Chapter 28
One Week Later
“Idespise leaving you,” Adrian said.
His smile was warm and love-addled as he looked down at Bridget. She smiled back, giving her naked body a deliciously long stretch as Adrian continued to dress. He groaned in feigned agony as she arched her back and thrust her breasts up, knowing it would entice him.
“Not fair, wife,” he pouted.
“It is not fair that you leave me throughout the day with nothing but a yearning for your return,” she cheekily replied.
“Should I ignore my work today?” Adrian asked, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.
He trailed his fingers over her knee, up her inner thigh. Immediately, she spread her legs, loving the feel of his touch.
“I would ignore it all,” he rasped, stroking his fingers in a lazy circle at her sensitive bud. “All you have to do is ask it of me.”
Bridget let out a soft moan, and though her body begged her not to, she slowly drew her knees shut. His promise meant so very much to her, but she could not ask that of him.
“No,” she sighed softly, reaching up to cup his cheek. “Attend to your work, husband. I shall be here when you return.”
“Promise?” he asked, his blue eyes full of desire.
“I swear it,” she answered with a small smile.
Adrian leaned down and kissed her softly as he retracted his hand from her inner thighs. She immediately missed him, but did not pull him back. Her husband had work to do, and though he would never admit it, he was becoming very good at it.
They smiled at one another a final time before Adrian opened the door, and with that, he left.
The ache of his absence began immediately, but as she had been doing for the past few weeks, she ignored it and rose from her bed.
As she drew on her robe, she pulled the cord that would ring for Eva and Mona, and then sat at her vanity and waited.
“Good morning, Your Grace,” they both greeted cheerily a few moments later.
“Good morning, Mona, Eva,” she replied fondly.
“The cook prepared two soft-boiled eggs for you today, along with a bit of toast and some sliced tomato. Is that well, or would you like us to bring you something else?” Mona asked as she held out the silver breakfast tray.
“No, that sounds lovely, thank you,” Bridget replied, beckoning her over. “Sit it down here. I shall break my fast while you start on my hair.”
Mona obliged, but as she set down the tray, Bridget noticed that a small missive sat on its edge between the two egg holders.
“What is this?” Bridget asked, picking it up.
She looked it over and found no name on it.
“I am not sure, Your Grace,” Eva replied as she began to brush Bridget’s hair. “I only know that it arrived for you very early this morning by personal messenger, who insisted it be brought to you the moment you awoke.”
Curious, Bridget opened the letter and unfolded it.
Dear Duchess, I am afraid your new title is a falsehood. The rightful Duke of Redgrave is alive and in my custody. If you and his family wish for him to remain so…
Bridget gasped, blinked, then looked back down at the letter.
Come alone and tell no one of your whereabouts if you wish to return the missing Duke to his family. If you do not, he will indeed become that late Duke of Redgrave that he is rumored to be…
Bridget’s stomach dropped as she read through the short letter not once, but thrice. Could it be true? Could Evander still be alive? Bridget thought of the great relief that Adrian and his entire family would feel at such a revelation.
“Girls, leave me please,” Bridget whispered, pressing the letter to her chest.
“Is everything all right, Your Grace?” Eva asked, looking at Bridget’s reflection in the mirror. “You have gone pale.”
Bridget began to tremble as she pushed her mind to make an excuse that would allow her to be left alone the rest of the day.
“Y-yes,” she stammered. “I believe I am about to have my monthlies. I have enough rags, thank you, but I believe I would like privacy for the rest of the day. Would you be sure to let the dowager know that I am not up for visiting today?”
Mona and Eva assured her they would, and the moment they left, Bridget flew out of her vanity seat. She dressed in her most simple day gown of pale lavender and a dove gray cape, drew her hair into a loose braid, then quickly began to gather anything of value in her room.
Jewels that Adrian gave her, even heirlooms gifted to her by Nora, all went into a sack with clumsy movements.
She even grabbed her mother’s brooch and fastened it to her dress, willing to add it to the payment if what she had was not enough.
When she was sure she had collected everything, she hurried as stealthily as possible down to Adrian’s study, praying no one would see her, and collected all the money he had stored away there.
He would be furious when he discovered her and the money gone, but Bridget prayed that once Evander walked into the house safe and sound, she would be forgiven.
