Page 80 of Duchess By Accident
Adrian looked to her, then to the clock. It was nearly three in the morning. He gestured to the half eaten plate of scones in front of him.
“Would you care to join me?” He swallowed his mouthful.
Natalie took a step into the study, and then shook her head. She was wearing her night clothes, her dressing gown drawn tight around her. She looked small in the firelight, and he had an urge to go to her and wrap his arms around her.
The image of Lord Bolton flinging himself towards her seemed etched in his mind.How could I have been so careless?His blood became ice, the air in the room vanishing. He forced himself to return to the present moment.
“You are well?” Adrian asked, moving towards her.
Natalie nodded and then shook her head. “I am leaving.”
The words hung between them. Adrian frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I will return to Castle Blackwood.” Natalie’s voice was cool and distant, and every muscle seemed rigid with tension.
Adrian felt something twist inside of him. “When?”
“In the morning. After breakfast. I do not want Melody to wake and find me gone. I do not want her to think I have abandoned her.” Natalie wrapped her arms around herself once more, chewing on her bottom lip.
Adrian felt as though someone had scooped out his innards. “Is that not what you are doing?”
She is leaving.The words seemed to fill him and something desperate urged him to stop her. His hand shook, and he clenched it tight to steady it.
“I am only returning to the castle a few days early. I will be there waiting when she gets home, and I have arranged some visits with her cousins while you remain in London.” Natalie gave him a smile that did not quite reach her eyes. “She will hardly know I am gone.”
“We still have balls to attend.” The words sounded hollow even to him.
He began to pace, unable to sit still. What did it matter to him if she left? She had made arrangements for Melody. Yet the thought of her not being here seemed to crush his chest.
“You said it yourself, tonight will have fixed all of that. A magnificent effort. I do not think even Lady Cotswalts could have done this in such a short time.” Natalie grimaced, though Adrian suspected she was attempting to smile.
Adrian’s voice was sharp. “Stay.”
“I am not yours to control, Fox.” There was no anger in Natalie’s face, only sadness.
Her shoulders were slumped and despite her height she seemed tiny before him. There was a limpness to her movements, a resignation. It chilled him.
“You are my wife.” Adrian took a step towards her, his voice hard, hoping to provoke her anger.
“In name alone.” Natalie took a step back, and looked at the floor. “Are you really going to order me to stay?”
“I could.” Adrian replied.I could make her stay.“But I should not need to. You should stay, it is ridiculous to return.”
“It is necessary. I will leave in the morning.” Natalie turned to leave.
“No.” He grabbed her hand.
She looked at him, and he expected to see her familiar anger flare to life, but there was another, deeper, more vulnerable thing in its place. Something he could not quite name, even as it stole his breath from him.
“I cannot stay.” Her voice was breathless.
“Cannot or will not?” He narrowed his eyes at her.
His heart thundered in his chest. He could feel the beat of her blood against his fingers as he held her wrist. They beat in harmony with one another.
Natalie gently placed her fingers around his, but did not try and break his hold. “They are the same.”
“They are not.”Why are you doing this?He wanted to ask the question but did not know if he meant himself or Natalie.
