Page 34 of Dangerous Games of a Broken Lady
“Yes, frightened. You are terrified that nobody else will be drawn towards your complex beauty and your unusual, wonderful, unique charms. Those things you claim that only the Duke can appreciate. But I promise you this, Adelaide, if you marry the Duke, you will be selling every fiber of yourself far short.” He gasped as though he had been running. “There, I have said it, the very thing no one else is brave enough to say.”
Adelaide whirled around and hurried into the house. She would not let Jasper see her cry, not again. It had been embarrassing enough the other day. And yet, his words had stung her deeply. Not because they were cruel or uncalled for… but because she feared they were true.
Jasper sprinted up the steps behind her. “Adelaide, wait.”
“Do not attempt to prevent me from speaking to my own father,” she shot back, glancing at him over her shoulder. Her eyes burned with hot tears.
Rosemary stood sharply from the entrance hall chaise. “Lady Adelaide, shall I send for Daniel?” She cast a pointed look in Jasper’s direction, her rheumy eyes warning him to keep his distance.
“You do not need to call for Daniel, Rosemary,” he insisted. “Adelaide and I are in the midst of one of our disputes. There is no cause for alarm.”
“When you raise your voice to my charge, I believe thereiscause for concern. Kindly control yourself, Lord Gillett. Being a friend of the family does not offer you complete amnesty within these walls, to do as you please,” Rosemary remarked coldly. Adelaide was glad of her support.
Behind her, chastened, Jasper sighed. “I apologize for my disheveled and uncouth manner, Rosemary. However, I must continue to speak with Adelaide.”
“LadyAdelaide,” Rosemary corrected.
He flashed pleading eyes at Adelaide.
“There is no need to send for Daniel,” she conceded. “You ought to retire to your chambers, whilst Jasper and I continue our dispute. I intend to ascend to my father’s study, so he shall be there to watch over me.”
Rosemary grunted. “If you are certain?”
“I am, Rosemary.”
The old lady lowered her voice, so only Adelaide could hear. “Very well, but if I hear Lord Gillett raise his voice to you again, wild horses will not stop me from calling for Daniel.”
Adelaide smiled. “Thank you.”
“I am sorry for my behavior, Rosemary. There will be no repeat,” Jasper promised, as Rosemary shot him another ice-cold glare. Indeed, Adelaide was surprised at the ire that bristled from the old woman. Ordinarily, she adored Jasper. Then again, she was a stickler for propriety; a traditionalist in many respects. It was evident she did not appreciate Jasper speaking so coarsely to a young lady.
“Behave yourself,” Adelaide warned.
“Are you so cross with my honesty that you would set old Rosemary on me?” A hint of teasing lingered in his voice, but Adelaide was in no mood for jest.
“Have you taken leave of your manners, Jasper?” she hissed. “Indeed, I hardly recognize you this evening.”
Without another word, she took to the stairs and made her way across the landing to her father’s study. She was already weary from her troubling exploits with Leah.
Indeed, that confusing conversation by the fireside had left her entirely drained. On any normal day, she would not have accompanied Leah home, but today she had made an exception. Part of her had hoped that Leah might be more forthcoming on the carriage ride, giving a clearer indication of her feelings. Sadly, they had done nothing but sit in silence the entire way. All she could do now was hope that Leah would be patient with Jasper, so romance might continue to blossom.
At least, she had hoped that prior to Jasper’s blunt admission about her match to Reuben. Now, deep in the pettiest part of her being, she tried to convince herself that she no longer cared.
She gasped as Jasper’s hand closed around her wrist, pulling her away from her father’s door. “You will unhand me,” she whispered tersely.
“You cannot trouble him now, Adelaide. Your marriage is destined to go ahead, no matter what anyone might think about it. Why risk further pain by confronting your father?”
“Because it willnotgo ahead, if he is withholding the dowry.”
Jasper grimaced. “I beg you to leave it be. I will speak to him myself, tomorrow, when he has had chance to rest.”
“You are the last person I should task with this enterprise, now that I am aware of the depth of your hatred for my fiancé,” she fired back, pulling hard against his strong grip. He would not release her. “Let go of me, Jasper, or I shall scream.”
“Leave this for another time,” he begged.
“Why should I?” Tears filled her eyes, her voice catching in her throat. “None of you understand the position that I am in. This cannot wait!”
Both of them turned in alarm as the study door creaked open and Ephraim appeared. His face looked haggard, prominent dark circles showing under his eyes. Adelaide had never seen him so gray and weary. Her heart almost broke, there and then.
