Adrienne Basso Read Free

stomach.
    “Do not forget to whom you are speaking, madame.”
    She swallowed, then moistened her dry lips. “I know in my heart that I can never be happy tied to a man like Mr. Bascomb no matter how hard I try. The marriage is an impossibility for me. I understand that you are concerned for my future and I am grateful for your efforts on my behalf.
    “More than anything I fear being a burden to you. Please, Roger, just let me have the funds I need to complete the renovations on the Dower House. Mr. Walsh, the architect, assures me the estimates for repairs are very reasonable and can be completed within the year. Once I move in I can live comfortably on my allowance and promise never to ask you for anything else.”
    “No.”
    Amelia nearly screamed with frustration. “How can you be so heartless? Will you bear no guilt for my future unhappiness? Will you condemn me again to a marriage void of love. Void of respect. Void of decency. After George died I vowed I would never again experience such degradation, such boundless unhappiness.”
    “Be quiet!” The earl slammed his fist on the table. Amelia’s full wine goblet tumbled to the floor, spreading a dark red stain on the rug. “There will be no words of slander spoken against my brother in my presence, nor in my home.”
    “ ’Tis the truth,” she whispered. “I was so blinded by my own feelings of love that I never realized what George’s true feelings were for me until we were wed. And then it was too late. You were not here, you do not know what I endured, what I suffered. Never again shall I willingly give another man such power over my person.”
    Roger advanced so quickly she did not realize his intent until he grasped her face between his fingers and turned her chin so that she was forced to look directly at him. The expression in his eyes made her blood run cold. “I give you this one and only warning. If you say another word to darken the memory of my brother, I shall order the Dower House burned to the ground.”
    A choking despair settled in Amelia’s heart. She knew Roger’s threat was not an idle one. He was certainly capable of such a malicious, vindictive act.
    “Let go of me, Roger,” she said, surprised at how calm she sounded.
    The earl pulled his hand away and turned abruptly from her. Her face felt bruised and raw where he had grabbed her. Roger stalked impatiently to the other side of the room, obviously trying to gather his composure.
    “We shall travel to Kent at the end of the week,” he said. “The duke and duchess of Hartwell are hosting a house party and we are invited to be their guests.”
    “I am not acquainted with the duke and duchess and therefore have no interest in attending their party,” she said tonelessly.
    “I have already accepted on your behalf.” Roger clenched his fists tightly at his sides. “We leave in two days. Mr. Bascomb will also be attending. It will be the perfect setting for him to ask you formally to be his wife. Naturally you will accept.”
    Amelia lifted her bruised chin and forced herself to meet his gaze. If she lived to be a hundred, she would never understand why Roger was doing this. Deep inside he must have some perverse, twisted reason for forcing this marriage upon her. If only she understood his motivation, perhaps she could change his mind, could save herself from this horrible fate.
    “I know you have never held me in great affection, yet surely it will pain you to know that you are responsible for the unhappiness and misery visited upon your brother’s widow.”
    The earl rubbed his palm over the back of his neck several times, as if it itched. For an instant Amelia thought she might have convinced him to reconsider.
    “The settlement that Mr. Bascomb has agreed upon is very generous. I would be greatly remiss in my duties as head of the family if I did not accept this fine offer from him on your behalf.”
    Ah, so it was the money. Amelia had suspected that was a large part