Page 150 of Dukes Are Forever
She knew that.
And yet, as much as something had changed between them the night of the explosion, some things hadn't changed at all. He'd practically avoided her all day yesterday.
Lena glanced down.
"What is it? I can see you have something on your mind. Tell me," Adele demanded.
"Will said.... He said your husband saved Mrs. Danner from Crowe Tower before it blew up." Lena tried to keep the words light. "Everybody in the Echelon's talking of it—quite the rescue, according to all reports."
Thatshe hadn't heard.
"Mrs. Danner?"
A chill ran through her. But it made no sense. The night she'd returned home, when he'd thought she was dead, Malloryn had been almost inconsolable. The way he'd made love to her on that desk had been proprietary, and then he'd spent all night in her arms.
"I'm sorry." Lena squeezed her hand. This was the way it had always been between them. Friends didn't lie to each other. Nor did they keep devastating secrets like this.
"No," Adele said, her heart giving a little squeeze in her chest. "I needed to know that. I thought...."
"You thought?"
I thought he cared for me.
But why had he not told her?
"I didn't realize Mrs. Danner was also kidnapped."
Even as she said it, her mind—that blasted devious little thing that drove her mad sometimes—began working. He'd said Mrs. Danner was only a friend and never a lover, and she'd trusted him. But both Adele and the opera singer had been kidnapped. And Malloryn had arrived at the opera too late to saveher.
All of the blood drained out of her face.
A choice.
He'd been given a choice.
She just knew it.
"Adele." Lena bit her lip. "I'm the only person you'll never be able to fool, remember?"
It was instinct to protect herself, but Lena was right. They knew each other too well. And Lena could no doubt hear the rapid beat of her heart.
"When I came home, he was so shocked to see me. He thought I was dead. And he... well..." She pressed her hands to her burning cheeks. "He was quite demonstrative of the fact he was pleased I was alive. I'm so confused."
Lena's amber eyes softened in distress. "You care for him."
The sudden surge of tears took her by surprise. "No. I—I—"Yes, said her heart, giving another brutal twist in her chest. And suddenly she understood what it all meant: the way she watched him; that dance at the ball; the hungry way she turned for his kisses.... Malloryn, the icy duke who pulled the strings of everyone he knew. "Oh, no."
Practical, ruthless Adele. Where are you now when I need you most?
"It could be nothing," Lena said hurriedly. "Maybe he was given the wrong information? Maybe he thought he was rescuingyou?"
Adele forced herself to face the facts, dashing the tears from her eyes. She stood, pacing to the fireplace, but even though the grate was warm there was no heat there. Not for her. "Malloryn doesn't make mistakes. He's not stupid enough to fall for the wrong information—"
"Unless he was emotionally compromised?"
And Adele made herself laugh, feeling utterly miserable. "My husband doesn't know the meaning of the words."
Or did he?
