Page 20 of Duchess By Accident (The Matchmaker’s Scheme #5)

Chapter Twenty

“ A nother.” Adrian gestured to the empty glass of whiskey in front of him.

He was sitting in an armchair at White’s. After he had left Natalie, he could not face returning to Blackwood House. The hurt on her face had twisted something inside of him, and he had not trusted himself not to tell her everything.

“What is happening to me?” Adrian curled his fingers in his hair, scowling at his empty glass. “This is not who I am.”

He shook his head. Away from his wife it was at least a little easier to think clearly. Or he hoped it would be anyway. Something stirred in his chest and he forced it away.

The servant returned with a decanter of whiskey and a slip of paper. “Your whiskey, your Grace. And this was also delivered for you.”

Adrian took the slip of paper from the man, and slipped him a guinea. “I trust you will forget the face of whomever sent this.”

“Sent what, your Grace?” The servant pocketed the coin.

“Exactly.” Adrian nodded.

The servant bowed to him. “Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you.”

“I will. Thank you.” Adrian poured himself a measure of whiskey and inclined his head towards the servant, letting the man know he had been dismissed.

Adrian looked at the slip of paper between his fingertips. As soon as he had left for London, he had instructed his valet to find out whoever was behind the rumours. He knew that they would still need to fix Natalie’s reputation, but he had no intention of letting her slanderer remain unpunished.

The rumourmonger was a thorn in Natalie’s side, and he had no desire to let it fester. He flexed his fingers, growling softly to himself until he realised what he was doing and stopped.

“No one can be allowed to hurt my wife.” Adrian muttered, a fierce protectiveness swelling up in him. But what about me?

A stab of guilt rose in him as he recalled the hurt expression on her face. It was for the best. His weakness had hurt her too.

“How does she unmake me so easily?” he whispered, staring at his reflection in his half full glass of whiskey.

The smell of Natalie’s perfume seemed to surround him and he found himself breathing deeply. He froze as soon as he realised what he was doing. Gritting his teeth, he tried to focus on their argument, to ignore the tether that was tightening between them.

The feel of paper in his hand reminded him of the servant’s note. He opened it and let out a hiss of anger and frustration. There were two words written on the paper, in a hand that Adrian recognised as his valet’s. Marquess Bolton.

“That snivelling little worm.” Adrian cursed and downed his whiskey. “I should have seen this sooner. I would have seen this sooner. Damn me for a fool. I should not have let her get to me like this.”

“Women do have a tendency to do that.” A man’s voice murmured from a nearby chair.

Adrian whipped around and found himself looking into a familiar face. “I thought you knew better than to eavesdrop, Caverton.”

“Hardly eavesdropping if you speak so loudly that a woman three streets over could hear you, Blackwood.” Frederick Felton, Duke of Caverton, grinned at him.

He was a little younger than Adrian, with a mess of curly brown hair and an air of cockiness about him. They had first met at Eton, and had remained friends, though their encounters had lessened once Adrian had become a father.

“And what exactly are you doing here?” Adrian asked, arching his eyebrow at his friend. “I have just come from your ball.”

“Grandmother’s ball. Let us be honest, it is her affair, not mine.” Frederick shook his head. “Mine just happens to be the London House she likes best, and the title she still shares.”

“Then she is still running things.” Adrian arched an eyebrow at him.

“Of course she is.” Frederick gave a wry smile. “I run the duchy and grandmother orchestrates increasingly extravagant events to try and trick me into marriage.”

“Ah! So I take it you are hiding from the eligible ladies of the ton?” he laughed.

“More… Taking a break from them. Besides, I know that most only want me for my money.” His face darkened momentarily. And then he added. “And what about you? I thought you were supposed to be on your honeymoon?”

Frederick waggled his eyebrows suggestively and Adrian rolled his eyes.

He took a sip of his drink. “My wife is why I am here. You surely have heard the rumours about her.”

“You know I ignore such things on principle.” Frederick made a dismissive gesture.

“Ignoring does not mean you have not heard them. You know what they are saying about her.” Adrian clenched his fists tightly, a cold, dangerous anger in his words. “I will not allow it to continue.”

Frederick canted his head towards him. “So you are here to fix her reputation? How gallant of you. Have you gone soft in your old age, Blackwood? I thought you had sworn off love.”

