Page 42 of Death of a Courtesan
Half an hour before he was due to collect her, Stout brought Riley’s carriage to a halt outside Amelia’s door.
‘Keep the horses warm, Stout,’ he said, alighting from the conveyance. ‘I shall be a while.’
Stout nodded and asked no questions.
Riley was admitted to the house by Norris, who took his hat and informed him that Amelia was in the drawing room.
‘No need to announce me, Norris,’ he said, feeling unsure about his reception and not wanting Norris to witness any awkwardness between them.
He found Amelia already dressed for the evening in an attractive turquoise gown that swished as she paced up and down the room, muttering to herself. She only realised that Riley was there when he cleared his throat. She turned abruptly to face him. A veil descended over her eyes, making it impossible for Riley to interpret her emotional state.
‘You are early.’ She made it sound like an accusation.
‘Good evening, Amelia. We need to talk.’
‘If you are worried about the things I said to you last night, then there is no need. Clearly I mistook the situation.’ She spoke flippantly but was unable to disguise the acute embarrassment that filtered through her expression. ‘The matter is quite forgotten.’
Riley stepped forward, took her hand and kissed the back of it. Without releasing it, he led her to the nearest couch and waited until she sat before taking the seat beside her.
‘I was the one at fault. I never should have given way to temptation and kissed you.’
‘Temptation?’ She made a scoffing sound at the back of her throat.
‘You can have no idea how long I have wanted to kiss you,’ he said softly. ‘My difficulty is that our friendship prospers because you harbour no expectations and I have been at pains not to spoil things.’
She looked astonished. ‘I thought you wanted, needed to feel…well, unpursued,’ she said distractedly, turning her face away so that he couldn’t read her expression.
‘Perhaps I did, given my mother’s artless attempts to marry me off. But I have feelings too, as well as expectations resting on my shoulders.’ He gently ran his fingers down the length of hers, allowing her time to digest what he had just told her.
‘I don’t…’ She swallowed, looking endearingly confused, and Riley’s heart melted. She was so self-assured as a general rule. This vulnerability was a side of her he had never encountered before, and it only succeeded in increasing his admiration for her. ‘What is it that you want from me?’ she asked. ‘You are confusing me, Riley. If you are not in need of a mistress, then what?’
‘What indeed? That is a subject that we ought to discuss at length. For now I simply want the assurance of your continued friendship. I want to go back to the way things were before.’ Not that they ever could, and Amelia probably knew it as well as he did. The memory of the heated kiss they had shared would complicate everything and, for Riley’s part at least, make him yearn for more. So very much more.Tell me, Amelia. Tell me what your husband did to make you so unsure of yourself.‘I would never insult you by inviting you to become my mistress.’
‘Are you that bad a lover?’
Her feeble attempt at a joke failed to lighten the mood.
‘There is so much about you that I don’t know, but you are entitled to your privacy.’
‘About my marriage, you mean.’
‘You are fiercely opposed to the possibility of marrying again. You have made that abundantly clear.’
She stood and glanced out the window. The rain had started to fall again. ‘Your horses are getting wet. We should go.’
Riley wanted to push the issue, sensing that she was close to opening up to him, but gentlemanly conduct held him back. ‘Just as long as we are comfortable with one another again.’
‘I am never comfortable with you, Riley, which is why I enjoy your society. You are unpredictable, challenging and keep me on my toes.’ This time her smiled reached her eyes. ‘Sophia sent me a message today, by the way,’ she said, the deliberate change of subject implying that the discussion about personal matters had reached its end, at least for now. Riley was unable to decide if he was more relieved or frustrated that so much still remained unsaid between them. He ought to be relieved, because his constant state of frustration when he was anywhere near Amelia and his determination not to take her as his mistress, left him with only one alternative. If he proposed to her, he was by no means certain that she would accept him. And if she did he would have to weather the storm of protest from his family that such a decision was bound to create. ‘Her father has unexpectedly arrived in London and is residing with your mother, which means he will be in attendance tonight.’
‘Which also means I shall be more in need of your protection than ever.’
‘Don’t worry,’ she laughed. ‘I won’t allow your big brother to bully you.’
‘I depend upon you for that.’
Riley helped Amelia into her evening cape and then donned his hat. Stout opened the carriage door as they approached it and Amelia greeted him with warmth. She made no secret of the fact that she was fond of Stout.
‘I wonder what brings Henry to London,’ Riley said as the carriage moved off.
