Page 87 of His Scarred Duchess

Edmund straightened, his brow furrowing. “Grandmother? What are you?—”

“Don’t you ‘Grandmother’ me,” she snapped. “I’ve just had a most enlightening conversation with Lady Gillingham. How dare you treat Adeline this way?”

Edmund’s jaw clenched. “My marriage is none of your concern.”

“It became my concern the moment you let that trollop Joanna back into your head!” Lady Alderton retorted. “After everything she put you through, how could you be so foolish?”

“This has nothing to do with Joanna,” Edmund growled, rising to his feet.

Lady Alderton scoffed. “Doesn’t it? You’re pushing away a wonderful woman because you’re too afraid to open your heart again. Well, let me tell you something, you stubborn mule?—”

“Enough!” Edmund roared. “You have no right to interfere in my life!”

“I have every right when you’re throwing away your only chance at happiness!” his grandmother shot back. “And what about Adeline? She deserves none of this pain you’re causing her.”

Edmund faltered, the anger draining from him. “Adeline… she’s in pain?”

Lady Alderton’s expression softened slightly. “Of course she is, you fool. She cares for you, though heaven knows why.”

Edmund sank back into his chair, his head in his hands. “I’ve made a terrible mistake, haven’t I?”

“Yes, you have,” his grandmother agreed, her voice gentler now. “And it wasn’t just today. I sent you a summons weeks ago, and you ignored it. You might have avoided this had you come sooner. But it’s not too late to fix it.”

Edmund looked up, a spark of determination in his eyes. “You’re right. I need to see her, to explain.”

“Excellent,” Lady Alderton said briskly. “We’ll go to London together. I’ll have the carriage?—”

“No,” Edmund interrupted, standing up abruptly. “There’s no time for that. I’ll ride.”

His grandmother blinked in surprise. “Now? But it’s nearly dark!”

“I don’t care,” Edmund said, striding towards the door. “I’ve wasted too much time already.” As he reached the threshold, he paused, turning back to her. “Thank you,” he said softly.

Lady Alderton smiled. “Go get her, my boy. And Edmund?”

He raised an eyebrow.

“If you hurt her again, I’ll thrash you myself.”

Despite everything, Edmund found himself chuckling. “I don’t doubt it, Grandmother. I don’t doubt it at all.”

With that, he was gone, leaving Lady Alderton shaking her head fondly.

“Young love,” she murmured. “Always so dramatic.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

“Adeline, dear, do try to look less like you’re marching to your execution,” Lady Gillingham chided gently, patting her granddaughter’s arm. “It’s a beautiful day for a stroll in the park.”

Adeline forced a smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Of course, Grandmama. I’m sorry, I’m just…”

“Distracted? Melancholy? Utterly miserable?” Isabella supplied, earning a reproachful look from their grandmother.

“I was going to say ‘preoccupied’,” Adeline finished, shooting her sister a wry look. “But I suppose those work too.”

The three women continued their promenade along the winding paths of Hyde Park, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows over the manicured lawns. Despite the pleasant weather, Adeline couldn’t shake the cloud of gloom that had settled over her since her argument with Edmund.

“Oh, look!” Isabella exclaimed suddenly, pointing towards a group of fashionable young men lounging near the Serpentine. “Isn’t that Lord Pembrook? Perhaps we should go say hello.”