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Authors: Samantha Grace
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as to advise me on a household task or help with my accounts.”
Bibi rolled her eyes. “As if you need assistance with your calculations. Go on.”
“He began to stay for meals on occasion, and sometimes our companionship continued into the evening. We would play chess or read together. One night it just happened. It seemed a natural progression of our association. He was bidding me farewell for the evening and then we were kissing.”
Amelia’s belly flipped as she recalled the delicious feel of his lips on hers. He had tasted of cinnamon and sugar from their dessert, and her knees had quivered as he’d held her in his arms.
“Yes? What happened next?”
Amelia shook her head. “Nothing. He said he would call the next day, but he never did. He disappeared without a word.” Her throat grew tight and ached with unshed tears. She swallowed harshly. “I don’t know what I did to drive him away. Maybe I was too receptive to his advances. Or perhaps I—”
Bibi slapped the table. “What makes you think you are at fault? That’s your problem, Amelia. You constantly accept blame for the failings of men. First there was your father, then your husband—followed by Jake Hillary, I now learn—and finally that scoundrel Forest.”
It wasn’t as if Amelia had been unaware the gentlemen in her life had discarded her, but to have them cataloged as such was a blow to her person. Her bottom lip trembled, much to her despair.
Bibi shoved from the table and hurried to her side, her skirts rustling as she rounded the table. “Please don’t cry, dearest. Those men are fools for missing the treasure you are.” She threw her arms around Amelia’s shoulders and squeezed. “That horrid Mr. Hillary. He does not deserve you.” To agree that Jake was horrid would give her no satisfaction. When he had approached her at the Eldridge ball almost a year ago, the moment had been awkward and tension-filled. Amelia had struggled with the desire to throw her arms around him, to beg him to come home with her. Thankfully, her pride had kept her from making a fool of herself, any more than she already had.
A few tears welled up in her eyes, and she blotted them with a pastel napkin. “After our dance last evening, I’m more confused than ever. There seems to be something between us still, or it had seemed so for a fleeting moment.”
“Pfft!” Bibi flopped into the adjacent seat. “It doesn’t take a scholar to recognize the attraction. The man practically pants after you. But don’t you dare fool yourself into thinking it’s love.”
“But—”
“Amelia, if love is real, why have I never seen it?” Bibi held up a finger to silence her when Amelia tried to answer. “Don’t offer your usual argument that I cannot see air either. I breathe, therefore I believe. On the other hand, I have never loved. Jake Hillary wants the same thing all men want, pleasures of the flesh. If you choose to take him to your bed, make it on your terms.”
Bibi’s cynical view of men hadn’t always matched Amelia’s own, but perhaps her friend had a point. She had been searching for love all her life and had nothing to show for it.
Bibi patted Amelia’s hand resting between them. “Enjoy the encounter for what it is without hanging your hopes on it becoming something more. There are many gentlemen who will be happy to step into Mr. Hillary’s boots once you tire of him.”
Amelia balked. Tire of Jake? She couldn’t see that happening.
“I suppose if you have no intention of falling in love,” Amelia said, “then I shall give up the search as well. I will not be content unless you are.”
“Splendid. I knew you would come around eventually.”
Amelia took a deep breath. Well, she wouldn’t sit around feeling sorry for herself. Maybe she and Jake had no future, but she deserved some answers to help her put their association behind her. And she would get them today.
Six
Jake climbed from the phaeton and signaled to the
Bibi rolled her eyes. “As if you need assistance with your calculations. Go on.”
“He began to stay for meals on occasion, and sometimes our companionship continued into the evening. We would play chess or read together. One night it just happened. It seemed a natural progression of our association. He was bidding me farewell for the evening and then we were kissing.”
Amelia’s belly flipped as she recalled the delicious feel of his lips on hers. He had tasted of cinnamon and sugar from their dessert, and her knees had quivered as he’d held her in his arms.
“Yes? What happened next?”
Amelia shook her head. “Nothing. He said he would call the next day, but he never did. He disappeared without a word.” Her throat grew tight and ached with unshed tears. She swallowed harshly. “I don’t know what I did to drive him away. Maybe I was too receptive to his advances. Or perhaps I—”
Bibi slapped the table. “What makes you think you are at fault? That’s your problem, Amelia. You constantly accept blame for the failings of men. First there was your father, then your husband—followed by Jake Hillary, I now learn—and finally that scoundrel Forest.”
It wasn’t as if Amelia had been unaware the gentlemen in her life had discarded her, but to have them cataloged as such was a blow to her person. Her bottom lip trembled, much to her despair.
Bibi shoved from the table and hurried to her side, her skirts rustling as she rounded the table. “Please don’t cry, dearest. Those men are fools for missing the treasure you are.” She threw her arms around Amelia’s shoulders and squeezed. “That horrid Mr. Hillary. He does not deserve you.” To agree that Jake was horrid would give her no satisfaction. When he had approached her at the Eldridge ball almost a year ago, the moment had been awkward and tension-filled. Amelia had struggled with the desire to throw her arms around him, to beg him to come home with her. Thankfully, her pride had kept her from making a fool of herself, any more than she already had.
A few tears welled up in her eyes, and she blotted them with a pastel napkin. “After our dance last evening, I’m more confused than ever. There seems to be something between us still, or it had seemed so for a fleeting moment.”
“Pfft!” Bibi flopped into the adjacent seat. “It doesn’t take a scholar to recognize the attraction. The man practically pants after you. But don’t you dare fool yourself into thinking it’s love.”
“But—”
“Amelia, if love is real, why have I never seen it?” Bibi held up a finger to silence her when Amelia tried to answer. “Don’t offer your usual argument that I cannot see air either. I breathe, therefore I believe. On the other hand, I have never loved. Jake Hillary wants the same thing all men want, pleasures of the flesh. If you choose to take him to your bed, make it on your terms.”
Bibi’s cynical view of men hadn’t always matched Amelia’s own, but perhaps her friend had a point. She had been searching for love all her life and had nothing to show for it.
Bibi patted Amelia’s hand resting between them. “Enjoy the encounter for what it is without hanging your hopes on it becoming something more. There are many gentlemen who will be happy to step into Mr. Hillary’s boots once you tire of him.”
Amelia balked. Tire of Jake? She couldn’t see that happening.
“I suppose if you have no intention of falling in love,” Amelia said, “then I shall give up the search as well. I will not be content unless you are.”
“Splendid. I knew you would come around eventually.”
Amelia took a deep breath. Well, she wouldn’t sit around feeling sorry for herself. Maybe she and Jake had no future, but she deserved some answers to help her put their association behind her. And she would get them today.
Six
Jake climbed from the phaeton and signaled to the
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