He did not want to say it, but she had to have thought it already.
“She already does.”
CHAPTER 14
Dear Adelaide,
We are all delighted to hear that you have arrived safely. We cannot wait to see you, and for you to have some respite from your new life. Fear not, we have all felt as you do now, but we can discuss that when we next see each other.
In the meantime, try not to worry yourself. All will be well; it always ends that way. We shall see you at the end of the month.
Sincerely,
Cecilia.
Adelaide could not help but laugh softly at how certain her friend was. She did not doubt that they had endured hardships, but as far as she was aware, there were no madwomen who hated them.
It had been three days since Cassian had told her that his mother could not stand her, and she could not think of anything else. It was not that she expected to be adored by everyone at Ashford Hall, but she had hoped to be liked.
She wished that he had warned her about what was to come, but she also understood why he had kept it from her. It was not as though she could have refused to marry him, after all.
“They will arrive at the end of the month,” she said quietly when she passed him in the hallway. “That gives us two weeks. Is that enough time to arrange things?”
“I believe so. I will send her away the day before their arrival, so that we can have things in place.”
“We?” she echoed. “I thought that I was to be charged with it.”
“And you are, but there is no harm in my ensuring everything is as it should be. I want to help you.”
And for that, Adelaide did not know what to make of her husband. He claimed to be unfeeling, to want to keep his distance, but then he wanted her to feel as welcome as possible. He had every right to refuse the visit, but he had not, and she wished that she understood why.
But she did not ask, and she knew that he was not going to tell her either.
He left her in the hallway, and as she turned, she found the Dowager Duchess watching her.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I am walking,” Adelaide replied, not entirely certain of what the older woman wanted her to say.
“And why is that?”
“Because, in order to reach the drawing room, one must use the hallway—I do not understand your question.”
“No, that is obvious.”
But the Dowager Duchess did not explain any further. She simply stepped up to her side and motioned that they walk together.
Adelaide did not have the heart to tell her that her true intention was to go to the garden for a while, so she followed her. Once they were in the drawing room, she sat stiffly, looking at the window. She would have preferred to look out of it, but it was covered by a curtain, and she did not want to open it.
“You have yet to run away,” the Dowager Duchess noted. “Why is that?”
“Because this is my home,” Adelaide replied simply. “I know you are not pleased about that, but I cannot change matters. I live here now.”
“Yes, it would seem that is the case. And what are your intentions toward my son?”
“I will be a good wife to him, in whichever way he needs me.”
Though not true, it was the best thing to say.
