Page 33 of A Duke's Unwanted Bride
The servants left, and Adele’s momentary reprieve ended. She reached for the tea pot and poured two cups of tea. Her hand shook as she sipped from her own.
“I am sorry.” The Duke met her gaze with a sombre expression. “For the way I have treated you.”
Her jaw dropped, and she blinked, shaking her head slowly from side to side. “Did you just… apologise to me?”
“Yes.” The Duke stiffened and then let out a long breath. “Do not expect me to do it again.”
“I hardly expected it the first time.” Adele laughed, and though it sounded brittle, there was more mirth in it than she expected. “But I accept your apology. I can hardly blame you for your suspicion. My own family thinks I might have done it, so of course, you would too — you hardly know me. Though I suppose the same might be said of them.”
She had meant it to sound like a joke, but bitterness seeped into her words. Adele felt the lump form in her throat again and took a sip of her tea to hide the tears that threatened to form in her eyes. The last thing she wanted was for the Duke to pity her.
“Why did you come here?” Adele asked, hoping to change the topic.
“I received a visit from your friends.” The corner of the Duke’s mouth quirked upwards. “They are worried about you. Theyseemed to think that your recent isolation was my fault and that I was honour-bound to put things right.”
“Oh. Well, it is nothing to do with you. I have just been a little naïve, and my sister made me aware of that.”Do the right thing.Adele gave the Duke a look over the rim of her teacup. “You will be pleased to know that I will be unlikely to attend any more of her celebrations or balls in general.”
The Duke frowned and opened his mouth as though to say something then closed it, shaking his head. Adele wondered for a moment if he would ask her what she meant, but he did not. Her heart sank, even as a wave of relief washed over her.
“I have taken enough of your time, Lady Adele. I should leave.” He stood up and moved towards the door, his hand on the handle, and then he turned to her. “You should not hide yourself away.”
“I thought that was what you wanted?” She was on her feet too.
“And since when have you done what I wanted?” The Duke smiled at her, inclined his head, and then left without another word.
Adele let out a long breath she had not realised she was holding. She realised she had taken a step towards the door. She froze.What am I doing?
Why had she told him all of that?You are not a killer, Lady Adele.He had sounded so sure. Relief flooded through her, but it was not as strong as the warmth she felt on realizing that someone knew who and what she truly was.
A knock at the door brought her back to the present, and she opened it with a smile on her face, expecting to see the Duke. Instead, she found herself staring at her butler and a ruddy-faced, red-haired Bow Street Runner.
“My Lady, Mr. Harris is here to see you. He says he has some questions for you.” Her butler bowed to her.
“Lady Adelaide, you will forgive my intrusion of course. I trust now is a convenient time?” Mr. Harris pushed past her into the room, his eyes falling on the teacups as he helped himself to one of the scones. “I see you have been entertaining.”
Adele frowned at the man. “I am rather busy, Mr. Harris.”
“Then I will be quick.” The man leapt to his feet and walked around the room, taking another bite of food as he did. “Do you know what the main ingredient in rat poison is?”
“Cyanide, amongst other things.” Her blood turned to ice.
“And your parents have a kitchen full of rat poison.” Mr. Harris ran a hand through his hair.
“I am hardly the first person to have trouble with vermin.” Adele snorted even as her heart thundered so loudly against her ribs, she was sure the man must hear it. “Did you ask the Marquess’ brother that same question?”
“We will speak to him when he has returned. His military career is a notable one.” Mr. Harris took a biscuit from the platter. “I think it unlikely he would throw that away, don’t you?”
“Who knows what someone would do for power?” Adele swallowed; her heart was determined to rip itself from her chest.
“Exactly.” Mr. Harris smiled at her in a way that reminded her of a hyena she had once seen at the zoo, right before it had torn a chunk of meat to shreds. “Poison is a woman’s weapon, Marchioness. Everyone knows that. And from where I am standing, you seemed to have gained rather a lot from the Marquess’ passing. Or so the scandal sheets claim.”
“You know nothing. You have no proof.” Adele straightened her shoulders, injecting every bit of disdain she could muster into her words. “I will not be spoken to like this. Get out.”
Too late, Adele realised her mistake. Mr. Harris laughed mirthlessly as he strode to the door. “And of course, there is your temperament to consider. I’ll be watching you, Lady Kidlington. And I always get my man. Or, I should say, my woman.”
As soon as he left, Adele crumpled onto the sofa. She clutched at her stomach as it roiled. She was going to be sick.
“How can I have been such a fool?” Adele dug her nails into the palms of her hands.
