He nodded slowly. For a moment, she thought he’d tell her she was the most important, but that was not what her practical lover would say. His resolution was uppermost in his thoughts, and she would not interfere with what he valued.
“We will speak soon,” she said.
He focused on her. His eyes grew more blue than green, and his expression relaxed. “You understand me,” he said quietly. “You cannot know how rare that is, especially in a woman.”
It wasn’t quite a protestation of love, but it was close enough. It warmed her and gave her the strength to face the rest of the day. She stepped back with a smile. He gave her a quick bow before turning back to his carriage and jumping up beside his coachman. Amber had a moment to enjoy his muscular frame and the easy way he leaped onto the bench. Then they were moving away, and she had to go inside to find Diana.
Elliott’s sister was with her husband. Amber could hear her voice as she read to the bedridden man. She stood outside the door for a long moment, undecided as to whether she should interrupt or not. But then Diana’s voice stopped, and all was quiet. And in that moment, Amber scratched on the door.
There was no verbal response, but in a moment, Diana opened the door. She looked tired, and the scents coming from inside were terrible. Stagnant air and decay not covered by the scented candles that burned in the room. And then Amber got a peek at the shriveled man on the bed. He might once have been a powerful figure, but now he appeared only bones in a body that hissed as he breathed.
“Amber! How wonderful that you are back,” Diana said as she stepped outside and closed the door behind her. “I was so worried with the storm.”
“It was terrible, but we managed,” she answered, her gaze still on the now-closed bedroom door. “I am so sorry,” she said. The sickness inside must be terrible to witness.
Diana nodded. “Geoffrey came for a visit last night and upset his father. Today, as usual, things are worse for my husband.”
“And you? How did you fare?” She was well aware that one of the reasons for her to stay here was to help protect Diana from her stepson.
“I was away, thank God, but that means I was unable to protect my husband.”
It was a husband’s job to protect his wife and a son’s job not to terrify either father or stepmother, but in this, Diana had not married well. Amber squeezed her hands. “I have something to tell you,” she said quietly. “Something that you will not approve.”
Diana sighed as she looked at Amber. “The prince has turned your head, hasn’t he?”
“The prince?”
“My brother. That’s what my mother and I used to call him. Elliott was imperious even as a boy.” Diana took her hand, and together they walked into Amber’s bedchamber.
Inside, Amber smiled. It appeared she was to have a prince after all. “Of course, he was.” Once they were in her bedroom with the door closed, Amber confessed it all. “I have decided to be his mistress. It is the best place for a girl like me. I can still sculpt jewelry. I will have a home of my own, and I love him.”
Diana looked at her sadly. “What about children? With Mr. Jupp, your son will be a baron one day.”
Amber shook her head, and though the words hurt, she answered with certainty. “I will not have any. I had to choose between love and children, Diana. Please understand that this is what I want.”
Diana’s expression grew pale and vulnerable. As if she were thinking back on her own life and choices. In the end, she gave a quiet laugh. “I am the last person to criticize you. I can tell you that a respectable marriage has not helped me at all.”
No, it had not. “Is there anything I can do?” Amber asked.
Diana looked away as she wiped at her tears. “Be happy. Make my brother happy.” Then from down the hallway, they both heard the sound of coughing. Her husband was awake, and Diana straightened up. “I will tell everyone that you have chosen to go back home to see your grandmother.”
“Thank you, Diana,” Amber stood and gave her an impetuous hug. And as she did, she whispered in her ear. “Beware of Geoffrey. He gambles a great deal at the Lyon’s Den. He will only get more desperate as time goes on.”
Diana swallowed. “I know.” Then after a last melancholy smile, Diana left the bedroom to disappear into the sickroom. She was trapped, and Amber ached for her, but there was nothing to do about it but discuss the matter with Elliott when she could.
For now, there was another person she had to tell, and she doubted that her father would take it nearly as well. She hailed a hackney and went straight to the Lyon’s Den. She walked into the shop to meet the glowering stare of her father, who was not making the brooch. In fact, he was not doing anything but sitting and brooding with an underlying simmer of fury.
He knew.
Of course, her father knew. Elliott was not a man to leave that difficult discussion to her. He must have told him when he’d come with the wax carving. And now, what was she to say?
“I love him, Papa. How many times have you told me of the love between you and Mama? How many things would you have given up to be with her? I shall be independent. I shall still carve wax and make jewelry. I can be independent and be with the man I love.”
“He should marry you!” her father snapped.
“He cannot. You know that as well as I.”
Her father did. They both knew the ways of the aristocracy. And yet, the pain in his eyes when he looked at her tore at her heart. “Your mother would not approve.”
That was a stab to her heart. Enough that she flinched. But she lifted her head and spoke the truth. “Then it is good that she is not here to stop me.”
“I forbid it!” he roared.
This she had anticipated. “Papa, if you deny me, I will leave today. You will never see me again, and I will carve wax for someone else.”
He reared back as if struck because she had indeed hit him where he was most vulnerable. “You wouldn’t.”
“I would, Papa. Because I am a grown woman, and it is time I left the Lyon’s Den.”
That was all she would say. So, she passed by him, her body stiff and her arms aching to hug her father. But she didn’t. She went into the workshop. She did what was needed to make the brooch. She handled the hot metals and the fire. And after an hour’s labor, her father joined her. He didn’t say a word. Disapproval radiated off of him, but he helped her fashion the piece. And they did not speak of her future again.
She missed Elliott when he came to pick up the brooch the next day. She was with her grandfather in the cage, and Elliott did not linger in the shop. Whatever words were said between him and her father remained a secret. And though it irked her that he had not stopped to say hello, she understood that a mistress’s job was to wait on the man. He did not owe her a visit, and more importantly, she heard from her father that his vote was scheduled for that afternoon.
At least she had time to say her goodbyes to her friends at the Lyon’s Den. Many cried. Most applauded her. And as one, the entire establishment waited for the moment Elliott came to claim her for her happily ever after.
He did not show that evening, though she heard from the gossip in the Den that the vote went his way. And she waited through another day.
The next morning, Amber listened to gossip from the ladies’ side about Lady Morthan’s granddaughter. Apparently, the girl had worn the brooch during her presentation to the Prince Regent, and all was well there. An excellent outcome, at least for now. Her grandson was still a thief who should never gamble.