Chapter 3 #2
Lady Rowen’s words snapped Adele back to the present. “The ton do not know what they are talking about, the scandal sheets even less. Consummation or lack thereof only need be considered if you wished to seek an annulment. Though, why you would seek such a thing is quite beyond me.”
Both Lady Rowen and Lady Verity wrinkled their nose as though the mere suggestion was distasteful. Adele shook her head and sighed. “That may be the law, but I fail to see how it will help me get back into the ton’s good graces.”
“Why do you even want to get into their good graces? You are a widow now!” Lady Verity clasped a hand to her chest, eyes wide.
“What does that have to do with anything?” Adele frowned.
“What Verity is trying to say is that you are free.” Lady Cora leaned forwards. “As a widow, you have far more freedom than an unmarried woman. Far more even than a married woman. You may do as you please; no one can stop you.”
Adele swallowed. Her mind raced. Could it be true? Hope sparked to life.
Lady Nettle leaned forwards, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Let us show you. Tell us, what is something you have always wanted to do? Something utterly unthinkable to a single, unmarried woman. Something not even a married woman could do.”
The idea came to Adele in an instant. A slow smile spread across her face.
“Hold or bet, sir?” the dealer asked, inclining his head towards Adele.
It took her a moment to realise he was talking to her, and she hastily nodded, making her voice as gruff and deep as she could. “Hold.”
She adjusted the lapels of her jacket, not trusting herself to look at either Rowen or Verity, who were also at the table. They were all dressed in men’s wear, and in their camaraderie had long since dispensed with the formalities of titles.
Cora had decided not to join them at the club but had been more than willing to help them dress the part.
Adele breathed in the smoke-filled air of the gentleman’s club and smiled at Rowen, who grinned back over her glass of scotch. They had been in the club for hours, and the fear of being discovered had long since faded to excitement.
“That is another round to Mr. Cooper.” The dealer proclaimed and Rowen clapped her hands together, pulling the winnings towards her.
“Did you know she was so good at cards?” Adele whispered to Verity.
“I had no idea.” Verity shook her head. “Though if we are ever in need of more money, we know what to do.”
Adele laughed softly and moved slightly which made her head spin. She stood, and Verity looked at her. She could see the unasked question in her eyes, but she waved her away.
“I just need some air,” Adele muttered. “Save my seat?”
Verity stood to stand, as though she meant to accompany her, but Adele shook her head. Men did not tend to go off in groups, not like women, and she did not want to draw attention to them.
She gave her new friends a reassuring smile, scanning the surroundings for some place out of the way. She spotted a small door that led to the outside and ducked through it.
Adele emerged into a small alleyway and leaned against the wall, breathing in the cool night air.
“I hope you are having fun, Lady Adelaide,” a voice whispered in her ear.
She recognised it instantly, the smell of sandalwood that surrounded her only confirming her suspicion. Every muscle in her body tensed, but she did not turn around.
“You are mistaken, sir,” she growled.
Her heart was beating so fast, she was sure he would be able to hear it. For a moment, she debated running, but before she could, the Duke had closed the distance between them, placing his arms to either side of her, his body pressed against hers to prevent her escape.
A shiver ran through her, and she stiffened, the movement drawing attention to the warmth of him behind her. “You and I both know I am not. I recognised you from the moment I saw you. No man walks with that kind of grace.”
Her breath caught. How long had he been watching her? She said nothing.
“I know your secret, Lady Adelaide.” He leaned in, his breath tickling her skin as he whispered to her.
She was acutely aware of the warmth of him, the hardness of his muscles. The hairs on her body stood on end. “What do you mean?”
Her mind went to Martha and the baby — surely the Duke could not know about that? As far as she knew, Lord Rothwell had told no one.
“You are not even going to deny it?” The Duke laughed. “Your gloves, Lady Adelaide. The ones you flung at me. Did you think I would not give them to the coroner?”
He still thought she had killed Eric. Wait, was there something on my gloves? Had she been the pawn in someone else’s plan? Was it through her that Eric had died? Panic and grief warred within her. Pull yourself together.
“They found poison on them!” Adele’s voice sounded far from her ears.
“Not yet, but they will. And when they do…” the Duke trailed off. “Well, let’s say that you ought to enjoy your freedom while it lasts. You will not escape my net much longer.”
“Why are you doing this?” She tensed, pressing her hands against the wall, ready to push off and try to make her escape.
The movement moved her closer to the Duke, and she felt his own muscles tense behind her. Her blood roared in her ears, heart pounding in her chest. Adele steadied her legs.
“I owe my cousin a debt. One that I will never repay, now that he is dead.” Was that pain in the Duke’s voice? His next words were so cold that Adele was sure she was mistaken. “The least I can do is catch his killer.”
“Then why are you wasting your time with me?” Adele pushed away from the wall, whirling around to face him.
The Duke had moved, but not enough for her to escape his grasp. She could see every detail of his face. His cold blue eyes full of raw emotion, his handsome mouth parted in surprise — and then it was gone, replaced by his smug smirk.
“If you are as innocent as you proclaim, then you have nothing to worry about.” He reached towards her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as he leaned close and whispered, “But I think we both know, you are nowhere near as innocent as you profess.”
She closed her eyes. The feel of the Duke’s fingers against her skin sent a shiver down her spine. Her legs shook. “You are wrong.”
She opened her eyes and the Duke was gone. There was nothing but an empty alley. The only proof the Duke had ever been there was the faint scent of sandalwood.
I am going to wipe that smug smirk of his handsome face if it is the last thing I do!