Page 94 of His Scarred Duchess
He turned to Isabella, his expression contrite. “And you, my dear, I’ve been so focused on your debut, on finding you the ‘right’ match, that I never stopped to consider what you wanted. Can you ever forgive me?”
Isabella’s lower lip trembled, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Oh, Papa,” she whispered, rushing into his arms.
Adeline watched the scene unfold, her emotions a whirlwind of confusion, hope, and lingering hurt. She felt Edmund’s arm wrap around her waist, anchoring her.
“What do you need?” he murmured in her ear, his voice low and comforting.
Adeline took a deep breath, centering herself. “Time,” she said finally, loud enough for everyone to hear. “I need time, Father. If you truly mean what you say, if you’re really sorry, then you need to prove it.”
Lord Brenton nodded eagerly, hope flickering in his eyes. “Anything, Adeline. Tell me what I need to do.”
“No more mistresses,” Adeline stated firmly. “No more obsession with appearances or social standing. No more judgment or scrutiny of our choices. I need you to be a father, not an earl, for once in your life.”
“I… yes, of course,” Lord Brenton agreed, his voice thick with emotion. “I swear to you, Adeline, Isabella, I will do better. I will be better.”
Adeline nodded, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders. It wasn’t forgiveness, not yet, but it was a start. A chance to heal wounds that had festered for far too long.
Lady Gillingham cleared her throat, her eyes suspiciously bright. “Well,” she said, her voice wavering slightly, “I think this calls for some tea. And perhaps something stronger for those of us who need it.”
As the tension in the room began to dissipate, replaced by a cautious sense of hope, Adeline leaned into Edmund’s embrace. She looked up at him, seeing the love and pride shining in his eyes.
“Thank you,” she whispered, leaning up to place a soft kiss on his lips.
Edmund smiled, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “For what, my love?”
“For being here. For supporting me. For everything.”
As they followed the others into the dining room, Adeline felt a sense of peace settle over her. There was still much to work through, relationships to mend and trust to rebuild. But for the first time in years, she felt truly hopeful about her family’s future.
Perhapsbroken things can be made whole again. Different but whole.
As the carriage pulled away from Lady Gillingham’s townhouse, Edmund found himself acutely aware of Adeline’s presence beside him. The events of the day had left him in awe of her strength and grace, and the way she had handled the confrontation with her father only deepened his admiration and love for her.
“You were magnificent today,” he murmured, taking her hand in his.
Adeline turned to him, a soft smile playing on her lips. “I couldn’t have done it without you there.”
Edmund shook his head, bringing her hand to his lips. “You’re stronger than you know, my love. I’m honored to stand by your side.”
As he kissed her knuckles, he felt her shiver slightly. Their eyes met, and suddenly the air in the carriage seemed charged with electricity.
“Edmund,” Adeline breathed, her voice husky.
Unable to resist any longer, Edmund pulled her into his lap, his lips capturing hers in a searing kiss. Adeline responded with equal fervor, her hands tangling in his hair as she pressed herself against him.
“God, I’ve missed you,” Edmund groaned against her neck, peppering kisses along her jaw.
Adeline arched into him, a soft moan escaping her lips. “Edmund, we can’t… not here…”
But her protests were weak, belied by the way her body moved against his. Edmund’s hands roamed down her back, itching to unlace her gown.
“Why not?” he challenged, his voice low and husky. “We’re married, after all. You know how much I crave you. And I intend to enjoy every moment of it.”
Adeline pulled back slightly, her eyes dark with lust but still hesitant. “But what if someone sees?”
Edmund grinned wickedly, reaching up to lower the carriage blinds. “Then we’ll give them quite a show, won’t we?”
Adeline’s laugh turned into a gasp as his lips found a particularly sensitive spot on her neck. “You’re incorrigible,” she muttered, even as her hands began to work at his cravat.
