Page 76 of Duchess By Accident
Everything is going to plan.He flung open the door, and dragged his prey into the chaos.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“What on Earth is going on?” Lady Winchester frowned at the commotion by the entrance to the ballroom.
Natalie had been standing with her host, trying not to look for Adrian. Once again, she had almost lost herself in their charade. She had almost forgotten what he was. But she could not afford that. She would not risk that.
The haunted look in Adrian’s expression as he had left, the tightness in his body. Natalie wanted to go after him, but she would not. She did not want him to think her desperate.
The disturbance in the ballroom brought Natalie back to the present and she followed Lady Winchester’s gaze. There was a small crowd of people gathered around a woman who was clutching at her wrist.
“My bracelet! Someone has stolen my bracelet.” the woman cried, turning so that Natalie could better see her face.
She recognised her as Lady Cecily Nightingale, Daughter of the Earl of Rochdale. The ballroom filled with audible gasps as everyone looked towards the woman clutching her wrist, wild eyed and staring around.
She and Lady Winchester moved towards the woman, gently moving through the crowd. Natalie walked in front of Lady Winchester, using her height to cut a path through the milling crowd.
Apparently she had picked up more than one of her husband’s habits – though in this instance, she could see the benefit of cutting such an imposing figure.
“Lady Winchester!” A young man with curly brown hair stood with his arm around Lady Cecily. “Thank goodness you are here.”
“What has happened? You are causing quite the scene, Duke Caverton.” Lady Winchester frowned at the man.
“My apologies, dear Lady, but the depths of my cousin’s agitation could not be contained.” The man bowed to her, still holding his cousin.
“How could this have happened?” Lady Cecily wailed. “Someone has stolen it.”
Duke Caverton gave the gathered crowd an apologetic look. “Come now cousin, perhaps it simply fell off? It is rather old.”
“It is an heirloom! There is no way it could have fallen off; I only just had it refitted. I felt someone brush against me earlier, but I thought nothing of it. After all, balls can be rather crowded. But when I went to touch my necklace – I discovered it was gone.” Lady Cecily rubbed a hand across her naked wrist, her eyes full of tears.
The ballroom doors burst open and Adrian strode into the room. His face was a dark mask of fury as he dragged a red-faced man into the room by his coat. Natalie felt her blood run cold.
“Lord Bolton?” she whispered.What is happening?
“Unhand me! You utterly depraved lunatic, you cannot do this to me.” Lord Bolton swung a fist towards her husband, but Adrian easily moved aside. “This is a conspiracy. You planned this all along.”
Lady Winchester gasped. “Duke Blackwood! Why are you manhandling the marquess?”
“Forgive me, Lady Winchester. I had meant to take this man directly to your husband, but could not find a servant to request he join me. And I did not want to risk this snake escaping.” Adrian glared at Lord Bolton.
“Do not listen to a word he says, Lady Winchester! He has orchestrated this entire thing – I know it! He means to harm me.” Lord Bolton’s eyes bulged.
“And why would I wish to do that?” Adrian’s voice was cool, with just a hint of disdain and confusion.
Lord Bolton opened his mouth and then promptly closed it. His eyes flashed to her, fury and fear warring within them.He is the one who has started the rumours.Natalie only just managed to keep herself from gasping.
“You have still not explained yourself.”
“My apologies your ladyship.” Adrian inclined his head towards Lady Winchester. “I was seeking respite when I overheard Lord Bolton’s voice. He sounded rather agitated, so thinking I could perhaps be of some assistance, I made my way towards him.”
“Utter codswallop. Complete fabrication.” Lord Bolton glowered.
Adrian continued as though he had not spoken. “As I drew nearer I realised that the Marquess was not being threatened, but rather threatening another. I intervened and, well, I discovered that the Marquess had been seen stealing something from a guest in this very room.”
The crowd gasped and Lady Cecily clapped a hand to her mouth. Natalie frowned. Lord Bolton was many things, but surely he was not a thief. Not because she thought he would have a moral objection, but rather, she doubted he had the skill for such an endeavour.
She covered her mouth in a similar fashion to Lady Cecily. Shaking her head, she moved closer to Lady Winchester, placing a reassuring arm on her shoulder.
