Page 12 of His Scarred Duchess
But that world didn’t exist. With a small nod of farewell, Adeline turned away, ushering Isabella out into the corridor and towards the grand staircase.
They made their way swiftly through the crowded ballroom, Adeline’s grip on Isabella’s arm never loosening. The music and laughter that had seemed so magical earlier now grated on her nerves, a stark reminder of all she was about to leave behind.
As they emerged into the cool night air, Adeline breathed a sigh of relief. Their carriage waited at the bottom of the steps, Thomas, their father’s coachman, was standing nearby, ready. He’d been with the family since the girls were children, and Adeline knew he could be trusted to keep their secret excursion to himself.
“Home, Lady Adeline?” Thomas asked as he helped them into the carriage, his weathered face creased with concern.
“Yes, Thomas. And quickly, if you please.”
As the carriage lurched into motion, Adeline finally allowed herself to relax, slumping back against the plush seat. The events of the evening swirled in her mind—the thrill of anonymity, the cutting remarks she’d overheard, and most of all, her encounter with the mysterious stranger in the study.
“Adeline?” Isabella’s voice, small and uncertain, broke through her reverie. “Are you very angry with me?”
Adeline sighed, turning to face her sister. In the dim light of the carriage, Isabella looked young and vulnerable, her elaborate mask now clutched in her hands like a shield.
“I’m not angry, Isabella. I’m… disappointed. And worried. What were you thinking, wandering off with a stranger? Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?”
Isabella lifted her chin defiantly. “He wasn’t dangerous, Adeline. He was a gentleman. We were just talking.”
“A gentleman?” Adeline shook her head. “Isabella, any man who lures a young, unmarried woman away from a crowded ballroom is no gentleman, regardless of his title or his charming smiles.”
“But—”
“No buts.” Adeline held up a hand to stop her sister’s protest. “What if I hadn’t found you? What if someone else had discovered you alone with him? Your reputation would have been in tatters before your debut!”
Isabella’s lower lip trembled. “I just wanted us to have some fun. One last adventure before you… before you have to leave.”
The words hung heavy in the air between them. Adeline felt a pang of guilt, remembering her own moment of weakness in the study. Hadn’t she, too, been swept away by the magic of the masquerade?
“Oh, Bella,” she sighed, saying the childhood nickname she rarely used anymore. “I know you meant well, but you must understand. Life for ladies of thetonisn’t about fun or adventure. It’s about duty, about making the right connections and securing advantageous matches.”
“That sounds dreadfully dull,” Isabella muttered.
Adeline couldn’t help but smile at that. “Perhaps. But it’s the way things are. And you, my dear sister, will soon be expected to navigate those treacherous waters on your own.”
Isabella’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with sudden fear. “Adeline… I’m terrified,” she whispered. “How am I supposed to do this without you? You’ve always been there, always known what to say and do. I don’t know if I can?—”
“Hush,” Adeline said gently, reaching out to take her sister’s hands in her own. “Of course you can. You’re clever and charming, and you’ll have Grandmama to guide you. This is for the best, truly.”
Even as she spoke the words, she felt a knot of worry form in her stomach. Would Isabella truly be all right without her? Her sister was so young, so impulsive. Who would rein her in when Adeline was hundreds of miles away in Scotland?
The thought of leaving Isabella to face the cutthroat world of thetonalone filled Adeline with dread. She had always been her sister’s protector, her guide through the treacherous waters of Society. How would Isabella navigate the complex web of Society’s expectations without her? And what if their father, in his obsession with appearances, pushed Isabella into an unsuitable match?
Adeline’s mind raced with scenarios, each more worrying than the last. She thought of the rakish man at the masquerade, how easily he had lured Isabella away. What if next time there was no one to intervene? The weight of responsibility pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe.
Yet, what choice did she have? Her father had decided. In a matter of weeks, she would be sent away, powerless to protect her sister from the dangers that lurked behind polite smiles and elegant ballrooms.
As the carriage rattled through the dark London streets, Adeline held her sister close, silently vowing to do everything in her power to prepare Isabella for the challenges ahead.
It was all she could do now, and it would have to be enough.
Edmund watched as the two women disappeared into the night, the memory of stormy green eyes and quick wit lingering in his mind. He turned back to the ballroom, his friend Daniel already launching into an enthusiastic recount of his encounter with the younger sister.
“I tell you, Edmund, she is absolutely enchanting! Such spirit, such vivacity! And her eyes—I swear they sparkle like the finest diamonds when she laughs.”
Edmund nodded absently, his thoughts still on the mysterious woman in blue. What was her name? Where had she come from?
“Daniel,” he said, his voice stern, “did you even consider the consequences of your actions? Luring a young, unmarried woman away from the ballroom—you could have ruined her reputation entirely.”
