Page 98 of Duchess By Accident
“He does not know me, how can he love me?” Natalie gestured around them.
There was a flash of lightning as Alexander creased his brow. “How do you know that?”
She opened her mouth, and then closed it. A part of the reason she had not explained everything that had happened between her and Adrian, was that she had not known how to do so without revealing the truth about Melody.
She looked at Alexander, the man who had been like a father to her all her life.
He gave a sad smile, and squeezed her shoulder. “You do not have to tell me more than you wish, but you must learn to trust those around you, dear Natalie.”
“How can I when I seem to always put my trust in the wrong people?” She whispered.
“That is the risk we take. To trust is always a gamble.” Alexander shrugged. “It is the only one worth taking in my opinion.”
Natalie nodded. She was the one who had accused Adrian of being too scared to trust, knew how it had hurt her. And here she was doing it to her brother.But I cannot betray Melody to him.
She took a steadying breath. “I discovered a secret. I thought there were no secrets between us after London.”
“And that he kept this from you was what drove you to fight?” Alexander asked.
Natalie shook her head, the memory threatening to overwhelm her. “It was that he thought he needed to buy my silence. His keeping the secret hurt, but what broke me was him thinking I would betray him.”
Alexander said nothing for a moment, seeming to consider his words carefully. “When you are used to keeping people at arms length, it can be hard to let them in.”
“But he told me he would.” Natalie hated how petulant she sounded.
“We are only human, even with the best of intentions, it is hard to break years of habit. I was not always as open as I should have been, with any of you.” He gave her an apologetic look. “Rose was the one who broke me of that curse. But it was not easy, and there are still times when I catch myself slipping into my old ways.”
“What are you saying?” Natalie frowned.
“Just that we cannot always be perfect. I have no doubt that what he said was hurtful. Anyone who knows you should see your loyalty.” Alexander flexed his fingers. “But the fact is, if he truly did not trust you with this secret – he would not have let you leave.”
Natalie opened her mouth to say that she had not exactly given Adrian the choice, but the words died on her lips.He could have stopped me.
She knew the truth, logically she would be more of a risk away from him. But the things he had said... “None of this makes any sense.”
“These things seldom do.” There was another boom of thunder and Alexander looked towards the castle. “I should check on the children, Jonathan hates storms. See that you do not stay out here too much longer.”
“I will not.” Natalie smiled at her brother.
“Good.” He strode away, paused and called over his shoulder. “I know it seems dark now, but I promise, it will all work out as it is meant to.”
Natalie shook her head. When had her brother become such an optimist? She ambled through the garden, breathing in the smell of the air.
She had always loved the feel of things right before a storm. There was a wild energy that seemed to fill the space around her. It made her think of Adrian, the wildness in his eyes when he looked at her.
He let you leave.She wanted to think that meant something, wanted to believe her brother could be right. But how could he be? She cursed under her breath.
“I suppose it is a sign of something that he has not turned up unannounced to force my silence.” There was a crack of thunder overhead, which made her jump, and look up.
A familiar figure was standing at the entrance to Emberly Castle. Taller than everything else, his coat swaying in the wind, Adrian stood at the top of the steps leading into her home.
A droplet of rain hit her arm. And then another. The droplets came hard and fast, but she did not move. She was frozen.Speak of the devil.
An oddly hysterical urge to laugh ripped through her.
He took a step towards her, wincing at the rain.
“What are you doing here?” Natalie backed away, shouting to be heard above the clatter of the storm.
