Chapter 2
Adelaide had missed her home, and she had not realized that until she had returned to it.
The house in the north was colder and far older, but their London townhouse only needed a fire to be lit for an hour or so to grow warm.
Adelaide was sprawled across the settee in her drawing room the morning after, with a book in her hands, admiring the decor.
Her mother’s favorite color had always been yellow, so the walls had been painted pale yellow. But the furnishings were upholstered in pale blue, as that was Adelaide’s favorite color.
Their home reflected the two of them beautifully, and that was the main reason why she liked spending her time there so much.
“Good morning, dearest,” her mother said as she entered the room. “I missed you at breakfast.”
“I was not hungry,” Adelaide replied.
“You hardly ever are. Still, you must eat.”
Adelaide could not quite meet her mother’s eyes. She tended to lose her appetite when she was facing difficulty, and their return was taking a toll on her. She knew, however, that she could not appear to be struggling. It would only make her look worse.
“Do you have plans for today?” her mother asked.
Adelaide was grateful for the change in topic.
“I thought a walk in the square might be nice,” she replied. “I shall take Rose with me.”
“Wonderful. It will be good for you to see people. Though, of course, you must brace yourself for the whispers.”
“I know. I knew they would be an issue when we discussed coming back. The thing is, they will only stop when the topic ceases to be entertaining. Which means that the best I can do is be seen out and about, not causing trouble. Eventually, I will prove myself.”
She rose to her feet, and her mother embraced her tightly.
“I am so proud of you, Adelaide. I have always been.”
Adelaide wanted to believe her.
She was in the square within the hour, dressed in light blue, with her hair pinned in a delicate chignon. She did not want to stand out too much, for she received enough attention simply by existing, but she also wished to look good. It was a delicate situation, but she had to at least try.
People stared at her. She did not doubt they were discussing her reappearance, but she tried not to show it. She was not there for them. She was there for herself, and she had to act accordingly.
With her head held high, she strolled through Grosvenor Square beside her lady’s maid, who was equally as good at maintaining a stoic facade.
“At least nobody is saying anything to me,” Adelaide commented.
“I was thinking the same. How does it feel to be home?”
“Good. I cannot say that I knew quite what to expect, but this is pleasant enough.”
They passed the bakery when her stomach growled. The smell of bread and cake was too tempting to miss, so she and Rose entered.
“Good morning, Lady Adelaide,” the baker greeted brightly. “It has been a long time.”
“A year,” Adelaide agreed. “Might I have an iced bun?”
The baker packed one for her, and she told Rose to choose something for herself. She paid, and then they continued on their way. The sugar remained on her lips when she had finished, and she savored it as they walked.
“Lady Adelaide.”
Adelaide tensed, knowing exactly who was behind her.
Likely, it was a coincidence. Even so, she felt that there was a darker reason why Mr. Hargrave always seemed to know her whereabouts.
It had been the case when they were courting, too.
He always managed to find her when she was in town, or knew when she arrived at events.
She considered ignoring him, but she knew how it would look. She could not slight the man she was perceived to have wounded so deeply.
“Good morning,” she greeted in a flat voice.
“I see that you are trying to make something of yourself here.”
“Of course. It is not as though I deserve to be shunned.”
“Do you honestly believe that?”
She continued walking, and he fell into step beside her.
She hated the way she felt as he stood by her side, but she could not help but notice the way the passersby’s gazes softened. If she was as bad as he claimed, why was he spending time with her?
“You are brave, I must say,” he continued. “I do not think that I could have shown my face again if the ton thought of me the same way they do of you.”
“Perhaps it is simply a matter of pride. Besides, I cannot remain hidden away forever, and if that means weathering all of this, then it is worth it.”
“And I will remind you that it brings you back to me. Is now a good time to say that I remain unwed?”
“Mr. Hargrave, I did not come here to see you. I came here to start my life again, and I would appreciate it if you would allow me to do that. I do not want any trouble.”
“You sound as though you are accusing me of wanting that.”
“Of course not. I only wish to tell you how I feel about all of this, so that we may come to an agreement.”
