seconds before making a reply. “I have come to a decision.”
Amelia didn’t like the sound of that. Not at all. She cleared her throat and lifted her gaze from the triangle of golden skin at his throat to his eyes, glimmering with finality. “A decision?” Goodness, why did the room suddenly have no air?
Lord Julian pushed away from the door and started forward.
Unable to move or think, she remained in her chair, rooted to the wood, and watched him take the very seat beside her. Her mouth went dry. And for the life of her, she couldn’t look away from the man.
“Amelia,” he said softly, sending tiny prickles up and down her spine; “tell me what happened.” He scooped up her hand between his warm, slightly rough palms, making her flinch from the contact. “I must know.”
As her heart thudded wildly within her chest, that horrible memory surfaced. Lord Julian’s face filled with anger, calling her a liar. A cold chill swept through her as the recollection sharpened in her mind. For those words rang clearly in her ears, even after all this time.
I know exactly why you’re here, Amelia, and what you hope to gain from me. It won’t work, you bloody little liar. Go find someone else to dupe because your devious scheme will not work on me.
Amelia yanked her hand away, anger and bitter resentment igniting within her. “Go away, my lord. I have nothing to discuss with you.”
“But I have much to discuss with you, and I would like to begin by explaining why I sent you away.”
Those painful memories continued to crash over her, almost stealing the breath from her body. She fisted her hands in her lap, praying she could suppress the tormenting images and emotions they stirred from deep within. She had fought for so many years to try and forget what had happened, and in seconds, Lord Julian managed to destroy all of that effort. “There is nothing you can say, my lord,” she began in a low, strained voice, “that could possibly justify your actions.”
His brows shot up. “Even if I had been told two days prior you would come and speak lies about carrying my child?”
She searched his features for signs of deception, but found only an earnest insistence in his level gaze. Who would have told him something like that? Her fingernails bit into her palms. It didn’t matter who told him such a horrific tale. “You should not have believed I would ever lie to you about something so important.” She couldn’t remember the last time she had been so angry. It didn’t matter what he had been told. Julian should have known better. He should have known her, and at the very least, he should have let her say what she had come to tell him and then determine if she were being honest.
He sighed and leaned back in his chair as haggard lines bracketed his mouth. “You are right, Amelia. I should not have believed such a thing.” He glanced away, then back. “That is why I have decided to help you.”
Oh, now he wanted to help her. Well, it was too late for that. “I do not want—nor do I need—any assistance from you,” she said with gritted teeth, wishing her body would stop shaking so badly. She never thought to see this man again, and she certainly never thought he would seek an explanation from her now after all these years. But even more disturbing was how Julian could still make her heart quiver and her body tingle. Just as he could ten years ago. And she couldn’t think clearly around him. That hadn’t changed, either.
His eyes narrowed to slits. “Oh, I beg to differ, madam. You will accept my assistance. I have given the matter considerable thought and have decided to purchase you and Alexander a home very near my estate. I shall also provide you with a monthly stipend for whatever amount you—”
“No!” Amelia shot to her feet. Julian would not be a part of their lives. Not now, not ever. “I will
Amelia didn’t like the sound of that. Not at all. She cleared her throat and lifted her gaze from the triangle of golden skin at his throat to his eyes, glimmering with finality. “A decision?” Goodness, why did the room suddenly have no air?
Lord Julian pushed away from the door and started forward.
Unable to move or think, she remained in her chair, rooted to the wood, and watched him take the very seat beside her. Her mouth went dry. And for the life of her, she couldn’t look away from the man.
“Amelia,” he said softly, sending tiny prickles up and down her spine; “tell me what happened.” He scooped up her hand between his warm, slightly rough palms, making her flinch from the contact. “I must know.”
As her heart thudded wildly within her chest, that horrible memory surfaced. Lord Julian’s face filled with anger, calling her a liar. A cold chill swept through her as the recollection sharpened in her mind. For those words rang clearly in her ears, even after all this time.
I know exactly why you’re here, Amelia, and what you hope to gain from me. It won’t work, you bloody little liar. Go find someone else to dupe because your devious scheme will not work on me.
Amelia yanked her hand away, anger and bitter resentment igniting within her. “Go away, my lord. I have nothing to discuss with you.”
“But I have much to discuss with you, and I would like to begin by explaining why I sent you away.”
Those painful memories continued to crash over her, almost stealing the breath from her body. She fisted her hands in her lap, praying she could suppress the tormenting images and emotions they stirred from deep within. She had fought for so many years to try and forget what had happened, and in seconds, Lord Julian managed to destroy all of that effort. “There is nothing you can say, my lord,” she began in a low, strained voice, “that could possibly justify your actions.”
His brows shot up. “Even if I had been told two days prior you would come and speak lies about carrying my child?”
She searched his features for signs of deception, but found only an earnest insistence in his level gaze. Who would have told him something like that? Her fingernails bit into her palms. It didn’t matter who told him such a horrific tale. “You should not have believed I would ever lie to you about something so important.” She couldn’t remember the last time she had been so angry. It didn’t matter what he had been told. Julian should have known better. He should have known her, and at the very least, he should have let her say what she had come to tell him and then determine if she were being honest.
He sighed and leaned back in his chair as haggard lines bracketed his mouth. “You are right, Amelia. I should not have believed such a thing.” He glanced away, then back. “That is why I have decided to help you.”
Oh, now he wanted to help her. Well, it was too late for that. “I do not want—nor do I need—any assistance from you,” she said with gritted teeth, wishing her body would stop shaking so badly. She never thought to see this man again, and she certainly never thought he would seek an explanation from her now after all these years. But even more disturbing was how Julian could still make her heart quiver and her body tingle. Just as he could ten years ago. And she couldn’t think clearly around him. That hadn’t changed, either.
His eyes narrowed to slits. “Oh, I beg to differ, madam. You will accept my assistance. I have given the matter considerable thought and have decided to purchase you and Alexander a home very near my estate. I shall also provide you with a monthly stipend for whatever amount you—”
“No!” Amelia shot to her feet. Julian would not be a part of their lives. Not now, not ever. “I will
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