Page 32 of His Scarred Duchess
Edmund’s lips twitched. “The thought had crossed my mind. Though I’d hate to accuse you of impropriety again.”
“How generous of you,” Adeline retorted, her eyes sparkling with challenge. “And here I thought you were the one in pursuit, given your sudden appearance at every event I attend.”
“Merely fulfilling my social obligations,” Edmund countered smoothly. “Though I must admit, your presence does make these tedious affairs more… interesting.”
Adeline raised an eyebrow. “Interesting? My, what a tepid compliment. I’m positively swooning.”
Edmund leaned in slightly, his voice lowering. “Would you prefer something more effusive, my lady? Perhaps a sonnet about your eyes?”
“I think not,” Adeline replied, fighting a smile. “I’ve heard rumors of your literary endeavors. I’d rather not risk becoming the subject of a poorly rhymed ode.”
Edmund’s eyebrow rose. “Rumors of my literary endeavors? I wasn’t aware my poetic talents were a topic of gossip.”
“Oh, Your Grace,” Adeline said with a mischievous glint in her eyes, “you’d be surprised what thetonwhispers about. Though I must say, ‘poetic talents’ might be a rather generous description.”
Before Edmund could retort, they were interrupted by the sound of his grandmother’s voice, magically amplified to carry across the grounds.
“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please!”
All heads turned towards Lady Alderton, who stood on a small, raised platform, beaming at the assembled guests.
“As a special treat, I’ve organized a little diversion for us all,” she announced. “A scavenger hunt! Each of you will be given a list of items to find, hidden throughout the estate grounds. The first to collect all items and return to this spot will receive a special prize.”
A burst of excitement rippled through the crowd. Edmund, however, felt his heart sink. A scavenger hunt? Surely hisgrandmother didn’t expect him to participate in such a childish game?
“It all sounds very entertaining,” Lady Adeline said beside him, though her tone suggested that she found it anything but. “If you’ll excuse me, Your Grace. I believe I see my grandmother beckoning me over.”
As she moved away, Edmund found himself strangely reluctant to let her go. There was something about her that intrigued him, a depth beneath her polite exterior that he longed to explore further.
“Edmund, darling!” His grandmother’s voice broke through his musings. “Do come and help me distribute the lists. And do try to look a bit more enthusiastic, dear. It’s meant to be fun!”
With a sigh, Edmund made his way towards the platform. As he handed out slips of paper to eager participants, he couldn’t help but notice Lady Adeline standing slightly apart from the main group. Her grandmother appeared to be encouraging her to join in, but her reluctance was evident in every line of her body.
Finally, after what appeared to be a heated whispered exchange, Lady Adeline accepted a list from her grandmother. As the other guests began to disperse, chattering excitedly about their hunt, she set off alone towards the wooded area at the edge of the gardens.
Edmund watched her go, curiosity stirring in his chest. Before he quite knew what he was doing, he had snatched up one of the remaining lists and was following after her.
“And where do you think you’re going?” his grandmother’s amused voice called after him.
Edmund turned, offering her a slight smile. “To participate in your game, of course. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
Lady Alderton’s eyes twinkled knowingly. “Of course, dear. Do have fun. And Edmund?” she added as he walked away. “Do try not to gettoodistracted.”
Ignoring the heat rising to his cheeks, Edmund set off after Lady Adeline, his long strides eating up the distance between them. He told himself he was merely curious, perhaps even concerned for her safety, wandering the grounds alone.
But deep down, a part of him he’d long thought dormant stirred to life. The thrill of the chase, the promise of mystery and discovery—it called to him in a way nothing had since before the war.
As he entered the cool shade of the trees, he allowed himself a small smile. Perhaps this childish game wouldn’t be so tedious, after all.
Adeline clutched the scavenger hunt list in her hand, her eyes scanning the paper for what felt like the hundredth time. She had already found a peacock feather and a blue ribbon, but the golden acorn ornament continued to elude her.
As she made her way across the expansive grounds of the Alderton estate, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. The solitude of the hunt was a welcome respite from the suffocating atmosphere of the party. Here, among the trees and wildflowers, she didn’t have to force smiles or endure pitying glances.
A gentle breeze rustled through the leaves, carrying with it the sweet scent of honeysuckle. For a moment, Adeline allowed herself to imagine a different life—one where she was free to wander beautiful gardens like this whenever she pleased, unburdened by societal expectations and impending exile.
The sound of approaching hoofbeats shattered her reverie. Her heart leaped into her throat as she realized how close she had wandered to the stables. She hadn’t meant to come this way—she had, in fact, been actively avoiding this part of the estate.
“It’s fine,” she muttered to herself, trying to quell the rising panic in her chest. “They’re just horses. They can’t hurt you from inside their stalls.”
