Chapter Four
When Adelaide realized that their host was gazing intently at her, her breath caught.
His dark brown eyes were not cold, as the gloom of the mansion suggested it would be, as he stared at her.
Rather, they burned hot, as though searching to scorch her.
The heat in them was unfamiliar and unexpected to her, but not as much so as the warmth it stirred within her.
The room felt too warm for a moment, and she forced herself to breathe.
There was a sudden awareness in the air, and it felt as though it was just meant for His Grace and her alone. Coupled with the duke’s height and broad shoulders, the room felt smaller and more intimate, despite their respective family members being present.
“Good evening, honoured guests,” said another gentleman from the doorway of the drawing room.
Adelaide and Helena turned to see a handsome man just a little younger than the host. There was a slight resemblance, as though there might have been some distant relation.
“Edwin, darling,” the dowager crooned, rising with her hands outstretched to receive the man’s face in them as she kissed his cheek. “How wonderful that you and Beatrice could join us.”
As the three exchanged greetings, Adelaide observed the younger man’s illuminating disposition. It was a drastic contrast to that of the duke, despite the similarities, as different as nighttime was from daylight.
“Miss Barrett, Helena,” the dowager said, ushering the newly arrived pair into the heart of the drawing room. “I would like you to meet my youngest grandson, Edwin Lockhart, and his lovely mother, Beatrice.”
Adelaide glanced toward the Duke, noting how his expression never changed, despite the warm greetings of Lord Edwin and Lady Beatrice. They hardly seemed fazed, however, as Lord Edwin clapped him on the back.
“How are you feeling, Cousin?” he asked, surveying the duke with sincere appearing eyes.
The Duke mumbled something, gesturing toward the empty seats.
Lady Beatrice kissed the duke on the cheek, giving him a maternal smile.
“It is wonderful to see you, Marcus, dear,” she said.
The duke looked at her, offering the first forced smile Adelaide had seen.
Despite its disingenuous nature, Adelaide could not help noticing that he looked even more handsome, albeit only for a brief second.
When he noticed her watching him, however, the scowl returned to his face, and he averted his gaze.
***
After a span of what felt like an eternity to Adelaide, they retired to the dining room for dinner.
As he picked up his fork, Adelaide noticed for the first time that he had hardly touched his food.
She thought about how his cousin had asked about his well-being, as if knowing of a reason to be concerned.
She dared to glance at her host’s face again.
His eyes were still away from her, but she realized he had grown two shades paler just since she and her aunt had taken their seats.
Was he ill? Did he suffer from some medical condition which had not been disclosed to them?
Or was he simply tired and strained due to the arrival of his clearly unwanted guests?
She looked away, disliking how difficult it was for her to pull her gaze away from the duke’s features.
The candlelight cast shadows across his aristocratic features, highlighting the pallor of his skin, the strain around his eyes and the tight set of his jaw.
None of those blemishes ruined his inherent attractiveness.
However, it renewed Adelaide’s curiosity about the state of his health.
She wondered how no one else seemed to notice the sweat forming on the duke’s forehead.
Did he have some condition which no one felt comfortable to discuss?
Or was it possible that no one else knew he was ill?
When he met her gaze once more, his eyes were as hard as the stone of his mansion.
Yet once more, she noticed a hungry heat within them that made her shiver, despite the warmth in her that she realized then had not cooled since it began.
She did not understand what was happening or anything about her new temporary home.
She only knew that she was ready to retreat to her chambers and away from the curiously enticing glances of the hardened duke.
***
Marcus tried to keep his glances at Adelaide Barrett secret as he held his cup impossibly tightly in his hands.
Even the women dubbed by society as diamonds during their debutante’s seasons had failed to draw any interest from Marcus.
He had danced with many as part of his ducal obligations.
However, none had ever been worthy of his attention outside of social interactions.
Miss Barrett, however, stirred a primal instinct in him.
Something about her blue-green eyes and honey-colored hair kept drawing his gaze, even as he battled the ceaseless dizziness that washed over him.
