Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
“ Y ou are staring, husband.”
Adam’s gaze sharpened from where he stood beside Rosaline’s bedchamber door. He had thought himself unobserved until their eyes met in the mirror.
He pushed off the doorway, wandering into the room and watching his wife with a wan smile as she placed the final sparkling diamond into her hair.
“These are very beautiful,” he said, gently touching one of the glittering pins as she smiled up at him.
“They were my mother’s. I am glad you like them.”
She contemplated their reflections in the mirror, cocking her head to one side as her smile grew.
“We do make a handsome couple, Your Grace,” she said teasingly.
He liked hearing that from her. She was usually so reserved about her appearance, but tonight she held herself with confidence.
“Indeed we do, although I believe you make up at least two thirds of the appeal.”
“Only two thirds?” she asked as he smirked in reply.
“Come,” he said, holding out his hand to her, a familiar thrill running over his skin as she took it. “We shall be late if we do not hurry.”
Roseline sighed heavily. “I shall never get used to the sheer number of invitations you receive when you are in London.”
“When we are in London. They cannot help themselves. Curiosity killed the cat, you know, and they are all eager to meet my bride.”
Rosaline rolled her eyes as they descended the stairs to the carriage.
“At least there will be dancing,” she said wearily, as they made their way through the entrance hall and out into the night.
The Lauriston ball was a fine occasion, with the crème de la crème of London society in attendance.
The townhouse danced with light, lilting music spilling out onto the street, where carriages and horses jostled for position as the guests who were in attendance arrived in style.
Lord Lauriston was a well-known businessman and a popular one at that. There was barely a spare foot of space to be seen as they entered the ballroom.
Adam’s jaw tightened when, almost immediately, his gaze alighted on Lord Claridge, laughing pompously on the other side of the room, spilling port all over the floor.
Of course, that odious little man is here again, I shall never be rid of him until I can beat him at his own game.
Adam glanced at his wife, whose eager eyes were taking in the room around them.
Her bearing was a stark contrast to the last occasion they had attended. She seemed altogether more relaxed and buoyant in herself, and he felt warm pleasure at the sight.
“What a crush,” Rosaline said, turning her dazzling eyes on him. “Shall we make out way to the refreshment table? I am already gasping for air in this place.”
“I cannot believe the man knows so many people,” Adam said, bewildered by the sheer volume of guests.
They made their way slowly through the room, Adam’s lips lifting up at the edges as he felt Rosaline’s fingers interlace with his own, drawing him forward.
A tentative bond seemed to have formed between them since they had lain together. Her manner toward him had become more open, less guarded somehow.
As they moved toward the refreshments, the crowd thickened, and they were separated as a particularly portly man fell across Adam’s path.
His body broke the connection between their linked hands as he barged past with a loud shout, waving to someone across the room.
Adam scowled at him, stepping back to let him pass, but when he moved to follow his wife again, the scowl only increased as he was met with the face of Lord Claridge standing before him.
The man’s piggy eyes were squinting in a most self-important way and Adam ground his teeth.
Have your fun, Claridge. I shall find a way to destroy you in my own time, and then you will wish that we had never met.
“Your Grace,” Claridge said coolly. “What a pleasure to see you again. I trust that you got my letter?”
Adam looked over the man’s head to see Rosaline standing at the refreshment table as a servant poured her two glasses of punch.
“I did,” he glanced back at him feigning disinterest. “What of it?”
“Why, I would think that was obvious, Your Grace. I would welcome an introduction to Lord Lauriston and his circle, as I requested in that, and all the other notes I have sent you. After all, he is well regarded, and I am told you are more closely acquainted with the man than me.”
Claridge bounced on the balls of his feet with a smug smile and Adam’s hands curled into fists as he felt his ire rising.
I have no choice but to agree until that damned letter is found. I hope Silas has had a fruitful evening.
“Certainly,” he bit out as Rosaline made her way back to them, handing him a glass.
Claridge glanced at his niece with such disdain Adam wished he could punch the man where he stood.
“Rosaline,” Adam said, deliberately pushing past Claridge to get between them. “I do not believe you have met Lord Lauriston, yet. Come, let me introduce you to our host.” Adam glanced down at Claridge scornfully. “Lord Claridge, you are welcome to join us.”
Without waiting for Rosaline’s reply, he led the way through the crowd, listening to Claridge’s eager footsteps following after him.
It is only a matter of time, and then I will never have to indulge this man again.
After the introductions were made, Adam left Claridge standing beside a very bored-looking Lauriston. Claridge was attempting to explain a new business venture to him.
It was painfully clear that Lauriston did not even know who Claridge was, and yawned continually as the other man spoke.
The heat in the ballroom had dissipated somewhat as the doors to the balcony at the back of the room had been opened. They were flung wide and the night air had begun to circulate.
