Page 70 of Duchess By Accident
“And how did you come across that little tidbit of information?” Adrian sounded impressed and Natalie hated the way it made her heart flutter.
He does not need to know that.She made a vague gesture, acting as though his approval was wholly unimportant.
“He visited us while Rose was pregnant with Daphne. She could not stand to be around whiskey, so Alexander could only offer him sherry and he admitted that he was rather partial to it.” She gave him an impish smile as she imagined him with a glass of sherry in his hand. “I suspect if he sees you drinking it, that will warm him to you.”
“I can arrange that.” Adrian stroked his chin thoughtfully. “It has been some time since I drank it. When I was at Eton a few of theboys pilfered a few bottles from the kitchen and well… I have not touched it since.”
“A rather debaucherous night, though from the feral way Peter behaved when he returned from there I can hardly say it surprises me.” She smiled as she recalled her mother telling him off for eating like he was a starving urchin. “They say it is to be expected when you put together a group of boys and rob them of the steadying influence of a woman.”
“That is why a man needs a wife. Or so I am told.” Adrian gave her a sidelong look.
She arched an eyebrow at him. “And would you say I have been a steadying influence?”
“As steadying as a sea in storm.” He chuckled and the sound sent shivers down her spine.
She found herself moving towards him, and caught herself, instead rolling her eyes and stepping away. “Sometimes one needs a good storm to shake things up.”
“You have certainly done that.” He massaged his neck, rolling out his shoulders.
“I try.” She quipped, unable to stop herself.
“I know you do.” He smiled at her, the coldness fading for a moment and then it slid back into place.
Do not let him do this to you. You cannot open yourself up to him. Not again.She decided to steer them onto safer ground, and teased, “Are you not worried that the others will judge you for drinking a lady’s drink?”
“Why should I fear their judgement? Besides, it may well become a fashion if I do it.” He grinned at her.
Her heart flipped over even as a prickle of annoyance ran through her. She fed the annoyance and said sardonically,“Ah, there is that humility I have so missed. How blessed it must be to be a man and not have to care about such things.”
“It does have its advantages.” Adrian shrugged.
“When Peter and I were young, we used to pretend to be one another. He would even attend my lessons – it is why he can embroider so well, not that he would ever admit it.” She was not sure why she was telling him this, only that for some reason the thought of descending into cold silence filled her with dread. “I would disguise myself as him, learn to hunt and to shoot. I got to read all the books he did, even when we were not pretending to be one another.”
“You certainly have led a rather colourful life.” Adrian had clasped his hands behind his back again, and Natalie noticed that he seemed to be flexing and unflexing his fingers.
“When one is so far removed from everyone around them, you do whatever you can to amuse yourself.” She rubbed her own hands together, clasping her fingers to keep her from reachingout to Adrian.Why do I want to touch him?“Sometimes I wonder if we could still trick others.”
“You are entirely too pretty to be mistaken for a man.” He replied, the intensity of his gaze when he looked at her undermining the casual tone of his voice.
How does he do this? Seem to see into my soul with his gaze? Well if he wants to unbalance me, two can play at that game.She forced herself to s,mile, keenly aware of the blush spreading across her cheeks. “Are you saying that men are not pretty? I for one think you are terribly pretty.”
“Thank you. I was simply stating that there is nothing manly about you.” Adrian opened his mouth, his eyes sparkling and then closed it, shaking his head and looking away from her.
It was as if something hard had slammed into place between them. Natalie could not tell if she was relieved or disappointed or both.
The silence stretched between them, interrupted occasionally by Melody’s distant chatter with their guide and the roar of one of the animals. It was heavy, almost oppressive.
Natalie could bear it no more. “And what do you know about the family?”
Adrian gave a small start, apparently he had been lost in some thoughts. Natalie tried not to think about just what may have been occupying his mind.
He gestured around them. “They do not care for the more European style of dress. They prefer the more modest English fashion – so I shall adjust what I wear accordingly and would suggest you do the same.”
A part of her was tempted to refuse, just to prove a point, but she knew that would be beyond foolish. She would be cutting off her nose to spite her face.
“I know just the dress.” Natalie pictured it in her mind. “It is not very modern, but I am sure it will do nicely.”
“Which dress is that?” Adrian asked.