“Love has nothing to do with this.” Adrian shook his head, trying to ignore the way Natalie’s hurt face swam to the forefront of his mind.

Memories of the feel of her in his arms as they danced, the way they had moved as one. The animal within him curled around his heart, urging him to leave and go back to his wife, to tell her everything. But he knew that was foolish.

Ours is a business arrangement . That is all it should ever have been. I thought we were friends. Her words echoed around his mind. He did not need another friend. Especially not one who was so dangerously disarming. She had held his attention for too long.

“Whatever you say, Blackwood. But few things would drive a man to look so furious at the thought of someone slandering his wife.” Frederick gave him a flat look.

Adrian snapped, “Her reputation affects me as well, and I cannot allow such slights to go unanswered. I have spent too long cultivating my image to let the ton think they can escape my wrath. I have been complacent, but that is done.”

“Complacent? Or distracted?” Frederick moved from his chair into the one opposite Adrian and poured each of them another measure of whiskey.

“Both.” Adrian admitted without thinking.

Frederick grinned. “Well, you can hardly be blamed, your wife is rather fetching.”

Anger flared to life in his chest, and he narrowed his eyes at Frederick, a note of warning in his voice. “She is still my wife. You best remember that, Caverton.”

“Blackwood, you know that I do not covet what another man has. That is far too tawdry and dramatic for me.” Frederick gave him a significant look. “Though you are rather tetchy for someone who does not care for her.”

“I never said I did not care for her.” Adrian shook his head. “I… It does not matter. You know my feelings on the subject. Love will only make me weak. Whatever is happening between Na- the Duchess and me, it has cost me too much already.”

“Calm yourself, Blackwood. I was only teasing. If you say there is nothing between you, then there is nothing between you.” Frederick held both of his palms up in a placating gesture. “Regardless, it is admirable that you should choose to protect her.”

“It is a necessity. The ton need to remember who they are dealing with. They fear me, but clearly not enough. It is time to make them fear my wife.” Adrian gritted his teeth.

“That should be fun to watch. I take it you have some kind of plan.” Frederick leaned closer.

“The makings of one, yes.” Adrian glanced around them.

It was nearly three in the morning, and the club was nearly empty. The few occupants were in corners far from them, and from their stance, were too deep in their cups to notice much else.

Still, it would pay to be circumspect. Adrian lowered his voice, his mouth barely moving. “I know who keeps stirring the pot, and I think it is high time that he was taught a lesson.”

“Who is it?” Frederick’s eyes widened.

“Lord Bolton.” He spat the name.

The image of the insipid man swam before his eyes. I should have flattened him when I had the chance. The anger he felt calmed the confusion of the ball. It gave him clarity, a focus, and he fed that like a man feeds a fire on a cold winter’s night.

Frederick’s face soured and he looked like he had taken a bite of a particularly unpleasant food. “That man is scum.”

“He is. I thought I had seen the last of him, but apparently the cretin is determined to make himself a nuisance.” Adrian’s lip curled in disgust.

“More than a nuisance – he has made you end your honeymoon early.” Frederick stroked his chin thoughtfully, the stubble visible in the firelight. “I will not lie, but I would not spit on the man if he were on fire. He is a loathsome creature.”

“You have had dealings with him then?” Adrian took another sip of his whiskey.

His mind was buzzing, a part of him ready to file whatever his friend was about to share in the Bolton volume he kept. This is what I am good at. This is what I should have been doing. Information was power. And Lord Bolton would soon learn the price of upsetting him.

“Of a sort.” Frederick massaged his neck and rolled his shoulders which made a faint cracking sound as he did. “He got one of my cousins in a spot of trouble. We ended up having to pay him rather a large sum of money to leave her alone.”

“He blackmailed you?” Adrian just managed to keep the surprise from his voice.

“Yes. This was before he owned the Morning Post and the Evening sun mind you, but I was not going to gamble with my cousin’s future. It is why every Caverton cousin, niece and aunt knows never to accept a drink from the man.” Frederick spat. “I do not think she was the first woman he tried it on, but it is hard to confirm. It is far too embarrassing for most of the ton to admit.”

“Indeed. And no doubt he uses that to his own advantage.” Would Natalie have had to learn the same lesson if the truth had been known. Adrian scowled. “With the scandal sheets he owns, few would risk telling the truth of the matter.”

