Page 25 of Duchess By Accident (The Matchmaker’s Scheme #5)

Chapter Twenty-Five

A drian watched Natalie and Melody talking and felt as though he would burst. Ever since they had returned, it had felt like he had found paradise.

His cheeks ached from smiling so much. “I am getting soft.”

He shook himself, but could not help watching the way Natalie moved. She moved with such perfect grace. He loved how she lit up when she talked to Melody, loved the way she laughed. I should make her laugh more.

Natalie turned and caught his eye, and gestured to the bridle he had been in the middle of checking, mouthing the word, “distracted?”

He winked at her, laughing at the blush that spread across her cheeks before returning to his task. He was aware of a shadow behind him.

“You know, this will take a lot longer if you keep stealing my focus Little Thief.” He turned around and found himself looking into the amused face of Lord Peter.

“Little Thief, I prefer Briggs or Rokesby if I am honest.” Lord Peter bowed to him.

“I thought you were your sister.” Adrian inclined his head towards Lord Peter, his eyes finding Natalie who gave him a look that said she had not been expecting this visit either. “I had not expected to see you. Though, it is always good for family to spend time together.”

Lord Peter flushed. “Sorry for dropping in unannounced, Blackwood, but well, we were in the neighbourhood and I could not wait to tell my sister the good news.”

“We?” Adrian asked at the same time as Natalie said, “Good news?”

Lady Isabelle appeared beside Peter, and gave them both an apologetic smile. “I did say it would be better if we wrote to ask to meet, but Briggsy insisted you would not mind.”

Adrian’s stomach dropped. His hand tightened on the reins of his horse, and he forced himself to smile. What is she doing here?

“We Emberlys do not care about such thing, and now that the Duke is one of the family, he shall have to get used to his relations turning up unannounced.” Peter laughed.

“Rose and Alexander both managed to wait to be invited. As has the rest of the family.” Natalie pointed out, standing beside Adrian.

He felt her slip her hand in his, squeezing it reassuringly. This is a nightmare.

“You said that was because Melody should not be overwhelmed, but she has already met me. And we are great friends, are we not, little Niece?” Peter called over his shoulder.

Melody appeared a moment later. “Uncle Peter said he would come with us on the ride! He wants to see the ruins. Maybe, if we show him the ruins, he will let me have one of the puppies at Emberly castle?”

Has Lady Isabelle seen Melody? Have they spoken without me? Adrian was aware of Natalie moving closer to her brother, whispering in a way that suggested she was politely telling him that unwelcome visits were not welcome. Relief did not come, instead only nerves filled Adrian.

Adrian looked at Melody, trying to hide her from view and hide the fear on his face. “I have already said that you are not old enough to have a dog. They are a lot of work.”

“But I want one.” Melody pouted. “Please.”

“No.” Adrian looked at Natalie asking for her support, but before she could say anything Peter had leaned down to Melody and said in a stage whisper, “Melody, the trick to getting a puppy is that you must first ask for a horse.”

“But I already have a horse. Two, in fact. Natalie bought them for me.” Melody gestured to the stable emphatically, her brow furrowed.

“Well then, why has Natalie not procured a puppy for you?” Peter gave his sister an indignant look.

“I do not know.” Melody turned to face them. “I did not know that if you had horses you could have a puppy.”

“That is because it is not true.” Adrian shook his head, trying to calm his nerves. To focus.

Natalie had clearly decided it was time to steer the conversation towards safer waters. “You said you had some good news for us?”

Peter beamed at them. “Oh yes! We are engaged. We have just been to see the Earl and he has given us his consent to be wed.”

“So I will get another aunt?” Melody asked, her voice full of excitement.

“Yes, you will.” Lady Isabelle smiled at Melody. “You probably do not remember me, I met you when you were very little. My name is Isabelle, if you would like, you can call me Aunt Isabelle.”

It was only Natalie’s hand on his arm that stopped him sweeping Melody away from Lady Isabelle. He felt his muscles go rigid as a board.

“Aunt Isabelle. Nice to meet you.” Melody smiled.

“Melody, I do not think Lady Isabelle has brought anything to ride in. Would you mind terribly if I did not join you? I should hate for her to feel left out.” Natalie gave her stepdaughter an apologetic look.

Adrian felt the tension leave his body, just slightly.

“Oh. You promise we will go another day?” Melody canted her head towards her.

“I promise.” She nodded solemnly.

“Okay then. I will show Uncle Peter the map. And explain to him about the rules.”

“Rules?” Peter asked as Melody led him away.

Lady Isabelle looked between Adrian and Natalie. “I hope you do not mind. I really had not wanted to intrude, but Peter insisted.”

“I know how stubborn my twin can be.” Natalie rolled her eyes.

