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The Duke Disguised Himself as a Footman to Meet His Bride — What He Overheard Left Him Speechless

The Duke Disguised Himself as a Footman to Meet His Bride — What He Overheard Left Him Speechless

Chapter 13

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"You put your hand on her wrist the night I arrived," Lucien said very softly. "You put a child in a carriage in a storm. If I were the kind of man you are, you'd be in that flooded ditch at Sedgemoor right now. Be grateful I'm not."The constables took Silas out, still shouting. Mrs. Gaunt went quietly after him.Kit watched them go from her chair, then held out her arms, and Amelia ran to her, dropped to her knees, and held her little sister as if she would never let go again.When she finally looked up, Lucien was standing a few steps away, uncertain, the signet ring heavy on his hand."I owe you an apology," he said. "I came here to judge you. I lied to you. I let you think you were being sold to a stranger."Amelia stood slowly, Kit's hand still in hers. "You also stood in the rain holding horses for a woman you'd never met, and spent a night in a cellar for her, and pulled her sister out of a flood." She tried to smile. "I think the apology might be the least important thing you've done this week, Your Grace."Everyone in the house, from Pike to the cook to Old Nan, expected Amelia to accept the Duke the moment the ink was dry on the arrest warrant.She didn't.Two days later, when Lucien came to her in the little morning room with a new contract written by his own lawyers, with every penny of the settlement in her name and Kit's, she read it carefully and then set it down."It's very generous," she said. "And no."Lucien went still. "Have I done something?""You've done everything," Amelia said, and her eyes filled. "That's the trouble. If I marry you now, I'll never know if I married you for love or because you saved my sister's life. And neither will you. I've been bought and sold my whole life, Lucien. Even by a good man, I won't be bought." She took a breath. "Ashgrove belongs to Kit now. Someone has to make it a home again. I'd like it to be me."The Duke of Calderwood had been refused nothing in thirty-one years. He stood there for a long moment. Then he bowed very low, the way a footman bows."Then I'll go," he said. "But I'm not finished, Amelia Hartwell."He left that afternoon. Pike drove the carriage himself and wept openly the whole way down the drive, and later swore it was the rain.
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The Duke Disguised Himself as a Footman to Meet His Bride — What He Overheard Left Him Speechless

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