Page 46 of His Scarred Duchess
“Nonsense,” an older matron scoffed. “Everyone knows the Duke’s true passion is fencing. They say he’s undefeated in all of England!”
Adeline blinked, momentarily taken aback by the absurdity of the rumors swirling around her husband. A part of her wanted to laugh, to set the record straight about Edmund’s more mundane, if equally impressive, skills in estate management and agriculture. But another part, the part that still smarted from his cool indifference, felt a sudden urge to play along.
“I’m afraid I couldn’t possibly comment on His Grace’s private pursuits,” she said, her voice dropping conspiratorially. “A duchess must maintain some air of mystery about her husband, after all.”
The crowd tittered excitedly, clearly taking her evasive answer as confirmation of Edmund’s hidden depths.
Adeline felt both guilt and satisfaction. It wasn’t precisely a lie, she told herself. After all, there was still so much about Edmund that remained a mystery to her.
As the evening wore on, Adeline found herself continually besieged by curious guests, all eager for some insight into the private life of the enigmatic Duke of Holbrook. With each interaction, she felt herself growing more confident, more adept at navigating the treacherous waters of high society gossip.
“Is it true that His Grace once wrestled a bear?” Lady Ashworth asked eagerly.
Adeline’s lips twitched. “Oh my, wherever did you hear such a thing?”
“So, it’s not true?” another lady chimed in, looking disappointed.
“I neither confirm nor deny,” Adeline replied with a conspiratorial wink. “A duchess must maintain some air of mystery about her husband, after all.”
The ladies tittered excitedly.
“But surely, Your Grace,” a young debutante pressed, “you must have some exciting tales to share about the Duke’s heroic deeds!”
“My dear,” Adeline said gently, “a truly heroic man doesn’t need to boast of his deeds. His actions speak for themselves.”
“How romantic!” the debutante sighed.
As the evening progressed, the questions continued.
“Does the Duke really speak seven languages?”
“I’ve lost count,” Adeline demurred.
“Is it true that he can tame wild horses with just a whisper?”
“His Grace does have a way with animals,” she replied.
With each interaction, Adeline grew more confident in her deflections, always maintaining the image of a perfectly happy marriage.
“You must be so proud to be married to such an extraordinary man,” an older matron commented.
Adeline’s smile was genuine this time. “I am indeed fortunate,” she said softly. “More than words can express.”
She deflected the more intrusive questions with gentle humor, offered just enough information to satisfy without truly revealing anything of substance, and always, always presented the image of a perfectly happy marriage. Whatever the true nature of their relationship, to the outside world, they would appear as the ideal couple.
By the time dinner was announced, Adeline was exhausted but exhilarated. She had faced theton’sscrutiny alone and emerged victorious.
As she made her way to the dining room, she scanned the crowd for Edmund, eager to share her small triumph with him.
But as her eyes swept the room, they landed not on her husband, but on a strikingly beautiful woman in a gown of deep crimson. The woman’s gaze was fixed on something—or someone—across the room, a predatory smile playing on her lips.
Adeline followed her line of sight, her heart sinking as she realized the object of the woman’s attention was none other than Edmund. The look on his face—shock, anger, and something else she couldn’t quite name—told her all she needed to know.
This, she realized with a growing sense of dread, must be the infamous Joanna. Adeline’s mind raced, recalling whispered conversations and veiled hints from previous social events.
She had heard rumors about Edmund’s past entanglement with Lady Strathmore, though the details of their courtship and its abrupt end remained shrouded in mystery. Thetonhad buzzed with speculation for months.
As she watched the woman begin to make her way towards Edmund, Adeline felt all her hard-won confidence begin to crumble.
