face pulled taught into a steely scowl.

“Well? Say something!”

Chapter Eight

Amelia’s enraged stare cut through Richard like a knife. He could still feel the weight of that man beneath his hand as well as see the scene playing over and over again in his mind. He had been so concerned with finding a replacement steward, all in an attempt to shake up Amelia’s management of the estate, that he’d allowed so horrible of a creature into their home.

He swallowed hard, ducking his head as his eyes found the floor. It was another moment before he could speak, shutting his lids briefly as he silently reprimanded himself.

“I am terribly sorry, Amelia. It was not my intention to?—”

“We will not be replacing Mr. Dannish. You must see now that to have such a loyal and kind steward as we do is a rare act of fortune.”

Amelia shoved off the sofa brusquely, her steps taking her in a short circle as she paced in front of him.

“This is precisely why I was required to rehire several of the household staff. People put on a performance when they are looking to enter a grand estate’s employ. You must be shrewd and keep your attention fixed on the details of their actions. Had you even asked upon his references for proof of his character?”

Richard’s stomach clenched as his jaw set more firmly. He forced himself to breathe steadily through his nose as he stood from the cushions, his hand clasped behind his back so that he would not come at Amelia with fists.

“I had conducted a brief?—”