Page 110 of Claiming his Cursed Duchess

Rosaline watched them twirl in the center of the room, dancing around the other couples. Henry and Lady Esther were in the throng, looking happy and content.

Around the edge of the dance floor, Genevieve was making her way toward them. As she came up alongside Adam, he bowed formally to her. Rosaline found their relationship rather amusing—Genevieve was one of the few people Adam seemed to actively wish to impress.

Rosaline embraced her cousin as they turned to watch the dancing.

“I have heard from Sophia,” Genevieve said quietly, and Rosaline’s gut clenched at the memories that name instantly conjured.

“Is she well?” she asked, her throat suddenly dry as Adam’s hand snaked around her waist reassuringly.

“She is. She is still in Scotland with her aunt, but has written to tell me that she wishes to find a way to return to London as soon as possible.”

“Does she wish to see us?” Rosaline asked nervously.

The sounds of the ballroom faded around her as the cries of men and the screams of the horses flooded her head.

She was brought back to the present as Adam’s fingers tightened around her waist—a constant pillar of strength.

“Of course she wishes to see us, Rosaline. You know Sophia does not blame anyone for what happened.”

Rosaline sighed. “It will be good to see her.”

“I have longed for us all to be together again. You and I are both in such happy situations. I only hope for the same for her.”

“So do I,” Rosaline said, feeling her husband’s hand holding her close, a silent reassurance she had never known she needed.

When they arrived home, Adam was strangely quiet, and Rosaline watched him curiously as they made their way through the entrance hall.

He spoke with the butler briefly before turning and holding out his hand to her, leading her out of the house and into the gardens.

Rosaline exclaimed in delight as they walked around a corner and came upon some torches stuck in the ground surrounding a blanket and a tray of cheeses and wine spread out before her.

There were sweet meats and small cream cakes for her to try and she clapped her hands with excitement as Adam laughed at her enthusiasm.

“I thought you might like a quiet night under the stars.”

“As long as you are with me,” she said, pulling him to the blankets and pillows and lowering herself down.

She took a square of cheese into her mouth, moaning at the taste and turned back with a knowing smile as Adam’s eyes darkened.

“I have never eaten outside before,” she said wistfully looking up at the sky.

It was a new moon that night, and the stars were twinkling overhead.

“Then I am glad to be the first to share it with you,” he said, pulling her into his arms as she fed him some fruit from the tray.

They lay in the darkness for a long while, the silence of the night and the peace of Oldstone settling in her bones.

Rosaline had never felt so contented in her life. She sighed happily.

“I love you,” Adam muttered, his hand stroking her arm.

“And I you,” she responded, as he rolled over, his eyes black beneath the sky.

“I never would have guessed how happy I could be with you, Rosaline. I am grateful every day that your despicable uncle forced you upon me.”

Rosaline snorted, hitting him playfully on the chest. The topic no longer upset her. If anything, it only cemented her love for him that he could tease her in such a way.

“I am glad he forced you upon me too,” she conceded, just before he leaned down and captured her mouth with his, thrusting his tongue between her lips as she moaned happily.