Page 16 of Duchess By Accident (The Matchmaker’s Scheme #5)
Chapter Sixteen
“ F ather! Father!” Melody’s voice rang out as the sound of running footsteps filled the corridor.
Adrian turned around and saw her sprinting towards him. It was a few days into the Emberlys’ visit, and Melody was more full of life than he had seen her in months. Adrian’s heart swelled as he saw just how broadly his daughter was grinning as she sprinted towards him.
“What is it little one?” he asked as he knelt down.
“Daphne said that I can come visit them at Emberly castle and play with their new puppies!” Melody beamed and Adrian had to hide his surprise.
“And I take it you would like to visit them?” Adrian canted his head towards his daughter.
“There are puppies, Father. Puppies!” She gave him a look that clearly said that she thought he was being rather dim. “And I will probably get to meet all of their cousins, and the rest of the aunts and uncles.”
“They have rather a lot of cousins.” Adrian searched his daughter’s face for any indication that she might be nervous about the situation.
“I know. And some of them are babies. I have never met a baby before, but Daphne tells me I do not need to be fearful of them.” Melody nodded happily. “Apparently their family visits them at the castle an awful lot.”
“That is what I have been told.” Adrian agreed. “Emberly castle is very rarely empty.”
“So you will let me go then?” Melody gave him a hopeful smile that made his heart twist.
“Of course, they are your family now as well.” Adrian nodded. “We shall all visit them together.”
“And perhaps I can bring a puppy home with me!” She gave him a sidelong look.
He chuckled and held up his fingers for her to touch. “We shall see about that.”
She nodded and to his surprise, threw her arms around him, hugged him tightly and sprinted away. “I will tell Daphne the good news!”
Adrian watched her go, shaking his head, a grin spreading across his face.
“She seems so happy.” A voice said from behind him, the now familiar scent of lemon and bergamot washing over him.
“I cannot remember the last time I saw her like this.” Adrian ran a hand through his hair absently. “I had forgotten just how much her smile lights up the room.”
“I am glad to see her so full of joy. Children deserve to be cherished and carefree.” Natalie leaned against the wall, an odd look in her eyes. “And she is such a delightful child.”
“I like to think so.”
“Sometimes it is baffling that such a ray of sunshine is your daughter. I can only assume she takes after her mother – you are far too sombre and broody.” Natalie teased.
A stab of something dark and unpleasant jolted through Adrian, but he shoved it roughly away. His heart sped up and the smell of roses haunted him.
“Perhaps she does.” Adrian kept his voice level, and forced himself to smile. “Or perhaps your own sunny disposition is so catching it has beaten my brooding out of her.”
“Careful, that sounded dangerously close to a compliment, husband dear.” Natalie’s eyes twinkled mischievously as she watched him.
“And why would you be surprised that I pay my wife a compliment? After all, you are so very worth complimenting.” He moved toward her, his eyes meeting her gaze.
Her cheeks flushed but she rolled her eyes and shook her head, before she gently placed a hand on his chest. “If you think complimenting me will disarm me, I am afraid I shall have to disappoint you. But I am learning your tricks.”
“Perhaps I have some you have not yet encountered.” Adrian moved closer to her and winked.
“If that was the case, it begs the question, why keep them from me?” She gently traced a hand down his chest, her eyes dancing.
“One should always have an ace up their sleeve, Natalie.” Her murmured.
She shook her head, smiling and stepped away from him, gesturing to the exposed skin on her wrist. “I prefer to keep mine in my gloves. Easier access.”
The air between them sat heavily. The kind of heaviness that was like a tightly coiled spring, ready to be released. There was fizzing quality to it, as though it was ether given shape.
Adrian did not break his eyes away from her. I will not let her win this little game that we are playing. “I shall have to keep that in mind.”
“See that you do, husband dear.” Natalie winked at him.
“I feel like I should get you a gift.”
“A gift?”
“Yes.” “Though it will have to be a most unusual gift to be worthy of you. I know, I shall get you a bow and arrow!”
He jerked his head in the direction of the archery course that she had set up to spite him. It was hidden by the sweeping shrubs of the garden, but he knew she would know what he was referring to.
She gave him a teasing smile and batted her eyelids at him. “And are you not worried I would use it on you?”
“I think you would miss our banter too much to use it on me.” He winked at her again, catching sight of her rolling her eyes even as two faint spots of colour appeared on her cheeks. Two can play this flirting game, Little Thief. “Besides, I would not let you get that close.”
