The Lady and the Earl (Seabrook Family Saga) Read Free

had been looking
out for her for the past year and a half while the two of them had traveled in
America. Now that they were back in England, she felt he could rest easy. They
were all safe and back home where they belonged. Although, there was still
tension in the family. Amelia hoped her two brothers would reconcile
someday––but that was between them and Wentworth’s wife, Emma. Amelia did not
know the reason Sebastian had abruptly gone to America in the first place,
except he’d had a falling out with their brother and it had something to do
with Emma.
    “Perhaps we could do the neighborly thing and invite the earl to tea?”
    “I don’t think so,” Sebastian said. “We leave for London in a week.
Mother’s expecting us. She insists both of us socialize this Season.”
    Amelia’s heart sank at her brother’s words. Her fear at having to
attend another London Season was just realized. “Won’t everyone wonder where
I’ve been? Yes, well—they know I’ve been in America traveling with you—but
won’t they wonder why?” To disappear for a year and a half, shortly after the
death of Daniel, would have the tongues wagging amongst the ton . Indeed,
some of the old ladies had done just that already.
    Could Amelia hold her chin up as if she had nothing to hide, nothing to
be ashamed of?
    How could her mother ask such a thing of her now? She would much prefer
to stay here with her one-year-old daughter, Olivia, and her maid, Gretchen.
Her daughter meant the world to her. And when she left for London, Amelia knew
Olivia and Gretchen would have to stay in the country. Olivia and Amelia looked
so much alike that her child’s parentage was obvious.
    If anyone saw them together they would immediately know whose child she
was, and all their secrecy and seclusion would be for naught. Amelia would be
good and properly ruined, and Olivia would face a lifetime of contempt and
isolation.
    Did Amelia care? Not for herself, but for her family and for
Olivia. Each time Olivia held out her arms to Gretchen, Amelia’s maid, Amelia’s
heart cracked a little bit wider. What a terrible thing…not to be able to
acknowledge her daughter as her own. Mayhap someday she could. Perhaps she
should tell Daniel’s family about Olivia. Wouldn’t Daniel’s family want to know
they had a grandchild? That a part of Daniel lived? Guilt ate at her insides
over this struggle.
    No matter how many times her mother and siblings told her not to feel
ashamed, deep down inside, where she answered to no one but herself and God,
she was. Now that she planned to leave her daughter here, to go off to balls
and soirées in London, Amelia’s guilty pain and shame tripled.
    The sound of her brother clearing his throat brought Amelia out of her
woolgathering.
    “People will always talk. But you’re the sister of a duke, which means
the talk will be minimized.” Sebastian paced to the window in the drawing room
and peered out into the bright afternoon sun. “Let them talk. They will soon
know there’s nothing to talk about.”
    “But there is.”
    Sebastian swung around and narrowed his eyes at her. “Yes, but they
don’t know that.”
    “This conversation is giving me a headache.” Before Amelia plopped
herself down onto the royal-blue velvet settee, she rang for tea.
    Once the tea arrived, Sebastian sat beside her and reached for her
hand. “I know I’ve not been the easiest brother the past year and a half, with
me taking over Hamilton Oil for Wentworth, and for being a man when you needed
a woman to help you through.”
    Amelia squeezed her brother’s hand and ignored the tears, once again
pooling in her eyes. “You helped me more than you’ll ever know.” When her
brother’s eyes lit up, she smiled and the crushing weight eased off her chest
slightly. Maybe it was true when her mama said her broken heart would heal with
time.
    “You’ve not seen our brother or Emma since you left for America. Are
you anxious?” Amelia asked