Page 79 of Debating with the Duke (Second Sons of London 2)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Adalyn.

Ev had called herAdalyn.

Three days had passed since her husband had put her inside a carriage bound for London and this was the only thing she could think about. One word which had cut her to the bone.

And told her exactly how he felt about her.

She had tried her best to be the wife he wanted and had thought she was doing a decent job of things. But it seemed her husband no longer wanted anything to do with her. He couldn’t stand to be in the same household. He had sent her away. True, London wasn’t that far from Kent but she might as well have journeyed to China. The wide gulf between her and Ev seemed impossible to close.

She wondered if her forwardness in the bedroom had been to blame in her banishment. Or if he merely found her lacking in everything a duchess should be. Perhaps he even sent her back to town in order for her to observe other duchesses in Polite Society and learn how to imitate them. She had no idea how to repair their relationship and had spent her time locked inside this townhouse, brooding or weeping.

Attending atonevent hadn’t even crossed her mind. If she did go, others would immediately ask her about her duke. Where he was. When he would return to town. How their marriage fared. Adalyn didn’t trust herself to hear these questions without bursting into tears, which was why she knew she couldn’t go out in public. She hadn’t even sent a note to her parents or cousins to let them know she was back in town.

Curling her feet underneath her, she propped her elbow on the arm of the settee and gazed out the window, trying to think of ways to please Ev.

A knock sounded at the door and Bailey appeared.

“Lady Middlefield has come to call, my lady. Are you home to her?”

Tessa was one of the most intelligent people Adalyn knew. Perhaps she could share with her cousin a bit of her distress and see if Tessa had an answer.

“Yes, please escort her to me,” she replied, standing and smoothing her wrinkled gown, thinking it was too late to go and change.

Bailey arrived with Tessa in tow and she did her best to give her cousin a smile. Once the door closed, though, her smile faded.

Tessa came closer and embraced her. “Why did you not let us know that you and Everett were back in town?”

Adalyn burst into tears.

Tessa hugged her fiercely as Adalyn sobbed for several minutes. Then the sobs subsided, with a hiccough or two.

“Come and sit,” Tessa said soothingly. “Tell me what is wrong.”

She took a deep breath. “Ev sent me away.”

Tessa’s brow furrowed. “You fought?”

“No. Not exactly.”

“Then tell me why you are here and he is at Cliffside. Leave nothing out.”

A single tear trickled down Adalyn’s cheek and she wiped it away. “It all goes back to the list.”

“The list?” Tessa asked, looking puzzled for a moment. “Your list as to what you wished for in a husband?”

“No, not my list.Ev’slist. You see, when I agreed to help him find his duchess, I thought about how Louisa and I had created our own lists. I suggested to Ev that he do the same so that he could see what he was truly searching for in a bride.”

Adalyn bit her lip. “And I possess very few qualities on his list, Tessa. He wished for a woman who would conduct herself as a duchess at all times. He wanted a woman who was dignified and reserved. Serene.” She shook her head. “I am nothing like the ideal woman he wished to wed.”

Tears began streaming down her face again. “You see, Ev was forced to marry me so I wouldn’t be ruined.”

“What?” her cousin asked.

“It’s true. I don’t exactly know how it happened but we were kissing at the Starfelds’ ball and of all people, Lady Gwenda, her parents, and Lord Talflynn came upon us. You know what gossips Lord and Lady Fowling are and their daughter is absolutely vicious when it comes to spreading rumors.”

“Yes, that is how Spencer and I heard you were betrothed. Lord and Lady Fowling were circulating the news throughout the ballroom.”

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