“Do not lecture me about agreements,” he sneered suddenly. “I do not forget easily, Lady Adelaide, and you and I both know what you owe me. If it is peace that you want, you have to fulfil my requests too.”
Bristling, Adelaide decided that the kind looks she was receiving were not worth the discomfort he brought her. She was not so oblivious as not to know why he had told her that he was unwed, but she wanted no part in it. She wanted to put the past behind her and move on.
“Good day, Mr. Hargrave,” she said quickly. “I ought to return to my mother.”
She quickened her pace, only for him to match it, following her. She turned into a quiet lane, only for him to give chase. So she began to run. Still, he caught up to her, seizing her wrist roughly as he had done a year prior. She winced at his touch, not daring to look up into his face.
Mere seconds passed, before his grip loosened and he staggered back from her.
“What are you doing?” a low voice demanded.
“Pardon me, Your Grace, but this is a private matter!”
Your Grace?
Adelaide lifted her head, only to find the same gentleman she had seen the day before. He was even more handsome than she remembered, and he was holding Mr. Hargrave back with very little effort.
So he’s a duke?
“I did not ask you whether or not you wished to be seen. I asked you what you were doing to her.”
The man cast a glance at her, when recognition dawned on her.
Of course…
Standing before her was Cassian Blackmoor, the Duke of Ashford. Though he was more known as the Dragon Duke. A terrifying man, he did as he pleased. Adelaide did not know who to fear more.
Mr. Hargrave did not respond, and she decided that was for the best. He had no excuse for what he had done, so if he did not want to anger the Duke further, it was best that he said nothing at all.
“Coward,” the Duke sneered, a lethal glint in his eyes. “If you ever touch her again, I will consider it an affront to the Ashford name. See to it that you remain far away from her.”
He released Mr. Hargrave, who immediately took off running, not daring to risk a backward glance.
Adelaide let out a breath she had not realized she had been holding. No one had ever stood up for her like that, and though she was quite afraid of the Duke, she was grateful to him.
“Thank you, Your Grace,” she said in a quiet voice.
“You need not thank me. I saw him chasing you, and I will not allow that to happen to a lady. Do you know him?”
“You might say that. We used to…” she trailed off.
If he had not already heard the rumors, she preferred for it to remain that way.
He took a step toward her, towering over her in a way that did not scare her, but that made her weak at the knees. He was the sort of man she had imagined for herself, and though she was not foolish enough to think that she would be so fortunate, she started dreaming for the first time in years.
“You do not deserve to be treated that way,” he said firmly. “Should he trouble you again, tell me, and I will have it taken care of. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Your Grace. And thank you, again.”
“Do not thank me. I only did what any respectable gentleman would have done.”
But there was nothing respectable about the way he was looking at her lips.
Despite everything, Adelaide dared to believe that he wanted to kiss her in plain daylight. He was rogueish and frightening, but she was drawn to him, and she had to admit that he was not as menacing as she had initially thought.
She pouted her lips, tempting fate, but he did not close the gap between them. Instead, he hooked his fingers under her chin and brushed his thumb over the corner of her lip.
“You have sugar on your face,” he chuckled darkly, before turning and walking away.
Adelaide stared down the empty lane long after he had gone. Then, she quickly wiped her mouth, certain that he cheeks were scarlet.
“Are you all right, My Lady?” Rose asked. “That was awful.”
“It was positively dreadful, yet I cannot help but feel as though it could have been far worse.”
“I dare say that it would have been, had His Grace not appeared. He is certainly… well, he has a presence about him.”
“Dukes often do. Come, we ought to return home. Do we have everything?”
Miraculously, they did, so they hurried home.
Adelaide tried to blame her racing pulse on their quick pace, but she knew the truth. Her heart was racing in part because of her unfortunate encounter with Mr. Hargrave, but mostly because she was thinking about her rescuer.
The Duke had saved her, and he had ensured that Mr. Hargrave would not trouble her again. He had made her return to London even easier.
She could not believe her good fortune.
At last, she would be able to re-enter society and be herself, and if Mr. Hargrave dared to harass her, she would simply write to the Duke just as he had told her to. He was her savior, and she could not thank him enough.
Then, she realized just what a spectacle it had been, and she turned pale.