Midnight Masquerade (20 page)

“How about the
season finale at the opera
tomorrow night
?
That’d give her all of today, and tomorrow. All she’d have to do is walk in and sit down.
” Luke questioned, quickly adding, “We can each use our own box seats, all three of them are next to each other. She’ll be protected away from the mass swarm once we get her sat down in Alastair’s box and we’ll have Helena, Vieve, Hero and Lady Juliet with us to buffer any unwanted attention away from Amelia as we enter and exit the opera house. It’ll get her face out in the public so people know she’s truly alive, and having her at your side will show all of London that she and you
two are on
good terms.”

Chiming in again, Gideon added, “Hell Alastair, it’d be a damn good way for you to flex your muscle and show all of London how you feel about her if you get what I mean.”

The brothers couldn’t have been more astute in their plan, it would be perfect. A family outing, having Amelia on his arm and slowly easing her back into the public was an excellent idea. Having Amelia in his box alone would tell all the world what his intentions were, London knew how protective Luke and Gideon were, if they saw the brothers give their permission for him to sit alone, unaccompanied in his box set at the opera, everyone would assume he and Amelia were an item.

“Assuming your sister is healthy enough to sit through the opera without much pain, I absolutely agree, but it’ll be up to her. Now, tell me what our little spies have found out about the murder and the murderer.”

Later that night, Amelia sat
on her bed with little Teddy, she watched her infant nephew with amusement as the setting sun filled her room with dazzling orange rays. The day had went by fairly fast as Helena and Hero spent the entire day with her. She had bathed again, which felt sensational on her aching body, and
then with the help of the ladies
changed into a suitable gown so she didn’t have to have Alastair act as her maid again. She had eaten multiple meals until she was stuffed, and drank so much tea she wasn’t sure she’d ever get sleep tonight.

Watching her sweet nephew hold onto her index finger, she cradled him between her legs as she sat on top of the bed waiting for Helena to come collect him before she left for
the night. All day she thought about moving in with Alastair, Helena had even broached the subject when Hero had ran downstairs for more tea.

She had her bags packed by the early afternoon, well, most of them. 

The idea of living with Alastair was too intriguing to pass up, the man owned her heart and that would never change. Helena had given her strong advice earlier today, advice she took to heart. Hell, even her brothers had come upstairs and sat with her for hours and talked to her. It was quite clear to her that everyone thought this was the best move for her
,
but something still nagged at the back of her mind.

Hearing her door open, she smelled Helena’s exotic perfume and looked up to see her sister
-in-law standing in the doorway looking as radiant as ever.

“You look like you are debating something very great in your mind Amelia, and here I thought Theodore would take your mind off it.” Smiling, she closed the door behind her and walked towards the bed.

Looking down at her little nephew, “He tried his best, but his Auntie Lia is rather distracted tonight, isn’t she sweetie?”

“What can I do to help love?” Helena asked, her long silk skirts rustling as she crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed next to her.

“What if he doesn’t love me Helena? What if I move in and I change my mind, or he realizes I’m not the woman he wants? He is adamant that we will marry, but I don’t want him to regret choosing me.”

Sighing, Helena simply looked at her like her mother used to do and reached over and held her hand, “Amelia Elizabeth, you’ve known Alastair for years. Search your heart my sweet, do you think for one second he doesn’t love you?”

“He hasn’t said he does.”

“That doesn’t answer my question. One doesn’t have to verbally
hear
something to feel it, maybe he’s waiting for you to tell him first, men are silly like that sometimes. The question is, do you love him? Do you think
you’ll
change your mind and realize he’s not the man you want? Will you regret choosing him as your life partner?”

“I love him with all of my heart Helena. I’ve always wanted him, and I don’t think there is a force in this world that will make me change my mind about him.” She whispered.

Reaching up, Helena tipped up her chin, “Then that is all you need to
know, you can figure the rest out along the way Lia. If you want the man, claim him before someone else does my love. Do you remember what it felt like when you thought he was going to marry another?”

Nodding she looked up at Helena.

“If you love this man, stake your claim on him. He loves you Lia, we all know it
,
just as we know you love him. Your brothers are giving you a rare chance to test your wings without absolute commitment, take advantage of it.
If by some odd chance, you decide
that Alastair isn’t the man you want to marry, you move back here, easy as that. This is your home love, and you’ll always be welcome.
”

“I’m scared of losing him, of getting my heartbroken again Helena. Losing this child damn near crushed me, if I lose him too I don’t know what will happen to me.”

“Lia, I’ve known you literally all of your life. For twenty one years you have never accepted defeat, so get it out of your mind that you are going to lose the man you love and claim him as your own. Relationships are not easy, even after marriage my sweet, it’ll be something you constantly have to wor
k on, but the rewards are never ending
.”

“What if he cannot remain faithful to me Helena?” She asked closing her eyes.

“Then your brothers will kill him, then I’ll kill him and then I’m sure you’ll kill him some more.” Helena said lightheartedly.

Cocking her head at her, “Seriously Helena…”

Standing up, Helena picked up Theodore and hugged him to her
chest;
“Alastair is a man of his word Lia, just like your brothers. They love
completely
and forever, when they say they’ll be faithful, they mean it. They do not take vows or promises lightly, you know this. I tease because I know this will be a non-issue, Alastair loves you,
and he’d
never taint that love with some common whore when he could have you my darling. Talk to him about what scares you, communicate with the man for god sakes. You’ll be living with him starting tonight, you’ll have all the time in the world to talk through this issues Lia, you just have to be brave enough to bring them up. He cannot help you if he doesn’t know what is wrong. Men are not
mind readers
, god how I wish they were, but alas, they are not.”

