Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

T he week had passed by in a blur, yet the gravity of Gideon's decision seemed to weigh heavier with each passing hour. Even though he had boldly lied to Amelia's family about his love for her, securing her uncle's approval with little trouble, Gideon hadn't truly come to terms with what it would mean in the end.

Marriage . A word that signified the end of his carefree bachelorhood, instead, replaced with sharing his life, his space, his time, with a lady he'd only just met.

The slight discomfort of his polished shoes and the tightness of his cravat reflected just how out of place he felt, as he fidgeted, casting furtive glances toward the chapel's grand entrance. Lady Amelia was bound to appear at any moment and, in the meantime, her family anxiously waited in the awkward silence. Because Gideon didn't think much of this wedding, he hadn't cared to invite anyone, claiming that he wanted it to be an intimate event with his future family. Thankfully, no one questioned it.

Feigning attention to Lady Hendale's endless ramblings, Gideon's gaze remained fixed ahead, his thoughts adrift. And then, as though answering his silent call, the doors gently parted to unveil Amelia.

Time seemed to still for Gideon. He hadn't imagined she would appear so… enchanting. It seemed the viscount had offered up a generous sum for her to purchase a new gown, one that draped around her lovely curves and flared slightly at her shoulders—while revealing a tempting hint of her décolletage. In her hands, she clutched a bouquet of peonies and lavender, and her hair was elegantly styled in a soft chignon with a few tendrils framing her innocent face. Vaguely, Gideon heard the melodious strains of the pianoforte coming from the side, and the few assembled guests settled into their seats. Yet, for Gideon, all that existed in that moment was Amelia.

His soon-to-be bride.

She was nervous. She couldn't meet his eyes, walking a little too slowly down the aisle toward him. Gideon's heart raced as he envisioned what it would be like to let that dress fall at her feet, the tantalizing blush that would surely bloom on her cheeks as he slowly, teasingly removed her shift. It would never happen, he knew. She was far too reserved to ever let him get that close to her. And that should have been a good thing—yet Gideon felt a twinge of disappointment at the mere thought.

She avoided his gaze, her attention fixed firmly on the chapel's flooring. The priest, who had been waiting behind Gideon, began the ceremony the moment she came to his side, and Amelia didn't say a word to him even when he murmured that she looked beautiful.

The ceremony passed in a daze, the priest's voice echoing throughout the almost empty chapel. And before Gideon could fully grasp the moment, he was signing the papers to seal his commitment to the union. He already couldn't wait for the day that would no longer be the case, but he told himself to be patient. His plan to unnerve Amelia, to make his new wife uncomfortable enough to annul the marriage and leave him behind, had finally begun.

The ceremony concluded briskly, and Amelia hightailed it to the waiting carriage after the farewells were said. Gideon trailed her a moment later, climbing in and taking the seat opposite her. Again, she was not meeting his eyes but from the incessant tapping of her foot, he could tell she was nervous.

He contemplated saying something to her. There would be no wedding breakfast—much to Lady Hendale's chagrin—so nothing stood in his way to ruffle her a little further. He shifted nearer. A devilish smirk found its way to his lips. It alarmed Gideon to know just how eager he was to get closer to her.

"Amelia."

She jumped, her hands bunching the skirts of her gown. Though it took a moment, she finally raised her eyes to meet his. "Yes?"

"What's going through your mind right now?"

Confusion sparked in her beautiful blue eyes. "Pardon?"

Gideon tilted his head to the side. "It is a rather simple question, don't you think? How are you feeling in this moment?"

A pause lingered between them before she countered, "…Why do you ask?"

Her confusion nearly made him chuckle. Clearly, she did not believe a second of the past week Gideon had spent doting on her and professing his love. "We are married now, Amelia. I do not think it is very unusual for a husband to ask his wife how she is feeling on her wedding day."

Her brows twitched, as if she was trying not to frown. "I'm well, thank you for asking." It was obvious she did not want to say what she was truly thinking.

