Page 42 of A Duke's Unwanted Bride
Warner’s heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean?”
“My brother is dead, and that leaves you free to claim his widow for your own. Careful cousin, or she might do to you what she did to him. I hear she likes to play with men’s hearts.” Toby’s smile was cruel, a complete departure from the kind boy he had grown up with.
Warner’s grip tightened on his glass, and he leaned forwards, his voice low. “She did not kill your brother.”
“Are you sure about that?” Toby met his gaze, anger and pain flashing in his eyes.
“Do you really think I would marry a woman I thought killed Rothwell?”
“A week ago I would have said no, but then… a week ago, if you had told me my dearest cousin would be marrying my brother’s widow, I would have laughed in your face and told you that you were mad.” Toby’s lip curled.
“I loved him like a brother; you know that. He is the one who saved me when no one else could. I will spend the rest of my life trying to repay his kindness.” Warner stood and walked to the fireplace, resting his hand on the mantle.
Toby was on his feet, glaring at Warner. “You did not love him; how could you claim to love him if you would take his wife for your own?”
“I am doing no such thing! There was nothing between your brother and his widow. I cannot tell you the truth of their arrangement, but Ad— Lady Adele was not your brother’s love. Nor is she my own.” Warner squared off against Toby. “This is about protecting her, keeping her safe.”
Toby scoffed. “And why would you do that if you did not care for her?”
“Do you really believe I would do that to him?” Warner’s heart thundered in his chest. “Do you think so little of me, cousin? Do you think I would woo a woman whom your brother had loved? That I would win her heart when he is barely three months in the ground?”
Toby glared at him and then deflated, sinking down into the armchair. “Of course not, cousin. I was not thinking. It has been a long journey. If you say that there is nothing between you and his widow, then I will believe you.”
Warner swallowed. “I am only trying to keep her safe. It is my duty.”
Toby looked at him for a long moment, but if he heard the catch in Warner’s voice, he gave no sign of it.It is my duty.
“Then forget I said anything.” Toby gave him a weak smile. “I am sure Eric would have been grateful to you, he always did his best to look after the people around him.”
Warner nodded. “He did. It is strange that I will be getting married without him there.”
“I know. Though if he were here, you would not be getting married at all.” Toby clapped him on the back and laughed.
Warner joined him, though his laughter sounded hollow to his ears. He thought of Adele and the way her hand had felt against his chest. Thought of the sound of her laugh, the way her eyes had glinted when she had flirted with him. It had made his heart pound so hard, he was certain she must have felt it.
“I should go and see my father. We will stay here tonight and then go to Erindale tomorrow.” Toby walked to the doorway. “I am glad to be home, Cousin.”
“It is good to have you back, Toby.” Warner kept his smile in place until the sound of his cousin’s footsteps faded out of earshot.
He leaned his head against the cool stone of his study wall and let out a sigh. “There is nothing between us. There can never be anything between us.”
I cannot betray Rothwell.He would do his duty, that was it, but he could not help but picture Adele’s pretty face or run his hand along his chest, feeling the echo of her fingertips.
Fifteen
“You look so beautiful!” Rowen clapped her hands over her mouth while Verity and Cora nodded their agreement.
Adele beamed back at her friends. They were standing in the modiste’s, the day before the wedding. It was the final fitting, to ensure the gown was everything she had wanted.
“I cannot believe you designed this yourself!” Verity ran an appreciative hand over the sleeves of the gown.
“Well, the modiste made some adjustments. The original design would not work quite as well with this fabric.” Adele gestured to the yellow silk of her dress. “But I think the changes have made the dress work better. Though perhaps trying to design my own gown was foolish. It is not quite continental or British; maybe they will think me vain or arrogant, or I will look awful.”
“Adele, you are fretting again.” Cora shook her head.
“The dress is truly breathtaking — I doubt the Duke will be able to keep his eyes off you.” Verity beamed at her.
She imagined Warner staring at her, his eyes dark and hungry, and she felt a tingle run down her spine. “Or he will tell me that it is too much.”
