Page 89 of His Scarred Duchess
“No,” Adeline lied, forcing a smile. “I was just… remembering what you said, Grandmama. About love being worth fighting for.”
Lady Gillingham’s eyes softened. “And what do you think, my dear? Is your love for Edmund worth fighting for?”
Adeline opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat as she caught another glimpse of the woman following them. She was still not quite close enough for Adeline to make out her features.
Edmund urged his horse forward, his eyes scanning the paths of Hyde Park with an urgency that bordered on desperation. The afternoon sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows overthe manicured lawns, but he paid no heed to the beauty around him. He was focused on one thing only—finding Adeline.
As he rounded a bend, his heart leaped. There she was, walking arm in arm with her sister and grandmother. Even from a distance, he could see the tension in her posture, the way her head was bowed slightly as if carrying an invisible weight. Guilt gnawed at him, knowing he was the cause of her distress.
Without hesitation, he dismounted, his boots hitting the gravel path with a crunch that seemed to echo in the quiet afternoon air. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come, and began to approach.
“Adeline,” he called out, his voice carrying across the short distance between them.
He saw her stiffen, her head snapping up at the sound of his voice. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still. Then, chaos erupted.
“Edmund!” a shrill voice cut through the air, followed by the sound of hoofbeats.
Edmund turned around, his heart sinking as he saw Joanna approaching on horseback, her red riding habit a stark contrast to the muted greens of the park. She brought her mount to a stop beside him, a triumphant smile playing on her lips.
“My, my,” she purred, her eyes raking over Adeline dismissively. “What a touching scene. The prodigal Duke, come to reclaim his… damaged goods.”
Edmund felt rage bubble up inside him at Joanna’s cruel words. He opened his mouth to retort, but Adeline beat him to it.
“Lady Strathmore,” she said, her voice steady despite the flush on her cheeks. “How kind of you to grace us with your presence. Though I must say, eavesdropping is rather unbecoming of a lady of your… standing.”
Joanna’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, you poor thing. Still clinging to the illusion of propriety? Tell me, do you really think Edmund could ever truly love someone like you? Scarred, plain, utterly unremarkable?”
“That’s enough, Joanna,” Edmund growled, stepping between the two women. “You’ve said quite enough.”
Joanna laughed, the sound brittle and harsh. “Oh, Edmund, always the gallant protector. But we both know the truth, don’t we? You deserve someone whole, someone who can stand beside you without shame. Someone likeme.”
Edmund felt something snap inside him. Years of pent-up anger, hurt, and regret came pouring out in a torrent of words.
“You’re right about one thing, Joanna,” he said, his voice low and intense. “I do deserve someone whole. But not in the wayyou mean. I deserve someone with a whole heart, someone capable of true love and compassion—something you’ve never been able to offer.”
Joanna recoiled as if slapped, but Edmund pressed on.
“What I felt for you was never love. It was a boyish infatuation, a foolish fancy that blinded me to your true nature. But Adeline…” He turned to look at his wife, his eyes softening. “What I feel for Adeline is real. It’s deep, and true, and more powerful than anything I’ve ever experienced.”
A hush fell over the small group. Adeline stared at Edmund, her eyes wide with shock and hope. Isabella and Lady Gillingham exchanged glances, clearly unsure whether to intervene.
Joanna, however, was far from finished. Her face contorted with rage and humiliation.
“You can’t be serious,” she spat. “This… this scarred little nobody? She’ll never be able to give you what I can, Edmund. Never!”
With that, she turned her horse around, preparing to storm off in a dramatic exit.
But as Edmund’s eyes followed her, he saw things didn’t exactly go her way.
Perhaps it was the sudden movement, or maybe the tension in the air had affected the animal—whatever the cause, Joanna’s horse suddenly reared up, pawing at the air with its forelegs. And Joanna, caught off guard, lost her grip on the reins.
Time seemed to slow as she toppled backward, her scream of surprise cut off as she plunged into the waters of the Serpentine.
Chapter Thirty-Three
“Adeline, wait!” Edmund called out, his heart racing as he watched his wife approach the agitated horse.
The animal was still snorting and pawing at the ground, its eyes wild with fear after Joanna’s unexpected tumble into the Serpentine. Park-goers scattered, giving the horse a wide berth, but Adeline moved forward with a determination that belied her usual hesitation around horses.
