Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“Why can I not come?” Adeline asked.
Deborah looked at her through the reflection of the mirror and offered a small smile at the little girl sitting on her bed. She had come to watch Deborah get ready for the flower gala, and as usual, she had plenty of questions.
“I am afraid this particular event is only for adults, my darling,” Deborah said as her chambermaid, Kathy, carefully applied some rouge to her cheeks.
Adeline frowned at that, but did not argue.
“Your uncle tells me it is being held in a conservatory. If you like, you and I can dress up tomorrow and go together; that way, you can see it,” Deborah offered.
Adeline’s frown snapped into a smile at once, and she eagerly nodded.
“Oh, yes, please! Can Grace come as well?” She asked.
“I am sure she would love to,” Deborah replied as Kathy stepped away.
“Well, Your Grace, I believe I am finished,” she announced,.“Please tell me what you think.”
Deborah glanced back at her reflection, and she could not help but smile.
She had grown used to styling her own hair and applying her own cosmetics, but she had to admit that Kathy was a genius when it came to both.
Her auburn hair had been brushed into a luster, then pulled into a stylish updo.
A lone, thick, tight curl of her red hair fell over her left shoulder, creating a startling contrast against the lavender silk gown that brought out the vivid, multihued greens in her eyes.
She’d had the dress made in the most modern design, which accentuated her bust and cleavage, but loosely hung in a way that disguised her small waist.
“You are a marvel, Kathy,” Deborah praised. “I think we are ready for the finishing touches.”
With a bashful smile, Kathy brought forward the white silk elbow-length gloves and dangling diamond and amethyst earrings. Deborah put them both on, then turned to Adeline.
“What do you think?” Deborah asked.
“You look like a princess,” Adeline breathed, her dark eyes wide with wonder.
Deborah gave her an appreciative smile.
“Am I ready to go then?” She asked.
“Not quite, Your Grace,” Kathy interjected, coming forward with a white box Deborah did not recognize.
Deborah gave her a questioning look, and in return, Kathy lifted the lid.
She gasped when she saw the necklace inside.
“His Grace insisted that you wear this this evening,” Kathy explained, gently lifting the diamond, emerald, and amethyst necklace from the box. “A token, he said, of his gratitude.”
Deborah wrenched her gaze from the stunning necklace up to Kathy.
“Gratitude for what?” She snapped.
Kathy jolted at her tone, and Deborah immediately felt guilty.
“I apologize, Kathy,” she said softly, “I did not mean to speak so harshly toward you.”
Kathy visibly relaxed and gave her a forgiving smile.
“It is quite alright, Your Grace,” Kathy soothed, “And to answer your question, I do not know. He did not say. Perhaps he meant for all you have done with Miss Adeline?”
Kathy shifted her kind gaze toward the little girl.
“She has changed so much since you came into our lives.”
Deborah turned to Adeline, who gave her a small smile. While it was true that the girl had begun to change, she doubted that was why Cedric had given her the necklace.
He is jabbing at me. Thanking me for my momentary lapse in judgment and giving my body over to him. That is what men do to keep women complacent.
“Tell His Grace thank you for his gratitude, but that I decline his gift,” Deborah stated.
Both Kathy and Adeline looked at her with surprise written on their faces.
“But Your Grace…it matches your gown perfectly,” Kathy insisted.
“It truly is so very pretty,” Adeline agreed. “It would be such a shame not to wear it.”
Deborah bit her bottom lip, torn between sticking to her refusal and giving in to their encouragement. A knock on the door interrupted them, and as she called ‘enter,’ a footman stepped in.
“Pardon, Your Grace, but the Duke requested that I hurry you along. You are starting to run late for the gala,” the man said tentatively.
Deborah sighed, hating that Cedric was rushing her and that he was right.
“Tell him I will be down straightaway,” she replied, then turned to Kathy.
“Very well then,” she relented, “Put it on me, please, Kathy.”
With a smile, Kathy quickly stepped up to her and fastened the necklace around her throat. Immediately, Deborah despised how beautiful it made her feel and how perfectly it matched her ensemble, as Kathy had pointed out. Still, she ignored the itch to rip it off and turned to Adeline.
