Page 20 of Dangerous Games of a Broken Lady
Forcing away the nausea that lingered in the pit of her stomach, she followed the sound of the Dowager’s voice. Sure enough, the old lady sat in the right-hand armchair. Despite her advancing years, she retained some semblance of beauty and elegance. Her silvery hair was arranged in a modern fashion, piled up in curls atop her head. Meanwhile, her eyes were sharp and clear. They gazed upon Adelaide in a hawkish fashion that made her feel like prey.
“You knew I would come?”
The Dowager smiled. “I thought you might, if you were akin to the tales that my son has told me of you.”
“Your son has spoken of me?” She was oddly taken aback by the admission.
“He is rather fond of you, or so it would seem,” she replied, with a flick of her slender wrist. “I have never seen him quite so enamored of a young lady before, and I have certainly never encountered one who might entice him towards marriage.”
Adelaide gave a tight laugh. “Perhaps, the latter shall remain unachievable.”
“You are concerned about the announcement?”
“I am, Your Grace. Residing in London, you must be aware of how swiftly gossip may spread,” she explained quietly. “I happened to be at the Assembly Rooms the other evening, and news of our engagement already appeared to be common knowledge. I should hate to think that I have been fooled into believing your son is an honest gentleman, when he does not mean to wed me as he has promised.”
The Dowager chuckled, taking Adelaide aback. “My son shall wed you in due course, as arranged. You must not worry, dear girl. He is a reckless creature of whims and fancies, but he is rather taken with you.” She offered an encouraging smile. “Indeed, I do not know how you have managed it, but I commend you for it.”
“How do you know he still intends to wed me, Your Grace?”
“Because he is my son, and I wish it of him,” she replied. “If he will not do so willingly, then you may rest assured that I willinsistupon it.”
Adelaide’s heart sank. “So, he does not wish to marry me?”
“In truth, I believe he does. My son is a curious individual. He does not always process matters in the same way that others might,” she ventured. “No doubt the imminence of the engagement has startled him. He will return once he has managed to calm any disquiet within his mind.”
Adelaide’s head snapped up. “Return?”
“Indeed… I do not currently know of his whereabouts.”
“He is missing?”
The Dowager laughed. “He often vanishes for days on end. Occasionally, it may be weeks, but he always returns. I do not imagine this state of affairs shall be any different.”
“Weeks?” Adelaide gasped.
“You have nothing to fear, my dear. He will come back to you.”
“And if he does not?”
“He will, Lady Adelaide, one way or another.” Her tone carried an unsettling chill that made Adelaide’s blood run cold. Although she looked old and fragile, Adelaide had a feeling that there was more to the Dowager than met the eye. If Reuben did not come home of his own accord, she imagined there would be dire consequences.
“Will the announcement go ahead, Your Grace?”
The old lady reached out and took Adelaide’s hand. “It will, sweet girl. I shall see to it myself. That way, my son will understand that he cannot continue to hide from his responsibilities. I am not getting any younger, Lady Adelaide, and I should like to welcome grandchildren before my time is done. His days of amusing himself are at an end.”
Adelaide flushed at the notion. “My mother and father will be most pleased to hear this news.”
“And you, Lady Adelaide? Do my words comfort you?”
She nodded. “They do, Your Grace”
“Then I can ask for nothing more.” She clapped her hands together abruptly, frightening Adelaide out of her skin. “Now, where are those tea things? I am quite parched. Bartholomew! Where are the maids with our tea things?”
Adelaide sat back in the comfortable armchair and let her gaze drift into the flickering flames that licked in the grate. She had not expected to be so welcomed by the Dowager, and she did not know how far to trust the friendliness. Although, she could understand the old lady’s position. Evidently, she wanted to secure her son’s future as keenly as Adelaide’s parents wished to secure hers. Children safeguarded legacies. Without a good marriage and an heir, everything the Fletchers had built would fall to nothing. They would become a half-remembered name in the annals of history.
It made her think about her cousin, Charles Colborne, who stood to inherit all of her father’s lands and titles once he died. The notion of it had always stuck in Adelaide’s throat like a lump of dry bread. Being female, all of that was denied to her. Indeed, none of this would have happened if things were different. Had she been born a man, she would not have to marry for security. It did not seem fair. It never had.
Half an hour, and several cups of tea later, Adelaide emerged from the townhouse to find Lady Francesca sitting on the front step with Edith. Neither looked best pleased.
