Page 60 of His Scarred Duchess
Adeline felt a warmth blooming in her chest, a tentative hope that perhaps Edmund truly could see beyond her scars, beyond her fears.
As he gathered her into his arms, she allowed herself to relax into his embrace, feeling, for the first time in years, truly seen and accepted. The weight of his arms around her provided a comfort she hadn’t realized she’d been craving.
For a moment, she allowed herself to forget about the circumstances that brought about their marriage, about the expectations of her as Duchess, and simply existed in the safety of his arms.
A loud clatter from the sideboard shattered the moment.
Adeline jumped, her head whipping around to see a red-faced footman fumbling with a dropped serving dish.
“I beg your pardon, Your Graces,” the young man stammered, his eyes wide with mortification.
Edmund cleared his throat, reluctantly stepping back from Adeline. “It’s quite all right, Ted. No harm done.”
As the footman scurried away, Adeline felt a blush rising to her cheeks. She smoothed her skirts, suddenly acutely aware of how intimate their position had been.
“Perhaps,” Edmund said softly, his voice drawing her attention back to him, “we should discuss how to proceed with the estate tour.”
Adeline nodded, her hands clasped tightly in her lap to hide their trembling. “Yes, of course.”
Edmund pulled up a chair beside her, close enough that their knees almost touched.
“Adeline,” he began, his tone gentle. “I want you to know that there’s no pressure. If you’re not comfortable with the idea of riding, we can find alternative ways for you to see the estate.”
His consideration touched her deeply.
He truly does care.
A warm feeling spread through her chest at the thought.
“That’s very kind of you,” she replied, offering him a small smile. “But… I think I’d like to try. If you’re willing to be patient with me, that is.”
Edmund’s face lit up with a smile that made her heart skip a beat. “Of course. We’ll take it as slowly as you need. Perhaps we could start with a gentle mare? Just a short ride around the closest fields?”
Adeline took a deep breath, steeling her nerves. The thought of getting on a horse still sent a shiver of fear down her spine, but Edmund’s earnest expression and the warmth in his eyes gave her courage.
“I’d like that,” she said, surprised to find that she meant it. “Though… would you mind if we waited until tomorrow? I think I need a little time to prepare myself mentally.”
“Of course,” Edmund agreed readily. He reached out, taking her hand in his. The gentle brush of his thumb across her knucklessent a thrill through her. “We’ll do this at your pace, Adeline. I promise you, there’s no rush.”
As she looked into his eyes, Adeline felt a surge of gratitude and something else, something warmer and more profound that she wasn’t quite ready to name. For the first time since their wedding, she felt truly hopeful about their future together.
“Thank you, Edmund,” she murmured. “For understanding. For… for seeing me.”
Edmund’s smile widened, his eyes crinkling at the corners in a way that made him look boyish and charming.
“Always,” he said, bringing her hand to his lips and pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles.
As they finished their breakfast, making plans for the coming days, Adeline stole glances at her husband.
With each shared smile, each gentle touch, she felt the walls around her heart crumbling just a little more.
Edmund watched Adeline carefully as they approached the stables the next morning. Her steps were hesitant, her fingers twisting nervously in the fabric of her riding habit.
“Are you certain you want to do this?” he asked gently. “There’s no shame in changing your mind.”
Adeline took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. “No, I… I want to try. I trust you, Edmund.”
Her words sent a warm flutter through his chest. “Very well. We’ll take this slowly, I promise.”
