Page 9 of Dangerous Games of a Broken Lady
“You are not?”
“I am no fool, Jasper, but Iama lady in this world,” she explained. “I wish to live within the means that I am accustomed to and secure a good life for myself and my family. Is that not a daughter’s duty?”
Jasper grimaced in exasperation. “I suppose it must be, dear Adelaide, but I hate to see you place so little regard on loyalty. Surely, there must be another gentleman. Any other gentleman might be better than the Duke. You often use your feminine wiles to taunt me—why not use those wiles to entice a kinder man? A sweeter one, who will not show you cruelty. Perhaps, you may even discover love if you thought to try a little harder.”
Adelaide snorted coldly. “Now who is the one seeking a fantasy?”
“Love is no fantasy, Adelaide.”
“You are a gentleman, Jasper. Your choices are less limited than my own. You may seek love, where I am duty bound to make an excellent match—with or without the luxury of true affection.”
“Then find a good match with a better man, as I have said.”
“It may have escaped your notice, Jasper, but I am often overlooked. Those peculiarities that you spoke of are the very attributes that see gentlemen turn away in derision. They are polite to my face, of course, but I know what they say when my back is turned.”
“That cannot be true.”
“Do not play coy with me, Jasper. You know it to be true. You have undoubtedly spoken such words yourself, once you thought my back was turned.” Adelaide sighed and turned her face away. “I have endured a lifetime of it.”
Jasper caught the faint glint of a tear as it rolled down her cheek. A twist of remorse turned in his stomach. “I did not mean to offend by calling you peculiar and troublesome. Is that not the nature of our friendship, to tease one another?”
“I know I am not a repulsive creature, but neither am I fending off compliments,” she went on, ignoring his attempt at an apology. “My beauty is complex. It lacks simplicity. The Duke of Bradford is the kind of gentleman who admires complexity, and so he admires me.”
“That is no reason to—”
“I told you I longed for the thrill of London society—I believe the Duke holds the key to that world. At his side, we shall both endure the whispers of those around us and feel their sting halved,” she interjected. “I believe we are both cut of the same cloth, he and I. And besides, the decision is made. You cannot change it.”
“Adelaide…” He did not know what else to say.
“Not unless you can provide an alternative? Do you have a charming Duke hidden away who might be suitable? A prince, perhaps?” A nervous laugh rippled from her throat. He could see she was fighting to regain her composure. Truthfully, he hated to see her like this. In all their years of friendship, he had seen her cry a handful of times. Each occurrence had rendered him helpless and bemused.
“I cannot.”
“Then, we have nothing more to say on the matter.” Her dark eyes turned to meet his, her expression solemn. “I know what kind of beast he is, Jasper. I have seen glimmers of what lurks beneath the suave exterior.”
“I do not understand.”
“I saw what he did to you,” she replied quietly. “I heard the warning he gave you, though I am pleased to see you did not heed it.”
“Then… why risk so much?”
“For the same reason that anyone risks anything, Jasper—because there is much to gain.”
Jasper felt his throat constrict. Her words twisted in a vise of guilt, with his thoughts turning to Adelaide’s father. Ephraim had risked so much and gained nothing. Success was never guaranteed. And yet, he could not use it as a cautionary tale. Not without giving away her father’s awful secret.
“And much to lose,” was all he said in reply.
“Perhaps, but I am learning of his whims and intrigues. Soon, I believe I may be in a position to rein in his more outlandish qualities. He finds me compelling, you see. Besides, my parents do not know of his less palatable history, and they seem to like him well enough. He is of good name and fortune, and he cares for me.” She flashed a shy smile. “And just remember, all beasts may be tamed.”
Oh Adelaide, I pray the attempt does not cost you dearly. He could not say the words out loud, but he felt them keenly for his friend. Reuben Fletcher was nothing but trouble. Adelaide appeared to think herself the lion-tamer, but she was walking straight into his slavering jaws.
Chapter 4
Adelaide sat back in the carriage and fussed with the neckline of her amethyst gown. The silk skirt rustled as she attempted to get comfortable. Miss Leah Green sat opposite, whilst Lady Francesca and her mother, the Countess of Gaumont, took up the other seats. Jasper had mentioned that he might accompany them later and would make his own way to the Assembly Rooms if he chose to do so.
Ever since their brief discussion that afternoon, Adelaide had felt unsettled. Up until the moment that Reuben had declared his intention to announce the engagement, she had been quite happy with the situation. But now… nagging doubt whispered words of warning in the back of her mind. Perhaps, she was making a grave mistake.
“Are you quite well, Lady Adelaide?” Lady Francesca asked. She was an exotic creature with olive skin and chestnut hair that shone with flecks of auburn. Her eyes were a similar shade of brown, though they often held a haughty distance that unnerved Adelaide. Indeed, Lady Francesca could shift from frosty to warm in a split-second.
