Chapter 17
Seventeen
“Your room, Your Graces.” The inn keeper bowed low as he held open the door.
Adele swallowed, trying to ignore the prickle of agitation spreading through her. She forced herself not to shudder as she walked into the room, hoping that the smile on her face looked genuine.
As Scarfield castle was three day’s journey from London, they had initially planned to stop at the house of one of Warner’s family friend’s estates, but a tree had fallen across the road, and they had been forced to stop off at an inn. To keep up appearances, they had only taken a single room.
“I have had one of the girls send up a bottle of wine for you and some glasses. I expect the two of you will wish for some privacy.” Mr. Tilney gestured to the objects in the corner of the room as they followed him inside.
Adele felt her cheeks flush scarlet and deliberately did not look at her husband, grateful that he appeared to be distracted looking around the room. “That was considerate of you, Mr. Tilney.”
“It is not often we have a duke and his duchess grace us with their presence.” Mr. Tilney shifted from foot to foot, wringing his hands as his eyes followed Warner, who had strode towards the decanter of wine and was inspecting it. “I trust dinner was to your liking?”
“It was perfect, thank you.” Adele smiled at the innkeeper. “The guinea fowl was some of the best I have ever eaten.”
Mr. Tilney beamed at her. “How wonderful. And of course, I will ensure the private room is set aside for your use tomorrow morning… Unless you would prefer for me to have your breakfast sent up here; it would be no trouble!”
Adele had been about to say that he need not bother with the private room — she hardly minded eating in the common room — but the Duke replied before she could say anything. “The private room would be best. We have a long journey ahead of us, and I would like to be on the road as soon as possible.”
“Of course, Your Grace. I understand. I shall have the kitchens arrange some food for your travels — some apples, cured meats, and such.”
“Thank you.” Adele smiled at the man.
“I shall see that it is arranged. If there is anything else you need, Your Graces, please, do not hesitate to ask.” Mr. Tilney looked between Warner and Adele.
“Thank you, you may leave us, Mr. Tilney.” Warner inclined his head towards the man who swept into a low bow.
“I wish you both a pleasant evening.” The innkeeper shut the door.
Adele swallowed, looking around the room, her eyes skirting over the chaise by the fire and landing on the bed. Her gaze met Warner’s, and her mouth went dry.
“Alone at last.” He massaged a crick in his neck.
“I hope you’re not getting any ideas, Warner.” Adele meant it to sound teasing, but her voice came out oddly breathless.
He arched an eyebrow at her. “I simply meant we no longer need to keep up the pretence. We are alone.”
“Oh.” Adele swallowed, her brow furrowing at the slight stir of disappointment in her chest.
“To that point, I will sleep on the chaise.” Warner gestured to the chaise by the fire, and Adele frowned at him.
“There is absolutely no way you will fit on that.” Adele moved towards it and gave Warner a meaningful look.
“It will be fine.” Warner shrugged off his coat and flung it over the back of the chaise. “I can use my coat as a blanket or take one off the bed.”
“I can sleep on the chaise and —” Adele began, but Warner cut her off.“No.”
Warner’s eyes were hard.
“Why not? It is scarcely big enough for me to lie out on it, let alone you.” Adele flopped dramatically across it to illustrate her point, her feet dangling over the edge. “You see? You would be hanging off most of it.”
Warner gave her a languid shrug. “I have slept in less comfortable places plenty of times in my life.”
Adele scoffed. “I find that hard to believe. I doubt you have ever slept on anything less than the finest mattresses money can buy.”
“Then you would be mistaken.” There was an edge to the Duke’s voice, but before Adele could ask about it, he continued, “Regardless, I will not have my wife sleep on a chaise while I sleep in a bed. I am not that kind of man.”
“Then we might as well share the bed.” The words fell out of her mouth before she could stop them. “We are married after all; it is hardly likely to cause scandal.”
There was a beat of silence. Adele swallowed, her fingers twitching as she shifted from foot to foot — unsure if she was more worried about him accepting or rejecting her proposal.
Warner canted his head towards her, his eyes dancing in the firelight.. “Do you really wish to invite me into your bed, Duchess?”
Adele sat up properly and attempted to give him a withering look that she suspected was undermined slightly by the heat in her cheeks. “Hardly. But it does not take a genius to know that if you sleep here you will wake up stiff and uncomfortable.”
“And you are concerned for me? How sweet,” he teased.
Adele rolled her eyes at him and stood up, moving towards the fire. “I simply have no wish to listen to you complain about a sore neck or a sore back all day tomorrow. Like you said, we have a long way to go, and the journey will only feel longer if you are whinging through all of it.”
