Page 20 of Claiming his Cursed Duchess

“Yes?” Adam asked with a slight hiss.

“My apologies for interrupting, Your Graces, but there is a message for His Grace,” the butler explained.

Adam let out a low groan.

When Adam turned toward her again, Rosaline’s breath caught in her throat for a moment, then her heart sank. Whatever fire had burned in Adam’s eyes a moment ago, it had now faded.

“I shall deal with this first. Meet me at the entrance hall in ten minutes,” Adam said.

Seeing her hesitation, Adam’s face softened slightly, that darkness flickering in his eyes again. “The most beautiful roses are the ones in danger of being picked before they can fully blossom in the garden.”

It sounds as if my husband may want me for himself,Rosaline mused, feeling hope bubbling in her chest.Or at least to preserve the illusion that we are loyal partners.

The bubble of optimism burst in her chest as she responded, “Yes.”

“Good,” Adam only said and walked off with the butler trailing behind him.

Chapter Seven

“You should have warned me that I’d need a map to navigate this place,” Rosaline said, glancing around the labyrinth of hallways.

After finding her in the garden that evening, Adam had led Rosaline on a tour of the manor, introducing her to the staff.

A stern-faced housekeeper, Mrs. Thornhill, and a young, timid lady’s maid named Alice were assigned to Rosaline’s service. Their demeanor mirrored the cold, imposing atmosphere of the manor.

Rosaline couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity for the servants. Their fear and disdain were palpable. She knew that their fear stemmed from the rumors that surrounded her, the whispers of a curse that had supposedly marred her beauty and her life.

As they walked through the labyrinthine corridors, Rosaline couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. Every rustle offabric, every creak of the floorboards seemed to carry a hidden meaning. The servants, their faces etched with a mixture of fear and disdain, offered only curt nods and averted gazes.

Rosaline straightened her shoulders, her chin tilting upwards. She would not allow their fear to intimidate her. She had faced far worse.

She glanced at Adam, whose gaze was fixed on her with a curious intensity. His eyes, a deep shade of blue, seemed to pierce through her, as if he could see the insecurities that lurked beneath her confident exterior.

She quickly averted her gaze, a blush creeping up her cheeks.

Adam smirked at her remark, his hands clasped behind his back as he strolled beside her.

“I am a staunch believer in the joy of discovery,” he said.

“Ah, how thoughtful of you,” she quipped. “Is that why your staff practically flee in terror the moment I look at them? To heighten my sense of adventure?”

His sharp blue gaze slid to hers, a flicker of amusement sparking there. “Perhaps they’re unused to someone so spirited.”

Rosaline’s lips curved in a small, defiant smile. “I doubt that. Spirited women are hardly a rarity among the ton.”

“I disagree,” Adam inclined his head, his expression shifting to something more enigmatic. “I have not encountered any lady with your particular…bite.”

She raised a brow, ignoring the warmth blooming in her chest at his words.

“Careful, Your Grace. You might make me think you’re flirting.”

“Would that be so terrible?” he asked, his voice low and teasing.

She ignored the flutter in her stomach, determined to hold her ground. “Only if you mean it.”

Before he responded, they reached the entrance to a grand library, and Adam pushed open the heavy oak door.

“The library,” he announced. “I imagine you will find this room more to your taste.”