Page 68 of A Duke for Adela
Passionate detachment is how he would best describe his and Victoria’s relation, and he felt it very much on her side, too. He was a title, first and foremost. She had never been interested in the rest of who he was.
Nor had she been willing to wait for him to come around, either. She wished to marry well and make it all happen in her first Season out. For this reason, it was not long before she gave him an ultimatum. He had one hour to decide whether to marry her, or she was going to accept the Marquess of Windhurst’s offer.
He had allowed the hour to pass.
Afterward, he had felt only relief when she announced her betrothal to the marquess. As well, he had felt a little pity for the poor sod who was not so bad a fellow.
“Huntsford, you are looking well,” Victoria said in her sultry voice.
He and his brothers rose to politely greet her.
“As are you,” Ambrose replied, hoping he was mistaking the offer in her eyes. Did she really think to resume their intimate acquaintance? She had to know he and Adela were getting married in a few days. “I hope your husband is well.”
“Yes, Windhurst is closing up our Harrow estate and will join me in a few days. Until then, I am completely carefree and quite on my own.”
Ambrose glanced at her party of friends. “I am sure your friends will occupy your time until he arrives.”
He sincerely hoped her marriage had not already fallen apart, for he did not wish her or her husband any ill. When she did not immediately move on, he had no choice but to introduce her to Adela, Syd and Gory. “Miss Swift and I are to be married on Saturday, as I expect you have heard.”
“I had, but did not credit the gossip.”
Phoebe decided it was time to chase Victoria away, even though he had no need of her interference. But the two dowagers adored Adela and were quite protective of her. “I am sure there is a lot of false information being bandied about,” Phoebe chimed in. “You are wise not to credit any of it. Here is the truth from me now…the match between Huntsford and Miss Swift is a love match. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool.”
Victoria did not look pleased as she took the hint and moved on.
The conversation now shifted to their upcoming wedding.
The two dowagers had been working hard to put all in place by this coming Saturday. Ambrose hoped this change in topic would distract Adela from thoughts of the Jovian book or Lady Victoria who had been declared an unparalleled diamond three years ago.
Eloise and Phoebe assured him they had the wedding plans expertly in hand, not even any last minute details to fuss over. “All that is left is for Adela’s parents to arrive,” Phoebe said. “We have received responses from most of those invited. Only a few stragglers have yet to reply.”
Adela glanced at Ambrose in surprise. “You were right about all those quick responses. Well, I suppose no one is going to miss out on the Duke of Huntsford’s wedding.”
Eloise nodded. “My dear, it is likely to be the wedding of the Season. Most responses came within hours of our sending out the invitations.”
Syd laughed. “Do not dare put your hand to your stomach, Adela. You are not going to be ill. You are the perfect wife for His Grace and he obviously knows it. Indeed, I think he must like you very much to put up with Gory and me.”
“I am enjoying your company,” Ambrose assured them. “As are my brothers.”
Julius raised his glass. “Here, here.”
Octavian simply drained the last of his wine.
Ah, yes. His big brute of a brother was rattled by Syd.
They soon moved on to topics other than his book or their wedding. Ambrose and his brothers found themselves opening up about their father and the impact he had on their upbringing. It was a very personal conversation that none of them had ever shared except with closest friends.
It seemed Adela, Syd, and Gory were now considered to be in that small fold. His brothers felt it, too. Octavian and Julius would have quickly changed the direction of the conversation if they were not comfortable discussing their boyhood years with these ladies.
Of course, Adela was to be his wife so it made sense she should be his confidante. Phoebe and Eloise had always been close family friends. He and his brothers valued their continuing friendship with these dowagers.
However, his heart tightened as he watched Adela and her friends. The obvious neglect in their upbringing was in stark contrast to the solid relations he and his brothers had experienced with their kind and encouraging father.
Phoebe’s nose was twitching, a sign her agile brain was once again at work. “We have decided to take Lady Sydney under our wing and sponsor her next Season. Then it shall be Lady Gregoria’s turn the following Season.”
Since Ambrose already knew of this decision, he understood the information was for the benefit of Octavian and Julius, particularly Octavian.
Good grief, the little harridan missed nothing.
