Page 60 of Dangerous Games of a Broken Lady
Reuben grinned. “Excellent… so you do understand.”
With that, he turned and stepped down from the carriage, before melding into the oncoming shadows of the night.
Chapter 23
The meeting with Reuben had left Adelaide feeling a little peculiar. He had come to speak with her for no particular reason whatsoever, and though the conversation had flowed around topics of music and literature, and the new opera that had come to the Royal Opera House, she felt empty afterwards. No renewed fluttering of affection had manifested in her breast. Instead, she felt oddly desolate.
He is kind to you, Adelaide,she told herself.He may have a dark past, but he is fond of you and he seems to wish to make amends for past transgressions. He is amusing and sharp-witted. You can be happy together. You must stop with these fantasist notions of true love. Until a few days ago, you did not even know you were capable of such love, so forget about it. It can only come to trouble, otherwise. You fought so hard for this engagement… do not ruin it now.
“Are you well, my darling?” Ephraim asked, after bidding Reuben farewell.
She nodded. “Of course, Papa. What did you wish to discuss with the Duke?”
“I wanted to discuss setting a wedding date with him,” he replied stiffly. The color seemed to drain from his face.
“Did it not go well?”
“No, no, it did. I had hoped to have you married before we departed for Yorkshire,” he said. “It seems we shall have to have the wedding in the country, for he is not keen to marry within the next fortnight. He has some business to attend to, I believe, that is keeping him somewhat busy.”
She nodded. “I am in no rush.”
The words rang true in her head. Not too long ago, she had desired a swift wedding, but that was no longer the case. If the day dawned too soon, she was not sure she could go through with it. In her mind’s eye, she envisioned herself in her wedding gown and felt a stab of panic. Reuben would meet her at the end of the aisle, and her fate would be sealed.
“No… I suppose it is prudent to take one’s time in these matters.”
“Are you feeling better?” Adelaide asked. “You look terribly pale again.”
“I feel somewhat queer. I may retire to my chambers for the rest of the evening—I hope you do not mind? I have seen so very little of you these past days.”
She smiled. “You go and rest, Papa. I shall be quite fine, keeping myself amused. Besides, Mama is due home soon.”
He leaned over and kissed her gently on the cheek, before taking to the stairs and disappearing across the landing. She listened to his footsteps on the floors above, before his door squeaked and everything fell silent. Adelaide was alone again, with nothing but her racing thoughts for company.
After half an hour in the library, she was unable to bear the weight of solitude any longer. Running upstairs to her chambers, she took the latest letter from the drawer and descended once more. Decisively, she crossed the entrance hall and hurried out of the door, explaining to Daniel that she was going to visit with Jasper. It was not unusual for her to do so, considering their friendship.
He seemed surprised to see her. “Adelaide? I had not expected to see you today.”
“I have just come from the Green residence,” she lied. “Leah had briefly returned to collect some of her things, and I waited as she wrote you a reply. She has gone back to her family, and she was sorry that she could not stay longer, but she sent her fondest wishes to you.”
A smile broke out upon his face. “I had not anticipated a reply so soon.”
Adelaide handed him the note. “Might I stay whilst you read it?”
“Certainly.” He directed her through to the drawing room, where they sat in amiable silence as he devoured the letter. As soon as he had finished, he released a slow sigh of contentment. The response thrilled and wounded Adelaide in equal measure.
The letter did not come from you, remember?she chided herself.
“What does she say?”
He chuckled. “She writes so wonderfully. It is almost as though I am in her memories, enjoying them alongside her. She speaks of Christmas and of childhood recollections. They are remarkably vivid.”
“How wonderful.”
“She asks about you,” he said unexpectedly.
“Oh?” Adelaide could hardly believe that she had dared to put the question into the letter. Indeed, it had been her own curiosity, getting the better of her. She had never seen Jasper in a romantic light, but she was eager to know if he had ever viewed her in such a fashion.
“I shall not tell you what it says, but she appears to have reconsidered our friendship,” he explained. “I am glad of that, for I do not know what I might have done if she had forced me into casting you aside.”
