Page 21 of Duchess By Accident (The Matchmaker’s Scheme #5)

Chapter Twenty-One

“ Y ou have made all the necessary arrangements?” Adrian asked as Mr. Kember straightened his tails, dusting off his shoulders with a brush.

“Everything is in hand, your Grace.” Mr. Kember assured him.

“Good. With any luck, by the end of tonight all of this will be over.” Adrian glanced at his reflection in the mirror, smoothing a stray strand of hair from his face. “I do love when a plan comes together.”

“Indeed, Your Grace. And this one has come together swiftly, even by your standards.”

“It is amazing what can happen when I am allowed to focus.” The image of Natalie’s face swam into Adrian’s mind and he pushed it away.

He had planned on keeping his distance until the ball, but she had made that all but impossible. Whenever he was around her, he felt tugged, unable to stop himself slipping into conversation or reaching for her hand.

“And I intend to keep my focus.” Adrian muttered, clenching his fists.

Mr. Kember inclined his head. “If that will be all, I shall ensure the carriage is ready.”

“Yes, thank you Kember.” Adrian left the room and strode into the entrance hall.

The sound of footsteps behind him caught his attention and he turned to find himself staring at Natalie. She was not wearing the sad beige dress.

Instead, she wore an elegantly cut magenta gown. It was style in the English way, and the embroidery was subtle, but drew his attention to the fullness of Natalie’s form.

His mouth was dry. Control. You need to stay in control. He could not tear his gaze from her. She was radiant, a refined and controlled air in her every movement. Her hair was fastened in an bun, and about her neck she wore a delicate necklace.

Her eyes met his, her lips parted slightly, colour flushing through her cheeks.

“You will be the death of me.” Adrian growled as she reached him.

“I was simply doing what you asked. Or perhaps I should change?” Her eyes glinted in the candlelight, a challenge in every part of her body.

“You know exactly what you are doing.” He cursed.

“And what is that?” she asked, her voice full of silk and promise.

His heart skittered in his chest, every muscle in his body tensing. “Playing a very dangerous game.”

“It is only dangerous if I lose, and I have no intention of doing that.” Natalie rested a hand against his chest for just the briefest moment and then moved away, towards the door. “Come, if we continue this dilly dallying we shall be frightfully late.”

She walked away from him, a gentle sway to her hips that drew his eyes like a moth to a flame. Perhaps she should have worn the other dress. At least I would not feel so… undone.

He forced himself to follow her, grinding his teeth so hard he thought they might break. He had to get back to control. Get back to what he needed, but how could he do that when his wife looked like that? I am only a man.

He settled across from her and forced himself to look out of the window. Think of the plan. You must focus. His eyes kept going to Natalie, who met his gaze each time with an amused smile.

“Are you going to steal all my dances tonight?” she asked, flicking out her fan and gently fanning herself.

Yes. He bit back the word with difficulty. “Your first and last dance will be with me.”

“And the ones in between?” she leaned against the wall of the carriage.

She knows exactly what she is doing – the effect that minx is having on me. Adrian forced himself not to rise to her bait.

“Let us see where the winds take us.” He gestured around them, his smile full teasing. “I do not make promises I cannot keep.”

“And what is the promise you fear you cannot keep?” She leaned forwards, steepling her fingers together and resting her chin on them.

Her dress shifted, revealing a flash of skin. Adrian turned away, not trusting himself to speak. He drummed his fingertips on his legs, tapping out a rhythm in an attempt to distract himself from his wife.

“Fine. Keep your secrets.” Natalie shifted, moving away from him.

“A man needs his secrets, Little Thief.” Adrian did not look at her.

“So you claim.” There was something in Natalie’s voice, but without seeing her face, Adrian could not know what it was.

He almost turned, but forced himself not to. That would be a recipe for disaster. If his plan was to succeed, he could not afford to be distracted.

How have I not learned this lesson already? I have seen just how much distraction has already cost me. He clenched and unclenched his fist several times, distracting himself as silence settled into the carriage.

It seemed like an enternity until they arrived at the ball. He was barely aware of the world around him. Every once of his focus was on his wife.

“My lady.” Adrian guided Natalie out of the carriage.

“Thank you, sir Fox. I suppose it is time we give them a show.” She stiffened momentarily and then seemed to shake something off. “Let us begin.”

Adrian held out his arm, the feel of her own linked through his felt like a hot poker. He stiffened, but forced himself not to. And then they were being announced, and he was leading her towards the dance floor.

Their eyes met, and he saw an echo of his own hunger in her gaze. It is not real. He did not want it to be real, at least that was what he kept telling himself. But why can I not stop myself looking at her?

“Will it always be like this?” Natalie asked, her eyes darting to the people who were clearly staring at them.

“Will what be?” He canted his head towards her.

