A Convenient Engagement by Ashtyn Newbold

Author:Ashtyn Newbold [Ashtyn Newbold]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Historical, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Regency, Romance, Victorian
Amazon: B07JLRLFYQ
Publisher: Independently published
Published: 2018-10-19T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Amelia froze in her place, considering following her aunt home and not meeting Mr. Claridge at all. He had treated her with such disdain this morning. He had acted as if they were not even friends. Were they friends? She thought of him as a friend, but it was true that she did not have many friends. Perhaps she didn’t fully understand the meaning, even after receiving Miss Darby’s thorough and hypocritical explanation of the meaning of friendship.

But Amelia was sure that the version of Adam she had seen that morning was not the sort of man she wished to have as a friend. He had been stern and cold. Would he be the same now? Her stomach twisted with dread upon the thought of seeing him again. It had hurt more than she cared to admit to be snubbed by him. Why did she care so much?

With a deep breath, she started toward the right side of the fork, coming closer and closer to their meeting place on the beach. If Mr. Claridge planned to snub her, she would just snub him in return. In the distance, Amelia saw him, his back toward her at the shoreline. A few small groups of people passed between them, parasols and fans in hand, scattered along the beach like colorful shells. Mr. Claridge stood, tossing stones into the waves again, periodically searching the sand for new ones.

She stopped at the top of the bank, watching as he tossed a large stone into the water, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Her heart skipped and she scolded it for doing so. Why did he affect her so severely? It was perfectly natural to be attracted to a handsome man, she reminded herself. It was nothing more than that. Gathering her courage, she walked closer to him from behind, her feet making no sound as they touched the sand.

Mr. Claridge glanced over his shoulder, as if he had sensed her there. He tilted his head, squinting against the sun, his eyes meeting hers. He lifted a hand in greeting. Amelia felt her knees wobble a bit when his mouth lifted in a tentative smile.

Something fierce and defensive rose up inside her. Now he cared to see her, but was it only because she might have information that he wanted? Was that all she meant to him? Was she simply a vessel of information to him?

With determination in her steps, she walked down the sand toward him. “Have my eyes deceived me, or did you actually acknowledge my presence?”

A deep crease marked his forehead. “What do you mean?”

She planted her hands on her hips. “This morning you acted as if I had ceased to exist. Do not deny it. And I have figured out why you acted in such a way.”

His face seemed to lose a bit of color, his brows drawing together. He kicked the sand around his feet, avoiding her eyes once again. “Have you? Please enlighten me.”

“You only wish to be near me when I have information about your sister.

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