Chapter Thirteen
A deline leaned against the wall with her arms wrapped across herself. She stared at the closed door. What were they talking about? Did Kingsbury know something about the artifacts? He seemed so confident that he understood her situation. She shook her head. He must have meant about being married off to Lord Bellamy. Last night’s attack on George was undoubtedly done by those men to whom her father owed money. The artifacts were just another way for her father to pay his debts. Like his selling her off. Why did Lord Bellamy want her anyway? How much did he offer her father? How much was she worth?
The door opened, and Kingsbury walked out of George’s room. Good Lord, he was so big and solid. She wanted to step into his embrace again, but that was foolish and probably unwanted. She had already made a cake of herself by asking him to kiss her last night. Oh, but the sensuous slide of his lips had been worth discarding her pride. During their kiss, for the first time in her life, she hadn’t had a single thought in her head. She had planned to analyze the pressure and position of lips and mentally record all the details of how a kiss should be attempted. Instead, his kiss had erased all rational thoughts, replacing them with pure sensation.
His grim expression softened when he saw her. “Adeline, can we speak privately?”
She pushed off the wall. “Certainly.” Where could she take him where her father wouldn’t see? “This way.”
Kingsbury followed her toward the back of the house. Adeline climbed up the back stairs. At the top, she led him to the left and pushed open the large window that led to her favorite place. She stepped over the low sill and onto her terrace. At ten feet by ten feet, it was a small area that jutted off right below the roofline. No one ever came out here but her, which made it a perfect spot. She crossed to the stone balustrade to give some space for Kingsbury to climb out. The crisp fall air was chilly, and she pulled her shawl more tightly around her shoulders. “This is my space. No one ever comes out here.”
“Nice view.”
It really was a pleasant view. From up here, she could see the entire square, the bright oranges and reds of the trees that stood sentry in front of the pristine, grand houses. She turned to face him. “I use it most often at night to view the stars.”
He shucked off the greatcoat he still wore and draped it across her shoulders. It enveloped her in his warmth, falling down to sweep the ground. His lips twitched up into an amused smile. “There, it’s chilly this morning.”
“Thank you.” She buried her nose in the collar. It smelled like his pleasant mix of smoke and vanilla. “For coming this morning, as well. You always seem to show up when I am falling apart. I promise you, normally, I am very level-headed.”
“Adeline, may I call you Adeline?”
She nodded.
“Your brother has asked me to escort you safely to your estate in Wiltshire. He said he will keep Bellamy at bay until he can figure out how to pay off your father’s debts.”
“But how will he pay them off if I do not marry Bellamy?” The idea of escape lit a bright flame of hope in her chest. But thinking about poor George, beaten and broken, quickly doused the feeling. “If I leave, who will protect George?”
“George is a grown man who can handle the mess your father has made. Their choices will have consequences, but I can protect you if you allow me to help.”
Adeline swallowed around tears that threatened at the sincerity that burned in his eyes. This was no time for emotion; she must think clearly. Her father’s actions had put the family at risk; if she were honest, she had very little sympathy for him. He deserved to face the consequences of his actions. But George, was he involved, too? Or desperately trying to clean up Father’s mess? She chewed on her thumbnail.
“He won’t let me leave,” she said.
Kingsbury gently pulled her hand away from her mouth. “Adeline, pack a trunk with some clothes and necessities, and we will go.”
“Now? No, I cannot leave. If I don’t marry Bellamy, there will be no way to keep those men at bay. No way to pay off the debt. I will not sacrifice George. He always protects me. Now it’s my turn to protect him.”
“At what cost? He doesn’t want you to marry Bellamy any more than I do. You cannot fix what your father has done. It is not your job.”
Yes, it was. Perhaps she could avoid marrying Bellamy somehow; an engagement was not binding. She just needed time to think through the options. Running away from home with a handsome stranger was not the solution. No matter how tempting.
“Why do you care what happens to me?” She genuinely did not understand Kingsbury’s concern.
He moved closer, crowding her up against the balustrade. “Of course I care what happens to you. You can’t kiss a man like you did me last night and not expect him to fall madly in love with you.”
Her mouth fell open. In love? Then she narrowed her eyes. “You are teasing me again, you rogue. My brother asked you for a favor, and you said yes because he is clearly a pathetic mess right now.” That was why. Kingsbury was a man of honor. He would of course help a friend when asked.
“It’s true that your brother asked me to keep you safe.” His hand stroked gently down her cheek; she shivered despite the warm coat around her. “But that kiss seared my soul. You are my priority now.”
All she could do was stare at him; her breath frozen in her chest. No one had ever made her a priority, ever. Then, her inner voice spoke up. Don’t be a fool. This man’s flirting game is top-notch. He is manipulating you into doing what he wants.
“No, I cannot leave George when he is so vulnerable or my mother when she is so distraught over what happened. I may still be able to figure something out.” She shrugged off his greatcoat and shoved it at his chest. “You must leave now, Lord Kingsbury.”
“But Adeline—”
She pushed at his chest. “No. No more romanticisms. No more talk of running away. I will marry Lord Bellamy, and he will pay off my father’s debts. I will keep my family safe.” She pointed at the window. “Now, please leave.”
Kingsbury stared at her for a long moment. Then he folded his coat over one arm and turned to leave. Once he was gone, Adeline inhaled a deep draught of cold air and turned her face up to the sky. What had she done?