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Papa tenderly held her hand, muttering soothing nonsense. “It shan’t come to that, I won’t allow it,” he said.
“We will have to go into exile,
” Lady Margaret said and closed her eyes. “My darlings Helena and Beatrix will never recover from this. How do we survive it? I fear after this dreadful development, only Mr. Atwood may want her and he will just not do.”
Before Adel or Papa could respond, there was a sharp perfunctory rap on the door and then it was opened. The duke strolled in, fully dressed in a dark coat and trousers, looking shockingly handsome. His shrewd gray eyes took in the scene in a sweeping glance, then settled on her. Though so coldly aloof, he was quite magnificent, her addled mind realized.
“May I present you to Sir Archibald and his wife, Lady Margaret, Your Grace. Sir Archibald and Lady Margaret, may I introduce His Grace, the Duke of Wolverton,” Lord Gladstone said, entering behind the duke.
Lady Margaret surged to her feet and dropped into an elegant deep curtsy.
“Your Grace,” her father said standing and bowing. “I have read many of your wonderful articles championing better treatment for the invalided soldiers. Very admirable and not unexpected of a man of your exceedingly eloquent stature.”
Her father was much adept at flattery. He did nothing in this instance but lay on thick praise to the duke, even going as far as to quote him on some article he had recently written for the Gentleman’s Magazine. Lady Margaret’s head bobbed with every word uttered from Papa. The duke looked on with chilling tolerance, and Adel was too weary to be embarrassed on behalf of her father and stepmother, but she was most assuredly filled with rioting nerves.
“We understand there was a slight incident earlier, and we apologize for our daughter’s behavior,” Lady Margaret said, after Papa finally took a breath.
“Entirely my fault. It seemed I occupied the wrong chamber,” the duke said dryly, with the slightest quirk of his lips.
Adel inhaled at the flutter of warm sensations that erupted in her stomach and her heartbeat quickened uncomfortably. That barely-there smile had rendered him charming, approachable.
“You are so kind and honorable, Your Grace. I…we…” Lady Margaret inhaled.
Adel winced at her stepmother’s emphasis. Nothing in the duke’s mien indicated he was aware of her subtle pressure.
“Thank you for receiving me on such short notice.” His tone was so bland and polite; Adel struggled to guess what he was actually feeling.
His wintry gaze scanned the room and settled on her father. “You are no doubt aware of why I am here, Sir Archibald. Shall we speak alone?”
Anger stirred in Adel. She was mightily tired of her life being decided for her. “No.”
The caress of his eyes slid over her like a sharpened blade, then he lowered his lids and dismissed her.
It stung.
“By all means,” her father said.
“You will have to bodily remove me, Papa. It is my future we are discussing and I should be a part of it,” she announced decisively.
Chapter Six
“Are you here to offer for our daughter?” Lady Margaret asked, no doubt anxious to get to the heart of the matter.
Adel gasped, and all eyes swung to her. This was all going dreadfully wrong. Of course the duke would not offer for her, she had nothing to recommend her for the lofty title of duchess. She’d had her first come out the year after her mother died, and in the three years since, only two young men had called on her and only Mr. Atwood had remained constant. Lord Vale was an anomaly and he’d not courted her. He’d stared, accidentally grazed her breast when no one looked, made suggestive whispers, and then attacked her. What made her stepmother believe the duke would do something so utterly implausible?
“Yes,” he said.
Shock stabbed through Adel. “What?”
“You will do the honorable thing?” her father asked faintly.
The duke strolled to the sidebar and lifted the crystal from the decanter. He poured a golden liquid into a glass, then faced her father. “Most assuredly. In fact, I believe it wise if Miss Adeline and I were to wed as soon as possible, Sir Archibald.”
This was so unexpected she felt faint. Adel’s mouth went dry, and she was certain there was some misunderstanding. “Your Grace,” she finally said very carefully, “You wish to make me your duchess?”
It seemed as if everyone in the library braced for his response.
“Yes.”
