Read Online Absolute Surrender by Jenn LeBlanc - Free Book Online

and took to the street in a dead run.
    Had Ender done it? Had he broken with her? Was she to be his? Charles looked back to Pembroke House. Why did he not feel as though this were a victory?
    He shook the thoughts off and walked slowly to the door as Smythe opened it wide. Charles stepped in line behind him as he was led to the parlor.
    “His Grace.” The butler’s voice cracked. “The Duke of Castleberry.” Was the entire household affected badly by this turn?
    Amelia turned toward him, and it was as though the sun had risen for him in this room.
    Charles moved to her as another woman entered the room behind him, pulling him up short. The chaperone, of course.
    “Your Grace, how wonderful to see you again. This is my aunt, Lady Mathorpe.”
    “My lady,” he said as he took Amelia’s hand, only to feel the tremble within. He paused, considered, and then said, “If you ’ re not well enough for an outing today, I would—”
    “No, Your Grace, nothing would please me more.” But her voice had caught on the word please .  
    Her smile was the brilliance of a thousand daffodils opening at once to him. When did I become so maudlin? Charles thought. He shook his head.
    If he managed to get her out to the park, they might have a moment to speak on these things that were so very important. He smiled to reassure her as he saw the edges of her lips waver.
    “My lady, shall we?” He proffered his arm, and she took it so gently, it was almost a whisper of a touch. He had to look to see that her hand was actually touching his sleeve, she was so cautious. He turned for the door, nodding to her chaperone. “Lady Mathorpe, an honor.”
    Lady Mathorpe nodded but seemed a bit annoyed. Charles knew Amelia was aware of her aunt ’ s annoyance by the grip of her fingers, no longer delicate.
    He placed his other hand over hers, stroking her fingers gently through the dual layers of gloves, and felt them ease a bit. His smile widened, and he led her to the carriage.
    Lady Mathorpe took the seat next to Amelia, leaving him to ride facing the rear. He shuffled past their hems, careful not to step on the delicate fabrics that seemed to fill the carriage floor, then shifted his knees as he sat so as not to bump either lady. Once carefully seated, he smiled at both in turn and nodded to his outrider, who shut the door soundly, and they were off.

    Amelia turned her head toward the carriage window. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then relaxed her features and opened her eyes slowly. She marveled at how the duke filled the carriage, and it was not a mere conveyance, by any means. The carriage was impressive, and this man ’ s presence was formidable. And he was watching her.
    Charles did not appear frightened or nervous—she hated nervous—and he definitely did not watch her with any pity, but he was cautious and perhaps concerned. That was acceptable after this morning. She would be silly to think he was not aware something had transpired in her parlor.
    The fact is, if it had been anyone else, if it had been her mother—God save her—she would have already faced the inquisition for simply being a bit out of sorts.
    But Charles—he simply watched.
    He had held her hands, not the duke, him . Hugh had held her hands and taken her mouth and effectively declared war on her future, and Charles merely waited for her to be ready to inform him. She turned her face to hide the shock of pain, revisited so suddenly.
    Amelia concentrated on the sounds of the horses, the pounding hooves, the turn of the wheels on the cobbles, the creak of the outrider on the rear step. She heard more hooves at the rear, not from the team at the front. Those hooves, just to her right just beyond the carriage, those hooves…belonged to him. Him . She knew Hugh followed.
    She felt a gentle sweep at her hand and saw his hand there, the duke ’ s, with a handkerchief, and she reached up to find a tear on her cheek. Charles’s offer was so very