Page 17 of The Ruin of Miss Amelia Burrowes (The Matchmaker’s Ball #4)

Dancing a waltz with her husband, the handsomest man in the room, should’ve been the most thrilling experience in Amelia’s life. She and Nathan twirled and spun, surrounded by a dozen other couples, lost in each other’s eyes. Her first ball as hostess had been an immense undertaking, with a startling amount of work, but gazing around the room, she had to admit it was a tremendous success. Half the ton had been invited, and from the looks of the full ballroom, almost all had attended. Considering it was the Little Season, with many of the aristocracy still in the country, tonight should be considered a triumph. Yet something was missing.

The music ended, and she and Nathan sauntered off the dance floor, stopped several times by acquaintances eager to wish them happy, albeit belatedly. That mattered not at all to her. The ton ’s newfound approbation of her, and their marriage, was the only thing that counted. That, and one thing more.

Nathan led them to a somewhat secluded spot behind a potted fern and pounced, first kissing the slope of her neck then sliding down toward the more dangerous territory of her breasts, which threatened to overflow her bodice. “Nathan, stop. I have just recovered from one scandal. I do not mean to be at the center of another should we be found out.”

He groaned but complied, lifting his head and staring at her with miserable stormy-gray eyes. “Amelia, I’ve scarcely seen you these past weeks while you were preparing for the ball. I miss you in my bed.”

“I miss you as well, my love. But this is neither the time nor place to make up for missed opportunities.” She’d been so exhausted from the endless lists of things to be arranged for this ball, she’d only been able to fall into her bed at night, asleep before her head hit the pillow. Out of concern for her welfare, Nathan had not disturbed her, with the result that they both desired one another with an intensity that crackled whenever they actually met. She would’ve liked nothing more than to slip away and let passion reign. But not until much later tonight. After the ball.

Her husband continued to kiss her neck, making her, as always, hot and oh so ready for him. She closed her eyes, savoring his attentions. Perhaps they could steal off to her chamber for just a few minutes. In their state of need, a few minutes would likely be all it would take to satisfy them. Temporarily. And there was the other thing she needed to take care of as well—

“Lady Ainsley.”

The unexpected voice startled Amelia, and she jumped, pushing Nathan away.

He stumbled but recovered, shaking his head. Glancing up at the woman who’d interrupted them, he smiled broadly. “Ah, Lady Carrington. You are not leaving so soon, I hope?”

“I’m afraid I must, Ainsley.” The woman’s mouth was pinched now but had been only smiles an hour ago when they’d received her publicly. “I’m not as young as I used to be.”

“None of us is, my lady.” Amelia smiled carefully.

She would never forgive the woman for allowing her reputation to be called into question when she could’ve proven the truth of the matter. However, she’d finally made good on her promise to restore Amelia’s reputation on the old score regarding Lord Carrington. They’d had to constantly remind her of the consequences of crossing either Lord or Lady Ainsley. At least until she discovered the severe penalty they’d imposed on Mr. Burke to refute the lies he’d told. Once she’d learned they would not be gainsaid, Lady Carrington had been more than willing to comply.

“So I will bid you a good evening.”

“I, as well, my lady.” Nathan executed a precise bow. “We thank you for all your assistance.”

With the briefest of curtsies, Lady Carrington shot one parting glare at them before turning on her heel and leaving.

“Well, I will shed no tears to think she’s gone.” Amelia grabbed Nathan’s arm and pulled him back behind the fern. “I would not want her to put a damper on tonight’s festivities.”

“I cannot see how she has done that, love. In the end, she worked hard to make amends and assure you of a glorious turnout for your ball.” He kissed her fingers, always a precursor to the most exciting lovemaking.

“I wasn’t actually thinking of the ball, but of a more private celebration.”

His brows went up, and he grinned. “Have I managed to persuade you to accompany me to our apartments for a quick tryst?”

“Are you still making trysts with one another?” Celinda poked her head through the fern, appearing as if out of thin air. “You are married now, silly. You don’t have to make trysts to see one another.”

“You’d be surprised, Celinda.” Amelia sent her husband a rueful glance. “Husbands and wives can’t always find the time to be together. As you will find out in due time, I’m sure.”

“Not if Papa has anything to do with it.” Frowning, Celinda came around the fern and stood fretting. “He simply refuses to allow Lord Finley to court me. No matter how many times I’ve tried to reason with him this past Season, he still maintains a dislike for the gentleman I love.” She looked defiantly at Amelia and Nathan. “I believe we may have to do something desperately scandalous in order to be able to marry.”

