Page 15 of An Ember for a Duke

Glasses clinked, applause sounded, and voices mixed together. Instead of being able to enjoy the moment, Luke’s mind immediately spun forward and backward trying to think of what prize he could give to Adeline.

So as he worked on thinking up the grandest prize possible, he didn’t notice Adeline leave his side, the drink Lady Antonia spilled on her, something about purses, and then Adeline fleeing the room to hold back her tears.

Chapter 9

THETOASTHADBEENnothing short of a shock to Adeline, but what was really on her mind as she went to find herself some sherry were the personal, kind words from the dowager duchess.What a dear girl you are,was spoken so softly and so directly to only her, that she was replaying them in her mind so as not to forget them. That someone who hardly knew her, and a duchess no less, saw something of her heart, reassured her of the goodness in the world that transcended social class.

Adeline reached for a glass on a nearby tray when a shadow at her side rang alarm bells.

“It’s a pity you have to grab your own drink.” Lady Antonia was gazing across the room with her back Adeline, but the sentence was clearly directed at her.

Adeline took a sip of her drink.

“Observe the power of refinement and class. His Grace is fetching mine for me.” An unnecessary fan came out to shield Lady Antonia’s mouth while she held her wine in the other hand.

“See? He’s under my mouth. You’re just a lady’s maid.”

“I guess that’s the difference between you and me. I don’t need a title to know my worth.” Adeline took a step forward to remove herself from the situation when her feet were interrupted for the second time that night.

“You have no one and nothing. No family. No friends. You’re all alone and always will be.”

As the words flowed out of her mouth, so did a red wine flow out of her glass. Straight down the bodice of Adeline’s ice blue gown. One of the dresses that Margaret had implored her to wear.

It wasn’t the words or the wine that made Adeline flee the room. It was the fact that no one saw, and no one cared about what was happening around them. To her.

She could stand up for herself. She knew she could. And she also knew she didn’t really care what Lady Antonia, or anyone in the room, thought about her.

But it was evident that the hopes she tried to ignore had in fact blossomed, and were now laid waste. Whatever hopes she had for Luke were deflated. He was oblivious to her.

It didn’t even matter that he wasn’t there to defend her, what mattered was that he hadn’t even noticed. He wasn’t there. He never would be. He was a duke. He was a duke. A damn duke! She had to remind herself a hundred times, as if she were born without brains.

She knew what it meant for him to be born a duke, and she a lady’s maid. There was no possible twining of fate that would have them end up together.

And for that reason alone, she fled the room.

***

LUKE DRUMMED HIS FINGERS against his glass pondering what prize he could possibly give Adeline when Margaret approached him.

“That was a lovely toast your mother gave to Adeline.”

“Yes, indeed it was,” he mumbled mechanically.

“Did you happen to see where she went afterward? I have something for her that I forgot to give her earlier.”

Where she went?Luke’s eyes dashed around the room. Adeline had left?

“Your Grace,” a new female voice was at his shoulder. “I was hoping to speak with you–”

He looked down at Lady Antonia, who had the slightest smirk on her face. And he knew. He knew without a doubt that she had done something. If Adeline had left without reason, Lady Antonia must be involved. How could he have been such a fool to take his eyes off Adeline? Earlier, he was sure that Lady Antonia had tried to trip her. Of course, it wouldn’t stop there. The hostess had toasted a lowly lady’s maid. Lady Antonia would be incensed.

“What did you do?”

Lady Antonia took a step back and pulled her fan to her bosom. “Your grace?”

“Where is she?” His voice lowered both in tone and volume. He would not make a scene.

“We were merely sipping our drinks and chatting.” Lady Antonia waved her fan toward the north corner of the room. “I did nothing–” Lady Antonia started but Margaret interrupted.

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