Page 22 of His Scarred Duchess
Adeline opened her mouth to reply but found herself at a loss for words. He was right, of course. In her panic to escape, shehadn’t considered the consequences of being discovered in such a compromising position.
For a moment, they stood there, their faces inches apart, the air between them charged with an emotion Adeline couldn’t quite place. She noticed details she’d missed moments earlier—the strong line of his jaw, the way his cravat was slightly askew, the faint scent of sandalwood that clung to him.
Just as the tension reached a fever pitch, the sound of approaching footsteps shattered the moment.
Adeline’s eyes widened in panic, but before she could react, the stranger gently but firmly steered her behind a large rhododendron bush.
“Who’s there?” a gruff voice called out. “This area is off-limits to guests.”
Adeline held her breath, her heart pounding so loudly that she was sure it would give their hiding place away. But the stranger stepped out from behind the bush, his posture relaxed and confident.
“What is the meaning of this?” he barked, his voice sharp with anger. “I demand to know why this gate is locked during an event. This is absolutely unacceptable!”
The footman visibly flinched at the stranger’s tone. “I-I apologize, my lord. I wasn’t aware?—”
“Wasn’t aware?” the stranger cut him off, his voice dripping with disdain. “It’s your job to be aware. This oversight is causing significant inconvenience to the guests. I expect this gate to be unlocked immediately. Am I making myself clear?”
“Y-yes, my lord,” the footman stammered, clearly intimidated. “Right away, my lord. I’ll fetch the key immediately.”
“See that you do,” the stranger growled. “And have someone look at this latch. It seems rather stubborn.”
As the footman hurried away, Adeline slowly emerged from her hiding place. She looked up at her unlikely savior.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “That was… quick thinking.”
His expression hardened, the warmth from moments ago vanishing. “It was necessary. Now, I suggest you return to the party immediately. We shouldn’t be seen together.”
Adeline blinked, taken aback by his sudden coldness. “Of course. I’ll just?—”
“A lady capable of scaling walls and picking locks is clearly a force to be reckoned with,” he muttered, almost to himself. Then, as if realizing he’d spoken aloud, he cleared his throat. “You should go first. I’ll wait here for a few minutes before following.”
As Adeline turned to leave, she suddenly realized something that made her pause.
Throughout their entire encounter, this stranger hadn’t once stared at her scars in disgust or even mentioned them. It was such a rare occurrence that she almost couldn’t believe it.
“Is something wrong?” he asked, noticing her hesitation.
“No,” she replied quickly. “It’s nothing. Good evening, Sir.”
With that, Adeline made her way back towards the glittering lights of the soirée, her mind whirling. As she slipped back into the crowded ballroom, she found herself torn between relief at avoiding scandal and a strange, unexpected reluctance to part ways with the enigmatic stranger.
His lack of reaction to her scars lingered in her thoughts, a small spark of hope in an evening that had been filled with cruelty and judgment. But she pushed the feeling aside. After all, what did it matter? She would be leaving London soon, and this strange encounter would become nothing more than a memory.
As Edmund made his way back to the glittering ballroom, his mind was awhirl with thoughts of the enigmatic lady he’d just encountered. He found himself replaying their conversation, a smile tugging at his lips as he recalled her quick wit and spirited retorts.
The scar that marred her cheek, which he’d noticed in the moonlight, intrigued rather than repelled him. It spoke of a story, of character, setting her apart from the parade of pristine, porcelain-faced debutantes he’d endured all evening. There was a depth to her, a complexity that called to something long dormant within him.
What struck him most, however, was her utter lack of simpering deference. She’d stood her ground, matching him barb for barb, showing a strength of character that was refreshingly rare. The memory of her flashing green eyes and the way she’d attempted to pick the lock with a hairpin made him chuckle.
She was unlike any woman he’d ever met.
As he re-entered the ballroom, Edmund found himself scanning the crowd, hoping for another glimpse of her. But the sea of faces yielded no sign of his mysterious lady. He felt an unexpected pang of disappointment.
“Edmund, darling! There you are!” His grandmother’s voice cut through his musings.
Lady Alderton approached, her eyes twinkling with relief and curiosity.
“Grandmother,” Edmund greeted her, schooling his features into a neutral expression.