“Exactly.” Frederick frowned. “And you know, he had the gall to ask me to be part of some business venture in the new world. I told him he had had more than enough money out of me.”

“No doubt the venture would be one of a most… unsavoury nature.”

“I have no idea. I had him escorted from my study and threatened to set the dogs on him if he returned. My cousin married a foreign prince and there is no chance the cad could hurt her now.”

“The man thinks he is untouchable.” Adrian ran a hand through his hair. “The blackmail is one thing, but this business venture… Do you know if he has approached others?”

“I can ask around. He kept saying it was the chance of a lifetime. That my returns would be unmatched.” “I told him I was not particularly worried about money. And I would never be desperate enough to do business with him.”

Something clicked into place in Adrian’s head, and he smiled. “I think I know just how we are going to get him.”

His plan would keep him away from his home, from Natalie. He knew he should be relieved, but some part of him felt guilty. He pushed it from his mind.

He had dallied in his feelings long enough. There was revenge to be had.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“Are you listening to me?” Melody frowned, her arms crossed as she peered at Natalie.

It was the day after the Caverton ball and Melody had just been returned to Blackwood house by Rose and Alexander. Natalie had been attempting to listen to Melody tell her about her night with her cousins, but had been rather distracted.

She gave her an apologetic look. “My apologies, Melody – it was a rather late night. Please tell it to me again.”

“Perhaps it would be best if I waited until father joins us – then I will not have to keep repeating myself. Where is he?” Melody glanced around expectantly.

That is a good question. Natalie’s heart sank. She had not seen Adrian since the night before. She had walked past his study on the way to greet Melody at the door and there had been no sign of him.

Unease trickled across her spine but she did her best to hide it from Melody. “I am not sure.”

“He is not home?” Melody looked crestfallen.

“No. Or at least not yet. I am sure he has just popped out to tend to some urgent business.” Natalie forced her voice to remain bright and cheery, even as she felt a band drawing tight around her chest.

She could only assume Adrian had left that morning. Surely, he had returned back to the house last night? She glanced at the grandfather clock. It was 10 o’clock in the morning, plenty of time for him to have got up and gone on some errand.

“That is good.” Melody nodded. “I suppose it must have been rather urgent.”

“Probably. Little else would keep your father from you.” Natalie agreed. “Have you breakfasted already?”

“Yes, but if you would like, I will keep you company.” Melody began to walk towards the dining room.

“That is most kind, thank you.” Natalie forced herself not to look back at the front door. It is not as though watching the thing will make him stride through it. “And if you wish to tell me more of your night I will listen. I know how hard it can be to wait to share such exciting times.”

“It is, a little. But I do not like repeating myself. And what if father is sad because he has missed out?” Melody chewed on her lip.

“I am sure he will not. Besides, I find that when I am very excited about something I want to tell as many people as possible! Inevitably in the retelling I discover some little thing that I had forgotten until that moment.” Natalie explained.

“Really?” Melody’s eyes widened.

“That is how it often is with me.” She nodded her head, eyes going distant as she recalled happier days. “Especially when I was your age. I would find some particularly interesting thing in the garden or Peter and I would get into some wonderful adventure and we would tell the story over and over again.”

The mention of her brother reminded Melody of the evening before. Her stomach twisted and she clenched her fist. Her reputation coming between Peter and Lady Isabelle was one thing, but she refused to allow Adrian to keep them apart.

She struggled to keep her anger off her face. Not wanting Melody to see, she hastily looked away. Thankfully, the door opened at that moment and the sound of footsteps filled the hall.

“Father!” Melody yelled excitedly, pushing her chair from the table and racing towards the sound of footsteps.

Natalie’s heart beat faster. She half stood, but stopped herself. she did not want to rush towards him like some desperately pining lover, but nor could she bring herself to simply remain seated. I will not let him think I am afraid to see him.

She forced herself to move into the hall, even as her heart threatened to tear itself from her chest. She glanced down the corridor and saw Adrian kneeling in front of Melody.

“Father – you smell awful.” Melody wrinkled her nose.

Natalie dug her nails into her palms, using the pain to force away the violent wave of nausea that rose within her. Adrian was wearing the same clothes he had been in when she had last seen him. He did not come home.