“The benefit of a bow is that it is designed to be used at range.” She laughed.
“I suppose that is true. Though as I have yet to see you shoot one, there is nothing to suggest you would be capable of striking me.” He chuckled.
“I will have you know I am a rather excellent shot.” She straightened, a flash of pride stealing across her face.
He canted his head towards her. “Are you indeed? In truth, the image of you as Artemis on high is rather… fetching.”
“I had not taken you as someone who enjoyed being hunted.” Her eyes sparkled in the sunlight, and a lock of hair fell across her face.
He reached up and tucked it behind her ear, his fingers lightly brushing her smooth skin. “Who ever said I had any intention of being the quarry?”
Her lips parted and he felt a rush of warmth spread through his fingers. He half expected her to move away from him, but she did not.
Natalie’s voice was soft. “We cannot both be the hunter.”
“Are you sure about that?” He arched an eyebrow at her, his voice full of silken promise.
She rested a hand on his chest, her lips quirking upwards as she murmured “Perhaps we could take turns.”
His own breath caught, the warmth of her spreading through him. She is getting better at this. She shook her head, and moved away. The world seemed to snap back into life. A stab of disappointment filled Adrian, and he frowned.
“Why are you getting me a gift anyway?” Natalie asked.
“To say thank you.” Adrian ran a hand through his hair.
“For what?” She frowned at him.
“When we made the agreement, I had no idea just how much of a difference you would make to life at Blackwood Castle. How much of a difference you have made to our lives. You have saved my daughter in more ways than one, and I would honour that in some way.” He shrugged. “Whatever you want – name it and it is yours.”
An odd look flitted across Natalie’s face at his words, but it was gone too quickly for Adrian to understand it. For a moment, he had thought it was hurt, but that made no sense.
She glanced out of the window. “I do not want a gift. I do not want payment of any kind. Melody is not a burden or a chore. She is precious and full of love, and I would do most anything for her. I do not need payment for loving your daughter, Adrian. My love cannot be bought – it is freely given.”
“I was not suggesting that it could.” He canted his head towards her, taking in the hard set of her jaw and the tension in her shoulders.
She glared at him. “Were you not? Because that is what it felt like.”
“That is not how it was meant. Melody is my pride and joy. I had not expected, nor even hoped that you would be as protective of her as I am. Nor that you would cherish her as I do, and the depth of that affection means a great deal to me.” He made a placating gesture.
“Is that not what it means to be a mother?” She folded her arms across her chest.
“To some, perhaps.” He clenched his fist and shrugged. “But not to everyone.”
“It does to me.” Natalie took her hand gently in his and squeezed it. “You asked me to be here because I am good with children. I may know precious little about the world, but please trust that I know at least that.”
“I would say you know more about the world than you give yourself credit for.” Adrian gave her a weak smile.
“If that were true, perhaps things would have turned out differently. I suppose at least I can say that I learn from my mistakes.” She moved away from him, wrapping her arms around herself and shaking her head, giving him a sad smile. “Though learning from them seems to have done me little good.”
“What do you mean?” he canted his head towards her.
“It is nothing.” She made a dismissive gesture.
“It is clearly not.” Adrian frowned at her. “You are upset.”
She sighed. “Sometimes it feels as though my life will be defined by one moment. One tiny moment where I put my trust in the wrong person, and now I will live with the consequences until I die.”
“You are talking about Lord Bolton.” Adrian clenched his fist.
“Yes.” Natalie swallowed, and turned from him. “I… It would seem my reputation has not been salvaged by our marriage. I am some irredeemable, scheming harlot as far as the ton is concerned. Yet the man who tricked me… He has faced no consequence, save a lightening of his purse. He is not shunned.”
“The ton is full of fools.” Adrian saw the pain on Natalie’s face as a fierce anger flowed through him.
“Be that as it may, they are fools who seem determined to make my life, and those around me miserable. Peter’s lady love… They have been torn asunder by my reputation. All of the people I love, they are paying for my mistake. And I can do nothing to protect any of us.” Natalie opened her mouth, closed it again and chewed on her lip.
“I should have paid closer attention.” Adrian shook his head. How could I let myself get so distracted? “I am afraid our honeymoon is over. We will return to London on the morrow. I have let this go on long enough.”
“What do you mean?” Natalie asked.
“I will make each and every one of them regret the day they decided to believe such vile and nasty rumours.” His voice was full of an icy rage. “No one disrespects my wife – not if they wish to see old age.”