CHAPTER 1
London—1816
Lady Amelia Ward looked past the newlyweds and stole another glance at Lord Reston, seated two spots away from the groom. The earl was talking with his sister, Thea de Wolfe, his handsome face animated. Amelia quickly looked away, not wanting her brother to realize where she gazed since Colin read people very well.
Amelia needed to keep her infatuation with Derek de Wolfe to herself.
“They look very happy, don’t they,” she said to Colin, hoping to throw him off track as she spoke of their brother and his new bride.
“They do,” he agreed. “Although I’ve just met Diana, she and Oliver seem perfectly suited to one another. The fact that she brings Finn and Mena into the marriage is a bonus. I’ve never seen anyone as good with children as our brother.”
“Oliver is as besotted with the twins as he is his new wife,” she agreed. “They are very sweet children.” She chuckled. “And I’m sure they’ll have siblings before we can blink.”
Colin glanced down the head table of the wedding breakfast, which was being hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Everton. “You say you’ve become close to Lady Thea?”
“Yes. Thea is my best friend. I’ve spent many an afternoon with her since she came to London.”
Catching a brief glimpse of Derek was a perk of her visits with Thea. That’s when she’d become smitten with the new Earl of Reston. He would stop to check on Thea on his way to whatever errand he ran and Amelia had tried hard not to betray her budding feelings for him. Thea had broken her leg just before the Season began and hadn’t been able to make her come-out. Amelia liked that Derek was kind and solicitous toward his sister, just as Oliver was to her. Her older brother had been like a father to Amelia for almost a decade, ever since her father’s death in a riding accident. Oliver had remained her closest friend until Thea de Wolfe came along. Her brother encouraged their friendship, knowing Amelia need feminine companionship. Besides, he’d been taken with Diana de Wolfe, the oldest of the three de Wolfe siblings, from the beginning. Their whirlwind romance had resulted in today’s wedding, the first match of the new Season.
She wished dancing could be part of a wedding breakfast. If so, it might have given her a chance to dance with Derek again, as they had on the opening night of the Season at the Duke and Duchess of Everton’s ball. As it was, the Earl of Reston had escorted his sister to ton events, where he then disappeared into the card room for long stretches. Amelia had only seen him dance that first night. Now that they were family in a way, she hoped she might see more of him socially.
She sighed. What was the use? Even when Derek had looked in on Thea before going to his club or to box or whatever he did, he only gave Amelia a cursory smile and greeting. She wasn’t even sure he remembered her name. Thea had confided to her that Derek proclaimed he had no interest in marrying for several years. As the new Earl of Reston, he wanted to focus his time on learning all he could about managing his estate and making it more profitable, as well as getting to know his tenants. That’s why he didn’t seek a bride from the Marriage Mart. He’d only come to London to help Diana find a husband. Now that she had, Derek de Wolfe might even leave London before the Season ended, taking Thea with him. Then Amelia would truly be despondent.
Oliver and Diana rose. Her brother thanked everyone for attending their wedding and said he and Diana planned to spend the next week at Merrimore, the family’s country estate, before returning for the rest of the Season. People began rising as the couple circulated around the room, trying to visit with all their invited guests before they changed into clothes more suitable for traveling south. Once Diana headed upstairs, Amelia would follow and help her since Thea’s leg was still in a cast and navigating stairs proved impossible.
She made her way to her friend just as Derek stood. He smiled politely at her.
“Hello, Lord Reston,” she said, hoping her voice sounded steady despite the butterflies exploding in her stomach.
A slight frown crossed his face. “That sounds very formal. We are family now. Perhaps you should call me Derek. If you’d like, that is.”
Amelia’s heart fluttered.
“Oh, that’s a splendid idea, Derek,” Thea chimed in. “I have a new sister in Amelia—and two new brothers in Oliver and Colin. I rather like being informal, don’t you, Amelia? I’m sure we’ll spend some of our holidays together. Using first names is much more intimate.”
Oh, it certainly was.
“Then you must call me Amelia,” she told Derek. “Thea has for ages.”
“You two are quite close,” he noted. “Thea’s even asked if she could invite you to visit us at Esterley.”
Amelia sensed her cheeks heating. It would be wonderful to be near Derek for a time but he’d shown no interest in her whatsoever. A prolonged visit might turn into agony on her part.
“Maybe we can arrange that in the future,” she said. “For now, I am committed to finishing the Season here in London.” She paused. “Will you be staying now that your sister has wed?”
The earl shrugged. “I hadn’t made plans beyond the wedding. With Thea laid up, though, there’s no reason to remain in London.”
Thea spoke up. “No, Derek. My plaster will come off soon and then I want to see some of London before we return to Northumberland. It’s my first time here and I’ve been tied to the house because of my broken bone. Besides, I would miss Amelia too much. We can’t leave just yet.”
He gave her an indulgent smile. “All right. I’ll consent to extending our stay. If you’ll excuse me?” He bowed and left them.
Amelia took his seat, forcing herself to concentrate on her friend instead of gazing after Derek like a lovesick puppy. “I can’t wait for you to be up and about. We’ll certainly have some fun together.”
“What about your Season, Amelia?” Thea asked. “You haven’t mentioned anyone special so far.”
She shrugged. “It’s still early, though no one caught my eye so far.” Amelia hated lying to her closest friend but didn’t know how Thea would react if Amelia told her of her interest in Derek.