There was an intellect in her uniquely tinted eyes, a wisdom and wariness that was intriguing to Marcus.
There was also an innocence about her that made certain appetites within him suddenly ravenous.
When the butler entered and announced dinner, Edwin’s charming smile directed itself toward Miss Barrett once more.
“It would be an honour to escort you to the dining room, Miss Barrett,” he said.
The young lady gave Edwin a tentative smile that made Marcus’s stomach flutter. He looked away, but not before witnessing her take the arm his cousin offered.
“Thank you, my lord,” she said. It was the first time he had heard her speak, and the primal urge within him growled at the sweetness of her voice. But the growl was replaced with a snarl when Edwin spoke again.
“The pleasure is all mine, I assure you, Miss Barrett,” he said.
As everyone seated themselves at the table, the servants began serving the turtle soup.
“Since you all have just arrived, allow me to fill you in on the recent happenings here in Bath,” Edwin said with another broad smile.
“Lady Denise Jones is a delight and kind to everyone she meets. However, Lady Francis Allen is not to be trusted. I heard that she takes anything you tell her, exaggerates it tenfold and then repeats her version to anyone who will listen.”
Marcus rolled his eyes. He was sensitive in regards to gossip, especially that which he did not know for certain was factual.
But the ladies seemed utterly charmed with the conversation, laughing as Edwin continued listing the names of people to avoid and the reasons why.
He did not understand why his cousin would dwell so much on gossip, knowing about the rumors surrounding his own family.
It must be a desperate ploy to enthrall the women, he thought, clenching his jaw against more dizziness.
“Your Grace, allow me to refill your wine,” Lucy Potter, one of his housemaids, said, startling him as he watched his cousin with his new, lovely guest.
Marcus looked at her warily.
“That will make the fourth time you have refilled it since dinner began,” he said.
The maid gave him a sweet smile that, for whatever reason, gave Marcus a chill.
“I can see how tense you are with your new guests,” she said, pouring before he gave her consent. “I wanted to ensure that you drink to your heart’s content.”
Marcus frowned at the refilled glass, but he said nothing in reprimand.
“Very well,” he said. “However, I do not need more unless I request it.” I am dizzy enough without spirits, he added silently as the maid stepped back.
She hovered behind him, keeping a close eye on his glass.
Marcus might have considered firmly dismissing her from the room.
But it took all his energy to hold himself upright at the table and refrain from reacting to Edwin’s affected charm.
Besides, perhaps the maid was right. A little extra wine might do his raw nerves some good.
After dinner, everyone retired to the parlor.
Marcus wished he could just retire to his chambers, but he held the forced smile he had fought to maintain all evening.
Edwin sat between all the women, while Marcus and Thomas sat across the room, as far from the bright light of the chandelier as possible.
“Have either of you been to India?” he asked.
Lady Helena nodded with a fond smile.
“My late husband took me there for our wedding trip,” she said, sighing. “I also returned for a short time after his death, for the sake of the memories.”
Edwin nodded, looking at the widow sympathetically.
“I am truly sorry for your loss, my lady,” he said, turning back to Miss Barrett, who was shaking her head.
“It is, indeed, a beautiful place. The architecture is truly unique, particularly the palaces and temples. And the clothing is so colorful and inspired that I was wearing a turban when I returned from my last business trip.”
Miss Barrett laughed, and Marcus shivered.
The heat to which his loins had been introduced upon meeting the young lady pulsed in a pleasant but urgent way.
And watching his cousin continue to charm her made him feel something akin to jealousy.
He knew it was ridiculous, as he himself had barely spoken three words to her.
But something within him wanted to put an end to his cousin’s performance and distract the young woman.
“I hear there are some lovely balls to be hosted soon,” Thomas said, interjecting and gaining the attention of both women. “I have made plans to attend most of them and was hoping that all of you might have the same intentions.”
Marcus gave his friend a relieved look, not for the topic he chose but for disrupting the charade Edwin was displaying. Thomas gave him a nod, turning to Augusta as she spoke.