“No, Celinda, you will not do anything that endangers your reputation.” Amelia shuddered. “Have I not been proof enough that it takes almost nothing to ruin a lady, even when she’s done nothing wrong?” She turned to Nathan. “Would you please find us some refreshments, my dear? I am very partial to the lemonade. Would you like one also, Celinda?”

“Yes, please. The tartness will help disguise the bitterness in my soul.” Her friend’s face drooped charmingly—as Celinda herself must know it did.

“I will return shortly, ladies.” With a rueful glance at Amelia, Nathan took himself off, leaving them alone as Amelia had intended.

“Now tell me you have not done anything untoward with Lord Finley, Celinda. I know you suppose yourself in love with him, but you simply must not put yourself in a position where you could end up as ruined as I was.”

“No, we haven’t done anything yet …” Celinda lingered over that last word. “But I make no promises that we will not, Amelia. It’s fine for you to speak so. You are married to the gentleman you love most passionately and have had your reputation restored in spectacular fashion.” She cocked her head and gazed at Amelia through half-lowered eyelids. “Mama would not tell me precisely how this was accomplished. Only that Lady Carrington told all her friends that everyone had been mistaken all those years ago. That she’d known all along that you and Jonathan had never done anything improper. And that rumor about him asking after a child turned out to be a horse he’d bought named Fancy’s Child.”

“Yes, I was very grateful Lady Carrington heard about our nuptials and made it her mission to set the record straight about Lord Carrington and me.” She’d thought the part about the horse had been particularly clever on the lady’s part. In ton society no one would think it odd for Jonathan to ask about his horse on his deathbed.

“And Mama would tell me absolutely nothing about Mr. Burke’s part in all of this.” Celinda leaned toward Amelia. “Although Kate did let slip that he paid his penance in good form, although it cost him his reputation.”

“That it did.” Lawrence Burke would likely never show his face in London again.

“So wouldn’t you want me to know how your reputation is now as good as new when just after your wedding you were deemed a pariah?”

“A pariah?” Amelia caught her breath. She’d never known just how badly the ton thought of her after that dreadful Morning Post had been circulated. Only days later, Mr. Burke had fallen on his sword, and she’d suddenly been the most sympathetic figure in Society.

Celinda nodded sagely. “Mama told me I could not visit you or Nathan, even though we are cousins. And two days later, she was all smiles and said we should have the two of you over for dinner.” She fluttered her lashes at Amelia. “Don’t you want to tell me what actually went on?”

“Well…” She couldn’t tell Celinda the whole story, at least not what had been printed in the Post . “Mr. Burke was so upset that I was going to marry Nathan and not him that he started a rumor about me—a very bad rumor indeed.”

“A scandal?” Celinda sounded hopeful.

“A grave scandal. That is why the ton believed me a pariah.” Lord, but she’d been so close to being completely shunned by the whole of Society. “But then Nathan challenged Mr. Burke to a duel—”

“A duel?” Celinda’s voice rose so high heads turned toward them.

“Hush! No one can know.” Amelia looked around, but everyone had gone back to chatting or dancing. “Anyway, they didn’t fight because Mr. Burke gave in and apologized to Nathan and to me, and then he went about letting the whole ton know that he’d lied about me.”

“Did he write letters?” Celinda sounded doubtful. “Because that would be a lot of letters for one man to write. And gentlemen don’t write as well as ladies do, so he might’ve gotten it wrong, you know, and then you’d have been in an even bigger pickle.”

“No, he did not write letters, but he did put one in the newspapers.” That had been her idea. “Telling everyone that he’d lied about me and that I was innocent of the things he’d said about me.”

“Which newspaper?”

“All of them.”

Celinda’s jaw dropped. “All the newspapers in London?”

Amelia nodded. “That was the only way we could be sure everyone saw it.”

A frown came over Celinda’s face. “But what if people didn’t read the papers? Some don’t, you know.”

“We thought of that.” Amelia grinned. This part had been Nathan’s idea, and a more diabolical one she could not have imagined. Not only did it save her reputation, but it assured them that Mr. Burke would avoid all contact with members of the ton forever. “So we persuaded Mr. Burke to stand on a crate in Hyde Park during the fashionable hour every day for two weeks, with a big placard about his neck proclaiming him a liar.”