“Our life. Will people always watch when we are at balls? Will it feel like I am forever the centre of their attention?” Natalie jerked her head towards the eyes that seemed transfixed to them.

“That depends.” Adrian moved them across the floor, caught up in the music.

“On what?” She narrowed her eyes at him.

“On whether or not you continue to be the most stunning woman in the world.” The words tumbled from his mouth with more earnestness than he had intended; he had been aiming for teasing, but fallen far short. “There is not a person with eyes to see who would not be drawn to you. No doubt any man alive would prostrate himself before you, just to receive the merest hint of your smile.”

“You say the most wonderful things when you are playing a part.” Natalie was breathless.

“What makes you think I am playing a part?” Adrian found himself asking. I am playing a part. I must be playing a part. “Is it so hard to believe that I think you are that beautiful.”

“When you look at me like that, no.” Natalie gave him a wistful smile. “But you have not prostrated yourself before me – so I have to believe you do not consider me as fetching as you claim.”

“Are you asking me to throw myself at your feet?” Adrian asked, his heart hammering against his ribs.

He felt as though he were walking on a knife’s edge. Natalie did not smile.

“No. I know you do not kneel, Fox.” She shook her head, her voice soft and sad. “Not for anyone.”

He wanted to reach for her, to tilt her head towards him. I want her to ask me to kneel. The realisation hit him like a bullet. He almost stumbled. Something within him screamed at him to comfort her.

“Natalie, I-” he began but she cut him off.

“Do not tell me more lies, Adrian. I do not think I can bear it. No matter how sweet they are.”

“If you wish.” They are not lies, curse me! How does she do this to me? He wished his voice did not sound so hoarse.

The feel of her hand in his sent tingles through his skin. They swept across the dancefloor, the world fading into meaningless noise as he danced with her.

He led, and she followed. They moved as one. Every movement brought their closeness into sharp relief. Her eyes never left his face.

The music ended and they broke apart. Adrian released her hand, stepping away and bowing. He did not know how much longer he could resist her, but he had to. There was too much at stake to indulge in whatever this was.

“I cannot do this.” He tore himself away from her gaze. “You should greet Lady Winchester.”

He turned and left, not waiting for a response. He needed to get as far away from whatever madness she brought out in him. He needed a clear head.

He walked back into the entrance hall, his breath ragged. He felt as though he had run a mile. “Control, Adrian. This is not who you are.”

As he tried to bring himself back to centre, he heard a commotion nearby.

“Watch where you are going or I will make you regret it.” A venomous voice spat.

Adrian turned around and saw Marquess Bolton glaring at a small boy with red hair. The boy appeared to have bumped into him and was trembling as Lord Bolton raised a hand towards him.

“I-I-I am sorry my Lord. I did not mean-” the boy cowered.

“I do not care what you meant. I will teach you to be more mindful of your surroundings.” Lord Bolton brought his hand towards the boy.

“Touch him and it will be the last thing you do.” Adrian caught Lord Bolton’s hand in his own.

“Let go of me.” Lord Bolton sneered. “This is no business of yours.”

“Your cruelty cannot be allowed.” Adrian replied coolly.

Rage banished whatever Natalie had brought out in him. Instead it was replaced by a cool, detached sense of purpose. He looked down at Lord Bolton and then the child.

“Leave us.” He jerked his head towards the exit.

The boy nodded and sprinted away. Adrian was released Lord Bolton’s hand, stepping between the man and the retreating boy.

“I am glad to have found you, Lord Bolton. I wished to speak to you.” Adrian adjusted the lapels of his coat, towering above the other man.

“I have no wish to speak to you.”

“Then it is a good thing I do not care about your desires. You will speak to me.”

“You do not command me. I am a marquess.”

“And I am a Duke. I am your better in every way.”

“It is a title and nothing more.”

“My title is the least important thing in my superiority to you.” Adrian pulled out his pocket watch and glanced at it. “But I will not need much of your time. In fact, this will need no more than a minute.”

“That is a minute longer than I wish to spend in your company.” Lord Bolton attempted to move past him, but Adrian got in the way.

“And several more than I would choose to spend with a man like you. Adrian glanced down at him the way someone might look at something particularly unpleasant they had found on their shoe.The kind of coward who comes after my wife, rather than me. Have you always tormented those you think are weaker than you?”

“You are talking utter nonsense.”

“I am not. We both know it is you behind these rumours.”

“Then you are not as stupid as you look.” Lord Bolton’s lip curled.

Adrian let out a mocking laugh. “You are considerably braver this evening, Lord Bolton, than you were when we last met. Why, I thought you might soil yourself in your rush to flee the altar!”

“You overestimate yourself, sir.” Lord Bolton straightened, but he was so much shorter than Adrian it did very little.

