Page 107 of Scandalous Heiress
He took his chair far from her down the long polished mahogany table.Two candelabra marked the length and obscured his face.
She snorted.Even the table arrangements consorted to conceal him from her.
Powell reappeared and though Ada did not watch him, she detected his movements were furtive.Smart man wished to be nowhere near them.
“I understand,” said her husband after Powell had hastily exited, “you’ve paid a few calls.”
She rose, moved the two silver pieces to one side, then regained her chair.She examined her husband in his evening finery.Much too appealing to her senses, he seemed much too congenial as well.“I am not one to sit and wait for events to turn my way.”
He set his jaw.“I know.”
She attacked her fish course.
“I’m pleased you went to see Mama.Glad you took the girls, too.They need that kind relationship with their grandmother.They had little companionship from their mother.”
Ada inhaled.Put down her fork and knife.“Yet you will take them from their new mama?”
“Ada, I want to be fair to you.”
She shot to her feet.Not ready to talk with him, she only wanted to argue…and that would gain her only rancor.“This is a case where fair is foul.”
The following afternoon, Ada saw her brother-in-law Julian to the foyer when Victor appeared on the doorstep.He’d been out since early morning and was just now arriving home.
“Your Grace,” he welcomed the duke warmly, but his curious gaze shot from his wife to his new brother-in-law.“I regret I have missed you.”
Julian donned his top hat, his coach idling before the house.“I called upon Ada.We settled much.Do come see me if you wish to talk, Cole.We are family and you and I have not had much time together.Especially since we share that night of tragedy.”
“Perhaps tomorrow?”Victor asked.
“Let us say, two o’clock?”
“Two it is.”
Satisfied at that exchange, Ada spun on her heel and retired to her rooms.
The next morning, she took her breakfast at half five.She was very early, but she preferred to dine alone.When she arrived in the breakfast room, the place for Victor was set.He had not eaten which meant, if she wished solitude, she’d have to pray for it, then eat quickly.The morning papers had not yet arrived so that lack sped her along.
But as she took her last sip of coffee, her husband appeared.In a dark brown herringbone suit shot with turquoise thread, his auburn hair gleaming and a creamy shirt under bronze satin waistcoat, Victor was every bit the man of business.
He bid her good morning and handed her a newspaper.
She arched a brow, said her thanks and took it.
No longer concealing the news from her, he took his chair at the round table and waited as Powell poured his coffee.
Though she felt his gaze upon her, she resisted the urge to look up from her reading.After all, one does appreciate it when one’s tea party is published in the papers as a proper social event.
“I read there that you are having guests here this afternoon.”
“I am.I’m rather pleased.”She let her eyes lock on his.Damn him for his good humor.
“I know what you’re doing.”
Now for that, she could offer him up a smile.“Good.”
“Am I invited?”
She slowly rose, rolled the paper in her fingers and schooled herself to regard him with only mischief.“No.”
