Page 42 of The Scandal of the Deceived Duchess
His father ignored him. It appeared that the apology was sufficient for him. He took a few bites of the food, occasionally, sipping his wine. “Well, now that old Boney has abdicated what do you think will happen now?” asked the duke, directing his question at Amelia who nearly burst out laughing when her betrothed nearly choked on a bit of meat. It was uncommon for a man to ask such a thing of a lady, and especially one so young.
“In my view, Your Grace, the threat of Napoleon is not over yet…”
“Balderdash, the tyrant rots on the island of Elba,” intoned Lord Templeton French.
The duke raised his hand to calm his son’s outburst. “Why do you say that, my dear? I’d have to agree with my son. He has all but one thousand men at his disposal and the British fleet has the island surrounded. There’s no way out for him.”
Amelia had read a lot on the topic. Anything she could get her hands on really. Also, her talks with the captain during the voyage home had been most informative. The man in command of the ship had proven to be very well versed on the subject. He had taken part in many of the naval actions during the Napoleonic War. Because of that, he felt that he knew the former emperor as if he was one of his own.
“All Napoleon would have to do is get off the island and land on mainland France. Still many loyalists remain. They would flock to his banners and march on Paris,” said Amelia.
“A very interesting notion, my dear. I will be sure to mention it to my acquaintances in parliament. We wouldn’t want Boney the ogre terrorizing Europe again.” The duke thought a moment. “Yes, Amelia…very interesting indeed. Tell me more.”
As she explained her views on the future of Europe and what she thought would happen in the Americas, Lord Templeton French devoted his full attention to drinking wine. He couldn’t believe that his father took this woman so seriously. It was one thing for him to regard his mother’s opinions so earnestly, but this was ludicrous. The woman was but a girl and a silly one at that.
Seeing her smile so self-confidently aggravated him. Lord Templeton French despised people that thought they were too clever. He recognized a similar sort in Amelia. It wouldn’t be long before she was his wife. And then he would snuff out all of her misconceived notions of equality with men. He knew that he would have to be careful for as long as his father lived. But that would not be forever, and then the Honorable Amelia Carlyle was at his mercy.
Chapter 21
Thoughts of Flight
London, England, May 1814
“I don’t know what to do, Anna. The situation is hopeless.” Amelia paced up and down in her room in her London home. It was the night before the ball and her parents were not at home.
“We have to escape, Amelia,” said Anna.
“How? We have no money.”
“How can you say that? You come from one of the country’s wealthiest families. All it would take is to sell some jewelry, and we could obtain passage on board ship to Canada. We will, of course, send Jonathan a letter beforehand. He and Jake can arrange everything. I don’t know why you hesitate?” By now, Anna stood by the sash windows gazing down onto the street in front of the house.
Amelia sighed as she sat down on the bench in front of her dressing table. “Don’t you think I haven’t thought of all that. But there are still so many obstacles. What if they open the letter…?”
“Why would they do that?” interjected Anna, turning around to face her mistress and friend.
“Because this country is at war with the United States of America. Also, let us say we would have enough money to follow through with this plan; the Duke of Brandon is a powerful man. He will have all of the ships checked at port before they could even entertain the prospect of departure. We would be caught and think of the repercussions – I would be ostracized in society, and you would never work again; you’d end up on the streets, and I could do nothing to help you.”
Anna shrugged. “Then we shall have to fake our deaths. That would put them off the scent.” Gradually, she walked back in the direction of the bed.
Amelia shook her head. “I couldn’t do that to my parents. It would break their hearts and not to mention the old duke’s.”
“Why not? They want you to marry that ogre. What do you think life will be like with him? He will undermine you at every turn. The good duke won’t live forever, Amelia…then what do you think will happen to you? You will succumb and whither like a onetime blooming flower. You will never see Jonathan again. Is that really what you want?”
“I could talk to him,” said Amelia in a low voice that had shuddered between vowels. The thought of never seeing Jonathan again made her feel slightly nauseous.
“To who?”
“The duke.”
“What? Have you lost your senses? He would have you imprisoned in his house until the wedding and me alongside you.” Anna frowned. “We have to escape. I know there is a way. Many people have done it before us. And look on the bright side. It is not like we are incarcerated in this house. We can go as we please.”
“I don’t know, Anna. The Duke of Brandon is a good man. He reminds me of Jonathan in a sense. I know I can get through to him.” Amelia ran her hand through her dark silky tresses in an afterthought.
“What makes you think that he would agree to such a preposterous undertaking?” In Amelia’s place, Anna started pacing hither and thither. She uttered a few ripe oaths in her native Scottish. Usually, this would have made Amelia laugh but not this night. “He may seem like a nice man, but he needs a woman to marry his son to and to give him grandchildren. Now that he likesye, he won’t letyego – that’s for certain. He requires an heir, that’s all that matters to those aristocrats.”
“I disagree. There was a moment during lunch when he reprimanded his son for talking down to me. It felt as if he knew what his son is really like. He wants him to marry, but he also knows that it will need a very special woman to survive his treatment.”
“And that’s you, I suppose?” asked Anna, snidely.
