The Prodigal Daughter (30 page)

“As expected..” His arm suddenly throbbed at the reminder. “Is there any news of the others?”

“Ben is fine. Rob’s shoulder will require at least a fortnight of complete rest. And Jacob is holding his own, though the outcome is very much in question.”

“I trust the family will be all right.”

“Yes, Father is already arranging things, or so he said last night. We have decided to overlook the past,” she added softly.

“He told me.”

Surprise flashed across Amanda’s face. “You were discussing me?”

“It has been a strange day at the Court,” he admitted, trying to find the words he needed. “While we were engrossed by the Wilson fire, Mr. Stevens and Emily departed for Gretna Green.”

“Dear Lord,” she breathed, looking as if her closest friend had just died. “Poor Papa – two of us running out on him. And Oliver. I thought he was in love with Lady Sarah. I am so sorry, your grace. I would never have served you so disgraceful a turn if I had known.”

“What are you talking about?”

“He approached me last week, wanting advice about joining the army. I suspected he was running away from something, and eventually won the confidence that he was in love with someone too far above his station to be acceptable to wife. I thought he meant Lady Sarah and counseled him to at least learn her feelings before taking so desperate a step. Please believe me. I never once entertained the notion that it was Emily to whom he referred.”

“Do not distress yourself,” he murmured soothingly. “You have done me no harm. Surely you must realize that I am the last person to countenance forcing anyone into marriage.”

She raised her eyes and saw the truth of the statement. There was something else revealed in his gaze that set her heart racing, but she dared not name it. “I know, your grace. But it was a disservice nonetheless. It cannot but hurt you to be jilted.”

“No announcement had yet been made, so I believe that we can muddle through quite nicely..” He related again the tale they had concocted to explain recent events. “So you see, if everyone plays his part, there should be no scandal.”

“I do not see that at all,” she protested. “It cannot explain your presence. You were known to be courting her. You are here. At the very least, choosing another must be seen as a slap in the face.”

“I’ve given out that I had a quite different reason for being here that has nothing to do with Thorne’s house party,” he said uncertainly. His eyes caught hers and held them.

“And what is that?”  She couldn’t breathe with her heart pounding in her throat.

“This is hardly the time... I mean, I can hardly expect... Devil take it, but I’m making a mull of this,” he swore softly. “I have fallen in love with you, Amanda.”

Words refused to form. She could only stare at him in shock and wonder, but her eyes must have revealed something for he stepped closer, resting his hands on her shoulders.

“Amanda?”

Her arms slid around his neck, and he crushed her close, his lips fastening onto hers.

Home. She was home at last. Joy rocketed through her. He actually loved her. And he was free. Free. Within seconds she made another discovery – the pleasure she had experienced with Jack was nothing compared to the ecstasy engendered by the duke. She pulled back to scan his face.

“You must feel it, too,” he murmured.

She nodded and finally found her voice. “I was leaving next week. I could not bear the thought of seeing you with Emily.”

“My God!  Where were you going?”

“I just found out yesterday – heavens, it really was only yesterday – that I inherited an estate from Jack’s great-uncle. It is far enough away to avoid accidental meetings.”

His arms tightened. “That won’t be necessary now, I hope. Amanda, it is undoubtedly far too soon, but you already know how impatient I can be. Will you marry me, my love?”

“You won’t find me conformable,” she warned him.

“I’ve discovered that I don’t want a conformable wife. Nor do I want one who will allow me to pursue my lonely life in peace. I need someone to talk to and debate with, someone who can share all aspects of my life, including my bed, with enthusiasm. I may even learn to laugh again if you will have me, my dear. You have resurrected that idealistic, impetuous youth I used to be. This time he is tempered by a clearer understanding of the world and the people in it. I love you, Amanda – more than I thought possible. I decided last night to jilt your sister because I could not do her such a foul turn as to marry her under these circumstances. There is no one I can envision spending my life with but you.”

“I love you,” she admitted. “The real you that lurks beneath the armor you show the world. I recognized it at the Blue Boar, though I did not think in terms of love until we talked in Oliver’s room two nights ago. You are worthy of so much more than life has brought you.”

“Will you have me then?”

“Yes, your grace, I will.”

“Nicholas,” he murmured, pulling her into another embrace. “Don’t ever treat me like an exalted being again.”

“Nicholas, my love.”

* * * *

It felt like a dream, Amanda admitted some hours later. She had dined at the Court, escorted to dinner by Nicholas. Now she stood next to Thorne in the receiving line. The courteous greetings barely hid the delight that beamed in the eyes of neighbors and friends to see her there. Nor did politeness hide the surprise in the eyes of those who had traveled from London and had either forgotten her existence or were ignorant of it.

Nicholas led her out to open the ball, ripples of wonder rolling around the room when people saw him smiling. Amanda glowed under that expression. She had seen it for the first time that afternoon when he released her from his second embrace. It changed his appearance entirely, smoothing out the forbidding lines that usually marred his forehead and lightening his hawkish features into a visage even an impartial observer would call handsome. Her joy must have shown at that moment, for he had groaned and pulled her back into his arms, kissing her more passionately than she had believed possible and not letting her go until both were on the verge of losing control.

Now they swirled through a waltz, eyes locked together, smiling at each other and oblivious to the rest of the world. So it came as no surprise to the gathered crowd when Thorne announced just before supper that his daughter, Lady Emily, would marry Mr. Oliver Stevens at Christmas, and his daughter, Lady Amanda, would become the Duchess of Norwood at a small, private ceremony in the Thornridge chapel the following Tuesday.

“You do not regret missing a big wedding?” asked Norwood when he and Amanda slipped away from the ballroom late in the evening.

“You know I have little use for the
ton,
Nicholas,” she reminded him.

“Then what do you say to spending a few weeks – or months – at your new estate, where no one in society will think to look for us?”  His eyes gleamed as he led her into the library.

“Perfect.”

“It will not bother you that you were there with Jack?”  The question had only just now occurred to him.

She smiled. “Jack was a romantic, my love. He would heartily approve.”

Nicholas closed the door behind him and pulled her into his arms.

Copyright © 1996 by Susan Ann Pace

Originally published by Signet Regency (0451186826)

Electronically published in 2005 by Belgrave House/Regency Reads

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.