Page 15 of Miss Hawthorne’s Unlikely Husband (The Troublemakers Trilogy #3)

“Adelaide.” He turned to their hostess and smiled graciously. “Lady Sterling.”

“I do hope you two gentlemen are enjoying yourselves.” Her eyes drifted between the both of them. If she sensed the tension, he couldn’t tell.

“Perpetually,” Richard replied evenly.

“I am glad to hear it.” She turned to his uncle, “Mr. Thornfield, there is a person I’ve been meaning to introduce you to, if you’ll come with me.”

Then she led him away, all polite condescension and smiles. Was she not a fan of him either? That was interesting. He wondered if that was a recent development due to Ada’s influence or whether his grubby little self was simply that disagreeable to everyone.

“That was neatly done,” Richard mused.

“What on earth did he want with you, brother?” Ada asked, grabbing his arm. She still had the habit of putting her hands on people without a second thought.

“To annoy me. Was that your version of a rescue?” he asked, patting her hand.

“I thought you were going to hit him,” she replied, glancing over to where he now stood with another gentleman.

“I’d considered it.”

She began walking with him, leaning her head lightly against his arm. “I’m sorry he is here. I had no idea she would invite him.”

“Socially, it makes sense for her to invite him.” Even if it was a nasty surprise.

“I know that we generally do not advertise our dislike of him, but if she is unaware, I cannot promise this won’t happen again.”

“You want to tell her?” he asked, turning to her. His mèimei was becoming even fiercer and bolder.

“He didn’t have me taken hostage or try to have me killed. I’ve only kept silent because you have, but if you prefer to expose him, I will ask her not to invite him to any events she invites us to.”

“Mmmm.” It was certainly a thought. Did he want to begin that trouble so early?

“I know Lord and Lady Starkley would support it,” Ada continued.

He’d forgotten about them. Leo wouldn’t have needed to be told, as he had been the one to investigate and uncover Uncle Simon’s involvement in Richard’s abduction.

If he began that call, others would undoubtedly follow.

Lord Melbroke and Lady Sterling would believe him.

But despite that knowledge, Richard had always been leery of striking out against his uncle.

His fortunes so far were linked to his wife and daughters.

They were not close, but Richard bore them no ill will.

Having Uncle Simon as a husband or father had to be penance enough.

Whatever path he took would need to leave them out of the path of fire. For now.

“Oh, Ellie,”

His head snapped up to see Elodia’s eyes darting between him and A’wei like a cornered animal. Fuck. He glanced at Ada and saw her watching Elodia with an expression that was just a little too innocent. The meddling little…

“Miss Hawthorne,” he greeted Elodia and bowed to her, unsure of what to say.

“Ada, I… I hadn’t seen you there.” She dipped into a curtsey, “Mr. Thornfield.”

“How have you been, Ellie?” A’wei took her gloved hand. “I haven’t seen you in over a week.”

She smiled softly at Ada and glanced down at their clasped hands. She wouldn’t look at him for love or money. He could hardly blame her. He turned his attention to the dance floor where the waltz was drawing to an end.

“Oh, I’ve been well enough, keeping busy with papa.”

“Truly?” A’wei prodded. Richard fought the urge to glare at her. She could be such a busybody when she was in the mood to be, but this bordered on cruel. What was her intention here? She already knew what had happened, so why couldn’t she just leave the poor girl alone?

Elodia gave another thin smile, keeping her eyes on A’wei. “Yes, he is remarrying as I told you, and I am trying my own hand at the marriage mart.”

His head swung back in her direction. “Are you?” The words spilled past his lips before he could stop them.

Her grip on her fingers tightened before she met his eyes evenly. “I am. No point in dwelling on the past.”

Good girl. It should have been a relief to hear those words.

Instead, they filled him with something like sadness and pride.

He had lost something costly and irreplaceable, and in doing so he had hurt her, but she still stood here looking him in the eye unflinchingly.

He couldn’t help but admire her fortitude.

There was barely a trace of that shattered young woman who’d stood in his office and pleaded with him for feelings he still didn’t believe he could or should return.

“How true,” A’wei said. “Are there any gentlemen here in particular that you fancy? I’m a matron now, I can make introductions or bother Basil to do so.”

“Not so far,” Eloida replied, returning her attention to A’wei.

“Hmmm, well then, I imagine Gigi would suggest we chum the water and attract some interest,”

“Chumming how?” Richard asked. Ada turned to him and smiled in a way that told him that he should have retreated when he had the chance. Was this what he was like? Was this what Basil and Leo dealt with for over a decade? Christ, it was insufferable.

“Dancing.”

He started to shake his head. “Mèimei—”

“Don’t you want to help her, gēgē?”

“I—”

“If an eligible bachelor such as yourself seeks her out then others will follow.” Her eyes were so wide and earnest but he knew all too well she was cackling inside.

He couldn’t argue with her logic for two reasons.

One, she was correct, and secondly, it would embarrass Elodia past all bearing.

He’d harmed her enough. For some reason, the idea of dancing with Elodia, of holding her close even for the space of a song, was terrifying.

He didn’t want to do it when he was so unsure about his own feelings.

He leaned into her and murmured, “I am sure there are more suitable candidates for that office.”

“It’s hardly a lifetime appointment, gēgē.

” She replied loud enough for Elodia to hear and he had to fight back the urge to hiss at her, or grab her face between his hands as he used to do.

Anything to make her stop. “Just make sure she is dancing tonight and then you can pursue your own candidates. It is as much to your benefit as it is to hers.”

“Perhaps you can introduce Ada to some eligible suitors she can send my way, since you are otherwise inclined,” Elodia said. Her eyes were dry but there was an awkward desolation on her face. She could barely meet his gaze.

Fuck, now she thought he didn’t want to dance with her. “I didn’t say that.”

Ada patted her arm. “Dear Elodia, Richard would be more than willing to help you. Aren’t you, Richard?”

He’d never struck a woman, let alone his sister, before. It was, however, also safe to say that before this moment he’d never been tested in that conviction. Why was his sister pushing this so hard? “I am certainly not unwilling. Provided Miss Hawthorne believes it to be best.”

The minute the words left his mouth, he wanted to slap himself. Why had he said that? With one sentence, he’d put her in an impossible position.