Chapter 22
Twenty-Two
“Duchess makes clothes for orphans — my, my, but you have been busy, have you not?” Lady Cora’s voice was quietly amused as she found Warner in the entrance hall.
Warner turned to face her, dismissing his steward and straightening the lapels of his coat absently. It was a blue velvet coat in his house colours with embroidery that Adele had added as a surprise to him.
The widows had been staying with them several days, and tonight was the night of their grand ball. Warner took in the decorations scattered around him.
“Pardon?” He tried to keep the distraction from his voice, even as he itched to re-summon his steward and ensure that everything was well in hand. I did not check about the drinks; what if he mistimes the wine?
“The newspaper stories, Your Grace. It is a wonder you found time to do it, what with preparing for one of the most extravagant balls I have ever been invited to.” Lady Cora gestured around them.
“What stories?” Warner stiffened, distracted for a brief moment from his fussing over the ball preparations. What does she know?
“The ones about your dear wife. The ones that seem to be appearing with some regularity. The clothes for orphans being the latest in such stories.” Lady Cora leaned on her walking stick, fixing him with a firm gaze. “Truly, admirable work.”
“Does anyone else know? If the ton have discovered that I have been behind this, that will undo much of my work.” Warner strode towards her, his eyes narrowing.
Lady Cora shook her head. “Those feckless fools have not the wit to put things together. In truth, it was only your admission that proved my own suspicions. And I assumed that it was not Adele, especially as she did not even tell us.”
“She is too humble for her own good. She probably thought you would think her terribly arrogant for doing such a thing.” Warner remembered the tears in his wife’s eyes when he had found her in the wee hours of the morning, hunched over children’s clothes.
“And she holds herself to such a high standard. I found her in tears over some tiny mistake she had made in one of the dresses. It took me hours to convince her that no one would even notice the mistake. Most orphans received little more than rags, and here she was making them clothes that befit children of nobility. And do you know what she said to me?”
“What?” Lady Cora asked.
“They have had a hard enough life. The least I can do is give them something pretty that is all their own.” His heart swelled as he remembered the defiant look in her eyes.
“I think she thought I would make fun of her, call her na?ve or some such thing. But all I could think was how much better the world would be if more people had her kind heart.”
“Which is why you made sure the papers got wind of the story. And the half a dozen others that have gone to print since you were married. Those stories about her rescuing dogs from an illegal fighting ring, the one about her donating her dowry to fix the church roof — and to cap it all off, you have this ball where everyone can experience her generosity and grace first hand.” Lady Cora gestured around them.
“You play the part of a doting husband rather well.”
“She makes it easy to do so,” Warner replied, his eyes drifting to the stairs he knew his wife would soon descend. “She hardly demands anything, expects even less. She never has — The least I can do is give her joy wherever she can find it.”
“Of course.” Lady Cora nodded.
“It is why everything must be perfect.” Warner rubbed his face with his hand.
“There can be nothing to find fault with. I would have everyone who attends speak about this for decades to come. I want them to speak of her generosity — that is why we have ordered the most expensive wine and champagne. Which reminds me, I should really check on the musicians; I have made some minor changes to the songs requested.”
“Your Grace, if I might give you a word of advice.” Lady Cora moved towards him, holding a hand up to stop Warner as he made to walk down the hall towards the ball.
Warner hesitated and then nodded, looking at the woman. “You may.”
“For this ball to be perfect, you must relax. I have heard you check in with your steward at least three times in the last hour.” Lady Cora gave his arm a gentle pat. “And as you do not strike me as the sort of man who hires idiots, then we must assume that your staff know what they are doing.”
Warner nodded.
“Then let them do it. So that you might give your wife the attention she deserves.” Lady Cora smiled and nodded to something behind Warner.
He turned, and his breath caught. Adele stood at the top of the stairs, a shy smile on her face as she walked down towards him. At once, all his thoughts of imperfect décor and music vanished. There was no room for that — only for her.
He was barely aware of Lady Cora joining Lady Verity and Lady Rowen and walking into the ballroom. He had not even noticed the other women arrive. Nor had he noticed that he had taken a step towards Adele until his foot touched the steps.
She was beautiful. Her russet hair was done in an elegant style with delicate curls that framed her pretty face. Her gown was the same blue as his coat with embroidery in silver across it that matched his own. It was made of a rich velvet, and she wore white silk gloves.
The gold necklace she wore drew his eyes to the pale flesh of her collarbone, and he caught himself reaching towards her. He stopped just in time and swallowed hard.
“You are beautiful.” His voice was hoarse.
Her cheeks flushed with colour, but her smile was radiant. She held out a hand, and he took it, unable to take his eyes from her. “And you look rather handsome yourself. I suppose we make quite the pair.”
“I suspect all eyes will be on you tonight, Duchess. There is not a woman around who could hope to match you.”
“I see you are already getting into character.” Adele gave him a sweet smile. “I suppose we should make our entrance.”
“We should not keep them waiting,” Warner agreed, and together, they walked to the ball room doors.
He was scarcely aware of being announced. His focus was entirely on Adele. The gentle sway of her as they walked into the room together. The shy smile as she acknowledged the guests on her way through them. He could feel the eyes upon them, sense them tracking their every movement.
“They are watching us,” Adele murmured, spots of colour on her cheeks. “It is rather intense.”
“Then let us give them a show.” Warner left her side though he kept hold of her hand.
