Page 5 of The Mistress (Foxgloves #1)

AMELIA

“ A melia,” Thomas broke the heavy silence following the Duke of Birmingham’s exit.

“I don’t know,” Amelia stared at the door the duke had just exited through, still reeling.

“What don’t you know?”

“I don’t know what just happened,” she shook her head trying in vain to clear her thoughts as she faced him. She was annoyed to find an obnoxious grin on his face.

“You’re interested in him,” Thomas explained.

“It’s impossible,” she tried to remind them both.

“Why?” he pushed. They still sat at the table, but neither one of them made a move to eat, drink, or leave, having their discussion right there. “You like him, and from what I could see, the feeling was very much mutual. You’ve never shown an interest in anyone before, Amelia, and truth be told, you two are actually quite well-suited for one another. He’s a bit willful and sometimes seems cold, but he’s a great man, intelligent, and exceedingly kind. He cares deeply. More than any man I’ve ever met before. He has much in common with you.”

“Thomas,” she paused for emphasis. “He’s a duke.”

“So, what?” he argued. “He doesn’t hold store by Society’s rules, which is how he and I became such good friends. And I have gathered that he is not overly fond of his title.”

Amelia’s curiosity piqued. “Why not?”

“His father was not a kind man from what I’ve heard, though not directly from him,” Thomas said somberly. “Gideon had a troubled relationship with both him and his mother. It’s said his mother was a sad, withdrawn woman because of her husband’s cruelty, and she was unable to show Gideon much affection as a result. He and his sister were left to their father’s harsh care and teachings, and he grew up hating the burden of the title and its association with the man.”

“Goodness,” Amelia breathed, her heart hurting at the thought of the strong, confident man she met being raised in such pain. “How do you know this?”

“The gossips talk,” Thomas shrugged.

“The poor man. Even so, he is still the Duke of Birmingham. Nothing can come of our interest.”

“The hell it can’t,” she noted the steel of stubbornness glinting in her friend’s eye. “I think he is perfect for you, and title or not, you are a good match for him. You both are strong, generous, and have good heads on your shoulders. In fact, I’m quite shocked it hadn’t occurred to me before now. And if anyone can bring love into his stark world, it would be you. You will make him a fine duchess and even finer wife.”

“Thomas…,” she began, shock ringing in her voice. Her? A duchess? He had lost his damned mind.

“Amelia,” he shook his head with finality, cutting her off. “I have never pushed you to find a husband or come out. But this I will push because you want it, too, and he will make you happy. What’s more, I think you can make him happy and, together, can heal what his parents broke in him.”

“You have lost your mind,” she voiced her earlier thought. “I knew a day would come when we’d see it go, but I hadn’t expected quite so spectacular a departure.”

“Joke all you want, sister,” he rolled his eyes at her, not to be deterred. “But you will be marrying the Duke of Birmingham. I promise you.”

Outwardly, Amelia sighed to let Thomas know how foolish she thought him. Inwardly, however, his words nestled into her heart and mind, planting an uncharacteristic seed of want and hope for the future he seemed to be picturing so clearly.

She had always imagined she would wed. In some far off future, she eventually expected to have a husband and children. Lydia and Thomas would marry and perhaps find her a suitable partner once they were settled. But she’d never before met a man and wanted to join lives with him, nor had she expected to. That was, until today. It felt like an impossible dream, but Thomas’s conviction and the duke’s singular attentions had her starting to believe. And then there were these new parts of herself she could feel awakening. Parts that felt so much like the truth of who and what she was and that had only been waiting for him. Perhaps it was all meant to be. Perhaps she was meant to marry Gideon Edwards.

Still, the more logical part of her countered, “I have nothing to offer him, though. No money, no title, no connections.”

“Stop that,” Thomas said in a stern tone. “You have money. I’ll settle a generous dowry on you, and that will be yours . He has his own money, title, and connections. What more could he need of that? What he needs is love and a partner. A true one. Who could better give him that than you?”

“He doesn’t even know me, though,” that insidiously reasonable voice spoke again.

“He will. Once Lydia is better, we’ll need to get you both some dresses,” Thomas began plotting.

“What? What for?” she asked with both dread and a sliver of excitement that she was logically trying to deny.

“You’ll need some dresses and evening gowns for London. We’ll join the Season and that will give you and Gideon ample opportunities to interact. He can then begin his official courtship.”

“London? Do you actually think he’d follow us there?” she asked, a bit skeptical.

“I’ll make sure of it. I’ll tell him of our plans and that I intend to introduce you and Lydia to Society. I have not the slightest doubt he’d follow us.”

She reached a hand forward and began spinning the stem of her wineglass on the table as she considered what Thomas was suggesting. To think, just this morning, it had been a normal day, and now they were trying to orchestrate her marriage. To a duke, no less.

She asked somewhat nervously, “Are you really quite certain we should be doing this? It’s been some years since Lydia and I have been to Town, and we have never been to any of the Season’s events or balls at all. You know this.”

“I do,” he nodded, “and I’ve only attended the very few that were unavoidable. But I learned enough from them to know Mother prepared you both well. It will chafe, but she did indeed give us the lessons we need to navigate the ton .”

“Very well.”

She still couldn’t help the anxiety building inside her at the prospect of attending Society’s events, and she took up her glass again for a slightly more generous sip.

But she trusted Thomas, she thought to herself. This may also present the opportunity at last for Lydia and Thomas to grow their relationship. As the Season progressed, she would encourage their interactions and, with gentle but persistent pressure, force them both to begin acknowledging their own feelings.

Her plotting on Thomas and Lydia’s behalf helped settle her nerves. As much as she wanted to see the duke again, the plans centering around herself felt rather daunting. Let Thomas focus on setting up her future. She would focus on setting up his and Lydia’s.

“And once he’s spent a bit of public time with you,” Thomas continued, finally picking up his own glass and leaning back in his chair, completely oblivious to Amelia’s thoughts, “he’ll seek my permission to court you. From there, it should be quick to arrive at an engagement. Before the end of the Season, to be sure, if not much sooner.”

“You’re getting ahead of yourself,” Amelia commented, knowing full well she was, as well. She was imagining a similar timeline for Thomas and her sister.

“Trust me. Gideon is not one to delay when there’s something he wants,” Thomas chuckled. “He is both stubborn and relentless. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re fully married in the next three months.”

“Thomas, for Heaven’s sake,” Amelia rolled her eyes. “Let’s just take this a step at a time, shall we? Stop planning my wedding. Dresses and attending the right parties, alright? Let’s focus on that for now.”

“You focus on it,” he advised. “I’ll do as I please.”