Page 83 of A Duke for Adela
She nodded. “It is also very kind of your brothers to look after my friends. I do worry about them. I grew up in an eccentric home, but I was never ill-treated.”
Blast it, yes she was.
He had to say something but would try to be gentle about it. “I don’t know, Adela. Some of the remarks your parents made…they don’t seem to understand how lovely you are. Perhaps they did not treat you ill, but I’m not sure they appreciated you as they should have.”
“I know,” she said with a light tremor to her voice. “This is what comes of being an unexpected addition to a family they never intended to have. They are never going to be doting parents. But we grew much closer as I got older and could join them in their studies. Gory lost her parents and now has an uncle who has no use for her. Syd…I cannot shake the feeling that something is amiss in her home. It worries me.”
“Octavian will look out for her. He is good at that sort of thing. He may appear stern and forbidding when he puts on that fierce scowl.”
“Which he always does, it seems.”
“Underneath, he has a very soft heart. If he has decided Syd needs protecting, then this is what he will do.”
“Whether she wants it or not?” She sighed and shook her head. “It does not matter what Syd wants. She needs someone to watch out for her. I can see she is troubled. Why won’t she confide in us?”
Ambrose gave her a kiss on the forehead. “I don’t know. It may be she is embarrassed, or if it is something more sinister, then she may be afraid whoever she brings in to help her will be harmed. I’ll talk to my brothers, ask if they want me to engage Mr. Barrow and his Bow Street men.”
“Thank you, Ambrose. That will ease my mind greatly.”
“Mine, too. I like your friends.” He glanced toward the front door as his carriage was now brought around. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Sweet dreams, Adela.”
She smiled. “They shall be filled with you.”
He kissed her soundly on the lips, a short but ardent kiss, for he dared no more. They hadn’t a moment alone these past few days and he needed to tell her that he loved her.
But the moment never seemed right.
Now, his carriage was here and everyone was waiting for him to climb in.
He had not even thought to ask Adela if she intended to join her parents on their museum excursions tomorrow. He doubted she would, for Eloise had put her foot down on any running around on the day before their wedding, other than Lord and Lady Trent’s party since Lord Trent was Eloise’s son and she was not going to refuse that invitation.
He planned on escorting them to Lord Trent’s, so perhaps they would have time for a private moment then.
But the following day proved just as hectic and any hope of a moment alone with Adela was not to be. To make matters worse, Lady Victoria was lurking in wait for him and ready to pounce the moment he arrived at the Trent residence. She made her way toward him even though he had not only Adela with him but her parents, as well. “Botheration, what is her game?”
Adela sighed. “Isn’t it obvious? She wants you.”
He placed a hand over Adela’s as it lay on his arm, for he wanted to assure her there was nothing between him and Victoria. He also wanted to prevent her from bolting, for she was ever the wallflower at heart and detested the games often played within these sophisticatedtoncircles.
“Still acting the saintly choirboy, Huntsford,” Victoria said with a lilting laugh and the undercurrent of a sneer.
She ignored Adela and her parents, but it was only Adela who understood the snub. Her parents, bless them, were too busy admiring Lord Trent’s home and the dazzling display of finery to pay any attention to what was going on under their very noses.
“Dance with me tonight, Huntsford. I understand your betrothed has injured herself and must sit out the evening. Is it any wonder she has a reputation for being clumsy?” She cast him a cat-like smile and emitted a throaty purr. “You and I were always good together. There is no reason why we cannot be so again.”
“No longer, Victoria,” he said with marked impatience. “Go find your amusement elsewhere.”
She tipped her chin in the air. “You’ll sing a different tune once you are married and realize just how deadly dull your life has become.” She now turned her spite on Adela. “Do you think you can hold him? I assure you, he will stray before the month is out.”
Having cast her prediction, she sauntered off with a smug look of triumph.
“Adela…” His hand still covered hers and he had no intention of releasing it anytime soon. “I cannot apologize enough. Surely, you know it is not going to happen.”
She cast him a sweet, genuine smile. “I do know, Ambrose. She thinks she is unsettling me, but I am more assured every time she opens her mouth and her bile spills out. I know you only a short time, but understand you better then she ever did. You would walk through fire before ever betraying your vows.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m glad you know this. I hope one day we shall be able to walk into a party and simply enjoy it instead of being accosted by supposed diamonds like Victoria or Felicity Rose. At least that irritating girl is not here tonight.”
“Thank goodness.” Adela glanced around and frowned. “Nor are my friends here. Your brothers and Lady Withnall were to escort them. I wonder why they are delayed?”
