A Foolish Wager by Rose Pearson

Author:Rose Pearson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2019-09-29T16:00:00+00:00

***

“I came to you just as soon as I could.”

Amelia pressed her lips together tightly to force herself not to say another word. Lady Smithton was staring at her as though she had never seen Amelia before in her life, her face a little pale and her eyes lacking their usual sparkle. Having told Lady Smithton that Lord Montague was now to court her, it seemed the astonishment of Amelia’s news had overwhelmed her.

“I have spoken to the Earl,” Mrs. Peters added, her voice and expression grave, “but he insists Amelia accept Lord Montague’s courtship. I did express my concern, given Lord Montague has such a dire reputation, but I’m afraid the Earl merely brushed aside my concerns and told me it was quite clear Lord Montague intended to court Lady Amelia.”

Amelia swallowed hard, wanting to state, for the second time, that it had not been her intention to accept Lord Montague, but her uncle would not have permitted her to refuse. She would not have said, however, there was a part of her that was glad for such an arrangement, a part of her that hoped Lord Montague was not about to turn around and treat her as he had done so many others. After all, said a small voice, he had not courted any of the other young ladies he had sought out, had he?

“I—I must say, this is quite unexpected,” Lady Smithton murmured, sounding quite breathless. “Lord Montague is not at all the sort of gentleman to do such a thing and yet…” She frowned, looking steadily at Amelia. “Yet, he has decided to court you?”

“It is a surprise, to be sure,” Amelia admitted, feeling a little stung by Lady Smithton’s evident astonishment. “I cannot pretend part of me does not hope there may be a genuine interest on his part, whereas I know the truth must be that there is another motivation he is hiding.” She held her breath, wondering if Lady Smithton would contradict her, would tell her she was mistaken, but to her disappointment, Lady Smithton began to nod, slowly.

“There must be,” she admitted, looking at Amelia with concern. “Lord Montague is, from what I understand, a wealthy gentleman with very little financial concerns. However, he would not be the first gentleman to hide the truth from society. You must be very careful, Lady Amelia.”

Amelia managed a small smile. “Then you do not blame me for accepting him?”

Lady Smithton looked horrified. “No, of course, I do not!” she exclaimed, one hand pressed against her heart. “I can understand your difficulties entirely. I was also in a similar circumstance, given I had no choice whatsoever when it came to my husband.” She shook her head sadly, a far-off look in her eyes. “It is our fate, it seems, to be told what we must do and what we must not. I count myself very fortunate indeed to have been allowed such freedom as I now experience.”

It was on the tip of Amelia’s tongue to ask

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