Adrian was aware of the feeling of her thumb brushing over his knuckles. He tried to lean into the feeling, to embrace a calm he knew he needed.

“Are you sure you do not mind missing out on the ride? I am quite capable of amusing myself.” Lady Isabelle wrung her hands.

Natalie made a dismissive gesture. “No, of course not. It will be nice for the two of us to get to know one another.”

“Perhaps I should stay as well-” Adrian began, but Natalie cut him off. “Melody will be furious if we both remain behind. You go, have fun. I will keep Lady Isabelle company.”

“Are you sure?” Adrian asked. What if she knows?

“You can trust me.” Natalie murmured, she moved closer to him, and spoke so quietly he could scarcely hear her over the beating of his heart. “She has kept whatever she knows quiet this long. No doubt it will stay that way. Let me talk to her, alone. It is better than causing a scene.”

Adrian looked into Natalie’s amber eyes and nodded. He inclined his head towards Lady Isabelle, and left the stables, guiding his horse as he did. He did not trust himself to hold to his nerve if he said anything else.

“I can trust her. It will be fine.” Adrian muttered to himself as he began to ride away with Lord Peter and Melody. “Natalie will not betray me.”

Perhaps he should have stayed, but then Melody would have remained as well. He did not want her to be around Lady Isabelle, not with what she could know.

And what if she told Natalie? What would he do then? She must not know. If she knew, surely she would have said something before now. She had loved her cousin, the cousin who Adrian had driven into the arms of another. It would stand to reason the woman might dislike him, even want to hurt him.

“She cannot know. She would have used the information before now.” Adrian rolled his shoulders back, trying to draw comfort from his words.

“Has my sister driven you that mad already?” Lord Peter asked as his horse moved beside him. “Or have you always talked to yourself?”

Adrian stiffened, but forced himself to relax. “I find speaking helps when one’s head is full. And yes, I did this well before your sister came into my life.”

Adrian gestured to the horse Lord Peter was riding, a magnificent Black stallion. “You should be careful. That one is a beautiful ride, but can be a little skittish.”

“I like a little challenge.” Lord Peter laughed.

“So does your sister.” Adrian could almost smell Natalie’s perfume in the air around him.

It calmed him, filling him with a sense of ease that was almost enough to stop him worrying about Lady Isabelle.

Lord Peter nodded. “I do not think I have ever seen her like this before.”

“What do you mean?” Adrian canted his head towards the other man, urging his mount into a trot.

“Moonstruck. When we saw you at the ball, whatever is between you was so palpable it was almost indecent.” Lord Peter’s ears reddened. “Honestly, if you had not already been married, I would have been forced to challenge you to a duel for ungentlemanly conduct.”

“Then it is lucky we are married. Your sister would never forgive either of us if we killed one another.” Adrian could picture the anger on Natalie’s face. Did everyone see it when I did not?

He did not like the idea that others had seen something so obvious. It was too close to how he had felt when he discovered the Late Duchess’s secret.

Lord Peter ran a hand through his hair, shaking it out as he did so. “No, nor would Isabelle. I suspect they would both bring us back from the dead just to kill us again.”

“How did you and Lady Isabelle meet?” Adrian asked, finding himself genuinely curious.

“Alexander had sent me to the Earl to negotiate some business matter for him while Rose was unwell. I met Isabelle as I was leaving, and from the moment I saw her… Well, I could not bear the thought of being apart from her.” Lord Peter flushed a deep shade of scarlet.

Adrian nodded. “You love her a great deal.”

“I do. It is why I owe you such a great debt.” Lord Peter gave him a serious look.

Adrian arched an eyebrow at him. “You owe me nothing.”

Lord Peter pointed to him. “You saved my sister from that dastardly Marquess, not once, but twice. And thanks to your efforts, her reputation has been healed enough that the Earl gave me permission to marry my love.”

Adrian felt a snake-like temptation swirl within him. I could ask him to end things, to break things off in repayment of the debt. He looked at Lord Peter, and saw the echoes of his wife in her twin’s face. He remembered the shell he had been when he had visited.

He waved Lord Peter’s assertions away with his hand. “There is no debt between us. If there ever was, Natalie has settled that.”

I pray that I am making the right choice. Lord Peter smiled at him. “Thank you, but should you ever have need, I am at your service. Besides, we are brothers now.”

“I suppose we are.” Adrian could not help but quirk a corner of his mouth upwards.

“I am going to start galloping now!” Melody called.

She was riding a little way in front of them as they had agreed. Adrian watched as she kicked her horse into a gallop, feeling a familiar twist of anxiety that faded as she laughed delightedly.

“She is quite the horsewoman.” Lord Peter remarked. “The race is supposed to start when she reaches that oak tree, is it not?”

