Page 47 of Dangerous Games of a Broken Lady
He brightened instantly. “You will?”
“I will. I will explain to her the way things are done, when it comes to romance in the high societies of our nation. If she wishes to be one of us, then she will have to learn that private declarations of love and devotion are not nearly enough.”
“Thank you, my dearest friend,” he gasped. “Thank you.”
“Your happiness is at stake, my sweet Jasper,” she replied. “What else would I do?”
Chapter 17
The following morning, with a drizzle of rain slicking the London streets, Adelaide arrived outside the townhouse belonging to the Greens. It sat on the outskirts of Fulham, in a less affluent neighborhood to the Gilletts and the Colbornes. Still, the building was pretty and opulent in its own way, with sandstone walls and a series of elegant balustrades all the way up the bright façade.
“I shall only be a moment, Rosemary,” Adelaide said, getting out of the carriage and making her way up to the front door. She knocked lightly on the pillar-box red surface. Prior to this, Leah had always come to the Colborne house. Even when dropping her at home, Adelaide had never set foot inside Leah’s house.
A moment later, a woman came to the door. “Hello there, Miss. How may I assist you?”
“I was wondering if I might speak with Miss Green,” Adelaide replied politely. The woman was in her mid-fifties, with a slight frame that reminded her of a sparrow.
“Oh… I’m very sorry to tell you, Miss, but Miss Leah is not at home.”
“Do you know when she might return?”
The woman shook her head. “She has gone to her aunt’s house in the countryside and has given no indication as to when she might return. Might I ask your name, Miss?”
“Lady Adelaide Colborne.”
The woman’s eyes brightened. “Ah, you are Miss Green’s acquaintance in Belgravia? Your father had some business with Mr. Green?”
“That is correct.”
“And you are acquainted with a Lord Gillett?”
Adelaide frowned. “I am.”
“There is a letter here, addressed to Lord Gillett. Miss Green instructed that it be sent with the evening post. However, seeing as you are here, might you place it in the hand of Lord Gillett?”
“Certainly.” Adelaide paused for a moment. “And you are sure that Miss Green did not give any sort of directive regarding her return to London?”
“I am sorry, My Lady. She did not.”
“Very well. Might you have a forwarding address where I might send correspondence? I can ensure that Lord Gillett receives the same information.”
The woman nodded. “Of course, My Lady. I will have it written on a card for you, so you may know how to reach her.”
“Thank you.”
The woman turned and disappeared inside the house, before returning with a small square of cream card and a folded letter with Miss Green’s stamp on the back. It was a rich emerald shade, unusual to find in wax sealant. Adelaide admired the color as she took the items.
“Please, send my warmest regards to Miss Green upon her return,” Adelaide urged. “We shall be sorry to miss her company at the Colborne residence, for the season is almost at an end and we shall soon disperse to the countryside. Indeed, she will be most welcome at Kiveton Hall when the cold weather sets in.”
“I’m certain she’ll be delighted to hear such kind words, My Lady.”
Offering a polite farewell, Adelaide turned and made her way back to the waiting carriage. The driver held open the door before returning to his box. Inside, Rosemary had fallen asleep upon the squabs and Adelaide did not have the heart to rouse her. Presently, the driver snapped the reins, setting them on a course for Belgravia.
Once safely inside the Colborne residence, Adelaide retreated to the library. Her father remained in a sickly state, keeping to his rooms to shift the last of his cold, whilst her mother spent a great deal of her time out of doors. The afternoon tea they had enjoyed the other day appeared to have reignited the friendship between Lady Leeds and Lady Phyllis, and the pair had been inseparable ever since. It cheered Adelaide, to see her mother so engaged in lighthearted activities. Still, she could not help but feel a touch lonely as she padded into the library and sat down in the farthest armchair. It was her favorite, offering a fine view of the gardens and the willow she loved so much.
In her lap, she held the address card and the letter from Leah. The first had been written in a rushed hand:Elm Bank Cottage, Rufford, Lancashire.Meanwhile, the second had been written in a slow, deliberate style that moved effortlessly across the vellum.
Do not even contemplate it,Adelaide chided herself. And yet, she could hardly resist the temptation of looking within. After everything she had seen and heard, she felt she owed it to Jasper to take a first peek. If it was bad news, she reasoned she would rather tell him herself than have him read it in a faceless letter.
