Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Adrian was still rattled when he returned to the townhouse that night. He avoided any possible encounters by avoiding the main door. He was relieved not to see any of the staff, except Mrs. Fletcher, who gave a quick curtsy and went on her own way.
He is coming for Daphne.
His own words haunted him, even as he tried to get his nerves to calm down.
He married Daphne to protect her from Briarwood, but now, he could not even protect her from himself.
The enemy knew that he was falling apart and would soon be finding a way to get to Daphne.
Briarwood had seen a prize that would get him everything he wanted.
Before he left the Obsidian Card, he had already ordered Kettering to double his guards around the gambling hells and even in the periphery of all Wolfcrest estates.
Spies were to be dispatched to Briarwood’s properties.
It did not matter that Daphne was nowhere near Briarwood and that she was tucked safely inside the Wolfcrest townhouse.
Adrian had allowed his vigilance to flag before and he would not make the same mistake twice.
After he’d written some of his plans in his journal, he decided that it was time to change his clothes and get ready for bed.
In his room, he was drawn to the door that separated his room from Daphne’s.
There was a strong urge to unlock it and have her sleep in his room, in a form of smothering surveillance.
However, his hand froze on the knob. He could not do it.
It seemed that he let his pride get in the way.
He knew that if he opened the door right now, he would be admitting everything: his deep concern for her and the terror he felt of losing her.
He would be showing her just how badly he was keeping his shields up. His control was fraying.
No.
Adrian could not do it. He was the Duke and her protector. He could guard her from the other side of the door. He also could not face Daphne with shame still staining his clothes just as much as the smoke did.
In her own room, Daphne was still awake. She heard the lone pair of footsteps echoing through the house not too long ago. Those footsteps, as expected, stopped inside the Duke’s room.
Adrian is home.
She felt relief that he was home and safe, and disappointed that he didn’t seek her out. She’d rather see him angry and confused, demanding more answers about the marquess than simply pretending that she didn’t exist.
Adrian’s raw jealousy and Amberwell’s revelation about how Adrian had built all those walls around him had confirmed that her husband was not a heartless one, but one who was broken.
Everything could be fixed, no matter how broken. At least, that was what she believed in.
She was willing to help him through his darkness and lead him into the light, if he would let her.