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“Yes, Your Grace.”
She frowned. Were they not to have normal marital relations? She was not sure how higher lords and ladies coexisted, but her mother and father’s chambers had been connected, and it was even the same now with Papa and Lady Margaret. “I see.”
“Get out.”
The chilling command cracked through the room like a whip, causing Adel to jerk. She spun around and faced the door where Edmond hovered in the doorway behind Mrs. Fields. Not hovered, more like he stood frozen, the harsh lines of his face more pronounced, his eyes glittering with cold fury. Adel buried the trepidation stirring inside and gave the housekeeper an encouraging smile. The poor woman looked ready to collapse.
“You may go, Mrs. Fields.”
She bobbed her head, gave them a quick curtsy, and hurried away. Adel calmly exited and gently closed the door. “Please do not be irritated with Mrs. Fields. I asked to see the duchess’s chambers.”
He stared, his gray eyes growing more distant by the second. He appeared so…intimidating was the word that came to mind, but she would not display any anxiety. They were married, for better or worse, and she was resolved to make their situation as happy as possible. “Forgive me for intruding, I was but startled when I learned I had not been put in the duchess’s chambers. Mrs. Fields was unsure if she should have the rooms cleaned and aired.”
Edmond smiled tightly. “These chambers are to remain closed. See that you remember.”
The words stung quite harshly.
With a sharp nod, he spun and walked down the hall with clipped strides.
Chapter Twelve
After the earlier debacle Edmond disappeared. She had spent the rest of the day unpacking and shoring up her courage for dinner. The lady’s maid she had been assigned, Meg, was appalled at Adel unpacking her trunks. She had chuckled. Living with her father, they only had one upstairs maid, and Lady Margaret had monopolized her time. Adel had learned to do much on her own, and she relished the small acts of independence. Simply placing her few dresses in the armoire was soothing, and had helped to quiet the jangle of nerves.
She made her way to the elegantly appointed dining hall to a wonderful supper of watercress soup, game pie, lamb cutlets, chicken Italienne, mushroom fritters, roast beef, baked pike, artichoke hearts followed by rose water flavored ice cream, jellies in a pretty shape, fruit compote, and Genoese cake.
Conversation with Edmond was stilted and her nerves pounded through her as she fretted about whether tonight he would consummate their vows. She had eaten as quickly as possible, then excused herself and hurried to her chamber. Then she bathed in scented rose petal water and brushed her hair with hundreds of strokes, before bundling into one of her very old and frayed white cotton nightgowns.
Perched on the edge of the well-padded mattress, Adel bit into the soft of her lower lip, her anxiety mounting as she watched the door. She had sent a note with Meg to the duke after it occurred to her that he would not know where her chambers were. That had been over fifteen minutes past.
The minutes crept away and with a sigh she went over to the wide windows that took up an entire wall of her chamber. The stars and the moon bathed the land in an ethereal glow. The gardens were brilliantly landscaped into rolling lawns dotted with oak, elm, cypress and willow trees, a topiary garden, and even a gazebo which was covered by beautiful flowering vines. Adel had never seen a view more beautiful.
She would explore it tomorrow after properly spending some time with her new daughters. She frowned, biting deep into her bottom lip. She would have to tread with care. Lady Margaret had not been very welcoming when Adel met her for the first time. In fact her father’s new wife had always taken on an air of mild annoyance whenever Adel was about. She felt nothing of the sort when she thought of speaking with Sarah and Rosa tomorrow, but they had seemed so reserved today.
There was a knock on the door and her heart leapt into her throat. She spun around, pulling the edges of the gown close. “Come in.”
The handle twisted and in strolled the duke, a glass of amber liquid in his hand. He was still clothed in his evening clothes and raised a coolly mocking brow, holding up her note between his thumb and forefinger. “You summoned me, Adeline.”
“I was not sure if I was to make my way to your chamber,” she said tentatively.
There was something undeniably disturbing in his eyes. “For what purpose?”
“I may not know the full of it, Edmond, but I am certain my duties as your wife extend to me being with you in your chamber.” She fought the blush climbing her cheeks, striving to appear self-assured.
His lips twisted slightly. “Ah…so you are ready to fulfill your marital duties? I had not thought you so aware of what that entails.” His tone was dry, his expression inscrutable.
“I beg to differ. I have lived in the country most of my life. I dare say I have an idea,” she said teasingly. Her smile faltered when he failed to respond. How was she to pierce his aloofness? Should she even be trying? “Are we to be at odds so soon?” she asked softly.
He stiffened and then scrubbed a hand across his face. “Forgive me, Adeline,” he said, regret heavy in his tone. “I am being slightly boorish.”
She arched a brow. “Only slightly?”
He smiled, and she rocked back on her heels. The man was simply too handsome for his own purpose.
“Being married…though it was a decision I made in earnest, I find I am plagued with more doubts than I expected.”
Oh. That bit of honesty warmed her heart. “I think it is normal to feel doubt, not that I am an expert on marriage,” she said with a small smile. “And our situation was highly unexpected.”
“Hmmm,” he murmured noncommittally, sipping his drink. But his eyes…they devoured her, from the top of her head to her toes in a slow heated sweep. What was he thinking?
