The Earl Who Loved Me Read Free Page B

can offer financially rather
than who you are."   David did look
rather contrite and he glanced away, obviously sharing Amelia's pain in that
regard.
    She shook her head, not wanting him
to feel any worse than he already did.   "It is not your fault, and I have become rather skilled at avoiding
those sorts of men."   She had years
of practice acquiring that skill, unfortunately.
    "Still, you should not have to
do so.   Not in my home."   His voice was hard and laced with a touch of
anger, which made her love him all the more.
    "That is the way of our
world."   She offered him a shrug,
downplaying the hurt inside of her borne of years of being viewed as little
more than a way to her father's purse strings.   "There is much about it I do not care for but have learned to
endure, at least in small doses.   Like
parlor games."
    "You know my feelings on
parlor games," David sighed as he offered her his arm, which she had no
choice but to take or else risk looking like an ungrateful guest.   "However, when your guests, or rather
one guest in particular, wishes to play them, as host, you have no choice but
to participate.   Though really, I would
much prefer doing the estate accounts and you know how much I loathe
those."
    That made her laugh, the pain in
her head easing further, and David smiled at her.   "Ah.   There is my old
friend, Lady Amelia.   I knew you were in
there somewhere."
    "I just...   That is to say...   I only..."   Amelia struggled
for the right and proper words, but what could she say?   That she truly believed that Lady Lydia was
evil?   That she wished the woman to
perdition?   That she was tired of being
pursued by rakes and fortune hunters?   That she wanted David to kiss her?   More over that she wanted to see him naked?
    "Shhh."   He placed a finger to her lips, shocking her
with his boldness.   "I
understand.   Truly, I do.   And you know me better than anyone
else.   Do you honestly think I would be
so foolish as to fall for that woman's ploys?   I know she means to trap me into marriage.   I am no fool."   Then
he grinned.   "Besides, I would
rather put out my eyes than be married to that chit."
    This time, Amelia could not help
herself.   She laughed, a dry and hollow
sound that came from years of disuse.   For she was far too serious to laugh at much and had not done so in
years.   In fact, the last time she could
remember laughing was with David over something ridiculous he had said.
    "There's my girl," he
teased, his green-brown eyes dancing merrily and Amelia felt her heart being
swept away, foolish thing that she was.   "Now, do you really have a megrim or will you walk with me for a
bit?"
    She should say yes - to the first
question anyway.   She should tell him
that her head ached horribly and that she wished to rest.   Instead, for once her heart silenced her
brain and Amelia smiled at the earl, allowing her true self to show
through.   "My head is better, my
lord.   Being in the clearer air, I
suppose.   I would be delighted to walk
with you."
    That was a bigger lie than the one
she had told earlier.   Delighted did not
even begin to describe how she felt about strolling the corridors of Weatherby
Hall with David at her side.
    Together they set off down the hall
and away from the staircase leading to the upper floors.   Away from the ballroom and the party and the
parlor games.   Away from the other
guests into the currently unoccupied part of the hall.  
    Amelia knew she should protest or,
at the very least, say that she had changed her mind and no longer wished to
walk.   She should also insist that
Tivens accompany them on this little stroll.   But she did not.   Instead, she
allowed the Earl of Weatherby to lead her where he wished, never uttering a
single protest, his faithful butler disappearing into the darkness as silently
as he had appeared.   For she was
enjoying her time with David far too much to complain, and these moments would
come to