He swept into a low bow, his lips lightly grazing the knuckles of her hand as he did. He looked up at her intake of breath, a flicker of emotion crossed her face too quickly for him to read. “May I have the honour of this dance?”
She nodded and they made their way onto the dance floor. The musicians began to play a lively waltz, Adele canted her head towards him, her eyes widening.
Warner grinned at her as they began to dance. “You seem surprised, dear Duchess. I had it on rather good authority that this happens to be your favourite song.”
“It is. But how on Earth did you know that?” Adele shook her head.
“Lady Cora mentioned it when I was preparing the set list for this evening. She seemed to think that it would be a lively way to start things off.”
“It will certainly be lively, but I am surprised you chose to open with it.”
“Why would I not?”
“Because a waltz is considered rather scandalous.”
“I am aware.”
“But what will people think?”
“I did not want them to think that you had been tamed. While I wish for them to think well of you, I have no wish for them to think I have quenched your spark.”
“Some would say that such a thing would be a good thing.”
“And they would be fools.” “Besides, in the scale of scandalous things you and I have done, a waltz is rather tame.”
Adele laughed, a beautiful sound that filled the space between them. “I suppose that is true. And it is one of my favourite dances.”
Warner dipped Adele. “And it gives me a chance to show you off. And you are truly a diamond tonight.”
“It seems you have been practicing your compliments, my dear Duke.” Her cheeks did not colour, but again there was that look he could not quite place, disappearing too quickly for him to understand, replaced by a smile.
My dear Duke. The words felt like a caress. She is playing a part. “As have you. Though one wonders who has been paying you compliments for you to practice.”
His muscles tensed before he even realised what he was doing. Adele’s soft, teasing laugh eased the tension. “If I did not know any better, I would think you were jealous.”
Warner forced his jaw to unclench and flashed her a smile. “Is it not the kind of thing husbands do?”
“Then your jealousy is simply a part?” She let him dip her low, the smell of roses rose around him, filling every corner of his mind.
He did not answer, simply spun her away from him. No. Yes. Some part of him knew that he should be concerned by whatever he was feeling. The fact that his heart skipped at her smile, the way he felt pride at the way she held herself. But there was no room for that concern.
The band struck up another song, and Warner knew that he should end their dance. He could see a man approaching them, his eyes fixed on Adele. But he did not let her go.
Adele arched an eyebrow at him but did not move away. The band struck up again, and they began to move once more.
“And do you intend to dance only with me tonight?” Adele asked her voice full of teasing lightness.
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“On whether or not you will let me.”
“And here I thought that no man could stop you from getting what you wanted.”
“Then it is lucky that you are no man.” Warner chuckled. “Our marriage would be rather awkward if you were.”
When she laughed, it stole his breath, and he could not help laughing too. He loved the sound of it, the way it seemed to leap from her so completely unguarded. He wanted to keep making her laugh, and some part of him knew that it should scare him, but he did not care.
He let himself get lost in the joy of her. He wanted her to enjoy tonight, and that would be so much easier if he was enjoying himself too. After all, she seemed uncannily attuned to his own mood. Besides, I doubt any man with a heart to feel could not be moved by the sound of her laugh.
The curve of her body against his hand, the way she moved as though they were not two bodies but one. She followed as he led, trusting him as he turned her. They moved as one across the dance floor.
“For someone so controlled, you are a rather wild dancer.” Her smile was broad.
“I would have thought you enjoyed a little wildness, Adele.” He grinned back at her. “After all, you are the one who insists I should cede control every now and then.”
“And you are not afraid?” She canted her head towards him.
Yes. “What is there to be afraid of when you are in my arms?” He saw her eyes widen and felt something tug in his chest.
Her eyes darted between his, her lips slightly parted. Her hand was like fire through his shirt. “You say the most beautiful lies to me.”
“And why are you so sure it is a lie?” he asked.
“Because we are simply playing our parts,” she replied, her smile dimming slightly.
“Just because we are, does not mean we cannot enjoy the parts. This is your ball, Adele. These people are here to celebrate you.” Warner did not take his eyes from hers, simply gestured slightly with his head to indicate the people around them.
“They have been reading about your kindness, your generosity for weeks. And now, they get to bask in your radiance.”
“Our radiance, you mean. Our kindness and our shared generosity,” Adele retorted.
“No. Yours.” The music stopped, the world fading completely from his awareness. “You are the one who should be adored. I am simply the lion, waiting in the wings, ready to terrify them into obedience.”
“You make me sound like some princess, and you, the dragon set to guard me.” She shook her head. “I do not want a dragon. And I have no wish to be a princess.”
“Then what do you want?” His voice was deep as he lost himself in her eyes.
“I want…” Adele licked her lips, her eyes wide.
“Yes?” Warner’s eyes searched her face for the tiniest bit of emotion.
“I want —” Before she could finish the sentence, there was a tiny cough from behind them, and as Adele looked towards it, the sight of her face shattered the spell between them. She looks like she has seen a ghost.
They broke apart, and Warner turned to find himself staring at a woman who looked very much like his wife. She was shorter than Adele, and her face was round where Adele’s striking features were all sharp angles.
“Forgive the interruption, Your Grace, and that we have not yet had a chance to meet. I am Lady Anne Danby, Countess of Montrose.”
“Anne.” Adele’s voice was small. “What are you doing here?”