Page 51 of A Duke's Unwanted Bride
His words seemed to pull Adele from her musings, and he regretted interrupting her. She shook her head as though to clear it, flipping the drawing so that he could not see it. “I suspect that if you were in a dress, your arms would be the least remarked upon thing.”
He batted his eyelashes at her, smiling. “I suppose I do have rather striking eyes.”
“You know that is not what I’m talking about. I doubt even being a duke could save you from the type of talk that would entail.” She turned serious. “Such things… for women they may be scandalous but for men? That leads to the wrong sorts of conclusions. The kind that will get you killed.”
“Your concern for my wellbeing is rather flattering.” He had meant it to sound like a joke, but to his surprise, he found that he meant it.
“Perhaps it is just self-interest. After all, we are supposed to be remedying my own reputation. No doubt if you showed up in a dress, it would somehow be all my fault.” Warner could hear the bitterness in Adele’s voice.
Warner knew that what she was saying was true, even as he rankled at the thought. He took a step towards her, his fists clenched, and then stopped himself.
“Either way — I will not do something that could leave you open to risk. You married me for my protection after all.” He gestured around them.
“I know why I married you, Warner. And what it means.” Her eyes flicked to his lips and then to the rest of his face, sending a thrill through Warner’s body.
I will never kiss you.His words filled the space between them, and Warner wondered if she was remembering them as well.
“Are you going to give me back my fabric?” Her words brought Warner back to the present.
He glanced down at the fabric wrapped around him. “I have not made up my mind; I rather like it.”
“Well, you cannot have it.” She took a step towards him. “I have that earmarked for something already.”
“Oh?” he canted his head.
She reached up, her fingers brushing against his neck as she gently rearranged the fabric around him. “Though, it really does suit you. And that might be an interesting test of my skills. But I do not have the knowledge, and I doubt any tailor would share what he knows with a woman.”
Warner listened to his wife voice her thoughts aloud, her fingers frozen against his neck. The warmth of them spread through him like a wildfire in the heat of summer. Adele was clearly caught up in her own thoughts, her eyes seeing not Warner but something else.
There was a light in her eyes that stirred a deep emotion within him. Her tongue poked out between her lips as she traced the lines of him with her eyes, and he could tell she was dressing him in her mind.
“If I had the right books… but even then… I wonder… Two fabrics, something dark I think to make the contrast work. To draw the eye but not be gaudy or ostentatious.” She was adjusting the fabric that was draped around him.
The scent of rose washed over him, and he breathed it in deeply as he watched her face.
“I do not think I have ever seen anyone think as beautifully as you do.” She jerked and looked up at him, making Warner realise he had spoken aloud.
There was a knock at the door, and they leapt apart. Warner felt the fabric slip from his shoulders and clutched it so that it would not fall on the floor.
Adele called out, “Enter.”
A footman emerged holding several boxes. “Where should I put these, Your Grace?”
“Over there with the others. Thank you, Mr. Henry.” Adele smiled at the footman, and Warner felt it deep in his bones, like sunlight after winter.
“I have taken up enough of your time.” Warner inclined his head to Adele. “I should let you get back to your projects.”
For a wild moment, he thought that she would ask him to stay, but instead, she nodded. He felt disappointment spread through him, setting him on edge.
“You will let me know if I can be of any assistance?” Warner asked, canting his head.
“Of course.” Adele’s eyes glittered.
He knew she would not ask him.
As he left the library, he thought on what she had said. She seemed so determined to view herself as a burden, to see her pursuits as silly. She would never ask him for help.
But he could still support her, and he had a pretty good idea of how.
