Regency Romance Collection From Christina Courtenay by Christina Courtenay Page A

warm all over. He wanted her to look like that always.
    ‘ You look very charming today,’ he commented. She was wearing a pretty morning dress of lilac sprigged muslin, which matched her eyes and complemented her silver-blonde hair. She gave no sign that she was annoyed with him for his rudeness to young Mr Briggs and this gave him hope that they may come to some understanding.
    ‘ Thank you.’ A slight blush stained her cheeks, but she seemed pleased with the compliment.
    The afternoon passed and James decided to stay at Marr Place for the night so that he could spend more time with his grandfather. He thought it best to put off his chat with Amelia until the next day as he didn’t want to spoil the mood.
     
    ‘Could you spare me a moment, please? I’d like a word with you in the library.’
    Amelia looked up from the flower arrangement she had been finishing off and nodded at her husband. ‘Of course.’ She followed him across the beautiful hall, so light and airy in the spring sunshine, wondering what he wished to talk to her about.
    ‘Please, sit down. This won’t take long.’
    Amelia waited while he collected his thoughts, pacing back and forth in front of her.
    ‘ Amelia, as you are aware, I’m heir to an earldom. This carries with it certain duties and responsibilities, including that of begetting an heir myself.’ Amelia felt her cheeks grow hot, but she remained silent. ‘At the time of our marriage, I despaired of finding anyone at such short notice and your offer came as a welcome surprise. However, I only checked your background briefly with those present at the ball and I have come to think that perhaps I acted rashly. I should have taken more time to satisfy myself as to your suitability.’
    Amelia frowned. ‘Are you saying I’m not good enough to be your wife?’
    ‘No. Yes. I mean, I don’t know – that’s the whole point. I know nothing about you really. The thing is, as and when you present me with an heir, I have to be sure that he is actually mine.’
    ‘ You are accusing me of unfaithfulness already?’ Amelia stood up, her fists clenched, ready for battle. She could not believe what she was hearing.
    ‘Not exactly. What I’m saying is that you could already be carrying a child, intending to pass it off as mine.’ Amelia gasped, but he ignored her and continued with what sounded like a rehearsed speech. ‘I must make sure this is not the case. Therefore I have invited an eminent physician from Harley Street, Dr Augustus Harcourt, who is a specialist in obstetrics. He should be arriving later this afternoon and I would be very grateful if you would allow him to examine you.’ He stopped directly in front of her, fixing her with his gaze.
    ‘Of all the low-down … No! I most certainly do not want to be examined by some stranger I’ve never met.’
    ‘ Amelia, please,’ he pleaded quietly. ‘I need to know that I haven’t been duped. I want to trust you, really I do, but a part of me tells me that I’ve acted like a fool and …’
    ‘ You most certainly have.’ Amelia was so angry, she hardly knew what to do with herself. ‘And to think I was beginning to like you. Hah! Very well, I will allow the good doctor to paw me, just to prove you wrong, but you can forget your heir in any case for I don’t ever wish to speak to you again. I shall seek an annulment.’
    With her head held high, she turned and marched out of the room.
     
    Dr Harcourt proved to be a very nice, rotund little man and the examination , although intimate and hugely embarrassing to Amelia, was not painful in any way.
    ‘ You couldn’t possibly be carrying even a two-month old baby,’ he declared. ‘There is nothing there at all.’ When Amelia did not reply, he very wisely said no more, simply bowed courteously and took his leave, presumably to report his findings to Lord Demarr.
    During the days that followed, Amelia made it perfectly clear to her husband that she wanted nothing to do with