Page 107 of Impossible
Perhaps his slight anxiety was due to the massive change he’d made today. He was getting married. His gaze found Ada. She stood with Mrs. Renshaw and Prudence, glowing as she’d been since he’d met her in the middle of the Thames.
There was a small voice in the back of his mind that questioned his decision, but Max kept telling it to be quiet. This wasn’t what he’d planned, but it was, without debate, what he wanted. He knew better than to expect a quiet mind. He wasn’t even sure what that felt like anymore.
“Lord Lucien,” the butler intoned as Lucien strolled into the drawing room.
Max frowned. Lucien looked distraught. He was not wearing his usual affable expression, and Max would have expected that given the news of the day. Both Lucien and Glastonbury had been at the club when they’d arrived and had tried to insist on drinking a toast to the betrothal. Max had managed to put them off since both he and Ada were soaking wet and in need of a bath. They’d shared that bath in her chamber.
“Good evening,” Lucien said. “I regret to inform you that Dougal won’t be joining us. He’s left for Scotland. He received bad news about his brother.”
Max approached him and quietly asked, “How bad?” He almost didn’t want to know. It reminded him of when he’d learned his father and then his brother had died.
“As bad as you can imagine,” Lucien whispered. “There was some kind of accident. Dougal is now the heir.”
Struggling to breathe, Max felt as though he’d been hit in the gut. “I’m so sorry for him,” he murmured, the pain of his own loss rising to the surface.
Lucien clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m sorry for him and for you.”
Ada came to Max’s side and put her arm around his waist. “What’s wrong? You look distressed.”
“Lucien says Dougal’s brother has died.” At least Dougal still had his father. Max looked to Lucien. “I imagine Dougal will spend some time in Scotland with the earl.”
“I would expect that, especially given how close they are.”
“I’m so sorry to dampen your evening,” Lucien said.
“Not at all,” Ada said warmly. “We will keep Dougal in our thoughts.”
“He would appreciate that.” Lucien looked from her to Max and back to her again. “We should discuss what you proposed earlier.”
In the brief time they’d spoken to Lucien before hurrying upstairs to remove their sodden clothing, Ada had expressed her desire to maintain her position at the club. She pivoted toward Lucien, eager to make her case. “I know it will be difficult if I’m not here all the time, but you managed all right for the fortnight I was at Stonehill. I’d be in London during the Season and at least one week a month the rest of the year.”
“You’ve given this a great deal of thought.” Lucien sounded pensive.
She nodded. “I love my job, and I’d be very sorry to leave it.”
“Does that mean youwouldleave it?” Lucien kept his voice neutral, but Max saw the slight crease in his brow.
“If you’re asking whether I’d chose to stay at the Phoenix Club instead of marrying Max, the answer is no. As much as I love working there, I love Max more.” She pressed against his side, and he felt as though he might burst with joy.
“Her plan could work,” Max said. “What if she hired an assistant to help while she’s gone? Surely you know someone, or several someones, in need of employment?”
Ada looked up at Max in adoration. “That’s an excellent idea.”
Lucien grinned. “Either you two fell hopelessly in love today or you were both incredibly adept at cloaking the depth of your feelings. I suspected you might have a tendre for each other, but it’s now painfully obvious you can’t seem to draw breath without the other.”
“Er, I might have been hiding how I felt,” Ada said sheepishly.
Max put his arm around her. “I don’t think I fully grasped my emotions. That will happen when you’ve been avoiding them as long as I have.”
“I couldn’t be happier for you both. Let me think on the specifics of the club, but you have my support—we’ll find a way to keep you entangled. You are far too valuable to let go. Truly, I don’t know what we would do without you, Ada.” Lucien gave her a proud nod and took himself off.
“Are you relieved?” Max asked.
“Yes. And flattered.” Her smile was so bright. “It’s nice to feel so wanted.”
“You’re wantedandneeded. None of us can function without you.”
She narrowed one eye at him. “This is why you’re marrying me, isn’t it?”