“Alright, little one, it is time for bed,” she said gently, caressing Adeline’s cheek. “Allow Kathy to help with your bath and be a good girl, and I would wager that she will read you a story before bed.”
Adeline looked to Kathy, who winked. Adeline then giggled and hopped off the bed.
Deborah kept smiling until both left. Once alone, though, her lips dropped into a grim line, and she sat back down at her vanity, pulling a box from the bottom drawer on the right side.
She had picked up many new things while shopping with Adeline, but there was one in particular that she had bought when she was alone.
From the box, she drew out the thin, silver dagger; its hilt decorated to look like a hairpiece.
If Sylvester was at the gala tonight as he was supposed to be, she was determined to use it and get her revenge once and for all.
“Would you stop staring?” Deborah snapped.
To no surprise, Cedric’s grin only widened. It seemed nothing she said or did could make that silly look disappear from his face.
“What else do you expect me to do?” He asked, escorting her through the full ballroom of the gala. “We are supposed to be acting as if we are in love, remember?”
Deborah fought the urge to roll her eyes, hating that he was right. So far, he had been far better at pretending than she was. She had to get her anger under control, and soon. Otherwise, their peers would surely start to notice her sour disposition.
“Besides, as I have already mentioned, you look positively ravishing in that dress,” he added, “You chose very well.”
Deborah’s stiff shoulders loosened, and she managed to give him a kind look.
“They we are,” Cedric said with awe as his dark eyes lit up, “See? Pleasure looks much better on you than that frown.”
Deborah tsked her tongue and gave him a scolding look, knowing he was speaking of their intimate time together a few days ago and not the present. Cedric chuckled as he smirked handsomely and perked a brow.
“Is that where your mind always strays?” She whispered.
“Why not?” He asked, feigning innocence, “I cannot imagine any place better for my mind to be.”
She tried not to smile at his flattery, but she could not help the way her lips began to curl upward as she shook her head.
“You know I am glad this matches your gown,” he went on, reaching out to smooth his fingertips lightly over her necklace, “But I must admit I was thinking of how you would look wearing only this.”
Deborah let out a sigh, suddenly tired of being angry with him. She could not be mad and pretend to be in love with him at the same time, she decided, not when she had so much else to think about. So, she let herself smile and gave in to his flirting.
“You chose the necklace very well,” she replied softly. “Thank you, by the way. It is lovely.”
Cedric practically preened, making her laugh despite her sour mood.
“A lovely necklace for my lovely duchess,” he said smoothly. He then moved to stand in front of her and caressed her cheek as he leaned in, drawing the eyes of their fellow guests.
“Sylvester is here,” he whispered in her ear, then gave her a quick peck on her cheek; again, no doubt to show their supposed affection.
Deborah’s mood shifted at once; her frustration turning to excitement.
“He is?” She whispered, pressing her palm to his fine black jacket and looking at him with adoration. She was not sure if it was for show or genuine, but either way, it seemed to draw the attention they desired.
A moment later, several couples approached them to offer their congratulations on their marriage. Deborah kept her smile on her face, accepting the kind words with grace- even if some of the people had twisted them in a particular way that made her hackles rise.
“So very glad you did not fall into your sister’s footsteps.”
“How very good to see the Hunt family is starting to rise to its rightful place.”
“Such a shame Hester is not here to see how well you have done.”
Cedric, though, handled them all, sparing Deborah most of the effort of coming up with a positive response. In fact, as he handled the backhanded compliments with wit and great composure, she even began to feel thankful for his presence.
“My wife is a woman of her own sharp mind, is she not?”
“Of course, my wife raised her family back to its rightful place. Did you not know of her astounding resolve? It was one of her many attributes that drew me to her.”
“Talk of my wife’s good works is spreading far past London. I am sure Hester knows how well she has done and is very proud.”
“Now if you will excuse us,” Cedric said presently to a couple whose names Deborah already forgot, “I believe my wife and I would like to go greet some friends.”
“Thank you,” Deborah whispered as Cedric led her away from the small crowd that had encircled them.
“You looked as if you needed a reprieve,” Cedric murmured. “I never forgot how exhausting our people are, but I believe I never fully understood how different it would be as a woman who was talked about. Some of their words were positively barbed with thorns.”