Constant Hearts, Inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion

Author:Hatch, Donna
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical romance, regency romance, sweet romance, donna hatch
Publisher: Donna Hatch

Chapter 7

Shocked by her own confession, Amelia waited with her heart thudding in her ears. Reed said nothing. Of course he wouldn’t. She was a ninny to hope he would.

He no longer loved her, probably hadn’t in years.

She turned away to hide her tears springing to her eyes. “Forgive me. I’ve made you uncomfortable. Be well, Reed. Good bye.” Her voice cracked.

In an attempt to gather what little remained of her pride, she squared her shoulders and strode away without a backward glance, gripping her horse’s reins as if they were the only thing keeping her upright.

She used a bench as a mounting block and galloped away without looking back at Reed. After finding a secluded area of the park, Amelia dismounted, sank down onto a bench, and sobbed. Despite the pain of saying good-bye the first time, and the ensuing years of loneliness, nothing compared to the agony of knowing what she’d lost, and would never again find. She obviously didn’t deserve a second chance. She’d laid her heart at Reed’s feet, and he’d failed to pick it up, or give her any hope. Perhaps it was just as well. She didn’t know if she had the courage to try another relationship. Her choices before had led her to misery.

Numb and exhausted from her cry, Amelia mounted her patient horse and walked him back to Aunt Millie’s Mayfair house. She left him in the care of a footman who would, no doubt, see him delivered to the mews.

“Amelia dear?” Her aunt’s voice drifted from the back parlor.

“Yes, Aunt.” She found Aunt Millie bent over embroidery.

“Did you have a nice ride?”

Amy sank into the divan next to her aunt and kissed her cheek. “It was lovely.”

The muffled sounds of the street outside wormed into the room’s silence and Amelia twisted her gloves in her lap.

“It’s Reed St. Ives, isn’t it?”

Amelia started. “I beg your pardon?”

“The reason you’ve been so quiet ever since Lord and Lady Evensley’s party. I know it isn’t because anyone said anything to you. From what I saw, they were all polite…unless someone said something in private?”

“No. The Evensley’s friends were polite. I’m merely tired, Aunt. London air has never agreed with me.”

“Are you sure that’s all it is?”

Amelia traced the pattern of her skirt with a finger. “What do you want me to say?”

“Dearest, I know you’ve always tried very hard to be everything we expected of you. But there are times when one must follow one’s heart, instead of living up to the ideals of others.”

“I know.”

“Do you really?” She set aside her embroidery.

“I know you and Uncle loved me. You’ve always been very kind to me and you never made me feel a burden.”

Aunt Millie, her namesake, substitute mother, and dearest friend took her hand. “You wish you’d gone against your uncle’s wishes and married Reed St. Ives, don’t you? Seeing him has brought it all back.”

Tears stung Amelia’s eyes. “Uncle was right; Reed was not a suitable match.” Yet even to her, the words sounded thin and forced.

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