Chapter 23
Twenty-Three
“Well, you did invite me, Addie.” Anne gave her a weak smile.
Adele felt Warner’s muscles tense as he put an arm around her, angling his body so that he was between Anne and Adele. The laughter and wildness that had been on his face moments before had vanished.
In its place was a coolness that would have chilled Adele to her bones if it had been directed at her. Anne’s smile disappeared all together under the weight of Warner’s gaze.
“I did not expect you to come,” Adele admitted honestly. Not when I have not heard from you in months.
The words felt too close to what Bianca had said to her all those weeks ago, and Adele added, “Though I am glad to see you.”
Anne’s face brightened. “And I am glad to see you too. In truth, I was hoping I might speak to you in private?”
Warner stiffened, and Adele sensed he was about to interject, but she laid a hand against his arm. He looked at her, his eyebrow arched in question. She tried to give him a reassuring smile.
“You do not have to do anything you do not want,” he murmured so softly only she could hear.
“Thank you,” she murmured back before turning to Anne. “I would be happy to speak with you though I fear I will not be able to take too long. After all, I am the hostess, and I would not fail in my duties.”
“Of course.” Anne twisted her hands nervously. “I have no wish to take up too much of your time. I just…”
“Let us speak outside.” Adele gestured to the veranda and led Anne towards it.
She could feel Warner’s gaze on the back of her neck, the strength of it felt like a physical touch, and she leaned into it, drawing strength from his protectiveness. Even if it is only an act.
As soon as they were outside, Anne blurted, “Bianca told me what she said to you that night. And I just wanted you to know that I did not feel the same. Not even in the slightest.”
“Then why are you only telling me this now? You have had weeks to contact me.” Adele narrowed her eyes, suspicion stealing over her as she crossed her arms. “The timing seems oddly suspicious. You suddenly have a change of heart now that my reputation is restored — forgive me, Anne, but I find it difficult to believe the two are unconnected.”
Anne’s eyes widened, and she shook her head, making vehement gestures of denial with her hand. “No, Addie! Please, it is nothing to do with that. I promise.”
Adele forced herself to remain stony faced. “And why should I? Bianca made her position perfectly clear. Made both of your positions clear.”
“She does not speak for me.” Anne’s anger flared. “She is entitled to her own opinions, even if I think they are idiotic. And I would not have you think so little of me that I cannot make my own mind.”
“Can you blame me, Anne? I hardly know the pair of you, and neither of you has ever made the effort to know me. My last husband died, and you did not even visit me.”
“I was not in my right mind, Adele! Gemima was very poorly; I feared I might lose her. And Algernon was no help. He seemed to think it would be a spared expense.” Anne’s face twisted into a mask of pain and anger.
“What?” Adele’s own anger flared as she thought of the cruel man who was her sister’s husband.
“It finally made me see the truth of him, Addie.” Anne smiled at Adele.
She had been the only one to give her a nickname, but that had all changed once she had married the Earl.
“You tried to warn me, remember? But I would not hear a word against him. He convinced me that you were only jealous, and I hate that I believed him.”
“I just did not want to watch him keep hurting you.” Adele’s fist was clenched.
“I can see that now. And I am not trying to excuse my own failings.” Anne ran a hand through her hair. “I know I let you down, and that my absence, our absence was hard on you.”
“It was.” Adele admitted. “You and Bianca always seemed to have such an easy rapport, and I thought that perhaps I could have that with you too, but then you were married, and it was like you forgot all about me.”
“I forgot everything, my dear Addie. I lost myself in Algernon. I let him break me, but I refuse to let him keep taking things from me.” Anne took a deep breath, placing a hand on Adele’s shoulder.
“I have not been the sister you deserve, but I would like to be. I would like to get to know you; I would like for my children to spend more time with you. I know that this is probably too late, but I truly wish to have you in my life, my dear, baby sister. And I promise I will do better.”
Adele hesitated for only a moment, searching Anne’s face for some sign of insincerity. But all she could see was an earnest, somewhat scared hope.
“I would like that too,” Adele said.
Anne beamed and flung her arms around Adele, crushing her to her tightly. Tears streamed down their cheeks. A weight that Adele had not even realised she had been carrying, lifted. She was not sure how long she hugged her sister or when they managed to stop crying.
“I really am sorry.” Anne handed Adele a handkerchief and wiped a smear of makeup from Adele’s face. “I feel like the very worst kind of idiot. You know the girls absolutely adore you and little Benjamin too.”
“I adore them too.” Adele thought of her nieces and nephew, and her heart ached. “It will be good to see more of them though I appreciate that the journey is long.”
“It is not so bad. I have a few friends in nearby estates, and there is a lovely little inn in town and quite a few on the road to here from Algernon’s estate.” Anne made a gesture to something far away.
“You are staying in an inn?” Adele asked.
“Yes. The Penny Farthing, I believe. The innkeeper and his wife absolutely dote on the girls. And Benjamin has become fast friends with the barkeep.” Anne shook her head, her eyes going far away as she recalled her children getting up to mischief.
“The rooms are not quite as large as one might expect, but I rather like that. It is cosy.”
Adele pursed her lips. “You brought the children with you?”
Anne nodded. “Yes, Gemima is only just recovered from her sickness, and Benjamin is rather mother-hungry of late. And I was so furious with Bianca after what she said to you that I did not wish to leave my children with her, so it seemed the most sensible thing to bring them with me.”