“Amelia, no!” Celinda’s eyes grew wide and round. “He stood there with everyone looking on? How embarrassing for him.”

“It served him right to lose his reputation when he almost lost me mine for good.” Amelia had gone to the park quite often those two weeks to watch the man’s humiliation. “I’m actually surprised you didn’t see him there.”

“Dear Lord.” Celinda made a moue. “That is why Mama and I had to visit my Aunt Mimi in Bath for two weeks in July. She obviously didn’t want me to see Mr. Burke and start asking questions.”

“I daresay that is the reason.” And likely a good one. Once the crowds got wind of what Burke had done, they’d taken to tormenting him, calling him names, throwing things at him, jeering until members of the watch had come and moved the hecklers along.

But Burke had borne it steadfastly. Of course, he likely knew that Nathan had assigned two footmen to keep watch, to make certain he stayed the entire time each day of the two weeks, moving his crate from one corner of the park to another to make certain as many people as possible saw him. And if anyone asked him a question regarding his lies, he was bound to answer it. Those exchanges had occasionally become rather heated, according to George and Peter, the footmen assigned the task. Things no lady, young or old, should hear, they said.

“So you see, Celinda, you do not wish to do anything that will put you in a position where you can lose your good standing in Society. It took me years to reclaim my reputation.” She could not impress that enough on Celinda who, Amelia feared, had too much a mind of her own.

“Well, I promise not to do anything too drastic, but that means that Papa must make some concessions where Lord Finley is concerned.” Celinda’s attention was caught by something, or someone, across the ballroom floor. “And there he is. Oh, thank you for inviting him, Amelia. I knew I could count on your support.”

“Who is—”

“Lord Finley, of course! I must secure him for the supper dance and at least one more.” She danced up on her toes, trying to see the tall, handsome lord, who seemed to be looking for someone himself.

“Then by all means, go secure your dances.” She pulled her friend in for an embrace. “But only dances, Celinda. No breaths of fresh air out on the darkened veranda.”

Celinda gave her a sly look. “I will remember that, Amelia. About the darkened veranda, that is.” And before Amelia could protest, the lady had gone, rushing toward her soon-to-be partner.

Amelia shook her head. Celinda was a force to be reckoned with. She did not envy Lord and Lady Ivor one iota.

“I thought she’d never leave.”

Amelia jumped as Nathan pushed past the now-bedraggled fern to stand beside her, lemonade in hand. “You should not scare me so, Nathan. I have just had to dissuade your cousin from becoming a scandal herself. And I cannot tell if I have helped or made the situation worse.”

He shrugged, set the lemonade on a nearby table, and slipped his arms around her. “Celinda is like a cat. She always lands on her feet. Or if she doesn’t, she picks herself up, looks around as if to say, “I planned to do that all along,” and walks off as nonchalantly as a queen.” He nuzzled her neck, and Amelia longed to moan aloud. She had so missed their time together.

“Do not worry about my cousin.” He turned her around to face him. “You should worry about your husband.”

“Why should I worry about you, my love?”

“Because our tryst was interrupted, and now I fear I will never persuade you to come away with me for that celebration you mentioned.”

She cupped his face and brought him down for a swift kiss. “Yes, our private celebration.” She looked around. “But you are impatient, my love, and I must confess, so am I. I truly wanted to tell you later when we were alone, but I simply cannot wait.”

“What is it, love?”

“This.” She took his hand and pressed it to the slight swelling of her abdomen. “I am carrying your child. I suppose nine and twenty is not too old, after all.”

“Amelia.” He lowered his head and stared at the spot where their hands overlapped. The completely dumbfounded look on his face made her laugh. “But when?”

“If my calculations, and those of the midwife, are correct, most likely on our wedding night.” She gave him a rueful smile. “Although I suppose it could’ve been during those days leading up to the duel. We were very determined to make this happen, if I remember correctly.”

“Yes, you do.” He gathered her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly. “And I can still be determined.” Grabbing her hand, he tugged her toward the doorway to the rest of the house.

“Where are we going?” Amelia let him pull her along with only token resistance. It had been too many days since she’d been alone with her husband.

“Your bedchamber.”

“But, Nathan—”

“You promised me a private celebration.” His eyes darkened, love and desire forming black pools where gray had been moments before. “And I know the perfect place.”

THE END