“Then it is a good thing I do not whinge.” Warner grinned at her as he plonked himself onto the chaise and kicked his feet up.
“I suppose we shall see about that.” She shook her head and moved to the dressing table.
“What are you doing?” Warner asked, his eyes wide as she began unfastening her earrings.
“Getting ready for bed,” Adele replied trying to sound nonchalant even as her fingers fumbled the clasps of her jewelry.
“At least give a fellow a little warning.” Warner turned around, and Adele was pleased to see a faint flush to his skin.
“What? No offer of assistance?” she teased, even as she felt the pressure around her chest ease as he turned away from her.
Warner did not reply; instead he threw another log on the fire and poured himself a glass of wine. “Tell me when you are decent.”
“I am hardly indecent. I have only removed my jewelry.” Adele shook her head as she rifled through her suitcase.
She pulled out a dressing gown and her night clothes.
She was used to changing by herself, but her hands were shaking so badly, she could only fumble with the fastenings on her dress.
For a moment, she debated sleeping in her clothes, but she knew it would be frightfully uncomfortable, and she longed to be out of her corset.
“Warner,” her voice came out steady, “would you be able to help me, please?”
She heard the sound of coughing and suspected that Warner had choked on his wine.
She turned away before he could look at her and felt the rush of blood spread through her. Even my ears are flushed. She gestured to the attempt she had made to undo the fastenings, staring at the floor and wishing it would swallow her.
When there was no sound of footsteps, she turned to look at Warner, who was still standing by the fire.
“Please, Warner. I really do not want to sleep in this.” She gestured to the dress. “And I cannot do the dratted thing by myself.”
“Very well.” Warner’s voice was hoarse. “I will see what I can do.”
Adele felt his fingers brush against the skin of her neck as he moved her hair out of the way. Gooseflesh covered her whole body, and she shivered.
“If you are cold, we can stand closer to the fire,” Warner murmured.
“I am not cold.” She wished her voice did not sound so breathy.
She felt tugs against the fabric of her dress and a releasing of pressure as it came loose. The warmth of his fingertips against her skin stole her breath away. She shivered and tried not to shift her weight from foot to foot.
Warner cleared his throat, and Adele turned to face him.
“Do you need my help with your…” His cheeks flushed as his eyes darted across her face.
“I think I can do it; I have a little device somewhere in my suitcase. I made it when I was about fourteen because I felt so bad about having to constantly bother one of the chamber maids to help me — they were already so busy, and my parents did not see a reason to get me my own lady’s maid.
And well…”Warner nodded but did not move away from her.
Adele could count every one of his eyelashes; she could see the faintest line of stubble starting to form on his unshaven cheek and felt her fingers twitch as though to touch it.
She realised she was still babbling but could not seem to stop.
“Though of course, getting it right took some practice, and I’ve gone through at least three iterations since I made the first one.
It was rather complicated getting the right material and then figuring out the angles and all sorts of things. ”
“Are you nervous, Adele?” he asked.
His eyes dropped to her lips, and Adele felt her heart stutter, and words fell from her mouth before her mind could process what she was saying, “Are you planning on kissing me?”
Warner’s blue eyes flashed and flicked back to hers.
The dark emotion in them made them seem like vast pools of water at midnight with something hidden that pulled her towards them.
Adele leaned forwards, placing a hand against Warner’s chest, though whether it was to steady herself or to resist the pull of his eyes, she could not tell.
His muscles stiffened beneath her touch, and he drew in a deep breath. The smell of him mingled with the fire in the room. He closed his eyes for a moment. Adele swallowed, feeling the pull ebb away, but then his eyes opened, and the dark hunger had deepened.
“No.” Every word seemed forced from his mouth through willpower alone, as though it cost him a great effort. “I will never kiss you.”
His eyes flashed, and he looked away. “Ours is a marriage of convenience. That is all it will ever be. You would do well to remember that.”
The spell was broken, and Adele stumbled backwards. “I had not forgotten.”
“Good.” He clenched his fist. “We should get some rest. We have a long day ahead of us.”
Adele nodded and fished her little device out of her suitcase, trying to ignore the ghost of Warner’s touch as it lingered on her skin.
That is all it will ever be. His words echoed in her head as she climbed into the bed and blew out the candle. She could make out the figure of the Duke on the chaise in the firelight.
It is a marriage of convenience. She wanted to feel reassured by his words, to feel comforted. She had never wanted a real marriage. She did not want it. But something treacherous stirred within her, spreading unease through her body.
Disappointment.