The realisation cut her like a dagger. The world around her began to spin and she barely took in what Adrian said to his daughter.

She stumbled, and the smell of stale whiskey, cigars mingled with amber and myrrh, washed over her. Strong arms held her arms and she glanced up to see Adrian looking at her.

“I should wash.” Adrian murmured moving away from her.

“You should.” Melody nodded her agreement, frowning up at her father and then at Natalie. “Why are your clothes so crumpled?”

“Melody – perhaps you could ask the servants to prepare a bath for your father? I would like a word with him in private.” Natalie gave her step daughter a smile. “And then you can tell him all about your time with your cousins. I am sure he is desperate to hear about it.”

“Is he in trouble?” Melody canted her head towards Natalie. “Does that mean we will not go to the menagerie today?”

“Of course not. I think a trip to the menagerie is a heavenly idea.” Natalie glanced at Adrian, knowing just how loud and bright it would be. “Why not make a day of it? We could visit one of the tea rooms and perhaps promenade about the park!”

Though Natalie had never herself experienced the consequences of an overindulgent night, she had seen her brother’s and other family members the morning after. Most of them had groaned and remained in bed, refusing to do anything until they felt more human.

Well, if he thinks I shall let him slink away, he has another thing coming. If he wanted to stay out all night, then so be it. But Natalie would show him that there were consequences to such things.

“Shall I ask cook to prepare a picnic?” Melody asked excitedly. “Perhaps we could invite Cousin Daphne and Arthur and Jonathan to join us?”

“A wonderful idea.” Natalie could see Adrian opening his mouth to interject, but ploughed on before he could say anything else. “Why not write to them? It will give you a chance to practice sending out calling cards.”

“Can I use my seal?” Melody’s eyes widened and she hopped from foot to foot.

“Of course. Though ask Julia or Nanny to help with the wax. I do not want you to hurt yourself.” Natalie said.

Melody nodded and skipped off, humming a song to herself as she went. The sight bolstered Natalie. At least I am doing something right. She caught sight of Adrian smiling as he watched his daughter, and turned to face him.

The smile disappeared as soon as their eyes met and it felt like a dagger in her heart. The warmth in his eyes was replaced by the coldness of a frozen lake.

“You did not come home last night.” Natalie felt the words tumble from her lips; they sounded far away.

“I lost track of time.” Adrian shrugged.

“Do you intend to make this a habit?” she asked, folding her arms across her chest.

The cold dispassionate affect of her voice took her by surprise. It seems I have picked up some of Adrian’s tricks. She leaned into the safety of that coldness.

His eyes widened ever so slightly; her only indication that he was affected by her. She wished she could feel satisfaction, but it was swallowed up by the roiling nausea and anger within her.

Images of Adrian drinking and cavorting bubbled to the forefront of her mind and she pushed them away violently. Ours is a marriage in name alone. She refused to let him see her feelings, to learn this weakness.

Adrian arched an eyebrow at her. “Are you not even a little curious as to where I was?”

The question was at the forefront of her mind, but she could not bring herself to ask it. It was one thing to let her imagination conjure the scenarios, an entirely different matter to have them confirmed.

She gave him a withering stare. Turn it back on him. “Would you tell me even if I asked you?”

“Would you believe me?” He retorted, his voice soft but hard.

“No.” Natalie met his gaze, the cool blue of his eyes feeling like a knife in her chest. I will not look away. “It does not matter anyway. You will not do this again.”

He took a step towards her, drawing himself up to his full height. “That sounds dangerously close to an order.”

“It is not. It is a reminder. As you so kindly gave me last night.” Natalie stood taller as well, forcing herself not to back away from him. “We are here for a purpose. You staying out all night will only undermine that purpose. Or when you lost track of time did you also become so distracted that you forgot your promise?”

The smell of him was overwhelming. A part of her wanted to wrap her arms around him, another part wanted to hit him. What is wrong with me? She dug her nails into the palms of her hands, letting the pain give her clarity.

She let the implication of “distracted” hang between them. Natalie hated that a part of her was desperate for him to say that there had been no distraction, that it had just been a misunderstanding. But she knew he would not.

“I have not forgotten.” Adrian drew a deep steadying breath. “Neither of us can afford distractions.”

