“Question?” She turned stiff.
“Concerning your father and you,” he probed. “The reason you were sent away.”
“Oh, didn’t I?” she laughed awkwardly, her focus fixed on Harriet.
Yes, something is clearly wrong. Worse, she is terrified of telling me.
Adrian did not want his wife to fear him. He did not want her to live in a state of constant tension. While their marriage would never be normal, he hoped it might one day grow toward being companionable.
He considered what she had said earlier at breakfast, the reason she was angry with him. All Ophelia wanted was to feel comfortable in her new home, not alone, but as if she belonged.
“Ophelia…” His voice softened. “I hope you know that you can tell me anything. I know I am not exactly the warmest of characters, but you have no reason to fear me. If something is wrong or… or you need anything at all, I am here. Please, know that.”
She sighed. “I do not fear you, Adrian.”
“Then why won’t you tell me what happened?”
“Because…” She stopped changing Harriet and bowed her head. “It is not such an easy story to tell. And once you hear it, there will be no taking it back. Likely, you will be angry that I did not tell you sooner.” She turned and looked pleadingly at him. “But I swear I did not keep it from you on purpose, nor did I mean to…” She grimaced. “I was not trying to trick you. Please know that.”
“Tell me what happened,” he said with as much softness as he could manage. “I promise I will not grow to anger.”
She hesitated. She bit into her lip. She searched his eyes as if to make sure that he meant his words. And then, as the tension built, as the fear in her eyes grew, she started to speak…
“Three years ago, I was courted by Lord Hallbridge,” she began, her voice distant, cracking with each word spoken. “Although I did not fancy him as he did me, it felt nice to be pursued… to be so admired by someone of his reputation. Truly, I should have told him right away that I was not interested, but he was just so persistent.”
Adrian said nothing, watching her face, noting the pain that passed it as she spoke.
“I knew he meant to ask for my hand, so I told him that it would do no good as my father was broke and he ought to find a bride better suited for his needs. As it turned out, he was also broke…” She laughed bitterly. “Nor did he care about my father’s destitution. He asked for my hand anyway, and I had no choice but to deny him.”
Harriet giggled, blissfully unaware of the painful story she was hearing.
“He did not take my rejection of him well.” She curled her lip in distaste. “To get back at me, he orchestrated a scandal. He… it was a ball, and he lured me outside to talk, or so he told me. Then he made sure that we were discovered, and he announced that I was the one trying to force myself onto him.” Her voice turned sharp. “That I… that I wanted to use him, on account ofmy father, as if marrying him might help. He denounced me, everyone believed him, and my name turned to ash.”
“That is…” Adrian’s blood turned as hot as lava, anger rising inside of him. “How could he…”
“My father, bless him, knew the truth, just as he knew that there was nothing to be done. So, he suggested that I leave thetonand work for Lady Delacourt until the scandal passed over.” She laughed bitterly. “As if it ever would.”
Adrian shook with rage. The story, while tragic, was not that surprising. What it was, in fact, was a stark reminder of why he had spent his life avoiding social engagement and his peers. Thetonwas filled with people who liked to act as if they were above the rest, those whom others could look up to, while the reality was far darker and more sinister than most realized.
It was a reality that Adrian knew too well.
“Lord Hallbridge, you say?” Adrian said darkly.
“Yes…”
“I will remember that,” Adrian snarled. “As I will be sure to make him apologize for what he has done to you.” He half-turned as if to leave.
“What are you –”
He turned back. “You were hurt, Ophelia. You were treated poorly. And if you think I will let something like that stand…” He continued to tremble as the anger built. “I will challenge him to a duel so the whole world will see what a coward he is.”
Whatever reaction Adrian had expected, it was not the one that he got. Ophelia, seeing his anger, hearing his words, laughed.
“Oh, there is no need for that.”
“There is,” he said through gritted teeth. “You deserve justice.”
She stepped forward and rested a calming hand on his shoulder. “Revenge is not justice. And punishing him now will do nothing but cause more pain. The best we can do is move on and forget it. A life well lived is the best revenge, is it not?”
