Page 48 of A Duchess to Unravel (The Devil’s Masquerade #3)

“I am sure when that day comes you will have the dress of your dreams, my darling,” she replied.

Though Dominic did not know it yet, Amelia had decided that in the future she would ask him to help her take her sisters under their care so that they would never go through what she had.

There was still much she did not know about her husband, but seeing as how he had commanded the auction room, how quickly he acquired their marriage license, and how he’d managed to get her sisters to come to the ceremony, she was starting to realize that he had indeed been truthful when he told her he was a powerful man.

“When will you come home?” Lydia asked.

“When can we come visit you?” Sarah asked before Amelia could reply.

“Why does Father seem so angry?” Lydia piped up.

“Now that you are a duchess, will you get to wear a crown?” Sarah added.

Her sisters peppered her with one question after another, and as Amelia kept looking back and forth between them, she felt her heartbeat start to spike again; her breathing become more difficult.

Heat spiked in her face as her limbs went cold and numb, and suddenly her dress felt far too tight.

The room began to spin as Amelia’s knees wobbled, and the edges of her vision began to fade to black.

“Good day.”

A strong, deep voice rang clear through the chorus of the two, smaller, more feminine ones, silencing them at once.

A hand, firm yet gentle slid around Amelia’s back and made purchase on her hip; holding her up just as she thought she was about to go down.

Startled, she looked to the man pressing to her side, and saw Dominic’s silver gaze and calm expression.

Easy, his eyes seemed to say, You can breathe.

Amelia drew a sudden breath in, her lungs quivering, and she began to make her way back from her terror.

“You must be Sarah and Lydia,” Dominic said, turning his attention to the little ones.

He bowed his head toward them and held out a hand.

“It is a pleasure to meet you both.”

Feeling more herself now, Amelia smiled assuringly down at her little sisters, who seemed slightly intimidated by the large man standing beside their big sister.

“Young ladies, this is your new brother-in-law, Dominic Astorfield, Duke of Ellsworth. Do be polite and return his warm greeting,” she urged them gently.

Though still appearing shy, each little girl took a brief hold of Dominic’s hand as they curtseyed; his much larger hand swallowing their tiny fingers up.

“Will we be allowed to visit our sister, Your Grace?” Sarah asked, still sounding a bit frightened.

Amelia looked to him and saw that though he did not smile, there was a kind expression on his face.

“Of course you may. Whenever you wish,” he replied. “I will even send a carriage for you if you so need it.”

“May we go with you now?” Lydia asked, and to Amelia’s surprise, a chuckle left Dominic’s lips.

“Perhaps you would be so kind as to allow your big sister to settle in first,” he replied. “What about next week?”

“What are you talking about with my children?” Felton demanded, appearing behind the two young girls.

He glared at both Amelia and Dominic aggressively.

Yes, Amelia decided quietly, their conversation must have been quite intense. I wonder if he has any regret for what he did at all?

Amelia immediately bristled again as her heart began to hammer, but Dominic only looked at him with a cold calm.

“We are discussing a visit, Lord Hoge,” he replied smoothly.

Felton bared his teeth as he said, “I will not-”

“You will not lose your temper at our wedding, Felton ,” Dominic finished for him.

Amelia was startled as her new husband used her father's first name.

“Nor will you keep sisters apart.”

Tension filled the air as the two men glared at one another. One roiling with apparent, fiery anger. The other as cool and hard as ice. Then, as if deciding to be done with him, Dominic turned his back to Felton and focused on the three sisters.

“I am afraid we must be going now,” Dominic said to Lydia and Sarah. “Your papa appears tired and needs to go home for some rest, and we have a journey to take. But we will see you next week.”

“You will not speak to my children about me in that-”

Felton’s words were cut off as Dominic whirled and clutched his hand in what appeared to be a cordial handshake, and held him closer.

“You will not assume control anymore,” Dominic whispered, barely loud enough for Amelia to hear and surely not enough for the younger girls to hear.

“You lost that when you sold your daughter. Do not forget who I am and what I am capable of, Felton. Now regain control of yourself. Congratulate your daughter on her marriage, and leave.”

Stunned, Amelia slowly reached down and took her sisters’ hands as Dominic released their father’s hand and took a step back. When he did so, Amelia could see that her father’s face had turned bright red, but there was no anger left in his expression.

“Congratulations, daughter,” Felton stated, his voice clipped, “On your marriage. I wish you all happiness.”

“Good,” Dominic breathed.

“Girls, come along,” Felton said then, “It is time to go home. You shall see your sister next week.”

Both girls turned in toward Amelia, and she bent down once more to embrace them tightly.

“See you soon,” she promised them.

As she watched them leave Amelia turned to Dominic with a questioning gaze.

“Who are you, Dominic?” she whispered.

Dominic took a long breath in through his nostrils as he crooked his arm and once more fiddled with his silver cuff- just as he had the night he’d bought her.

“I am the Duke of Ellsworth,” he replied calmly, “And your husband. Now come. It is time for us to go home.”

Amelia blinked in surprise as the footman opened the door and she found Theo, Rosamund, and Ophelia already in the carriage.

“Gorgeous darling!” Theo chirped warmly.

“Come right in,” Rosamund insisted, motioning for her to do so.

“Such a beautiful wedding,” Ophelia praised.

“What is this?” she asked them, then turned to Dominic.

“I have my own business to attend to when we reach Ellsworth, so I arranged for your friends to keep you company while you get to know your way around the staff and house,” he replied smoothly.

Amelia smiled at her friends, then reached for Dominic’s arm to pull him to the side.

“Dominic, I have questions,” she insisted in a whisper. “I was hoping we would at least have the carriage ride to discuss them.”

“You will have your life to lead, and I will have my own,” he replied. “As I indicated before. There will be no need for pretense in our home, so why bother starting off that way?”

The cold way he said it made her flinch, and her hand slipped from his arm.

“You are safe now, Amelia,” he stated pragmatically, steepling his fingers together. “That is all that matters. Now your friends are waiting.”

With that, he turned from her and walked to the carriage behind hers; only leaving her with more questions.

“Well, wasn’t that a whirlwind!” Rosamund said with awe when Amelia eventually got into the carriage.

“Do finally explain how this all came about,” Ophelia urged. “I know you and the Duke flirted once at Seraphina’s baby shower, but I assumed it was a just a simple act of brazen defiance.”

She forced a smile as her eyes darted to Theo, who gave her a comforting, subtle nod. They had not shared the truth with the other friends.

“Yes, well, when there is a spark, sometimes it grows into a flame,” Amelia replied forcing a laugh.

“How delicious,” Rosamund giggled.

“The Duke and I simply understand what each other wants,” she lied, “and we came to an agreement that would suit us both. He shall have his life. I shall have mine. And we will work together whenever necessary.”

“Well,” Ophelia chortled, “That is slightly less delicious.”

“What I find delicious is that His Grace has invited us all to be with you as you settle in,” Theo piped up. “It is obvious he is a busy man and I think it is most gracious that he allowed us to aid you in taking on your new responsibilities.”

“Yes,” Amelia said readily, hoping to change the topic, “That is indeed most welcome. My mother prepared me extensively for taking on the responsibility of a house, but I hear my husband’s estate is far more vast than most. Come, give me any advice you can.”

As the carriage rolled toward Ellsworth, Amelia pushed her mind to not wander toward her new husband, but her friends’ suggestions; thankfully eating up the time it took to get there.

When they arrived, she noted that Dominic’s carriage was already heading toward the stables, with him nowhere to be found on the large expanse of marble steps that led to the main entrance.