“And you are all staying in an inn together?” Adele shook her head, scrunching up her face as she tried to remember what she could about the inn her sister was staying at. “No, I do not think that will do.”
“What do you mean?” Anne’s eyes widened. “It is the only inn in town.”
“Why not stay with us?” Adele asked, trying to keep the hope from her voice. “We have more than enough space.”
“I could not do that. I have scarcely given you any notice.” Anne shook her head. “Besides, the children are with me, and to have all four of us with you would be a huge imposition.”
“Did you mean what you said about wanting to get to know me?” Adele asked.
“Of course.”
“Then you may as well stay with us. You wish to be a part of my life, and I have missed my nieces and nephew.” Adele’s smile broadened, and she added. “And there are some children staying with us as well who I am sure would be delighted to have more company.”
“But the Duke —” Anne began, but Adele cut her off.
“Let me worry about my husband.”
“But surely he will think that I am just taking advantage of you?” Anne chewed on her bottom lip.
“He can be a little protective of me, that is true, but he will also respect my wishes.” Adele tried to give her sister a reassuring smile. “And to be honest, I would love for you to get a chance to get to know him. To see him with children is really quite delightful.”
Adele found herself smiling as she thought of the softness that came over Warner whenever he was around children. It tugged at her heart, but she ignored it.
“That must be reassuring for you.” Anne beamed at her, and Adele furrowed her brow.
“What do you mean?”
“Just that seeing him with children must make you feel confident that he will be a good father. When the time comes of course, though from the way you two are with each other, I suspect that will be rather sooner than later.” Anne winked at Adele.
Her cheeks flushed a deep scarlet, and Adele spluttered as she tried to find words to say to her sister.
Anne laughed. “Come now, Addie, you need not be so innocent. You are married now, after all, and the Duke is a rather striking figure. And in truth, I am glad that you have found someone who seems to care for you as he does. You deserve that. Especially with… Well, you deserve to have people who look at you the way he does.”
It is only a part. Adele could not bring herself to tell Anne the truth.
Not when her sister was looking at her with all the bright optimism of a teenager who has discovered a truly marvellous surprise.
It was like her sister was finally herself again, and Adele could not bring herself to end that joy.
Besides, she may want to fix our relationship, but I would do well not to be too trusting. She ignored the guilt that spread over her and forced herself to smile at her sister.
“So will you stay with us?” Adele asked.
“I will.” Anne smiled at her. “Besides, I can hardy refuse a duchess!”
Adele laughed. “I will have the steward prepare some rooms for you and the children.”
“Thank you, Addie. Really.” Anne hugged her again. “And just think, soon your children will be able to play with mine, and then there will be such chaos. I like to think that perhaps they will be able to have the closeness that you and I missed.”
“That would be nice.” Adele’s chest twisted; the kindness and hope in her sister’s eyes felt like a knife in her chest. But it will never happen.
She pushed the thought away. She had never wanted that before now. And even if some part of her craved it, she knew she could never have it. Warner might play his part well, but that was all it would ever be. Why would someone like him care for someone like me?
Anne tucked her arm through Adele’s and tugged her towards the ballroom. “We should get back to your ball. I would hate for you to miss it, and no doubt, your husband is anxiously awaiting your return.”
They walked into the veranda, and Adele felt Warner’s eyes on her before she even saw him. He was standing in a corner, talking to the widows, but as soon as she walked into the room, she could tell his eyes had snapped towards her.
His face split into a broad smile as she walked towards him though the smile drooped slightly as he saw her red rimmed eyes. He was at her side in an instant, the smell of sandalwood capturing her senses and making her head spin.
“Is something the matter? If she has said something to hurt you, I will have her removed. Propriety be damned.” Warner’s eyes flashed, and Adele put a hand on his chest without thinking.
He stilled at her touch, looking down at her. “They were happy tears, Warner. She wants to know me, to try and fix our relationship. And I would like that too.”
Warner nodded, and Adele realised that Anne had moved away from them as soon as Warner had approached them. “Very well. I am pleased that they are tears of joy, I would rather not tarnish such a beautiful evening with unpleasantness.”
“I have asked Anne to stay with us. She is at the Penny Farthing with her children, and I think it would be much better if she was here.” Adele swallowed, wondering if Warner would be angry with her for not asking him first.
“If that is what you wish, then I will have rooms arranged for them. And I will tell the cook to prepare enough breakfast for the rest of the guests.”
“I do.” Adele swallowed.
“Then I will see it done.” Warner waved over one of the servants, and while he gave the man instructions, Adele moved to her sister, letting her know that she was welcome to stay with them.
As Anne hugged her once more, and left from the dance floor, Adele turned back to find her husband looking at her. He closed the distance between them, placing a hand on the small of her back. His touch sent a shiver through her body, and her eyelids fluttered briefly.
“I have had everything arranged,” Warner told her. “Is there anything else that you want?”
“Just a dance.” Adele gave him a mischievous smile, the giddiness of her reunion breaking through. “Unless you are too tired.”
“To dance with you?” Warner took her hand in his, a wild emotion in his eyes. “Never.”
I wish you did not play your part so well.
Adele knew it was a lie. She wished that he was not just playing a part.