“It is ‘Your Grace’, as far as you are concerned. And as enjoyable as your company is, I have little wish to remain with you longer than strictly necessary.” Adrian glanced back at his pocket watch.

“Then let me pass.” Once more Bolton attempted to move past him.

Adrian pinned him in place with a look. “I will, once I have told you what you will do.”

“You are still trying to give me orders?” Adrian could see a bead of sweat forming on the other man’s brow.

“No, I am giving you a chance to save your miserable excuse for an existence.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The truth.” Adrian shrugged. “I will give you one chance to tell the ton the truth of things. To explain that you made everything up and to recant your lies.”

“Or what? If you had any means to stop me, you would have done it by now.”

“I told you when we last met that if you crossed me, I would ruin you. I merely give you a chance to decide the level of ruin you will face.” He made a magnanimous gesture.

“You are all talk – you know nothing.”

“Oh, Lord Bolton, I know everything. All about the truth of your business venture in the new world.” Adrian’s smile was full of daggers, the full extent of his loathing in every ounce of his body.

Lord Bolton’s eyes widened and he took a step back. “What- no. I… I do not know what you mean.”

“You will have to be a better liar than that, Bolton. You could not convince the most na?ve child of your innocence with that act.”

“You are just making things up.”

“You know I am not. Or you would not have reacted as you just did.”

“Whatever you think you know, you have no proof.”

“I would not be so sure of that.”

Lord Bolton laughed. “Oh I am quite sure, your Grace. You act as though there is nothing you do not know. But if that were true, then your dear lady Natalie would not be in the pickle she is in now.”

“Keep my wife’s name out of your filthy mouth or so help me...” Adrian took a step towards the man without thinking, his hand twitching.

Lord Bolton’s eyes widened but he did not step back. “Strike me, go on. You know you want to. It will only add fuel to this fire. The ton are itching to see you as the villain, to see me as the poor wounded soul.”

“The ton wants a villain. And I will give them one. But I promise, it will not be me who leaves this place utterly damned and reviled.” Adrian flexed his fingers.

“Bold words. But I sense they are just that.”

“They are a promise. And you would do well to save yourself.”

“You are full of hot air. You are just trying to scare me, but I am not some silly little maid with not one ounce of common sense.”

“No, you are an arrogant cad who has much sense as a gold privy.”

“You dare speak to me this way.”

“Oh, I dare. You are not frightened of me, but you should be. So what will you choose, sir? You can tell the ton the truth, all of it and hope that they will be merciful. Or you can feel the full force of my ire.” Adrian gave him a grin that promised only pain and suffering. I hope he chooses the latter. “You have until the count of three to save yourself.”

“You are a liar.” Lord Bolton shook his head, a bead of sweat trickling down his face.

Adrian’s smile only widened.

“One.” He held up one finger.

“You are trying to trick me into something. You have no proof that I have anything to do with any of these rumours. Or anything else.”

“Two.” He held up a second finger.

Behind them, he heard muffled shouting and commotion from the ballroom. The noise distracted Lord Bolton, who flinched.

“What on Earth?” the man frowned and tried to get past Adrian.

“Three.” He held up his final finger and felt a thrill of satisfaction run through him.

The noise behind them was growing. Adrian looked coolly at the Lord before him, who was full of bravado. I am going to enjoy this.

“You have made your choice.” And without waiting a moment longer, Adrian grabbed the man roughly and hoisted him upwards.

Lord Bolton yelped, trying to swing a fist at him, but Adrian avoided it as easily as dodging an overexcited kitten. He gripped Lord Bolton by the scruff of his coat, dragging him towards the ballroom.

“Unhand me.” Lord Bolton’s face was a deep purple, a vein in his head throbbing ominously.

“It did not have to be this way, remember that. You chose this.” Adrian quirked the corner of his mouth upwards, giving Lord Bolton a smile that promised nothing but pain. “But I would be lying if I said I am not glad that you chose this. I am going to enjoy this very much.”

In the ballroom someone was yelling about a thief. The doors opened just a crack, and the small red-haired boy appeared. He caught sight of Adrian and Lord Bolton, and a wide grin split his face.

“They’re waiting, Your Grace.” The boy bowed low.

“Thank you.”

“It was my pleasure.” The boy looked at Lord Bolton, none of the fear from earlier present. “I am looking forward to you getting what you deserve, Father.”

“Father?” Lord Bolton mouthed.

His eyes widened, darting from Adrian to the door and back. He began thrashing wildly, swinging his fists towards him. There was an animal desperation to his movements, and Adrian drank it in.

“You planned all of this. You… What are you going to do to me?” Lord Bolton spat.

“Nothing you do not deserve.” Adrian let his face go dark, deep fury emanating from every part of his soul. “I warned you, but you were too arrogant to listen. And now you will pay the price.”

Everything is going to plan. He flung open the door, and dragged his prey into the chaos.