Page 67 of Royally Wed
“Asher and I have become friends. He’s...” Amelia swallowed. “... nice. But the reason I asked about Lady Wentworth is because she sent a gift to Holden. It seemed strange,but no one else thinks it’s odd except for me.”
She launched into an explanation of finding the watch and made sure to mention that the intertwined initials perfectly matched the engraving on Lady Wentworth’s necklace.
Eleanor nodded. “I’ve seen that locket. She wears it all the time.”
“Well? Don’t you think it’s strange that she gave Holden a gift with the same engraving on it, especiallyif the initials on the necklace are supposed to stand for her and Lord Wentworth’s?” Amelia began to pace back and forth. If she couldn’t get out of here to go find Asher, she might jump out of her skin.
What if he’d gone? What if he’d packed up his cello and gone back to America?
“You said you spoke to the queen about the watch. What did she say?”
“She thinks I’m losing it.” But her mum hada vested interest in making sure Amelia walked down that aisle. Everyone in her family did. “Do you think that, too?”
Eleanor shook her head. Slowly. “It’s taken me a whole month to get used to the idea that you and my dad are getting married. Now I’m not sure what to think. But I do know one thing—instead of talking about this with me or your mum or Asher Reed, you should be talking to my father.”
Then she stood and walked right out the door, just like Asher had only moments ago. Amelia’s impromptu hen do had ended as abruptly as it had begun.
I should go after her,she thought. She’d known Eleanor her entire life. They’d stuck together through good times and bad. But this was beyond bad.
Amelia had crossed a line with Asher, and it wasn’t a secret anymore.
ASHER DIDN’T REALIZE HE’Dbeen staring at the door until someone knocked.
On some primitive level, he must’ve been waiting for it. Hoping for it. Wishing she’d come chasing after him.
He knew better than to give in to that secret desire, though. Whatever he thought was happening between him and Amelia was a figment of his imagination. He’d been an idiot to dream otherwise... and an even bigger idiot to give in totemptation and venture beneath her wedding gown. He’d suspected as much after she’d pushed him away, but didn’t quite believe it. He’d seen the fire in her eyes. He’d felt her melt against him when their lips met. He’d heard his name falling from her tongue as she fell, breathy and desperate. Like a prayer.
She’d wanted him.
Or so he’d thought.
She knocked again. When he didn’t answer, hervoice came through the door. The softness of her tone seemed to wrap around his lungs, making it difficult to breathe. “Asher, it’s me. May I come in?”
The words barely registered. His mind had snagged on what her friend had said moments ago in Amelia’s room.
He’s no one. You mentioned that already.
It kept playing over and over in his head, like a vinyl record stuck on repeat.
No one.
Sothat’s what Amelia thought of him. That’s how she talked about him when he wasn’t around.
Fine. At least he knew.
“No, you may not come in,” he said sharply.
He was done with all of this. So done. Done with England. Done with the godforsaken royal wedding. Done playing secret companion to the princess bride.
After tomorrow, he’d get the hell out of here and never come back. The wedding couldn’tcome soon enough, as far as he was concerned. If Amelia wanted to marry a cheater who was old enough to be her father, so be it. He’d been a fool to think he could stop her.
No one.
Asher yanked his tie from around his neck and tossed it on the bed. His gaze drifted over the cool blue sheets, and he tried not to picture Amelia lying there. Waiting for him.
Stopping what they’d started earlierhad been almost impossible. He’d been flooded with want—desire so deep he’d been drowning in it. He would have given everything he had to unbutton all that delicate lace and look at her.Reallysee her.
“Asher, please,” Amelia called through the closed door, her voice breaking.
