Edward and Amelia by Karen Thornell

Author:Karen Thornell [Thornell, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-06-05T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

They had hardly reached Hyde Park before they met with an influx of members of the upper ten thousand. Edward was glad of it, for it gave him the perfect excuse. He handled the horses with one hand and reached over to Amelia with the other. Amelia stiffened as he threaded his fingers through hers. He sent her a reassuring smile.

She did not seem reassured.

Their situation felt reminiscent of only a few weeks before when he had taken her for a ride in Hyde Park as part of his ridiculous act to court her. Only now, it was far harder—courtesy of Edward’s love for Amelia. Her small hand felt right within his, but he was not unaware that she might not be enjoying the experience. Very well. He would have to help her along.

He smiled to himself. Who would have thought that amidst his attempts to find the best way to have Amelia see his love for her, and hopefully return it, she would give him just the perfect excuse: pretending at a happy marriage.

His thumb brushed the top of hers, moving in a rhythmic motion that matched the pounding in his chest, though at half the speed. If he truly rubbed the back of her hand with the speed his heart was racing just then, he’d be more likely to catch her glove on fire than convince her he loved her.

She stilled, and he could only hope she was similarly affected. Their gig passed the Allstons’ carriage and Edward nodded to Lord Allston, whose face could be seen in the window. From the corner of his vision, he saw Amelia offer a tight nod of her own. He squeezed her hand lightly, turning to look at her.

“You are looking rather pale, my dear.” He used the statement as an excuse to lean close, eyes surveying her face. “Perhaps,” he said, under his breath, “if you did not appear to be going to your own beheading, we might convince a few of these people we are happily married.” He winked at her to soften the statement but had to tighten his jaw as she bit her lip and looked around them. Had a woman ever been so enticing?

And then, quite unexpectedly, she inched closer to him. Close enough that he could distinctly feel her body heat against his side. His heart sped up further, and some part of him wondered if its current rate could be fatal. He’d prefer not to die before at least kissing the woman. When she looked at him with a timid raise of her brow, it was all he could do to choke out a “much better,” before focusing back on the overrun path ahead of them. He grasped for a topic.

“Your sister’s beau. Is he someone you know well?”

She shifted, her knee brushing against his own. He swallowed hard.

“No, not at all. I hardly even recognized his name when I first learned it. A Sir Frederick Easton.” She paused. “Do you know him?”

Edward studiously ignored the growing inability to breathe.

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