Page 48 of His Scarred Duchess
Before she could formulate a reply, he found himself speaking, his voice low and dangerous. “I would thank you, Lord Huxley, to refrain from such impertinent questions. The Duchess’s personal matters are not fodder for dinner conversation.”
Lord Huxley’s eyes widened, clearly taken aback by the vehemence in Edmund’s voice.
“I… I meant no offense, of course,” he stammered. “Merely curious, you understand.”
“Your curiosity is noted,” Edmund said coldly, “and dismissed. Perhaps we might discuss a more appropriate topic? I hear your estates in Yorkshire have been particularly productive this year.”
As Lord Huxley launched into a detailed account of his crop yields, Edmund chanced a glance at Adeline. She was staring at him, an unreadable expression on her face.
“Thank you,” she mouthed silently, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
Edmund inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment, surprised by the warmth that bloomed in his chest at her gratitude. He hadn’t planned to intervene so forcefully, but something about Lord Huxley’s blatant disrespect had ignited a fierce protectiveness in him.
As the dinner progressed, Edmund found himself hyper-aware of Adeline’s presence beside him. He noted the grace with which she handled her cutlery, the diplomatic way she engaged in conversation with their dining companions. More than once, he caught her gaze darting across the room to where Joanna sat, a flicker of unease crossing her features each time.
“She can’t hurt you,” he found himself saying during a lull in the conversation, his voice pitched low for Adeline’s ears only. “Joanna, I mean. She’s all talk and no substance.”
Adeline’s eyes widened slightly at his words. “I… thank you, Your Grace,” she murmured. “I admit, she is somewhat… intimidating.”
Edmund felt a pang of guilt at the vulnerability in her admission.
“Nonsense,” he uttered, more gruffly than he had intended. “You’re worth ten of her.”
A becoming blush spread across Adeline’s cheeks at his words, and he felt an unexpected urge to reach out and touch her face, to trace the line of her scar with his fingertips. He quashed the impulse ruthlessly, reminding himself of the promises he’d made after Joanna’s betrayal.
No emotional entanglements. No vulnerabilities.
And yet, as the evening wore on, Edmund found his resolve weakening. He observed Adeline’s quiet strength as she navigated the social minefield of the dinner party, her wit and charm slowly winning over even the most skeptical of their dining companions. He noticed the way the candlelight caught the honey tones in her hair, the sparkle in her green eyes when she laughed at a particularly clever joke.
By the time dessert was served, Edmund was forced to admit to himself that his feelings for his wife were far more complicated than he’d initially believed. The cool indifference he’d cultivated since their wedding day was beginning to crack, revealing something warmer, more dangerous beneath.
He caught sight of Joanna watching them from the other side of the dinner table. The look of frustrated calculation on her face filled him with grim satisfaction.
Whatever game she had been playing this evening, it was clear she had not achieved her desired outcome.
Chapter Nineteen
“Your Grace, you didn’t have to defend me like that,” Adeline said softly, breaking the tense silence that had settled over the carriage. “It will only serve to fuel the gossip.”
Edmund’s gray eyes met hers in the dim light, his expression unreadable. “I don’t care about gossip, Duchess. No one should dare to speak to you in such a manner.”
Adeline felt a flutter in her chest at his words, but she quickly tamped it down. She couldn’t allow herself to read too much into his actions. This was, after all, a marriage of convenience.
“You only care because I’m your wife,” she replied, unable to keep a hint of bitterness from her voice. “It reflects poorly on you if I’m insulted.”
Edmund’s jaw tightened, a hint of something dangerous flickering in his eyes. “Is that what you think?” he asked, his voice low and intense.
Adeline lifted her chin defiantly, even as her heart raced. “It’s the truth, isn’t it? We both know this marriage is merely an arrangement. You needn’t pretend otherwise.”
In the blink of an eye, Edmund was beside her on the bench, so close that she could feel the heat radiating from his body.
Adeline found herself pressed back against the carriage wall, her breath catching in her throat.
“You are mine,” Edmund growled, his face mere inches from hers. “And no one should insult what is mine.”
Before Adeline could process his words, his lips crashed down on hers. This kiss was nothing like the one in Lady Alderton’s stables. While that had been tentative and exploratory, this one was fierce and demanding.
Adeline gasped, giving Edmund the opportunity to deepen the kiss. His hand tangled in her hair, tilting her head back as he plundered her mouth.