Gideon leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Perfect. I do hope you are well-rested. The night ahead promises to be rather… eventful, after all."

Right on cue, her cheeks flushed a slight shade of pink. "An eventful night of being more well-rested?" she asked softly. "I am looking forward to my first night of rest in the castle."

Her response surprised him so much so that Gideon lost his words. A burst of laughter threatened to escape but he managed to restrain it with a cough. "You know that is not what I had in mind."

"Then perhaps you should be more explicit, Your Grace."

"And perhaps you should look me in the eyes when addressing me," he countered smoothly.

Amelia swallowed. She forced her eyes back to him, a spark of defiance shining within. It surprised him.

"You act as if you are afraid of me," Gideon pointed out.

She pursed her lips. Her valiant efforts only lasted a few seconds, for her gaze soon darted back to the window. When she didn't respond, Gideon reached out and lightly placed his hand on her knee. Amelia stiffened.

" Are you afraid of me, Amelia?" he asked gently.

"You are not what I am afraid of," she admitted after a long second. Gideon didn't know how he felt about her response. Fear was a good catalyst for getting her to annul this marriage, but he was also a little glad that she wasn't.

"Then allow me to put you at ease," he purred. "Once we arrive at the castle, we can—"

The carriage suddenly jolted to a halt, throwing Gideon back against his seat. Amelia lurched forward, her hand seizing his thigh to keep from colliding into him. Her soft cheek brushed against his and Gideon instantly wrapped his arms around her waist to steady her.

A second ticked by, then another. Gideon counted to four before Amelia jerked away from him, looking as if she was about to burst into flames.

"M-my apologies," she stammered, anxiously moving her hands to her cheek, then to her side, then to the loose locks of her hair. "The carriage halted so suddenly and I couldn't stop in time and I—"

"I understand, Amelia," he told her. "There is no need to be embarrassed."

She fell quiet, lowering her head as if she wanted to shield her red face. Gideon watched her for a moment, a genuine smile touching his lips. He found her flustered state rather adorable.

There was a heavy knock on the door, then a rough voice sounded. "Forgive me, Your Grace! We've reached the castle, but it seems there's a problem with the gate."

"I see. Thank you." Gideon dipped his head a little to get a look at Amelia's face. "It seems we will have to continue the rest of the way on foot. Should you desire, I'd be more than happy to carry you."

"I am perfectly capable of walking, thank you," she retorted, a little too quickly, and then swung the door open, making a hasty exit. Gideon chuckled as she slipped out of the carriage, leaving him behind. He exited the carriage after, nodding at the coachman before he began trailing behind her.

He watched as she approached the tall iron-wrought fence and faltered, not knowing how to proceed. He stayed a few steps behind, smirking as he said, "There's a more accessible gate just to your left."

Amelia stiffened, giving him a small nod without looking back, then made her way to the gate. The sight humored him. He never would have guessed that the lady who cowered and shook during the night of the ball could be so stubborn. Though he supposed this was the same lady who had thrown herself at him when she knew others would be watching.

The memory sobered him up. Gideon said nothing as he followed her the rest of the way across the gravel driveway and then up the steps of the porch. The grand door of the castle swung open as she approached and Thomas stood there to greet her.

"Your Grace. Welcome," Thomas bowed deeply. Caught off guard, Amelia took an uncertain step back.

"Good morning," she replied with a touch of unease.

Thomas straightened, graciously swept to the side, and gestured for her to enter. Amelia stepped over the threshold, glancing back when Gideon came close enough to follow directly behind her.

"I hope you'll find this new home to your liking, dear," Gideon remarked. He leaned casually against the door frame, tucking his hands into his pockets as he watched Amelia put a few feet of distance between them. Now that they had entered the vast entryway, she clearly didn't know where to go.

"Thank you," she answered. The short walk must have bolstered her courage because she didn't look away from him this time. "Where will I be sleeping?"

