Page 62 of Duchess By Accident
“You are being ridiculous.” He muttered to himself, grabbing a drink from a nearby waiter. “You are being far too emotional and that will do no one any good.”
He needed to pull himself together. Control was everything. He rolled out his shoulders and his neck.
“What are the facts?” he muttered to himself, moving into a darker corner.
Lady Isabelle was the woman Natalie’s brother wished to wed. She had been the previous Duchess’s closest friend. They hadwritten to each other near daily – Lady Isabelle had been with her in the days leading up to her death.
His wife had left him a note when she died. He had burned it, but what if she had sent a similar letter to her cousin? What if she had kept it?
“Natalie will no doubt wish for her to spend time at Blackwood. She is too close not to want to spend time with her brother and his wife.” Adrian cursed softly. “I have been too distracted. It has made me weak. This never would have happened before.”
“Before what?” a voice said from behind him.
Natalie was frowning at him, a glass of wine in one hand. She reached towards him, but he moved out of her grip.
Before you.
Chapter Nineteen
“Are you feeling better?” Natalie asked as she moved towards the Duke.
She was on the veranda, looking at Adrian. His face was half hidden in shadow, but she could see a tension in his body that confused her.
He nodded curtly. “I will feel better once we have left.”
“And here I thought you loved theatrics.” She teased, waiting for him to smile back at her. “Though, I am growing rather tired of being stared at as well.”
He did not return her teasing. The hungry look he had had earlier in the night had vanished, and though it had been intense, she would be lying if she said there was not some small part of her that missed it.
In its place, a brittle tension seemed to be settling in, making her nervous in a very different way.I am probably being ridiculous. He said he needed a break, and he told me he was struggling with the men looking at me.
She decided to try a different tack. “The meeting with the Dowager Duchess went well, you were right to let me go alone. Though I think she would like to see you at some point. She will be at the Danterbury ball.”
She remembered the way the older woman had laughed with delight when she had introduced herself. “I believe her exact words were, “I should like to meet him, now that you have tamed him.””
“You told her you had tamed me?” He arched an eyebrow at her, and she sensed a restlessness in him.
“No. I said that you were far too wild to be tamed. But that I had at least civilised you.” She grinned, waiting for him to laugh or to shoot back a quick quip, but instead he simply frowned.
“Good.” Adrian began to move in the direction of the drive, the speed of his steps taking her by surprise. “We should leave.”
Natalie strode to keep up with him. Even with her legs, every one of his steps felt like two of hers. The sheer amount of fabric she was wearing did not help matters. “Will our hosts not think it rude if we do not take our leave of them?”
Adrian shook his head. “The Caverton balls are not the usual ton fanfare. They will likely continue until dawn.”
“Dawn? Goodness!” Natalie panted, clutching at a stitch in her side. “I do not think I could cope with such revelry.”
To her relief, Adrian slowed down, and she managed to keep up, though with some effort.What in the world has gotten into him?She had noticed a tension when Lady Isabelle had introduced herself, but she had assumed it was perhaps embarrassment from not corresponding.
“I am glad we met Lady Isabelle. She seems lovely. And it is clear Peter is utterly besotted with her.” Natalie said, deciding it would be best to broach the subject. “I do hope that they can be together.”
“Do you?” Adrian asked. “You think they are well suited then?”
“Of course I do, she makes him laugh. I have never seen him so soft before. It is rather sweet.” Natalie panted as she struggled to keep up with him; he had increased his speed once more. “If you keep going at this pace, I shall have to run, and I refuse to do that in these shoes.”
He slowed down again, and Natalie looped an arm through his, hoping that it would keep him at a more reasonable pace. The smell of his cologne washed over her, almost distracting her from the way he stiffened at her touch. Almost.
“Thank you.” Natalie sighed. “Now, tell me what you think about Lady Isabelle.”