Adam glanced at Rosaline and, as if of one mind, they made their way through the crowds to the cooler space outside.
The balcony was not large, but only occupied by one other couple and Adam hastily led the way to the opposite corner, breathing a sigh of relief.
Rosaline’s eyes met his with a confused expression.
“Why did you introduce my uncle to Lord Lauriston?” she asked. “I believe Lauriston thought him an oaf.”
“Does that trouble you?” Adam asked in surprise.
“Not in the least. I just wondered what knowledge you have of my uncle’s business dealings.”
Her eyes glittered in the bright light from the ballroom and Adam’s gut clenched as he considered just how honest he could be.
I do not want to lie to her, but what choice do I have?
“We have followed similar investment opportunities in our time,” he hazarded. “Lord Lauriston and I go back a long way; he is a shrewd and calculating businessman. Claridge will be tried and tested by him, and I doubt he will find an ally in Lauriston. Claridge could not hold a candle to him.”
“Or anyone,” Rosaline muttered darkly. “I have never known a man with less business sense in his head. I may not be able to make investments myself, but I have seen enough of his failures to know he is abysmal at it.”
“Oh yes, Duchess? I do not doubt that if you could make investments of your own, you would run rings around the rest of us.”
Rosaline scoffed. “When my uncle returned from the army, he made several imprudent and foolhardy decisions. I remember my aunt arguing with him a great deal about the money he lost at the time. I think he was quite a gambler. My aunt controlled the purse strings from that moment on.”
Adam’s ears pricked up at that knowledge and jumped at the chance to ask her more about it.
“Your aunt controlled the money?”
“Well, she certainly had a strongbox fashioned that housed any ready cash to prevent my uncle from getting a hold of it. She used to keep the key around her neck,” she said with a derisive laugh.
A strongbox where the two of them might keep important things they do not wish for others to find.
Adam felt a rush of excitement that he might have discovered the key to where Henry’s letter was hidden.
A wave of affection for his wife washed over him for furnishing him with such a gift.
Rosaline gasped as he used his body to push her against the edge of the balcony. The other couple had left them, and they were blissfully alone for a few private moments.
“You are full of surprises, my duchess,” he said with a rumbling growl, feeling the tight curves of her body beneath his fingers and wishing they were truly alone.
“You are going to start tongues wagging, Your Grace,” Rosaline stated somewhat breathlessly.
Adam boldly lowered his lips to her throat, letting his tongue discreetly run along the line of it as she shuddered beneath him.
“I am not worried about any other tongues but my own,” he murmured, and Rosaline clutched at his arm tightly as he drew back. “I believe I shall take you home, Duchess. I do not wish to be in public a moment longer.”
With that, he pulled her through the doors of the ballroom as they discreetly made their way to their carriage.
The ride home was an interminable torment, her beautiful gaze fixed on him throughout the journey, his desperation mounting as he imagined peeling her out of her exquisite gown and having her beneath him again.
As they alighted at their home, Adam could hardly contain his desire, but for the sake of propriety composed himself as the butler greeted them at the door.
“Silas is waiting for you in your study, Your Grace,” the butler said quietly, as Adam dispensed with his hat and gloves.
With a groan, he turned to Rosaline. She did not help matters by smiling at him coyly and heading up the stairs to her room.
Mustering all his self-control, he dragged himself away from her alluring form, and stalked through the house to the study.
He burst through the door, startling Silas, who stood before his desk looking rather nervous.
“Have you recovered it?” Adam asked eagerly.
“No, Your Grace,” came Silas’s rough tones. “He has it kept under lock and key, I’d wager. Men like him are good at hiding what they don’t want no one to find.”
Adam walked to his desk, fingers clenching and unclenching at his side.
“Damn,” he muttered. “But it is no matter. We still must recover it, but I have some more information that I have learned. There is a strongbox, somewhere in the Claridge house, presumably in Claridge’s study. His wife has the key. If we can find a way to get it from her…”
Adam picked up an invitation from the surface of his desk, smiling to himself as he recalled the other note Claridge had sent him.
“We may be in luck at any rate. They are holding a soirée in a few days’ time which the duchess and I will attend. The house will be filled with guests and Claridge occupied. Gaining access will not be difficult.”
Adam scratched at his jaw.
“The only obstacle is the key. We will need to find a way to get hold of it.”
Silas’s smug expression gave Adam pause. “I don’t need no key, Your Grace,” he said confidently. “Not many locks get past me.”
Adam blinked at him, rather shocked to discover who he had on his employ, but grateful for it, nonetheless.
“Very well, man, you have your orders. Under no circumstances must you be caught. Is that understood?”
“Understood.”
Adam watched Silas leave, the blood coursing through his being as his desire returned, his eyes flicking upward to the ceiling.
Now, I must see to my wife.