"I have prepared a bedchamber for you," Gideon replied, a playful glint in his eye. "Though I wonder if you will be making much use of it."

She clenched her fists, shaking her head. "I would much rather sleep alone, if that is what you are inferring."

"Alone?" Gideon pouted, but Amelia's eyes only sharpened in response. "You break my heart. Very well. Mrs. Jones, the housekeeper, will show you to your private quarters."

On cue, Mrs. Jones stepped forward, offering Amelia a deep bow.

"Your belongings will be delivered to your rooms shortly," Gideon continued. "Considering the early start to your day, feel free to rest or acquaint yourself with the castle. The servants are at your disposal."

"Thank you." Amelia stiffly turned away from him and waited a beat for Mrs. Jones to begin leading the way. Gideon watched her ascend the bifurcated staircase, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within. The day was young, but it already felt endless.

With a sigh, he turned and made his way out of the castle, intending to assist with the jammed gate. It would be a welcome distraction until he could figure out what he needed to do next.

Sadly, fixing the gate did not take as long as he'd hoped and Gideon found himself in his study, nursing a glass of whiskey he was in no mood for. He reclined in his chair, propping his legs up on his desk, and swirled the amber liquid slowly as his mind drifted back to the lady now occupying his home.

He didn't know how to feel about being here. Ever since he inherited the dukedom, Gideon had spent more time in the streets of London, sleeping at his apartment in Mayfair. The castle bore the weight of countless memories, and he'd only willingly return for specific reasons—like hosting the annual ball.

Yet, Amelia's arrival meant another night under this roof. Far too many nights, in his opinion, where the bitter memories of his past seemed to grow more oppressive with each passing day. He had to rid himself of his new wife, if only to go back to his life of pleasure and revenge.

A knock sounded on the door and Thomas entered the study a moment later. "Yes, Your Grace?"

Gideon didn't shift his gaze from his whisky. "Is the Duchess settling in well?"

"I believe so, Your Grace. Her belongings are in order, and she toured the western wing briefly before she expressed a desire to rest."

"I see. That's good." Gideon set down the glass. "That isn't the only reason I called for you. There's a very important task I need you to undertake. And… best to keep it discreet."

"What might that be, Your Grace?"

"I need you to find out anything you can about her family, their history, just anything that could be odd or peculiar."

Thomas didn't even blink. "Certainly. Might I inquire about the nature of your interest?"

Gideon swung his legs down from his desk, rubbing his hand over his stubble. "There has to be a reason why she was so desperate to marry. I refuse to believe that she simply felt as if she was running out of time."

"Understood, Your Grace."

Gideon stretched, feeling the strain of the day on his shoulders. "Also, now that Amelia is here, there will need to be a few changes for the upcoming weeks, but I shall brief you on them further another time. I need to unwind for now, so I'll be heading to the library shortly."

Thomas dipped a graceful bow. "Understood, Your Grace," he repeated. He didn't leave right away. "In your absence, some correspondence arrived for you. I left them on your desk and have noticed they have gone untouched."

Gideon's gaze trailed to the left of his polished mahogany desk where a neat pile of letters rested. He sighed. He was in no mood for that right now, but duty seldom abided by his whims.

He waved a hand and Thomas took the cue, leaving without a word. Gideon picked up the pile and began leafing through them, noting that they were mostly congratulatory letters with some invitations to parties and soirees. He was about to throw them back on his desk when one caught his eye – a letter addressed to Lady Amelia Egerton.

Gideon frowned. The letter must have been forwarded to the castle from her uncle's residence. He put the other letters aside and contemplated the unbroken seal. He was tempted to rip the seal and read it right there, hopeful that it would shed some light on whatever secrets his new wife may be hiding.

But he could just take it to her instead, he realized. It would be a good excuse to see her. Gideon quickly got to his feet with a renewed sense of purpose, heading out the door before he realized that his intentions were not entirely what he thought they were.