The Heiress of Winterwood - By Sarah Ladd Page 0,20
her. She crossed to the railing, intent on a few moments of privacy before returning to the hustle of entertaining. But after several minutes of attempting to process what she had heard, the door from the library flew open.
“There you are.” A grin flashed across Edward’s chiseled features. His footsteps echoed on the stone beneath him, his unsteady walk explained by the goblet in his hand. “I’ve looked everywhere for you. Isn’t this a nice turn of events?” He leaned next to her against the rail. “I do believe that we are headed in the right direction, dearest Amelia.”
She nodded. The wool of his jacket rubbed her arm through the loose weave of her shawl. She drew the shawl more tightly around her. She wrinkled her nose at the pungent stench of brandy, surmising that his drinking had begun hours before the gathering. “You startled me. I thought you would stay behind with the gentlemen.”
He ignored her statement, a habit of late. “Ah, you’re wearing the necklace.” He traced the chain with his finger, allowing it to linger on her skin. “Sapphires suit you. But in the future, they shall be diamonds.” His breath brushed her neck.
Amelia shifted uncomfortably under his touch, then swallowed. She had better get used to his taking such liberties. “It is beautiful indeed.”
“You must imagine my astonishment at our last-minute guest.” The change of subject was abrupt. Edward dropped his hand from her and took a swig from the goblet before setting it on the railing.
“I assume you mean Captain Sterling?”
“Of course I mean Captain Sterling.” Edward’s nostrils flared at the mention of the name. “If he has returned, why is she still here?”
He did not need say more for Amelia to understand his meaning. “Lucy is just a baby, Edward.”
A sneer tugged his full lips. “If it is babies you want, I can give you all the babies you desire. Just give me five more weeks.”
Amelia ignored his suggestive comment. He was leaving tomorrow, and she needed to broach the subject of Lucy before it was too late. “I fail to understand why Lucy cannot continue to live with us. Once we are wed, that is. What is the harm of it? Winterwood is so large, and—”
Edward’s string of curses interrupted her. “I’ve told you—I just won’t have it, and I’m weary of you pestering me about it.”
A creeping panic gripped Amelia. She had seen Edward under drink’s influence before, but something was different about tonight. He had always spoken of Lucy dismissively, but the closer they came to their wedding date, the more intense his opposition became.
“How can you not see it, Amelia? How can you be so oblivious?” Something like a laugh gurgled from his throat, and he dragged his hand over his face. “It pains me to be so blunt with you, but someone must be. Captain Sterling is taking advantage of you, Amelia. He is playing you for a fool. The entire Sterling clan is. And I won’t have it.”
Momentarily stunned by the accusation, Amelia shook her head. “That is a falsehood. The captain never asked me to care for Lucy. It was my idea. I was the one—”
Edward silenced her by stepping so close that the warmth from his body filtered through the filmy silk of her gown. “The child has family, Amelia, or have you forgotten? She is not destitute. It was her uncle’s responsibility to take her in after her mother’s death, though apparently that never crossed his mind. Now her father is home, and his financial success is no secret. It is up to him to provide for her.”
“But, Edward, I—”
“It is time, Amelia. Past time. You have more than amply fulfilled the promise you made to her mother, and it does you credit. Now it is time to move on to the next stage. Your life with me. With our children.”
Amelia did not trust herself to look up into the eyes that were now so near to her own. She opened her mouth to speak, to defend herself, to share the arguments she had so carefully prepared. “I—I cannot help but disagree. You say I am being taken advantage of—well then, so be it. We have more than enough money, more than enough room, I—”
Edward grabbed her forearm. Startled, she snapped her mouth shut. “You may not care about it, Amelia, but I do. I care a great deal. I will not allow another man to prey on my wife’s fortune or good nature, regardless