Page 51 of The Duchess’ Second Chance

“I’m not trying to accuse you of malicious intent,” she told him quietly. It was occurring to her that this might not have been a good subject to raise on the heels of him saying that his father had not been a good husband. “I am grateful for everything you’ve done for me, and for Rose. But don’t you think I have the right to understand the reason behind it? I entered into this marriage for reasons that you know about. I want to know what yours were. Don’t you think I’m entitled to that?”

“I wish you hadn’t brought this up in the middle of the ball,” Sampson said in a low voice.

“I think you’d have walked away from the conversation if I had done it at home,” she countered. “This way you’ve got to stay and finish it, even if it is uncomfortable. I deserve that too.”

But just as she finished speaking, the music faded. She looked over at the musicians and saw that they were all rising to their feet—they were taking a break. Everyone began to drift away from the dance floor and toward conversations near the walls or the tables full of drinks.

Sampson released his hold on Amanda, and her heart plummeted.

“We can conclude this later,” he said stiffly. “This really isn’t the time or the place.”

“I’m afraid you don’t mean that,” she said quietly. “I’m afraid you’re going to walk away from this and never come back, just because that’s what’s easier. I’m right. I know I am. There is something you’re not telling me about all this. I only want to know the truth, Sampson. Why won’t you give me that?”

He shook his head. “Not now,” he said firmly. “If you really want an answer to this, you can bring it up when we’re back at home. But not while we’re out in public.”

And he turned and walked away from her.

Amanda felt ill.

She had had this conversation on her mind for a long time, and she’d finally dared to have it—but it had gone just about as badly as it could possibly go.

He had not assuaged her worries. She now felt certain that there was something he wasn’t telling her about his reasons for entering into this marriage. She wanted to believe that he was the man he’d presented himself as. That he was kind and caring and only wanted to help her have a good life. She had nothing in her experience with him that suggested otherwise. But then, why would he keep a secret?

And it was clear that he wasn’t going to tell her anything. All that talk about revisiting the conversation when they got home seemed more like stalling to Amanda than anything else. He was just trying to get out of answering her questions. He didn’t want to tell her what had been on his mind when he’d married her, and she didn’t understand why.

With a sigh, she turned and went back over to Dorothy. Another drink might help settle her nerves.

“You looked as if you were having a good time,” Dorothy observed as Amanda joined her. “He’s a very good dancer, isn’t he?”

Between one thing and another, Amanda really hadn’t thought about Sampson’s dancing skills. “I suppose he is,” she agreed, and sipped her drink.

“Oh, come on, Amanda! You looked like you were having the time of your life,” Dorothy said. “You must admit that he’s good to dance with. Didn’t you have fun?”

“I’m not sure,” Amanda admitted. “I’m not sure how I would describe it. I’m happy to have danced with him, but things still aren’t easy between the two of us. How long did it take for you to feel at ease with Nathaniel after the two of you married?”

“Well…that was quite different,” Dorothy said slowly. “After all, we had a much longer courtship than you did, so when we married, we already knew each other well.”

“I do wish I’d had something more like that,” Amanda murmured. “This has all been very strange.”

“Where has he taken himself off to, anyway?” Dorothy wondered, looking around the room.

And then she stopped, staring fixedly in one direction.

Amanda followed her gaze.

Sure enough, there was Sampson, standing on the far side of the room with his back to the two of them.

And he appeared to be deep in conversation with Amanda’s father.

CHAPTER 25

“Isee you and my daughter made it to the ball tonight,” Lord Stapleton said.

Sampson had no desire to stand and talk to this man. After what had just happened out on the dance floor, he had hoped he would be able to disappear off to the library and not have to talk to anyone else, at least for a little while. He needed time to think about the questions Amanda was asking and about what answers he wanted to give her. He’d always intended to keep some things in all this to himself.

But she sees far too much, and I don’t know if I can lie to her. It feels wrong.

Right now, though, Lord Stapleton was blocking his escape, and it was clear that the two of them were going to have to talk if Sampson was to get away.