Free A Secret Proposal by Valerie Bowman

I’m deeply sorry. You didn’t deserve it. It wasn’t about you. It was about me…and Devon.” She glanced back toward the house. “I love him desperately, you know. And I couldn’t live without him. But that was not your fault and I should never have treated you so badly. I am ashamed of myself.”
    Lily glanced down at her hands and blew out a breath between pursed lips, and Ameliarealized how difficult it had been for the proud marchioness to make such a declaration.
    “I’m sorry I called you a bird,” Lily added.
    Amelia couldn’t stop her small smile. “Thank you for the apology.”
    “And I’m sorry I said you should go see about your hair. Your hair is quite lovely really. I was a bit jealous that night.”
    Amelia shook her head. It was impossible to remain angry with Lily when she was being so open and honest and almost silly. “It’s all right,” Amelia said. “You did me a favor, actually. I wasn’t in love with Lord Colton. Though he seems like a very nice man,” she hastened to add.
    Lily smiled at that. Then she reached out and squeezed Amelia’s hand. “Thank you for so graciously accepting my apology. But I wanted to speak with you for another reason, Amelia.”
    Amelia furrowed her brow. “Wh-what’s that?”
    “I’ve seen you, speaking to Lord Highland and Lord Bartholomew and…the Duke of Stanford.”
    Amelia felt her cheeks heat. Was it that obvious whom she’d set her sights upon? Was the entire house party discussing it?
    She went back to plucking the folds of her skirts. “Yes, well, I—”
    “I don’t recommend an old husband,” Lily said softly.
    Amelia snapped up her head. Of all the things Lily Morgan could have said to her, this was not what she expected. “Why ever not?”
    “You know I was married to Lord Merrill five years ago?”
    Amelia nodded. “Yes.”
    “It nearly ruined my life.”
    Amelia shook her head. “I don’t understand. How so? You had your freedom.”
    “I had nothing. After my husband died, the new earl refused to abide by the betrothal agreement and if it weren’t for a certain scandalous publisher allowing me to, ahem, write for him—and that stays between us, of course—I would have been out on the streets.”
    Amelia bit her lip. “I had no idea.”
    Lily nodded. “Few people did. I was good at keeping up appearances.”
    “I’m s-sorry. I’m sorry to know you had such a difficult time. I cannot blame you for wanting Lord Colton back. And I’m…happy for the two of you, truly. But even you must know that sort of match rarely happens.”
    Lily winked at her. “It might happen more often than you think if you give it half a chance,” she said. “Something I’ve been trying to tell my younger sister, Annie, for years.” She shook her head. “She exasperates me.”
    “Thank you,” Amelia said, feeling a new sort of kinship with the marchioness. “Thank you for apologizing and thank you for telling me the truth.”
    Lily squeezed her hand again. “You’re welcome. But there’s one more thing I really wanted to apologize for.”
    Amelia cocked her head to the side. Would wonders never cease? “What else?”
    “For the pamphlet,” Lily replied. “For scaring you, and well, lying to you.”
    Amelia turned her head slightly. “Lying to me?”
    “The truth is that a wedding night—er, any night really—can be quite marvelous when shared with the right man.” Another wink.
    Amelia’s cheeks were on fire. She was sure of it. She stared intently at her slippers when she answered. “Thank you for telling me that, Lady Colton. I know you didn’t have to.”
    The marchioness patted Amelia’s knee. “I owe you more than that, actually. And you must call me Lily.”
    “I appreciate your help, Lily,” Amelia replied with a shy smile.
    Lily stood to leave and shook out her skirts. “Good day, Miss Templeton. I’m ever so glad we had this chance to talk.”
    She hadn’t taken two steps back toward the house when