Lily and the Duke (Sex and the Season #1)(75)

“No, it can’t be.”

“It is.”

“But why? We shared so much together.”

“We shared a bed, Amelia, that’s all. I’m going to be married, and I have every intention of—”

“Don’t tell me that you have feelings for that little whore.”

Rage boiled in Daniel’s gut. “Do not ever refer to her like that again, do you understand? Leave her out of this. Your quarrel is with me.”

“Does she make you feel like I do? Do you remember our fun? Our escapades?”

Daniel remembered, though he wished he didn’t. “You need to leave now, Amelia.”

“You’re mine, Daniel. She can’t have you!”

“She already has me. I’m hers.”

“What does she have that I don’t?”

A smile teased his lips. “She has my heart. She’s had it from the beginning. I love her.” The words lifted a great burden from his shoulders. “I love her,” he said again, more to himself than to Amelia.

“You don’t know the meaning of the word.” Amelia lunged forward and tackled him to the ground. She straddled him, clamping her mouth down upon his, seeking entrance with her tongue. She wrenched the dressing robe from his chest. “Here’s what you’ll be missing with her, Daniel. Look what I can give you.”

God, Polk had been right about Amelia. She was bad news. He tossed her aside him and closed his robe. “I have reconsidered allowing you to stay here, Amelia. I want you gone by the morrow.”

“You won’t get rid of me that easily, Your Grace.” Amelia smoothed her rumpled dress and stood. “I was invited here. What would the duchess think of you throwing me out?”

“I don’t righteously care what the duchess thinks.”

“Perhaps Her Grace and I should have a little chat. She might like to know what her baby boy has been up to in my bedchamber.”

“You leave my mother alone, damn it.” Daniel closed his robe and rose. “She’s been through hell, losing her husband and son, and I won’t tolerate your interference with her. Have your bags packed. You’ll leave after dinner.”

Amelia turned and flounced toward the door. “You know,” she said, looking back at him, “your intended isn’t interested in you. She told me so.”

Daniel winced. “When did you speak to her?”

“We’ve had several chats, the future duchess and I. The first night of the house party, I found her in the ladies’ sitting room after you molested her outside. I enlightened her as to why you grabbed her. You had mistaken her for me, of course. She told me she wasn’t the least bit interested in you. Then the other night, after you announced your betrothal, she told me she didn’t wish to marry you.”

Daniel’s stomach churned, and he swallowed. “You stay the hell away from her. I mean it. I want you off this estate.”

“Why do you wish to marry someone who doesn’t want you? She’ll never be able to satisfy you. I know your sexual appetites. You can have me, Daniel. I want you. I need you. Let me be your duchess. I’ll make you proud.”

“For the last time, Amelia, leave this chamber at once, or I will physically remove you!”

Amelia smiled seductively. “I’d like to see you try. Once you put your hands on me, you’ll be mine. You won’t be able to resist.”

“I assure you, I will. Now go.”

“Fine, I’ll go, but I’m afraid I’m not leaving the estate.”

“Yes, you are, damn it.”

“Daniel, I will stay and enjoy the rest of the house party. I was invited. If you force me to leave, I swear I will make sure all of England knows of our exploits. And the first two people who hear about them will be your sweet Lily and your dear devoted mother.”

“Both Lily and my mother are aware of our affair.”

“Perhaps. But do they know all the juicy details? Like the time my young housemaid joined us in bed? Two pairs of lips on your hard cock? But that was nothing compared to the cockstand you had when she and I sucked each other. And what about that handsome gardener?” Amelia lifted her skirts and slid a hand into her drawers. “One cock in my cunny and one in my arse… Heavens, I still burn from time to time thinking about it.”

Daniel grimaced. How had he ever been so young and foolish? He couldn’t risk Amelia poisoning Lily against him. “Do as you please,” he said through clenched teeth, “but stay away from my mother, stay away from Lily, and stay the hell out of my sight!”

He pushed her out the door and slammed it.



* * *



Amelia blazed with temper as she walked down the hallway to the back stairwell. She wasn’t finished yet, not by a long shot. “Oh, no,” she groaned aloud as she spied the very bane of her life, Lady Lily Jameson, coming up the back stairwell.

“Lila, dear,” Amelia said, approaching. “How lovely to see you.”

“Good afternoon.”

“Going to see your intended, I presume?”

“It’s none of your business where I’m going. If you’ll excuse me.”

“I was just in his chamber. I’m afraid he’s a bit…indisposed at the moment.”