Page 62 of Royally Wed

CHAPTER

FOURTEEN

Cold feet. That’s all it is.

Amelia repeated this mantra to herself, over and over again, as she made her way back to her suite. Still, she wasn’t sure she believed it.

She didn’t know what to think anymore. About anything. What had happened with Asher had thrown her into a tailspin.

Her footsteps slowed as she passed the door to his room. It was still early, but he mightbe back from rehearsal by now. She could always knock and find out.

Right. After you were so rude to him yesterday, you’re just going to knock on his door and invite yourself inside like nothing happened?

A lot had happened. Too much.

Besides, she’d vowed not to see him again just a few hours ago. She couldn’t go back on that promise to herself now. No matter how very, very much she wantedto.

“Your Royal Highness.” James cleared his throat from somewhere in the periphery.

Amelia hastened her steps. Maybe if she pretended she hadn’t been contemplating a visit to Asher’s room, James would buy it.

Or not.

He wasn’t an idiot. He was rather sweet, actually.

She stopped and turned around. “Hi, James. I’m sorry about earlier. Thank you for not following me to my mother’s sittingroom. I know my behavior could have gotten you in trouble. I appreciate your cooperation. Very much.”

Her vision grew blurry. She couldn’t cry. Not again.

“Please don’t apologize,” he said, dropping the formal, clipped tone he typically used. He reached into the inside coat pocket of his uniform and offered her a handkerchief.

The unexpected kindness made Amelia’s chest ache, especially afterher mother’s distance just moments ago. But the pity in his gaze made it hard for her breathe. “Um...”

“You have a visitor,” he said. “Waiting in your room. I thought it best to let you know before you entered.”

“A visitor?” she echoed.

James nodded. “Yes, I...”

Asher.

Relief coursed through her with such force that her knees nearly buckled.

She cut James off, and her fist closed aroundhis handkerchief. “Thank you for letting me know.”

Heart pounding, she headed for her room. Thank God Asher hadn’t listened when she’d told him she couldn’t see him anymore.Thank God. Right or wrong, he was the only person she wanted to talk to.

James scurried alongside her. “Your Royal Highness, perhaps you should know...”

Before he could finish, she burst into the room. “Asher, I...”

She stopped, and her heart sank to her shoes.

It wasn’t him.

“Lady Eleanor asked if she could wait for you in your suite, and I obliged.” James couldn’t seem to meet her gaze anymore. He looked as uncomfortable as she’d ever seen him before.

He’d tried to warn her. Why hadn’t she let him finish?Because you wanted it to be Asher so badly, you couldn’t see straight.“Of course. H-hi, Eleanor.”