Awakening Amelia by Kate Pearce Read Free Book Online Page B

it’s becoming harder to imagine him being here, to see him clearly. I hate that. I’ve learned that the passing of time can be both cruel and kind to those left behind. He would hate to see me like this—so quiet and uninvolved.”
    “Do you have other family you could perhaps visit or live with for a portion of the year?”
    “Not really.” To her relief, he didn’t question her further. She stared out over the sea. “I thought maybe of becoming a teacher or something useful.”
    “You would be good at that.”
    “Thank you.” She risked a smile at him and found him looking right back at her. His blue gaze darkened as he considered her.
    “I wanted to kiss you last night.”
    She licked her lips. “When?”
    “When you were fighting with me in the garden.”
    “Not when you had me at your mercy in my bedchamber?”
    He stood up and held out his hand to assist her to her feet. “Ah, no, then I wanted to make love to you.”
    She rose to face him, and he retained his grip on her hand, his gaze intent.
    “Oh.”
    “This is when you should slap my face and walk away.”
    “Why would I do that?”
    His faint smile died. “Because I have nothing to offer you. I haven’t even got a name. Accepting such a man into your bed would be foolish, and I know you aren’t foolish, Mrs. Smith.”
    “I went out into a thunderstorm in my nightgown.”
    “Because you are a brave and courageous woman who wanted to face her fears, not because you are a fool.” He swallowed hard. “I can give you nothing, and I could leave you with child. I will not do that to you.”
    There was a note of finality in his voice that made Amelia reach for her hard-won calmness and common sense.
    “Then perhaps we should discontinue this conversation and return to the cottage.” She forced a smile. “Would you like to accompany me to the vicarage and meet Mr. Sherringham and his wife?”
    He bowed and kissed her fingers. “I would be delighted to do so, ma’am.”
    They walked back to the cottage in silence. Marco held the kitchen door open for her, and she almost crashed into Aunt Betty who was coming straight at her.
    “Oh my dear, Amelia, I was just coming to find you! The most calamitous thing!”
    “What’s wrong?”
    Amelia guided the older woman to sit at the table and sat beside her. Marco sat down, too.
    “The letter!” She waved something in Amelia’s face.
    “Who is it from?”
    “My solicitor. His son has recently taken over the practice. I have never met the man. He doesn’t sound very sympathetic to our plight at all.”
    “What does he say that has upset you so badly?”
    “He says that Matthew’s younger brother is trying to break the will and take back this cottage!”
    Amelia took the letter out of Betty’s shaking hand. “May I read his exact words?”
    “Go ahead. It won’t change anything.” Betty’s handkerchief appeared, and she dabbed at her eyes. “What is to become of us? Where will we live?”
    Amelia read the letter carefully and then passed it over to Marco.
    “I’m not certain that Jonathan can overturn the will, Aunt. He would have to take the matter before the courts and that costs money.”
    “But Mr. Wilkes the younger is saying that Jonathan might have just cause because Mr. Wilkes senior interpreted the dictates of the will far too liberally and in my favor.”
    “That still doesn’t mean that Jonathan will succeed. He is very fond of you.” Amelia looked up at her aunt. “Perhaps we should both write to him and see what is amiss.”
    “I shall do that immediately,” Aunt Betty declared. “I’m quite certain this is a mistake.”
    She picked up the letter and disappeared down the hall muttering to herself. Amelia stared after her until she heard the parlor door close.
    “Do you think Jonathan Smith will succeed?”
    Marco’s quiet question made Amelia sit up straighter. “I don’t know. Jonathan is a senior clerk at a shipping company about ten miles from here. He is