She had learned her lesson once; she did not want to be taught it twice.
“Well,” Lilly considered, “with your husband absent, perhaps we could visit the village tonight? We could go to the tavern, and you can be your truest self.”
“How? I would still be perceived as the Duchess, and people would treat me differently.”
“But you can be yourself. Believe me, Your Grace, it will help you if that is what you want.”
Adelaide considered. It was not ideal, and she knew that it would not be a completely genuine experience, but it would be something for her alone. Not only that, but the risk of escaping into the night was precisely what she wanted.
She wanted to be reckless and to show her husband that she, too, could be difficult if she wanted.
If he was going to leave, then she was going to act as though his absence did not matter to her.
And so, after dinner, she donned a cloak and met Lilly in the hallway. When she reached the door, she faltered, wondering if it was such a good idea after all. And that was all the time Iris needed to catch up to them.
“Where are you going?” she asked. “It is rather late.”
“We are going to the tavern,” Adelaide replied. “I wanted to enjoy my evening, and as I do not need to ask permission, it will be easier tonight.”
She could have sworn that she could see a glimmer of respect in the older woman’s eyes.
“Very well, then. Do enjoy yourself, but do not do anything too rash.”
“I would not dream of it.”
But as their carriage pulled away, Adelaide had to acknowledge that the thought crossed her mind. How brilliant, to have Cassian receive word that she had brought scandal upon them in his absence. It would infuriate him, force him to come home. And give her the attention she wanted.
She pushed the thought out of her mind. She was going to spend an evening without him, and she was going to enjoy herself. True, she was a wife, but that was not all she was.
When they pulled up to the tavern, she felt that she had made the best decision. Pulling her cloak tightly around her, they entered, and to her surprise, very few people turned to look at her.
“Good evening, Your Grace,” the owner greeted. “Is His Grace going to join you?”
“Not tonight,” she replied. “He is away, and I wished to see everyone.”
“Well, you are more than welcome here. Come, I shall arrange a room for you. I assume you are accepting visitors, yes?”
“Certainly,” she nodded, following him into the room.
The fire was warm, and as she settled in, she thought about how nice it would have been to be joined by Cassian. It was a most inviting room, intimate, and it would have been perfect had he not run away.
But he had, so the night was her own.
After a short while, an older lady entered, followed by two others, and each curtseyed. Adelaide wondered if she would ever grow accustomed to being treated in such a manner, for she had never expected to become a duchess.
“We were not expecting to see you, Your Grace,” the older lady began.
“Oh? Is it odd for me to frequent the tavern? I know it might not be the most… proper thing to do, but I thought it would be nice.”
“It is, of course, and we are more than happy to see you. It is the Dowager Duchess. You see, she has us all under the impression that you do not like all of this. She has told us that you are?—”
“Helena!” one of the younger ladies hissed.
Adrelaide looked between them, curious. “It is quite all right,” she assured. “I will not be angry with you. If anything, I would prefer to know the truth.”
“Well, she has said that you are every bit the recluse that His Grace is, and that you would rather die than come to see us.”
Adelaide felt like she had been pelted with stones.
