Page 71 of A Duke's Unwanted Bride
Such pretty lies.She wished he did not say things so convincingly. “I fear you missed your calling; you should be on the stage with skills like those.”
“I am not acting.” Warner’s blue eyes were like frozen pools, tempting her towards them with a promise of danger just beneath the surface. “Tonight, I only have eyes for you.”
“Why?” Adele’s mouth was suddenly dry.
Warner took a long drink before he answered. “You are my wife.”
In name alone.Adele swallowed at the intensity of Warner’s gaze and drank from her own mug. To her surprise, she found it nearly empty.When did I do that?
Warner was beckoning a serving girl over and ordering them another drink. Adele shifted in her seat, letting the familiar warmth and light giddiness that came with alcohol wash over her. A moment later, there was a mug of ale in her hand.
Adele took a drink and let her eyes drift around the room.
“Do you regret it — marrying me I mean?” Adele asked as her eyes fell on a couple giggling and laughing in the corner.
“No.” Warner’s voice was firm. “Do you?”
“No.” Adele’s eyes were still on the couple. “It was necessary, and being married to you is nothing like I expected.”
A part of her ached as she watched them. They seemed to be unaware of anyone else in the world. The woman’s eyes were soft and dark as she looked at her beau. The man pressed gentle kisses to her hand.What would that be like?
She could not imagine a world in which someone treated her like that.You mean Warner.He was kind and funny and so many things she had not expected, but he would never be hers.
“What did you expect?” Warner’s voice was gentle, and it drew her back to him like a moth to a flame.
“Loneliness, less laughter, less joy.” Adele met Warner’s gaze.Less wanting.
“I did not expect things to be like this either, but I find that I much prefer the sound of laughter over silence.” Warner swallowed. “It has been surprisingly enjoyable to have such a full house. It is not something I have ever experienced before.”
“Nor I.” Adele smiled at the memory of the chaos that had filled their halls. “I thought it would be overwhelming, and while it was at times rather rambunctious, it felt…”
“Cosy?” Warner offered.
Adele nodded. “It felt like home.”
“I am glad.” Warner took another drink. “I like the sound of your laughter.”
Her heart quickened. “I like it when you make me laugh.”
Warner’s eyes searched her face. There was a tension in his jaw, in his shoulder, even as the corners of his mouth quirked upwards. To Adele, it seemed like Warner was fighting something within him.You are just being hopeful.
“In truth, I did not expect to feel so supported. But at every turn, you seem determined to make my dreams come true without expecting anything in return.” The words tumbled from Adele’s mouth before she could stop them. “No one has ever done what you have done for me.”
“Have you ever given them the chance?” Warner asked.
Adele felt a lump form in her throat as she thought of the times she had wanted such things from her family, from her parents. She could still remember the day when she had simply stopped asking.
“At a certain point, one runs out of chances to give,” Adele replied.
Warner’s voice held an edge, but Adele could not place it. “Then I am glad you have given me a chance.”
“I did not need to. Or rather, you have not given me a choice.” Adele smiled at him. “You just do things. I mentioned to you the other day that lilies were my favourite flower, the next day there was a vase of them in my sewing room. Though, perhaps you are only making the room so nice to keep me from bothering you.”
I thought all women wished to be swept off their feet.Warner’s words echoed around her head. Mingling with the answer she had longed to give him.Then sweep me.
“I just like to see you smile.” The words seemed to have tumbled from Warner’s mouth, and Adele noticed a flush to his skin, and the fingers on his left hand twitched.
“I like your smile too. It is surprisingly sweet,” Adele said without thinking.