“I am not the one who has been distracted.”

“No?” Adrian moved closer. “Do not lie to me little Thief. You have been just as distracted as I have.”

Natalie’s breath caught at the closeness of Adrian. She forced herself not to move away from him. If he wanted to play with her, then she would return the favour. She would not let him win this game.

“Do not play games with me, Adrian.” Natalie muttered as she put a hand on Adrian’s chest.

She felt his muscles tense beneath her touch. “Then do not start them with me.”

“Father!” Melody’s voice interrupted them, breaking the spell between Adrian and Natalie.

They broke apart and Natalie’s cheeks flushed. Absently she straightened her dress. She deliberately did not look at Adrian as he swept from the room to find his daughter.

“And this magnificent creature, is a lion.” A tall man gestured to the mighty maned creature behind them.

Melody gasped in delight, and her joy seeped into Natalie’s heart. They had been in the menagerie a few hours, with Melody’s eyes growing wider by the minute.

Natalie found herself catching Adrian’s eye and smiling before she realised what she was doing. He smiled back just before Melody tugged him towards the next creature.

He is so soft with her. They had arranged a private tour of the menagerie – one of the benefits of being one of the most powerful dukes in England. The animals prowled around, occasionally letting out roars or animated chattering and chittering.

“What is that?” Melody pointed to an orange creature with black stripes across its body.

“A tiger.” Natalie answered before their guide could say anything. “I believe it comes from India, does it not?”

“You are quite the naturalist, your Grace.” The guide inclined his head towards her. “You are correct, she was brought over some months ago with two of the locals. Very dangerous creatures in the wild, as I am sure you can imagine. But here they pose no threat. You need not have any fear.”

“I am not afraid.” Melody stuck her chin out. “My father will protect me from anything. As will Lady Natalie.”

The sentiment tugged at Natalie’s chest. How would it feel to trust so completely in another to keep me safe? She hoped Melody would always feel that way.

“It is a pity her cousins could not join us, I suspect they would have made the occasion even more special for her.” Adrian murmured as he fell into step beside her.

“We shall just have to come again.” Natalie shrugged. “I am just glad she does not seem to have been affected by whatever has upset little Jonathan’s stomach.”

“As am I.” Adrian clasped his hands behind his back as they walked beside each other, and Natalie noticed a tension in his jaw. “We should discuss our plan for this evening’s ball. What do you know about the Winchesters?”

She pursed her lips, closing her eyes as she tried to recall what she knew about the family. “Lord Winchester has a soft spot for sherry, though he will not drink it in the company of other men. Too many feel it is drink only for old women.”

“And how did you come across that little tidbit of information?” Adrian sounded impressed and Natalie hated the way it made her heart flutter.

He does not need to know that. She made a vague gesture, acting as though his approval was wholly unimportant.

“He visited us while Rose was pregnant with Daphne. She could not stand to be around whiskey, so Alexander could only offer him sherry and he admitted that he was rather partial to it.” She gave him an impish smile as she imagined him with a glass of sherry in his hand. “I suspect if he sees you drinking it, that will warm him to you.”

“I can arrange that.” Adrian stroked his chin thoughtfully. “It has been some time since I drank it. When I was at Eton a few of the boys pilfered a few bottles from the kitchen and well… I have not touched it since.”

“A rather debaucherous night, though from the feral way Peter behaved when he returned from there I can hardly say it surprises me.” She smiled as she recalled her mother telling him off for eating like he was a starving urchin. “They say it is to be expected when you put together a group of boys and rob them of the steadying influence of a woman.”

“That is why a man needs a wife. Or so I am told.” Adrian gave her a sidelong look.

She arched an eyebrow at him. “And would you say I have been a steadying influence?”

“As steadying as a sea in storm.” He chuckled and the sound sent shivers down her spine.

She found herself moving towards him, and caught herself, instead rolling her eyes and stepping away. “Sometimes one needs a good storm to shake things up.”

“You have certainly done that.” He massaged his neck, rolling out his shoulders.

“I try.” She quipped, unable to stop herself.

“I know you do.” He smiled at her, the coldness fading for a moment and then it slid back into place.

Do not let him do this to you. You cannot open yourself up to him. Not again. She decided to steer them onto safer ground, and teased, “Are you not worried that the others will judge you for drinking a lady’s drink?”

