Page 77 of A Duke's Unwanted Bride
No.“The carriage is ready.” Adele met his gaze, her heart hammering wildly in her chest. “I should not keep them waiting.”
“Adele,” Warner’s voice cracked as she turned to face him. For a wild, heart stopping moment, she was sure he was going to ask her to stay.
Her eyes searched his face, looking for some hint of his thoughts. “Yes?”Please, ask me to stay. Tell me you want me to stay. Ask me not to leave.
“Will you be sending for this?” he gestured around them.
Adele’s heart shattered and her voice shook as she said, “Yes.”
His question had told her everything she needed to know.
“I am sorry — I did not know where else to go.” Adele dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief as the other three widows gathered around her.
They were sitting in the living room of Cora’s townhouse. Adele had not been able to bring herself to go straight to an empty home, not after what she had just heard from the Duke.
“You have nothing to apologise for. It is far better to cry amongst friends then on your own.” Cora waved Adele’s apology awayand handed her a cup of brown liquid. “Drink this; it will help things.”
Adele took a sip and let out a spluttering cough. “What is it?”
“Coffee with a little splash of brandy.” Cora patted Adele’s arm affectionately.
“It is ten in the morning!” Rowen narrowed her eyes at Cora.
“That is why it is in coffee.” Cora replied simply. “If Adele had arrived after lunch, I would have popped it in some lemonade, and if she had arrived after five, I would have given her brandy alone like a civilised person. It is quite the best thing for a broken heart.”
Adele felt a small chuckle stir within her at the shock on Rowen and Verity’s faces. Then her heart seized on her conversation with Warner, and the mirth died.
“I am not sure that brandy will fix this. It is my own foolishness that caused this.” Adele shook her head. “I knew that ours was not to be a real marriage, that anything he did was just him playing a part. It was silly for me to think there could ever be anything more. You would think by now that I would have learned how unlovable I truly am.”
“You are not unlovable! That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard,” Verity exclaimed as she made a vehement gesture of denial with her hand.
“Just because some fluff-headed duke is too stupid to see how amazing you are, does not mean that no one else will.” Rowen took Adele’s hand in hers, eyes flashing with anger. “We love you, just the way you are.”
She gave them a weak smile. “It is not quite the same as having a man love you.”
“It is better. The love of a friend knows no bounds.” Rowen gestured around them.
Verity added. “And you are unlikely to find us throwing you over for a younger, prettier woman.”
“And we do not need convincing of how wonderful you are; we knew it from the moment we met you.” Rowen smiled at her, squeezing Adele’s hand gently.
“Men have their charms, but they can be a little slow to understand their own hearts.” Cora sipped from her cup, nodding sagely.
“I doubt the man has a heart. If he did, he would not have let her go.” Rowen glared. “And the fact that he did says far more about him than you. He is a prize idiot, and it is his loss. Not yours.”
“It does not feel like it. I thought he cared for me, and perhaps he did, but I see now that it was not romantic. I think he is just kind, and I mistook that kindness for something more.” Adele felt alump form in her throat as she thought of all the little things he had done for her.
Realisation hit her, and she clapped a hand to her forehead. “Of course, he wanted me to continue dressmaking! He wanted me to remain independent, to not have to rely on him. I thought he was encouraging my dream, but he knew I would be leaving and wanted something to make me less of a burden.”
“You are not a burden. And the fact that this pillock has made you feel like one makes me want to kick him in such a way that his baritone would become a soprano.” Rowen stood up as though she meant to do just that.
“No, Rowen. He does not deserve that.” Adele grabbed her friend’s hand and pulled her back onto the sofa.
“What about his shins?” Rowen grinned at her.
“I do not want anyone kicking him, anywhere,” Adele said firmly.
“Fine. But it would make me feel better.” Adele knew that Rowen was trying to lighten the mood, that she was trying to make Adele feel better.
