Amelia awoke feeling a deep contentment she hadn’t experienced since leaving the cottage. She instinctively wriggled backwards in search of a more comfortable spot, when a masculine groan rumbled in her ear.
“Move again, darling, and I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
Following their lovemaking, exhaustion from the past couple of days had taken its toll on both of them and within moments they had fallen asleep. The light outside had already faded, warning Sebastian it was soon time to get ready for dinner.
Still, he was reluctant to move and instead savoured the feel of her lush femininity lying so temptingly beside him.
Reluctantly, he tried to withdraw his arms from around her. In particular the hand that was nestled warmly between her breasts, only for her to wriggle backwards. Her movement immediately closed the distance between them.
“Amelia, I believe we went to sleep, darling. It will soon be time for dinner,” Sebastian mumbled with a yawn.
“I’m sorry,” Amelia said, shuffling around until she lay facing
him. “I must have been more tired than I realised.” She slid upwards until she was sitting against the pillows, the covers tugged up to cover her breasts as she placed a hand on his arm to stop him from leaving the bed.
Sebastian paused and turned to face her. He eyed the pensive frown on her face, and warily resumed his place beside her.
“You asked me to trust you,” Amelia replied hesitantly. She paused as she tried to gather her thoughts and decide on the best way to tell him.
“I am the Earl of Eastleigh’s daughter.”
Silence descended for several moments as Sebastian stared at her. He could sense her tension as she waited for his response.
“Well, I wasn’t expecting that,” he muttered, thinking of Isobel’s note in the carriage yesterday. He almost asked her if she was sure. “I wasn’t aware the Earl of Eastleigh had a daughter,” he replied, easing around to sit facing her.
Amelia nodded slowly. “I am estranged from him. He-.” She took a deep breath and spoke the last in a rush. “He sent me away when my mother died, and wouldn’t communicate with me. I haven’t spoken to him for several years.”
Sebastian looked at her in consideration as she sat beside him. The covers gripped tightly in her small fists indicated how disturbed she was at confiding in him. Whatever had happened between her and her father, the hurt was clearly still raw and painful.
“I can vaguely recall something about Eastleigh making enquiries about someone a couple of years back. But I don’t know that much about him, or what it was about.” He scowled across the room as he searched his memory. “None of us frequent London as much as we used to, so I don’t know much of the latest gossip. Dominic visits London more often than any of us, so is the one who is likely to know more about him.”
“My father doesn’t care about me, Sebastian. I am sure if he was asking about somebody, it wasn’t me,” Amelia replied, wishing Sebastian would say something, or show some emotion. All that showed on his face was a slightly thoughtful frown. “He sent me to live with my aunts in Bath. I was essentially cast out by him.”
“What did you do?” Sebastian watched, as tears brimmed in her eyes as she stared blankly at the blankets. “I don’t want to cause you any distress, my darling,” he murmured, brushing the errant moisture from her eyelash before tenderly running a finger down her pale cheek. “Promise me you will tell me more when you are ready.” He smiled tenderly when she nodded.
“Thank you,” Amelia whispered softly, pleased he had understood. “It is quite a sordid story, and something I cannot recount very easily. It opens a lot of painful memories.”
All traces of passion gone, Sebastian eased her into his arms, giving her the comfort she needed without question.
Amelia was touched when he respected her plea and kept quiet. She knew he had numerous questions and was struggling with the news of her identity. A comfortable silence settled around them for several moments.
“It was my mother’s death that caused the change in my father. He became remote and angry. To the point he refused to speak with me, and sent me to my aunts. I begged him repeatedly not to send me away, but he ignored me and sent me anyway,” Amelia whispered morosely.
It explained so much to Sebastian about their recent conflict. Pieces of the jigsaw began to slot into place, and he suddenly began to see Amelia much more clearly. “That explains why you were so angry with me for dragging you home with me, despite your arguments.”
Amelia smiled ruefully. “It seems my life is plagued by domineering men.” Her smile widened at his abashed look. She wasn’t falling for it for a second.
“The difference is, my darling; this domineering man has your best interests at heart,” Sebastian murmured, eyeing the gentle curve of her lips.
“I know. It is just, sometimes, you can be so-.” Amelia searched for the right word that wouldn’t cause him offence. “Lordly.”
She whacked him on his shoulder when he began to laugh.
“Lordly?” He grinned widely.
“Yes. You expect everyone to do as you want, when you want, without question. Even me,” Amelia grumbled. Her sparkling eyes met his as she fought not to return his smile.
“You deny me, my darling,” Sebastian murmured softly. “You deny me the one thing I really want every second we are apart.”