Page 6 of A Duke's Unwanted Bride
Without waiting for a response, his uncle slipped out of the backdoor to the drawing room, the door closing behind him. Lady Adelaide looked from Warner to the door and back again, her pretty brown eyes wide and a slight tremor to her lips.
“Will he be all right?” she asked.
“I will see that he is looked after.” Warner watched the widow closely as she perched on the edge of her seat. “I believe we were talking about the events of the wedding. You do not think his death was an accident?”
“Would the Bow Street Runners be here if it was thought to be natural? Especially in such numbers?” She jerked her head towards the door. “Who would want to kill Lord Rothwell?”
The fire that had briefly blazed in her seemed to have dimmed, replaced by something softer. Warner would have been impressed by it in other circumstances.
“The Bow Street runners will discover the reason. They have ways of rooting out what others wish to keep hidden.” Warner made a dismissive gesture.
If he had not been watching her so closely, he might have missed her flinch at his words. She swallowed, her fingers twisting in her dress. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.What secrets are you hiding beneath that pretty smile, Lady Adelaide?
“I hope they discover it soon.” Her voice wavered slightly.
“Do you?” Warren asked.
“Of course.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “I do not wish for the killer to go unpunished.”
“Nor do I.” His gaze lingered on hers, and he noticed the catch in her breath. “Do I make you nervous, Lady Adelaide?”
“No.” The lie was obvious, highlighted by the flush of her cheeks and the way she bit her lips. “I… I am unused to being alone… with a man.”
“But you are used to being alone?” He quirked his lips upwards as he watched the colour on her cheeks deepen.
“I do not like to be too reliant on anyone.” Her voice tightened, the muscles in her neck tensing.“Your independence is important to you then?” He steepled his fingers together. “And yet you were getting married?”
“The two are not mutually exclusive. Lord Rothwell and I… I was not worried about a loss of my freedom — not with him.” She looked away, her fingers curling into a fist.
He pushed her. Something lurked beneath the surface of those innocent brown eyes. “Rather a lot of trust to place in one person.”
“Do you not think him worthy of such trust?” She looked at him, the fire burning in her eyes.
He shrugged.“My cousin was one of the most honourable men I knew.”
“Then you understand why I believed our marriage would not be a cage.” Her voice was soft, and he heard the note of bitterness in her words.
I’ve got you now.He leaned forwards, seizing on the moment. “Is that how you view marriage? As a cage? A rather strange notion for a bride to hold on her wedding day. It almost sounds as though you would rather not be married.”
“If that was the case, I would not be here, would I?” Her eyes widened as though she had not meant to let him see the more sarcastic side of her.
Triumph blazed in his chest, but he clamped it down hard. “Is that a flash of temper, Lady Adelaide?”
“No.”
“It sounds like it.”
“Then you are mistaken.”
“You seem rather unmoved for someone who has just watched someone she loves die.” He chose his words carefully, seeing the blaze of anger in her brown eyes.
“You cannot have it both ways, Duke Scarfield. I cannot be ill-tempered and yet unmoved.” She got to her feet and began to pace.
“I am simply pointing out that of the emotions you have displayed, the nearest thing I can name is anger. Rather unusual, do you not think?” Warner smirked at her, feeling satisfaction spread through him.Emotions are always people’s undoing.
She gesticulated at him, every word dripping with disdain and frustration. “And what would you have me do? Throw myself on the ground and curse the heavens? Who would that help? It would not bring him back.”
“Most women would cry, faint, express some kind of pain. I believe a servantdidfaint.” Warner stretched out in the chair, noting the way her eyes followed his every movement.