“Why should I fear their judgement? Besides, it may well become a fashion if I do it.” He grinned at her.

Her heart flipped over even as a prickle of annoyance ran through her. She fed the annoyance and said sardonically,“Ah, there is that humility I have so missed. How blessed it must be to be a man and not have to care about such things.”

“It does have its advantages.” Adrian shrugged.

“When Peter and I were young, we used to pretend to be one another. He would even attend my lessons – it is why he can embroider so well, not that he would ever admit it.” She was not sure why she was telling him this, only that for some reason the thought of descending into cold silence filled her with dread. “I would disguise myself as him, learn to hunt and to shoot. I got to read all the books he did, even when we were not pretending to be one another.”

“You certainly have led a rather colourful life.” Adrian had clasped his hands behind his back again, and Natalie noticed that he seemed to be flexing and unflexing his fingers.

“When one is so far removed from everyone around them, you do whatever you can to amuse yourself.” She rubbed her own hands together, clasping her fingers to keep her from reaching out to Adrian. Why do I want to touch him? “Sometimes I wonder if we could still trick others.”

“You are entirely too pretty to be mistaken for a man.” He replied, the intensity of his gaze when he looked at her undermining the casual tone of his voice.

How does he do this? Seem to see into my soul with his gaze? Well if he wants to unbalance me, two can play at that game. She forced herself to s,mile, keenly aware of the blush spreading across her cheeks. “Are you saying that men are not pretty? I for one think you are terribly pretty.”

“Thank you. I was simply stating that there is nothing manly about you.” Adrian opened his mouth, his eyes sparkling and then closed it, shaking his head and looking away from her.

It was as if something hard had slammed into place between them. Natalie could not tell if she was relieved or disappointed or both.

The silence stretched between them, interrupted occasionally by Melody’s distant chatter with their guide and the roar of one of the animals. It was heavy, almost oppressive.

Natalie could bear it no more. “And what do you know about the family?”

Adrian gave a small start, apparently he had been lost in some thoughts. Natalie tried not to think about just what may have been occupying his mind.

He gestured around them. “They do not care for the more European style of dress. They prefer the more modest English fashion – so I shall adjust what I wear accordingly and would suggest you do the same.”

A part of her was tempted to refuse, just to prove a point, but she knew that would be beyond foolish. She would be cutting off her nose to spite her face.

“I know just the dress.” Natalie pictured it in her mind. “It is not very modern, but I am sure it will do nicely.”

“Which dress is that?” Adrian asked.

“I have a beige one. It is rather more traditional, far more lace than I would usually wear.” Natalie pictured the dress in her mind.

It was one that she had bought as a last resort. She had planned on wearing it to thoroughly put Lord Bolton off, but had never been given the chance.

Adrian wrinkled his nose. “You sound as though you are describing something my grandmother would wear.”

Natalie canted her head towards him, trying not to let him realise just how correct his words were. “You were the one who said they valued English fashion.”

“Yes, but that does not mean you have to look dowdy, like someone’s maiden aunt.” He unclasped his hands and made an emphatic gesture as though to ward off an irritating dog. “I have no desire to be seen with a woman who dresses like a nun.”

“I was not going to dress like a nun. Nuns wear habits.” A blush crept up her throat.

“The dress you described sounded horrendous, and if it is the one I am thinking of, it looks just as bad.” Adrian gave her a frank look.

Natalie frowned at him, folding her arms. “And why exactly were you going through my wardrobe?”

“How did you think I got the dress measurements? I know you think rather a lot of my intellect, but even I have my limits.” He gave her a mocking bow.

She resisted the urge to thump him. Instead she said as acerbically as she could manage, “I think rather less of your intellect than you think I do.”

“Of course you do.” He moved away from her, as though he sensed her thoughts. “Regardless, if you wear that dress, we will not go to this ball. So pick another.”

He strode away before Natalie could say another word. Her anger filled her and she glowered after him. So they were back to demands, were they?

Well, if he wanted her to wear a different dress, she would wear a different dress.

“I am going to make him regret ever thinking he could dictate my clothes.” She smiled to herself. He will only wish that I was a dowdy maiden aunt.

She would have his full attention. She ignored just how good that felt.