“Yes.” Adrian nodded.

“Do you plan on letting her win?” Lord Peter asked.

“No. I gave her a head start for a reason, but she would never forgive me if she thought I let her win.” Adrian gave Peter a firm look. “Which means you must race as well.”

“I was hoping you would say that.” Lord Peter grinned. “We Rokesbys are rather competitive. Though I expect you already know that.”

Adrian chuckled. “I have had my fair share of it, yes.”

“May the best man win.” Lord Peter called, kicking his horse into a canter as Melody raced past the oak tree.

Adrian urged his horse after them. Wind tore at his face, his coat tails flapping wildly behind him. He and Lord Peter were neck and neck. They jumped their steeds over a small bush and splashed through a small stream.

Melody was still ahead, but her lead was shrinking fast. She glanced over her shoulder and then urged her pony on. Adrian leaned forwards.

He could see the ruins ahead of them. Lord Peter was beside him. He was a skilled rider, but his sister was better. Suddenly, Lord Peter’s horse let out a shriek, reared and threw him from its back.

Peter yelled as he sailed through the air.

Adrian pulled back on his own horse’s reins, slowing it down and guiding it towards Peter’s wildly bolting mount. He approached it and snatched the reins, keeping his own steed under control.

He murmured soothingly to the horse as he slowed them all down to an easy walk.

Lord Peter’s horse calmed and Adrian leapt down from his own horse, leading both to Peter. Melody had turned in time to see what was happening, and had ridden back to check on her Uncle.

“Uncle Peter, are you all right?” Melody asked as she peered down at him from her horse.

Adrian held out a hand to Peter, pulling him to his feet. The younger man dusted himself off, and gingerly shifted, clearly looking for signs of injury.

“Yes, save for my pride. And my clothes.” The young man was almost entirely covered in mud.

“What happened?” Adrian asked as he tied up their horses, and helped Melody down from her pony.

“There was a stick, I think the horse thought it was a snake.”

“His name is Swift.” Melody informed Lord Peter.

“Perhaps it should be Shy.” He muttered.

“But he is not shy.” Melody frowned at him. “He is fast.”

“I think your uncle means shy as in to shy away from something.” Adrian explained.

“But it is normal to shy away from a snake.” Melody shook her head. “Does my win still count if Uncle Peter fell off his horse?”

Adrian ran a hand over the stubble growing on his face. I really need to shave. He had meant to that morning, but Melody had found him before he had a chance. “I would say so. It is not as though you cheated.”

“I would never cheat.” Melody’s eyes widened and she shook her head.

“Then it would seem Natalie has not taught you any of her tricks.” Lord Peter laughed.

A prickle of unease stirred within Adrian, but he pushed it away. It was probably just a bit of sibling rivalry. It did not mean anything important. He was sure of it.

“Mother does not cheat.” Melody narrowed her eyes.

“That is what she wants you to think, but believe me, she does. That is why I never win at cards with her.” Lord Peter shrugged.

“Perhaps you are not very good at cards. I win against her all the time.” Melody twirled a stray thread on her dress and then added, “Well, not all the time. But I do win sometimes.”

Adrian had to hide his smile as his daughter puffed her chest out with a sense of importance that only the very young seemed to possess.

“Then you will have to teach me your ways.” Lord Peter ran a hand through his hair, leaving it streaked with mud.

“If I teach you to be better at cards, will you give me one of your puppies?” Melody asked.

Adrian shook his head as Lord Peter glanced at him. “I think you shall have to ask your Father.”

“He will just say no again. That is why I am asking you. If you give me a puppy he will have to accept it!” Melody grinned.

Adrian laughed and knelt beside his daughter. “You are far too cunning for your own good.”

“I think I am just cunning enough actually.” Melody pointed to his shoulders as her uncle laughed.

“She sounds just like Natalie. You best watch out, Blackwood, they will both be running the place before you know it.” Lord Peter shook his head. “Natalie always had rather a knack for getting her way.”

“So I have learned.” Adrian smiled fondly. “But I have a few tricks of my own.”

Melody tugged on his sleeves. “May I sit on your shoulders to look at the ruins?”

“Of course.” Adrian scooped her onto his shoulders and straightened.

“How is the weather up there?” Lord Peter asked, looking up at Melody.

“It is much the same as down there.” Melody pointed to the ground.

Adrian chuckled and set off towards the ruins.

“I wonder how the girls are getting on?” Lord Peter asked. “Do you think they are talking about me?”

“Who knows what women talk about?” Adrian answered.

“Secrets.” Melody quipped. “That is what Nanny says.”

His heart sank, but he forced a smile onto his face. After all, Nanny Green was not always right.