She then looked at the clock on Adrian’s mantle, and another rush of anxiety hit her.
She was not at all sure where the address was, but she had the sense that it was important she leave immediately.
The letter, which had been etched into her mind word for word, had made it very clear that she was to arrive on time and alone.
After Bridget made it out of the house unseen, she stopped at the stables.
Her legs trembled. Her heart felt as if it was going to beat out of her chest. She drew in a breath, trying to calm herself, but instead, tears pricked her eyes.
She was walking into danger. Into a situation that she was sure was a trade. Her life for Evander’s.
Bridget sniffled as she raised a trembling hand to her nose, mourning greatly for a life she had only just gotten to taste.
But it had been a beautiful taste. A perfect taste.
Of what her life could have been. Flashes of the last week filled her mind, of those most private moments where Adrian had shown her just how wonderful lovemaking could truly feel.
She would think of those moments. Keep them at the forefront of her mind as she made this trade, because she could not be too afraid to do this.
Adrian might love her, but that love would never exceed the love he had for Evander. If she could get him back. If she could return the lost Duke to his family… any sacrifice she made would be worth it.
A sob ripped from her throat at the thought, but she wiped her eyes, drew in another deep breath, and headed into the stables.
“Farley,” she greeted her old driver, hoping her smile and tone were convincingly nonchalant.
“Your Grace!” Farley exclaimed. His smile was wide and emphatic as he looked at her, as if he had just remembered to do so; he suddenly bent at the waist and gave her a bow.
“How very good to see you again, Your Grace,” Farley went on. “I hope all is well with you. It has been a few weeks since you needed my services.”
“All is perfectly fine,” Bridget lied, keeping her tone light. “I was hoping you could assist me in something.”
Farley’s dark brows drew up in surprise, but he quickly nodded.
“I do not know what someone such as I could help Her Grace with, but please, ask me anything,” he invited.
Bridget rattled off the address from the letter and watched as Farley’s raised brows furrowed with worry.
“That is quite a way out of London, Your Grace,” he answered, sounding troubled. “It is not even really a town. Just a stretch of space near the cliffs of the sea. The few houses built there have long been abandoned.”
The knot in Bridget’s stomach tightened upon hearing this.
“If I were to go on foot, which direction would I head?” she asked.
Farley shook his head immediately, the worry on his face growing more apparent.
“No, you cannot walk there, Your Grace. It would take you so very long.”
But I have no choice, Bridget quietly despaired.
Farley pressed his lips together, looking as if he were unsure of what was appropriate to say.
“Are you… Is there trouble again, Your Grace?” he asked, his tone hesitant. “Has His Grace done anything—”
“No,” Bridget answered, cutting him off. “No, His Grace is a good man. A kind man, he would never…”
Never treat me the way Warren did.
Such knowledge roared up in her fiercely, nearly bringing her to tears. It was a truth that she had been hesitant to accept for so long, but now she knew. Adrian would do anything for her. So she would do this for him.
“Apologies, Your Grace,” Farley said with another bow. “I did not mean to presume; it is just the last time you had me take you some place…”
“Worry not, Farley,” Bridget assured him. “I know you mean no offense.”
Farley sighed with apparent relief, then nodded.
“You cannot walk there, Your Grace,” he said quietly after a moment. “I will not pry, though I am most worried for you, but please, allow me to take you where you need to go. Whatever is calling you to this place must be of great importance.”
“It is,” she quickly agreed. “But I must not venture away from the instructions I have been given. I am to arrive alone. So you see, I am in a predicament.”
“Allow me to at least bring you close,” Farley insisted. “I will stop wherever you tell me to so that you may walk the rest of the distance alone. Just, please. Do not make this entire journey on foot. There is no telling what could become of you if you do.”
He glanced at the sack at her side, as if he knew what was inside, and Bridget understood that what he said was the truth. If anyone stopped her, it would be far too easy for the ransom to be stolen. If that happened, any hope of getting Evander back would be lost.
“I do not care what our stations are, Farley,” Bridget said, offering him a small smile. “I consider you a good friend.”
Farley gave her a small smile in return as he let loose a breath of relief.
“I am honored, Your Grace,” he said with brotherly affection. “Now, please, wait right here. I shall have your carriage ready straight away.”