A Match Worth Fighting For
1070 Words
Several days passed after Amelia's meeting with Jacob.
To her surprise, the mysterious baker had kept his promise.
Every morning she found herself wondering if he had already confessed the truth to Lady Lilith. Every evening she discovered he had not.
The situation was beginning to irritate her.
Amelia sat in the drawing room, tapping her fingers against a notebook while staring blankly into the fireplace.
Across from her, Roland was attempting to read.Unfortunately, Amelia's constant tapping was making that impossible.
"Either think faster or think quieter," he finally complained.
Amelia shot him a look."Some of us are trying to solve important matters."
"You mean meddle."Roland said
"I do not meddle."Amelia shot back.
Roland lowered his book." You disguised yourself as a man and followed a noblewoman through London."
Amelia opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
"That is completely unrelated."
Roland snorted.
Before Amelia could defend herself, Martha entered carrying a tray.
"Miss, a letter has arrived."
Immediately Amelia sat upright.
The seal belonged to Jacob.
She quickly broke it open.
Inside was a short message.
Miss Ashford,
I have failed.
Each time I attempt to tell Lady Lilith the truth, I lose my courage.
I fear losing her.
Jacob.
Amelia stared at the letter.
Then she stood.
Then she sat down.
Then she stood again.
Roland watched.
"Should I be worried?"
"Absolutely not."
"That means yes."
Amelia folded the letter.
"If he cannot tell her himself, I shall create the opportunity."
Roland groaned.
"There it is."
"There what is?"
"The look."
"What look?"
"The look that appears before disaster."
Amelia ignored him.
Within the hour she had already begun writing letters.
One was sent to Lady Lilith.
The other was sent to Jacob.
Neither knew the other had been invited.
Three days later both arrived at Ashford Estate.
The meeting was held inside one of the smaller garden pavilions.
Flowers bloomed around the stone paths while birds sang from nearby trees.
It would have been peaceful had both guests not looked completely confused.
Lady Lilith arrived first.
Jacob arrived ten minutes later.
The moment they saw each other, realization crossed their faces.
Then both turned toward Amelia.
Amelia smiled innocently.
"Good afternoon."
"Miss Ashford," Lady Lilith said slowly.
"Miss Ashford," Jacob repeated.
Neither sounded pleased.
Amelia gestured toward the chairs.
"Please sit."
Neither moved.
"Sit."
Reluctantly they obeyed.
Amelia folded her hands.
"Wonderful. Now let us discuss honesty."
Jacob immediately looked nervous.
Lady Lilith looked confused.
Amelia turned toward him.
"Would you like to tell her yourself?"
Jacob closed his eyes.
Clearly he had hoped this day would never arrive.
Unfortunately for him, Amelia Ashford had no intention of allowing secrets to continue.
Several moments passed.
Finally Jacob spoke.
"Lady Lilith..."
His voice sounded strained.
Lilith immediately noticed.
"What is wrong?"
Jacob looked at the woman he loved.
Amelia could almost see the conflict raging inside him.
Fear.
Guilt.
Regret.
Love.
At last he took a deep breath.
"My name is not truly Jacob."
Lilith blinked.
"What?"
Amelia remained silent.
This was not her confession to make.
Jacob continued.
"My name is Jacques Beaumont."
Lilith stared.
The name clearly meant nothing to her.
Then realization slowly appeared.
The color drained from her face.
"No."
Jacob nodded.
"Yes."
"You are the missing Count Beaumont?"
The title hung heavily between them.
Jacob lowered his head.
"I am."
Silence followed.
The kind of silence that felt endless.
Amelia watched carefully.
Jacob looked miserable.
Lilith looked shocked.
Neither spoke.
Finally Lilith stood.
Jacob immediately rose as well.
"I understand if you hate me," he said quietly.
"I understand if you never wish to see me again."
Lilith continued staring.
"You lied to me."
"I know."
"You allowed me to believe you were a baker."
"I know."
"You hid your entire identity."
"I know."
For a moment Amelia feared everything was about to collapse.
Then Lilith suddenly laughed.
Jacob froze.
Amelia froze.
Even the birds seemed confused.
Lilith covered her face.
"You truly are an idiot."
Jacob blinked.
"What?"
"You are an absolute fool."
Now Amelia was confused.
Lilith stepped forward.
"I thought you were secretly married."
Jacob stared.
"What?"
"I thought you had another woman."
"What?"
"I thought you were dying."
"What?"
Lilith shook her head.
"Instead you are simply a count."
Jacob looked completely lost.
The next thing he knew, Lilith had wrapped her arms around him.
His eyes widened.
"You forgive me?"
Lilith looked up.
"I am angry."
Jacob immediately looked defeated.
"But I love you."
Hope returned.
"And I shall remain angry for at least a week."
Jacob nodded seriously.
"That is fair."
"Perhaps two weeks."
"Still fair."
Amelia smiled.
There it was.
The connection she always searched for.
Real affection.
Not titles.
Not wealth.
Not family expectations.
Just love.
Unfortunately there remained one problem.
A very large problem.
Count Williams.
The moment Lilith mentioned her father, the happiness vanished.
All three looked worried.
Count Williams had specifically hired Amelia to find a suitable husband.
His daughter appearing with a secret lover would already be difficult.
Discovering that secret lover had deceived everyone would be worse.
"What do we do?" Lilith asked.
Jacob looked equally troubled.
Amelia remained silent.
Her mind was already working.
Then slowly a smile appeared.
Lilith immediately looked concerned.
Jacob looked terrified.
Neither reaction surprised Amelia.
"I have an idea."
"Whenever you say that," Jacob said carefully, "something complicated follows."
Amelia ignored him.
Instead she pulled out a notebook.
Within minutes she was writing.
Names.
Dates.
Observations.
Compatibility reports.
Personality assessments.
Future prospects.
By the end she possessed nearly twenty pages.
Lilith stared.
"What is that?"
Amelia smiled proudly.
"Proof."
"Proof of what?"
"Proof that you are perfect for one another."
Jacob looked at the stack.
"That seems excessive."
"Nonsense."
Amelia continued writing.
"You are both stubborn."
She wrote.
"You both value honesty."
More writing.
"You share similar interests."
More writing.
"You support one another emotionally."
Even more writing.
By the end she had effectively created an official matchmaking report.
The sort noble families often requested from her.
Lilith looked impressed.
Jacob looked horrified.
"You made our relationship into paperwork."
"Exactly."
"Should I be offended?"
"Probably."
Amelia closed the folder with satisfaction.
"Now all we must do is convince your father."
For the first time that afternoon, all three fell silent.
Because convincing Count Williams might prove far more difficult than uncovering a hidden count.
And somehow Amelia suspected the real challenge was only just beginning.
- Writer