“You’ve said several gentlemen have called on you. What about them?”
“None of them interest me. You know I’ve confided in you that I wish to marry for love, Thea. I know not many do so but I look at Oliver and Diana and see how giddy they are. I wish the same bliss for myself.”
Going into the Season, Amelia’s practical nature had been ready to accept an offer if the gentleman was kind and interesting. If he possessed a title and charm, those would be nice additions. The thought of loving someone had never entered her mind. Then Oliver had shared with her that she should truly like the man she would wed since they’d live together for decades. He told her to take her time in choosing her future mate, saying to let it happen naturally and not to force anything. He assured her she had a home with him as long as she wished and that if she didn’t find any man to her liking this Season, there were always future Seasons to come.
Then Amelia had observed how thunderstruck Oliver became, falling deeply in love with Diana. The look in his eyes as he gazed upon Diana—and the one she reserved for him—made Amelia desperately want what the couple had. She determined that while others might wed for a lofty title and wealth, she would follow her heart.
And wed for love alone.
Thea took her hand. “You know, sometimes love can come after marriage. Perhaps if you found someone who made good conversation, he could be a potential candidate.”
Amelia laughed. “Too many men in the ton are not skilled conversationalists. They’re forever commenting on the weather. I’ve gotten a few to tell me about their horses. Thank goodness I’m interested in that topic for some of them have gone on and on about it until my ears bled.”
“You’ll find the right man, Amelia. I’m certain of it. Go and mingle now with the other wedding guests.”
“I don’t want to leave you alone.”
“You don’t have to,” a voice said over her shoulder. She turned and saw Colin.
“I’ll keep Lady Thea company,” Amelia’s brother promised.
“Please, call me Thea. And never Dorothea, my full name, which I abhor. We’ve decided as family we should use our Christian names.”
Amelia rose and Colin took her seat. “I like it, Thea. I’m sure we’ll be thrown together many times over the coming years.”
“Tell me about Oxford and your studies,” Thea said. “Amelia tells me you’re reading history.”
She took that as her cue to leave. Amelia circulated through the room, talking with various guests. She noticed Diana leaving to head upstairs and excused herself so she could help her new sister-in-law prepare for the upcoming journey to Merrimore.
As she left the room, she headed across the foyer and then remembered Diana had asked her to fetch a book she’d left in the library so she could pack it in her belongings. Amelia made her way to the library, where the door was already open. Just before she entered, she heard a familiar, deep voice inside the room and paused.
“It’s fine with me, Shelton. I’m surprised you even thought to ask.”
“You’re sure you aren’t interested in Lady Amelia?”
“Not in the least,” Derek de Wolfe said.
Tears sprang to her eyes and she blinked rapidly. Eavesdroppers rarely heard good of themselves. She should walk away.
And found she couldn’t.
“Well, I think she’s a very beautiful woman,” the man called Shelton continued.
“She may be but she seems empty-headed to me. Oh, she’s been a marvelous friend to Thea—don’t get me wrong—but I don’t know if I’ve ever heard her speak of anything beyond fashion and the ton events she’s attended. She seems a bit immature to me,” Derek concluded. “Besides, she will be as a sister to me now. You know my feelings, Shelton. I’ve no plans to settle down for a good half-dozen years or more. Esterley needs my attention. I don’t need a wife to pull me away from what should be tended to with love and care.”
“Then I’ve your permission to pursue an acquaintance with Lady Amelia?” Shelton asked.
“You don’t need my permission. Dance with the chit and see for yourself if you’re interested in her.”
Crushed, Amelia turned and hurried away, racing up the stairs and fleeing to the bedchamber where Diana was getting ready. She wiped at her eyes and determined to hide her unhappiness as she helped her new sister-in-law.
Entering the room, she said brightly, “What can I do?”
Diana turned and held out her hands. Amelia came and took them, tears welling in her eyes again.
As they spilled over, she said, “Forgive me. I’m just so happy for you and Oliver. You are perfect together.”
“He is rather perfect in every way,” Diana agreed. “Every day is better than the one before. And the twins adore him.”
“Remember, they can stay in London. You don’t have to take them with you.”
“Oliver insists they accompany us. Their governess is also coming so we can spend some time alone.”
The lady’s maid and Amelia helped Diana from her dress and into another. The maid left, telling them she would have the dress pressed and returned to the Merrifield London townhome. As she left, Oliver ducked his head into the room and then slipped inside.
Diana grinned as he came toward them. “What are you doing here?”
Her new husband took her into his arms. “I’ve just spent the longest quarter-hour of my life being away from you.”
He gave her a lingering kiss, which Amelia was used to seeing ever since their engagement. She was happy for them but the sight cut her to her core.
Why couldn’t she have that?
Determination filled her. She would find someone to love, a man who’d hopefully love her in return. She would forget about being enamored with Derek de Wolfe. He might be the most handsome man she’d ever laid eyes upon but there were dozens of unmarried men among the ton who were looking for a wife. She would find one that was handsome and intelligent and considerate. One who wanted to kiss her the way Oliver did Diana. She would wed and bring her new husband to family gatherings and hope Derek de Wolfe would then see what he’d missed out on and regret having tossed her aside without ever having gotten to know her.
Amelia slipped from the room as the lovers continued to kiss. She would seek out this Lord Shelton who was so eager to pursue her and see if he might be the one for her.
Most importantly, she would stop thinking about Derek de Wolfe.
If only that were possible . . .
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