Page 59 of A Duke for Adela
Eloise had stated it so casually, Ambrose wondered whether this was true. Did she love him? He certainly hoped so, for he did not want these feelings to be one-sided.
He would not say it…and could not say it, but there was no one else for him.
He had to be in love with Adela if he still wanted to marry her after the spectacle she put on today. She had also wheedled her way into his meeting with Mr. Barrow. Why had he agreed to it?
The answer was as simple as it was appalling.
He loved Adela and could not seem to deny her anything.
It did not take her long to change out of the pretty lilac gown he hoped could be salvaged by Eloise’s staff. She now wore one of her serviceable muslin gowns, a plain dark blue with only a hint of lace at the collar, and had donned walking boots that were obviously more comfortable than her elegant slippers since she skipped down the stairs with an agile step.
Ambrose took Eloise’s hand and bowed over it. “I shall have her back by early evening.”
Octavian next bid farewell to Eloise with a rakish grin. “And I shall see that he sticks to his word.”
Julius grinned. “And I shall try to keep them all out of trouble because I am sure our lovely bluestockings are not through running us ragged.”
The Duke of Lotheil strode out with them, his purpose to immediately open a Royal Society investigation into who had told Runyon of their decision.
Adela and her two friends scampered into Ambrose’s carriage and took the bench opposite his while Julius rode up front with their driver and Octavian climbed into the carriage and settled his large frame beside Ambrose.
Perhaps they should have better arranged the seating, Ambrose thought. Despite the lavish size of the carriage, he and his brother were cramped because of their broad shoulders. Also, they were both big men and did not have the luxury of stretching their legs while the ladies sat across from them. Those three seemed to fit just fine, snuggled together like contented kittens and none of them complaining as they rode off.
“You may have to put Dr. Farthingale on retainer,” Octavian teased.
“He does not need to bother with me,” Gory said, lightly rubbing a finger across her bruised jaw. “This bruise is nothing. I’m sure it will be gone by tomorrow.”
“But Syd appears to be hurt,” Adela remarked, her brow furrowing as she regarded her friend. “Do you think perhaps your hand is broken?”
Her friend nodded. “It could be, but it was so worth punching that pompous toad.”
“Bluestockings,” Octavian muttered.
Syd glared at him. “What of it? I’d punch you for that remark. But it would hurt me more than it would hurt you, so what is the point?”
“The point is,” Ambrose said, leaning forward to lecture the three of them, “that you had better be careful who you choose to attack. Not all men are gentlemen, and you could have gotten hurt far worse than a broken bone in your hand.”
Gad, he could see the defiance in their eyes.
Why could they not be more biddable?
He supposed he would find them quite dull if they were.
He, Adela, and Julius waited in Dr. Farthingale’s antechamber while Syd, Gory, and Octavian– who complained there was nothing wrong with him even as the skin around his eye socket had turned purple– were tended to by the ever-patient doctor.
Adela cast Ambrose a wry smile. “When your brother complains, he is merely being manly. But when we complain, we are accused of being difficult and irrational.”
“Octavian is the size of an ox. You are…”
She arched an eyebrow. “What am I?”
He let out a breath. “An angel.”
“Oh.” She blushed and smiled at him. “You really must stop saying nice things to me. You make it very difficult to be angry with you. Although I suppose I was the one entirely at fault today.”
“No, Adela.” He took her hand in his, liking how small and soft it felt. “You were hoping to make things right. Just know that I care more for your safety than anything else.”
Gory joined them in the antechamber. “The doctor is binding Syd’s hand right now. He has your brother lying on his back on the settee with a cold cloth on his eye. It’ll be a few more minutes yet before he is done with them.”
