Adams, Eve - The Banished Bride [Brides of Bachelor Bay 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Eve Adams Page B

received from the opposite sex and didn’t pay any mind to the women that attention affected, good or bad. To rope Aunt Mildred with Amelia would be the worst possible thing for them both.
    And the best.
    Andrew stopped and thought about that. Aunt Mildred, now well into her late fifties, used to be the Amelia Prescott of her day. With looks that would stop ships, his mother used to say, Mildred Cabot had men from all over the nation vying for her attention.
    Not much different than Amelia. More than once Andrew caught sight of Amelia smiling as she read a letter from Boston, no doubt from a suitor who’d never gotten over her moving to the Washington Territory. Apparently Amelia’s power over men spanned bicoastal, much like Aunt Mildred’s.
    The two women weren’t all that different.
    Mildred was the youngest of three girls, just as Amelia. The Cabot girls, according to his mother, all received their fair share amount of attention, but it was always the beautiful Millie Cabot who turned all the boys’ heads.
    Logan took Lizzie’s hand and looked at Amelia. “First thing tomorrow we’ll transport your things next door to Aunt Mildred’s. For now, I’ll have Lizzie take you to your room.”
    Amelia rose to her feet, that stubborn defiance in her burning blue eyes causing Andrew to take a breath. He loved that look.
    “I know where my room is. I can escort myself, thank you very much.” She turned to Lizzie. “I wish nothing more from you. Ever.”
    “Amelia,” Lizzie started, tears swelling in her eyes. “Please understand.”
    “I understand quite well. You are choosing your new family over me.”
    Lizzie gasped as the first of her tears spilled down her cheeks. “That isn’t true.”
    Amelia lifted a brow, clearly no longer shocked and hurt. Andrew knew that look. Now she was pissed.
    “You’ve turned your back on me and now I return the favor. Good-bye, Elizabeth. I hope you are satisfied with the side you have chosen.”
    “Amelia,” she breathed.
    But Amelia kept dispensing blow after blow with that silver tongue of hers, and with each word, Lizzie sank back that much more.
    “This will be the last time I speak to you. You’ve betrayed me by choosing your men over me. Now I know how you feel about your only family. I feel nothing but hate for you.”
    That did it. Amelia was hurt and confused, but she didn’t need to say such vicious things to Lizzie, who looked ready to collapse from the words Amelia had delivered.
    Andrew took Amelia by the arm. “I believe we’ll call it a night. Come along, Amelia.”
    “Get your hands off me.” She jerked away from him, which only made Andrew dig his fingers into her arm. Her eyes flashed icy daggers of blue. “Ouch!”
    He pushed her through the doors and then stole a glance back at Noah. He gave Andrew a nod, giving him permission to be the first to make sure Amelia knew exactly what it meant to be married to them both.
    “How long?” Noah asked.
    Andrew glanced around the room before resting his gaze on Noah. “We can’t wait. Join me now.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “It isn’t up to me, not any longer. If we don’t do something to help Amelia with her decision right here and now, we may never get another chance. Grab that bottle of wine and three glasses, and follow me.”
    Noah did and then walked out of the room. As Andrew slid the doors closed behind them he heard Lizzie agree to allow her husbands to take her to bed.
    “What is he doing with you? And why does he have wine with him?” Amelia demanded, her haughty tone sending a surge of heated desire to Andrew’s groin. He loved it when she got feisty.
    “We are taking you to bed,” Andrew answered.
    She dropped her jaw. “How dare you!”
    Andrew pointed toward the hall, careful to never take his glare from her. “Move. Now.”
    She thrust out her chin. “I’ll retire when I’m ready.”
    He narrowed his eyes. “You’re ready now.”
    “Don’t you tell me—ouch!” She