Page 50 of Duchess By Accident
“It is hard not to miss a parent. Even though we have scarcely known them. And few parents would wish to leave their children.” Adrian felt a bitter taste in his mouth, and he pushed the memory away. “I am sure your father did everything he could not to leave your side.”
“I do not think I have ever hated a man as much as the man who murdered him.”
“I understand that. But he is gone now.” Adrian squeezed Natalie’s hand. “And in a way, your father lives on in all of you.”
“That is what my mother always says. And Alexander.” Natalie smiled. “You must think me frightfully silly.”
“Not at all.” He wiped a tear from her face. “I am glad you told me this.”
“I-” Natalie was interrupted by the sound of Duke Emberley behind them.
“Avast ye scurvy dog.” He called.
Adrian broke away from Natalie, turning to face the Duke. By the time he looked back, his wife—and whatever had passed between them—had vanished.
Chapter Fifteen
“Now I know I am not imagining things, that is the third group to stop talking when we entered the room.” Natalie frowned at the group of women who had fallen silent as soon as her and Peter had walked into the coffee shop.
Her brother shrugged. “What does it matter?”
Natalie had suggested the pair of them venture into town together, wanting some time alone with her twin. Throughout the day, she had felt as though people were watching her yet whenever she looked, they seemed immersed in conversation with their companions.Somewhat too immersed to be convincing.
“I do not know. It makes me uneasy. Surely you have noticed the way people seem to be watching us, Peter.” Natalie gave her brother a meaningful look, expecting him to make a joke or one of his usual quips.
Instead, he ran a hand absentmindedly through his hair and gave another shrug. “People talk. People watch us. It is not like it is any different than we are used to. All our lives people judge us.”
“You are in rather a dour mood.” Natalie frowned. “You have been all day.”
“Am I? I think it is just tiredness. That is all.” Peter gave her a smile, but Natalie saw a tightness in it.
“You do look a little tired. Have thoughts of your lady-love been keeping you up at night?” Natalie teased, grinning at her brother.
“There is no lady love, not anymore.” Peter’s face darkened, and he looked away from her.
“What happened?” Natalie canted her head towards her brother.
Usually Peter was a little melancholic when he ended one of his romantic entanglements, but it would last a few hours at most. Natalie took in her brother, seeing him in a new light. There were dark circles under his eyes, his hair was mussed and he had a dishevelled air about him.
“The heart is a fickle thing.” Peter made a dismissive gesture. “It is as easy to fall into love as it is out of it.”
“Then her affections have waned?” Natalie asked.
“No.”
“Have yours?”
Peter jerked his head. “No. But no doubt they will. There is no future between us.”
“How can you know that?” Natalie tried to take his hand in hers but Peter jerked it away.
“Because she is not the one. You were right, is that what you want to hear?” He smiled that same brittle smile, the teasing tone that he was attempting falling miles short. “This woman was no different than all the rest. No doubt my heart will flit to another soon.”
“Peter –” Natalie began but she was distracted by the tinkling of the bell as the door opened and two women walked in, their conversation loud enough to be heard clearly.
“I heard that she was having an affair with him the entire time.” The taller of the two women, with hawkish features and the expression of someone smelling something rotten gestured to her friend.
The second woman, a short, plump woman with beady eyes, exclaimed, “No! Surely not?”
