Chapter Forty
The good thing about sisters was that one could always depend on them for comfort and love even when one deserved nothing of the sort.
Adelaide found herself encircled by familiar arms so like her own, stroking her gently as she sobbed. “He hates me, Alice. I told him everything, and now he hates me. What do I do?”
“We go home. We have tea. We leave all decisions for the morning.” Alice drew small, soothing circles on her back. “Or we could reconsider my idea to boil him in oil. It was a good one, I think.”
Adelaide choked on a sob. “Tea sounds good.”
Alice helped her to her feet, and she shook out her skirts. Her dress was wrinkled, but perhaps no one would notice. The same could not be said of her face. She did not need a mirror to show her that her skin was a blotchy red and her eyes puffy. “How shall I leave? I don’t want anyone to see me like this.”
There was the sound of a masculine throat clearing behind her. Her heart sank as she slowly turned.
Abingdon…and Wessex.
Her humiliation was complete.
“Perhaps I may be of assistance, Miss Bursnell?” Wessex said. “I happen to know of several ways to escape my home undetected.”
Well, if the duke must bear witness to her disgrace, at least he would be useful.
“Abingdon will see to your cloaks and carriage. Shall we find Lady Westsea?”
Dear God.
The thought of facing her mother just now filled Adelaide with dread. She looked at her sister in desperation.
“Perhaps it would be better to sneak away on our own and send the carriage back for her,” Alice suggested.
Abingdon nodded and turned to go. He squeezed Alice’s arm gently as he passed her. She frowned at him, and guilt flashed over his face. Adelaide had the sudden thought that he would be in trouble later, but she had no idea why. It was hardly his fault Nick had behaved badly.
For he had behaved badly. The fog of pain had lifted somewhat, allowing Adelaide to see more clearly. And what she saw was that he had seduced her…again…and left her…again.
Intolerable.
Well. Perhaps the seduction part could be tolerated. She had been nothing if not a willing participant.
But he should not have left her in such a state.
No, she did not expect him ever to forgive her. Nick wasn’t capable of forgiveness, as he had told her more than once. And she deserved his anger.
But she did not deserve to be left, not like that. He should have arranged for her to be taken home, or taken her home himself. Anything other than leaving her to be found by Abingdon and Wessex. Or possibly a complete stranger.
It was too demeaning, even for Nick.
Anger surged through her. She welcomed it. Anger was infinitely better than the raw, aching hurt that had consumed her only moments before.
She followed Alice and Wessex out of the study and through the garden. Here and there, she heard low laughs and deep moans from hidden lovers, but she paid them no heed. So long as everyone minded their own business, they were not her concern, and she was none of theirs.
Wessex helped Alice into the waiting carriage, then turned to Adelaide. “A moment, Miss Bursnell.”
She waited, her face blazing with a potent mix of fury and mortification.
“He does care for you.”
Her lips felt stiff. “Clearly not enough.”
“He’ll come up to scratch, but if he does not, you have options. There is Montrose, but if he is no longer possible, then I would be honored.”
She glanced up at him incredulously. “Are you…are you offering me marriage, Your Grace?”
“Yes.” He blinked, as though he had surprised even himself. “Yes, I believe I am.”
She considered for the space of a mere second. He was, after all, very handsome, and quite possibly the most charming man she had ever met. But…
She laughed softly and gave a small shake of her head. “Thank you, Your Grace, you are the very definition of gallantry. But I must decline. I have caused enough trouble for one evening. Engaging myself to two men is too absurd, even for me.”
He smiled. “Well, I am here if you change your mind.”
He helped her into the carriage. She settled in against the tufted velvet cushion and smoothed her skirts.
“Did my ears deceive me, or did you just receive an offer of marriage from Duke Wessex?” Alice asked as the carriage rolled forward.
“Your ears did not deceive you.”
Alice blinked as she took that in. “But you refused him.”
“I did.”
“I must say, I am surprised by the offer,” Alice said slowly. “I rather thought he had a tendresse for Eliza.”
“I’m quite sure he still does,” Adelaide said. “His offer did not stem from any true affection for me but, surely, from his sense of chivalry.”
“I see.”
“But that is not why I refused him. I’m already engaged, remember?”
Alice pursed her lips. “Yes. About that… Must you, darling? There has to be a way out.”
“Why would I want to break my engagement?” She balled her hands into fists. “Nick made it quite clear he is not going to marry me. My situation has not changed from what it was two months ago. I must find a husband. If I cannot have love, at least I can have esteem and kindness, neither of which I would have with Nick at this point. Montrose will suit me quite well, I think.”
“I see,” Alice said again.
But Adelaide was fairly certain her sister did not see, at all.
The carriage wheels creaked and rattled over the cobblestone street. Adelaide blinked back tears and inhaled deeply, trying to match the rhythm of her breathing to the slow sway of the carriage.
When she felt less inclined to wail at the unfairness of life, she continued, “It is the only way, Alice. I cannot have James otherwise. I need a home of my own where he can always be with me. I need money to pay for his clothes and schooling. I need a husband to give us both legitimacy.”
“That is still your plan, then? You will bring James to live with you after your wedding?”
She nodded.
Alice tilted her head thoughtfully. “What if Montrose says no?”
“He will not say no,” Adelaide said with more firmness than she felt. “So long as I give him an heir in his old age, I expect he won’t ask much else of me.”
Alice’s eyes widened. “That seems rather heartless of you, darling.”
Adelaide sighed. “It does, rather. Perhaps I ought to confess before the wedding. Only, it did not go so well with Nick.”
“You needn’t tell Montrose the whole truth,” Alice said, giving her a horrified look. “Only that the child is coming to live with you, and that he has nowhere else to go. The duke strikes me as a kind, reasonable sort of man. I daresay he will not deny you.”
Adelaide hoped so, with all her heart.
“And if he won’t allow you to take in the child, James can come live with me,” Alice said.
Adelaide blinked rapidly. “You would do that?”
“He is my nephew.” Alice smiled. “I believe I can kill off an imaginary second cousin twice removed just as easily as you.” She reached for Adelaide’s hand and squeezed it tightly. “You are not alone, sister. You are never alone.”
Adelaide stared at their entwined hands.
You are never alone.
If only she had realized that before running away to Epsom. If only she had never ensnared herself in a web of lies. If only she had never doubted the love of a sister.
“This is what you want, then? To marry Montrose?” Alice pressed.
Adelaide nodded firmly. “I want my child.”
Her sister’s eyes glittered in the darkness. “Then you shall have him.”