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Authors: Christine Donovan
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you.”
“Let them overhear, because it’s true. And you know how I hate gossip.
It ruined your father and nearly ruined our whole family.”
This time Amelia patted her mother’s hand, “I know. People can be
cruel.” Did she dare ask? “What do you think of Lord Bridgeton?”
“Amelia dear, all past tragedies and gossip aside, I sense he is a nice
gentleman.” She waited for the rest. Amelia could hear there was more to come,
by the tone of her mother’s voice. “However, you cannot attach your name to
his. There is enough talk about you and your time in America. Your reputation
cannot take on the association with him.” Her mother’s hand rose in the air as
Amelia began to protest. “Please let me finish. I can see you’re taken with
him, and he with you. But for both your sakes, end this now. In a perfect
world, the fact that you are the sister of a duke and he is an earl should
warrant nothing but respect. I wish for both your sakes that we lived in a
perfect world.”
The anguish in her mother’s voice startled Amelia. She did not believe
those words were for her and William alone. Things had been said over the years
that had hurt her mother deeply. Everyone knew Amelia’s father drank himself to
death and that he squandered the family fortune in the gaming halls and on his
numerous mistresses.
Thank God for
Emma’s father’s fortune. Without it, their family would be poverty stricken.
Even though some people might gossip about their family behind their backs,
they would never shun them in public. Invitations to every ball and social
event still arrived at their door. Nobody would dare go against the Duke of
Wentworth, one of the Prince Regent’s favorites. So why could she not be with
William? Surely Wentworth could take care of any gossip.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“She’s lovely,” Spencer remarked when he returned to William and his
sisters after his minuet with Amelia. “Not at all a frivolous debutante. How
refreshing, and her laugh…” He laid his hand over his heart dramatically. “It
made my heart sing.”
“Yes, I agree, she’s lovely,” Mary interjected. “And young. Why, she
must be my age. I heard she lived in America for a time.” She sighed wistfully.
“How exciting.”
“Yes,” Elizabeth added. “How exciting. Do you suppose she met any
natives? Can you imagine how thrilling to have one ride up on horseback and
steal you away into the wilderness and have his…” Her hand flew to her mouth.
“Never mind.”
The men exchanged worried looks. “You must keep a watchful eye on
Lizzie at all times, cousin. I fear she’s a romantic and a dreamer,” William
said.
“What’s wrong with that?’ Lizzie asked, her chin tilting up a tad in
defiance.
“Nothing, sister, nothing,” Mary soothed, trying to keep the peace.
“Spencer?” William cocked a brow. “I believe you’ll lose many a night’s
sleep over Lizzie. Not to mention eye strain trying to keep her in your sights
at all times. She’s liable to run off to Gretna Green with the first handsome
devil that comes along.”
“I will not,” Lizzie said as her eyes narrowed on William. “I’ll have
you know Mr. Neville wanted to do just that last year, and I refused.”
“He did? How dare he?” Spencer muttered as he turned around in a
circle. “Where is he? Is he in attendance? Why, that little sniveling…”
William placed a hand on Spencer’s shoulder. “Easy. The important thing
is she didn’t go with him. She’s just trying to give you more gray hair,
cousin. Relax.”
“Easy for you to say––she’s not your sister. And I don’t need any more
gray in my hair. If I get any more, I’ll resemble you even more.” Spencer shivered,
“How truly horrifying.”
This time William smacked Spencer on the back, causing him to grunt.
“Stop,” Mary said as she looked around, “people are staring. Please
don’t ruin my chances of finding a husband before my first Season has
“Let them overhear, because it’s true. And you know how I hate gossip.
It ruined your father and nearly ruined our whole family.”
This time Amelia patted her mother’s hand, “I know. People can be
cruel.” Did she dare ask? “What do you think of Lord Bridgeton?”
“Amelia dear, all past tragedies and gossip aside, I sense he is a nice
gentleman.” She waited for the rest. Amelia could hear there was more to come,
by the tone of her mother’s voice. “However, you cannot attach your name to
his. There is enough talk about you and your time in America. Your reputation
cannot take on the association with him.” Her mother’s hand rose in the air as
Amelia began to protest. “Please let me finish. I can see you’re taken with
him, and he with you. But for both your sakes, end this now. In a perfect
world, the fact that you are the sister of a duke and he is an earl should
warrant nothing but respect. I wish for both your sakes that we lived in a
perfect world.”
The anguish in her mother’s voice startled Amelia. She did not believe
those words were for her and William alone. Things had been said over the years
that had hurt her mother deeply. Everyone knew Amelia’s father drank himself to
death and that he squandered the family fortune in the gaming halls and on his
numerous mistresses.
Thank God for
Emma’s father’s fortune. Without it, their family would be poverty stricken.
Even though some people might gossip about their family behind their backs,
they would never shun them in public. Invitations to every ball and social
event still arrived at their door. Nobody would dare go against the Duke of
Wentworth, one of the Prince Regent’s favorites. So why could she not be with
William? Surely Wentworth could take care of any gossip.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“She’s lovely,” Spencer remarked when he returned to William and his
sisters after his minuet with Amelia. “Not at all a frivolous debutante. How
refreshing, and her laugh…” He laid his hand over his heart dramatically. “It
made my heart sing.”
“Yes, I agree, she’s lovely,” Mary interjected. “And young. Why, she
must be my age. I heard she lived in America for a time.” She sighed wistfully.
“How exciting.”
“Yes,” Elizabeth added. “How exciting. Do you suppose she met any
natives? Can you imagine how thrilling to have one ride up on horseback and
steal you away into the wilderness and have his…” Her hand flew to her mouth.
“Never mind.”
The men exchanged worried looks. “You must keep a watchful eye on
Lizzie at all times, cousin. I fear she’s a romantic and a dreamer,” William
said.
“What’s wrong with that?’ Lizzie asked, her chin tilting up a tad in
defiance.
“Nothing, sister, nothing,” Mary soothed, trying to keep the peace.
“Spencer?” William cocked a brow. “I believe you’ll lose many a night’s
sleep over Lizzie. Not to mention eye strain trying to keep her in your sights
at all times. She’s liable to run off to Gretna Green with the first handsome
devil that comes along.”
“I will not,” Lizzie said as her eyes narrowed on William. “I’ll have
you know Mr. Neville wanted to do just that last year, and I refused.”
“He did? How dare he?” Spencer muttered as he turned around in a
circle. “Where is he? Is he in attendance? Why, that little sniveling…”
William placed a hand on Spencer’s shoulder. “Easy. The important thing
is she didn’t go with him. She’s just trying to give you more gray hair,
cousin. Relax.”
“Easy for you to say––she’s not your sister. And I don’t need any more
gray in my hair. If I get any more, I’ll resemble you even more.” Spencer shivered,
“How truly horrifying.”
This time William smacked Spencer on the back, causing him to grunt.
“Stop,” Mary said as she looked around, “people are staring. Please
don’t ruin my chances of finding a husband before my first Season has
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