Page 64 of A Duke's Unwanted Bride
“I want —” Before she could finish the sentence, there was a tiny cough from behind them, and as Adele looked towards it, the sight of her face shattered the spell between them.She looks like she has seen a ghost.
They broke apart, and Warner turned to find himself staring at a woman who looked very much like his wife. She was shorter than Adele, and her face was round where Adele’s striking features were all sharp angles.
“Forgive the interruption, Your Grace, and that we have not yet had a chance to meet. I am Lady Anne Danby, Countess of Montrose.”
“Anne.” Adele’s voice was small. “What are you doing here?”
Twenty-Three
“Well, you did invite me, Addie.” Anne gave her a weak smile.
Adele felt Warner’s muscles tense as he put an arm around her, angling his body so that he was between Anne and Adele. The laughter and wildness that had been on his face moments before had vanished.
In its place was a coolness that would have chilled Adele to her bones if it had been directed at her. Anne’s smile disappeared all together under the weight of Warner’s gaze.
“I did not expect you to come,” Adele admitted honestly.Not when I have not heard from you in months.
The words felt too close to what Bianca had said to her all those weeks ago, and Adele added, “Though I am glad to see you.”
Anne’s face brightened. “And I am glad to see you too. In truth, I was hoping I might speak to you in private?”
Warner stiffened, and Adele sensed he was about to interject, but she laid a hand against his arm. He looked at her, his eyebrow arched in question. She tried to give him a reassuring smile.
“You do not have to do anything you do not want,” he murmured so softly only she could hear.
“Thank you,” she murmured back before turning to Anne. “I would be happy to speak with you though I fear I will not be able to take too long. After all, I am the hostess, and I would not fail in my duties.”
“Of course.” Anne twisted her hands nervously. “I have no wish to take up too much of your time. I just…”
“Let us speak outside.” Adele gestured to the veranda and led Anne towards it.
She could feel Warner’s gaze on the back of her neck, the strength of it felt like a physical touch, and she leaned into it, drawing strength from his protectiveness.Even if it is only an act.
As soon as they were outside, Anne blurted, “Bianca told me what she said to you that night. And I just wanted you to know that I did not feel the same. Not even in the slightest.”
“Then why are you only telling me this now? You have had weeks to contact me.” Adele narrowed her eyes, suspicion stealing over her as she crossed her arms. “The timing seems oddly suspicious. You suddenly have a change of heart now that my reputation is restored — forgive me, Anne, but I find it difficult to believe the two are unconnected.”
Anne’s eyes widened, and she shook her head, making vehement gestures of denial with her hand. “No, Addie! Please, it is nothing to do with that. I promise.”
Adele forced herself to remain stony faced. “And why should I? Bianca made her position perfectly clear. Made both of your positions clear.”
“She does not speak for me.” Anne’s anger flared. “She is entitled to her own opinions, even if I think they are idiotic. And I would not have you think so little of me that I cannot make my own mind.”
“Can you blame me, Anne? I hardly know the pair of you, and neither of you has ever made the effort to know me. My last husband died, and you did not even visit me.”
“I was not in my right mind, Adele! Gemima was very poorly; I feared I might lose her. And Algernon was no help. He seemed to think it would be a spared expense.” Anne’s face twisted into a mask of pain and anger.
“What?” Adele’s own anger flared as she thought of the cruel man who was her sister’s husband.
“It finally made me see the truth of him, Addie.” Anne smiled at Adele. She had been the only one to give her a nickname, but that had all changed once she had married the Earl. “You tried to warn me, remember? But I would not hear a word against him. He convinced me that you were only jealous, and I hate that I believed him.”
“I just did not want to watch him keep hurting you.” Adele’s fist was clenched.
“I can see that now. And I am not trying to excuse my own failings.” Anne ran a hand through her hair. “I know I let you down, and that my absence, our absence was hard on you.”
“It was.” Adele admitted. “You and Bianca always seemed to have such an easy rapport, and I thought that perhaps I could have that with you too, but then you were married, and it was like you forgot all about me.”
“I forgot everything, my dear Addie. I lost myself in Algernon. I let him break me, but I refuse to let him keep taking things from me.” Anne took a deep breath, placing a hand on Adele’s shoulder. “I have not been the sister you deserve, but I would like to be. I would like to get to know you; I would like for my children to spend more time with you. I know that this is probably too late, but I truly wish to have you in my life, my dear, baby sister. And I promise I will do better.”
