Page 127 of Edward and Amelia
It has been a great deal of time since I have had need to send a personal letter, but I wished to learn how you and Lord Norwich are faring. With Henrietta still in Brighton, I have no way of receiving word on your health and general well-being. I have recently arrived at our estate in Stafford, if you will direct your correspondence there.
Duke of Stafford
Richard Kennington
***
Amelia,
Have I told you recently how greatly I love you? I thank the heavens daily that you were put in my path. And now, since you gave me a great deal of grief over being too immersed in that novel last night—which, I may remind you, you recommended—I shall list off each of your many attributes I find much more enticing than any book.
Your eyes.
Your hair.
Your scars—yes, you know how greatly I admire them, as they are a part of you. And they perfectly exhibit how loving you are. Though I vehemently hate the pain you went through.
Your lips
Your—
Amelia set down the missive, near the collection of letters beginning to form in the corner of her writing desk. Her candle’s light did not quite reach that corner, so half the note was plunged into darkness only just illuminated by the fire in the grate. Laughing, she strode to the door connecting her room to her husband’s. She knocked quietly, not that she needed to.
“Yes? Who is it?”
Her laughter increased. He knew very well who it was. It was not as if this door led to some other person’s bedchamber. Not to mention the fact that he’d slid that note beneath her door just moments before.
“Your wife!”
“Ah. Did you get my note then, my treasure?”
Amelia leaned against her side of the door. “My treasure? We have returned to this pet name?”
“I always thought it was a good one. And I have already used darling, precious, and the most beloved of my heart this week alone.”
Amelia made a sound of pondering. “I supposemy treasureis not so bad any longer. Especially after last month when you spent an entire week referring to me asqueen of my soul.”
A smothered laugh sounded through the door. “While this is all very diverting,my treasure, I wonder if you’ve forgiven me.”
“I was never truly mad.” Though she may be going mad, as she was currently speaking to a door.
“You could have fooled me,” he said, and she could easily imagine the wink he’d give with those words. “Did you read the entirety of the letter?”
“Well, no, I assumed I ought to come speak with you instead, being that you were only a handful of steps away.”
The lock on his side of the door turned.
“Did you just lock me out?”
“Yes. You may come in when you have finished my note. I spent a great deal of time on it.”
“It is half a page long.”
“Then it should not take you long to finish it.”
Amelia again could not hold in her laughter, but she obligingly retraced her steps to the desk, to pull the letter out once more.
Only she did not make it more than seven steps before the sound of the lock clicked again, familiar footsteps fell behind her, and an arm wrapped around her waist.
