Page 44 of The Earl's Christmas Deal
“Yes, I need you to leave the room; I require a moment of Adam’s time.”
Lionel knew better than to argue with his mother, but he gave Adam a look of weary acceptance as he placed his book on the table between them and left the room. It was a deliberate movement on Lionel’s part—he had marked his place and would return to it—a silent message that he would not leave Adamin Augusta’s clutches for long.
Adam smiled after him, keeping his own book in his hand and waiting for his aunt to get to the point of her visit.
Augusta watched Lionel leave, walking further into the roomand leaving the door ajar. She came to sit opposite him, and he was reminded of the momentshe had arrived in hisstudy all those days before, asking him to attend the house party.
How lucky I am that she was able to persuade me.
Augusta fidgeted in her chair for a little while, and Adam said nothing, disinclined to begin the conversation when he was almost certain he knew what this would be about.
“All I have ever wanted for you is your happiness,” Augusta said finally.
Adam’s fingers tightened around his book, and he cleared his throat. “I know that.”
“And you know if your happiness does not lie with Lady Seraphina, all you would have to do is to tell me?”
Adam tried not to flinch as she laid a hand on his arm.
“I have noticed a change in you of late,” she continued. “I thought that you might be feeling better now that you are out of the house and away from your estate, but today proved me wrong.”
She leaned forward in her chair as Adam put down his book and levelled her with a long stare.
“And what happened today?” he asked, feigning innocence.
She rolled her eyes. “It could not have been plainer that there is some connection between you and Lady Emilia. She was blushing after you caught her when she fell, I was amazed the duke did not call you out. Although I believe that man would not be able to see his own nose if it were not attached to his face.”
Adam snorted. “I hope you are not implying any impropriety on my part.”
“Absolutely not,” she said vehemently. “I know you too well, and you are too good for that. But I was surprised. I had not expected… I amsorry, is what I am trying to say.”
“Sorry?”
“For forcing the marquess’ daughter upon you. I did not know you were growing closer to Lord and Lady Sternwood’s daughter.”
Adam tensed, finding that he was unable to adequately explain what was happening between them. How might things have been if he had simply been honest with Augusta and told her he was not interested in Lady Seraphina from the start?
Would I still have proposed to Emilia?
The idea was a strange one. Anastasia’s face still lingered at the back of his mind, but increasingly it was being replaced with another. He did not like to think that his aunt merely saw Emilia as a means to an end. The clinical nature ofsecuring the estatedid not fit with his view of her at all. He did not like to think of her in those terms.
“And if I have grown closer to the lady?” he asked carefully.
“Then I would be pleased for you, of course.”
“Of course?”
His aunt sighed. “I want your future to be certain—for many reasons. If you are making a new connection, that is a wonderful thing.”
She leaned back in her chair again, her gaze sorrowful. “I hope you know that I would never wish to force you down a path you would prefer not to tread.”
“I know that, Aunt Augusta.”
“There has been a lightness in your step these last few days. If Lady Emilia is the cause, then my heart rejoices at that knowledge.”
She gave him a warm smile, and Adam could not help but return it. He knew his aunt had his best interests at heart; he merely wished that he could feel more settled in his decisions. Everything he did seemed to be laced with guilt and turmoil.
When Lionel did not return immediately, Augusta settled back in her chair and they both watched the fire together, notneeding to speak further, the weight of expectation lifting a little from Adam’s shoulders.