Kissing Teddy on his head, she stood up with Helena, “Should I tell Gideon and Luke about the child I lost?”

“Yes, I think you should Lia. However, when and how you tell them is your call. You three have never held secrets from each other, but knowing them, you might want to tell them
after
you marry Alastair just to make sure they don’t give him a black eye.”

“
I love you Helena, thank you for listening to me. You better go put Teddy to bed before Gideon comes looking for you, I know you guys wanted to be gone about twenty minutes ago.”

“Lia, I love you too my sister. I’m sure Alasta
ir is downstairs keeping Gideon
company
,
drinkin
g whatever is left in the liquor cabinet
,
I’ll send him up after we leave for the night. I shall see you tomorrow. Think about what I said little one, okay?”

Nodding, she waved goodbye as Helena took Teddy back to the nursery. Walking back into her room she closed the door and leaned against it as she looked around the room she had
occupied for twenty one years and felt trepidation about leaving. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be with Alastair, but letting go of something as familiar to her as her room scared her. She was scared, the unknown had always scared her.

Hearing a knock at her door, she heard Luke’s voice.

“Lili? Can I come in?”

Throwing the door open wide, she crashed into Luke’s waiting arms and began to cry. He was exactly who she needed to see, he had been her rock while Gideon was away at war, and after their parents had died. He was her safe place, e
ven if she didn’t live with her
anymore, he was always close.

“Oh Li, how did I know you needed a hug?
Shhhhh
sweetie.” Rubbing her back, he held her tightly in the doorway without hurting her ribs.

Between sobs she muttered against his chest, “Tell me that everything will be okay Luke.”

Chuckling, he pulled her away from his chest so he could see her face and stared down at her with a grin, “Lia, everything will be okay. I promise on our parents’ grave.”

Shaking her head, she rubbed the lingering tears from her eyes, “How do you know?”

“Little Sister, I have the distinct advantage of knowing both you and Alastair better than anyone in the world.
I know you both love each other, and I know neither of you will ever accept anything but succeeding. I’m not going to say it won’t get bumpy, but together you two will figure it out. Now tell me why you’re crying?”

Rubbing her face with both hands she groaned, and threw her head back, “I’m being a silly female and overthinking everything!”

Shrugging, “Good, it means you
still
have a brain in that beautiful head of yours.”

“What?” Looking up at him with a questioning brow.

Putting his hands on her shoulders, Luke looked down at her and explained, “Do you know how many
thousands
of women would have packed their bags and ran off with the Golden Duke without a second thought
if he asked them
?”

“You’re not helping.”

“Lia you don’t get it, no other woman was given that offer, ever. Yet you are being co
urted by the most eligible man on
our side of the world, and you are hesitant, why?”

Throwing her hands in the air, “Because I’m a lunatic Luke! Obviously!”

Chuckling, shaking his head, “Lili, you are not a lunatic…I’ll give you that you have your moments of total
daftness
, but you’ve thought this through until your red in the face, and your answer is?”

“My bags are packed.” She admitted quietly, knowing his points was coming soon.

“Exactly. You’ve chosen him, even though you have a few lingering doubts for whatever reason. Any smart person would be the same way Lia, only a fool would jump headfirst without thinking this through, it
is
the rest of your life after all.”

“What if I can’t make him love me?” The words were out of her mouth before she realized she had spoken them.

Hugging her low around the waist as to not touch her sore ribs,
s
he felt
him find the hidden weapon in the waist of her skirt. Luke’s eyes grew wide as he
stepped back and
pulled out Alastair’s golden pistol and held it up with a questioning glance, “What the fuck Lia?”

Shocked at his sudden change in demeanor, she stumbled over her words to explain why she had such a famous gun in her possession, “
Its
Alastair
’s
…he gave it to me…”

“
I know
to
whom the
gun
belongs
Lia
…
wait,
h
e gave you
this
gun?” His tone sounding like he didn’t believe her story one bit.

“Well, borrow I think, I can’t really remember. I drank a lot of Gideon’s
scotch
last night and Alastair brought me a
priceless copy of
Romeo and Juliet
and left it upstairs, when he went, he didn’t want me to be unprotected and gave me his weapon while he ran upstairs. This morning he told me he wanted me to keep it, that it was nonnegotiable, I
did
try to argue Luke!”

Luke started to shake his head and earnestly laugh
ed
as he stepped closer and put Alastair’s pistol back in the waistband of her skirt

“What is so funny Luke Michael
Somerset?
He said he wanted me protected, do you think I can’t shoot such a fancy gun, is that it?”

Putting up his hands, Luke stepped back and tried to reel in his laughter, “Jesus Lia, hell no I’m not saying that. You are deadly with pistols, I trained you myself little one. I’m laughing because here you are, acting all brooding like you don’t think you can make Alastair lo
ve you, that you are worried it won’t
work, oh bollocks Lia! Simply b
ollocks!” Pointing to her hip he continued, “That gun is more than a gun Lia, it is a symbol of the service Alastair gave for our country. To a military man there is nothing more sacred than our weapons, and he
gave
it to you so you’d be safe at all times,
knowing
you’re an excellent shot. Do you think that man would give that gun to some waif you couldn’t even hold the correctly?
Do you think he’d willingly hand over his most prized possession to someone unworthy?
He has hundreds of guns, yet he gave you
that
one, why?
” His question was obviously rhetoric as she stood before him. Tipping up her chin, “He brought you a
priceless
book, that happened to be your all time favorite book, and you are worried about him not loving you?”