The note had been given to Adelaide by a maid, and it sent her pulse racing. She was dressed for the day, but her hair was not done, and once again, she had not gone to breakfast with her mother. Even so, she could feel the urgency in the words, so she ran down to the gardens.
She expected it to be her fiancé, whom she was uncertain about marrying. Unlike with Mr. Hargrave, she could not refuse the Duke’s hand, for it would destroy her completely. She did not know if she wanted to see him or not, for the occasions on which she had met him could not have been more different.
As she reached the gate, however, she realized that she was wrong.
“Cecilia!” she exclaimed, opening the gate and letting her friend in. “Why did you send that note? You know that you are always welcome here.”
“Have you seen the front of your house? It would have taken all year to reach the door.”
Her friend swept past, her golden hair bouncing as she did so. Adelaide ushered her inside, and they went to the breakfast room. Her mother was surprised to see them both, but Adelaide took a slice of ham and ate it, knowing that her mother would not ask questions if she saw her eating.
“What a lovely surprise, Lady Cecilia,” she greeted.
“Good morning, Lady Wynn. My apologies. I know I should have sent a note, but I am certain you understand that these are not normal circumstances.”
“They are most certainly not. Do not worry. We are always happy to have you.”
Lady Wynn watched to ensure Adelaide continued eating, then she rose to her feet with a small smile. She told them that she hoped they would enjoy their time together, and then disappeared, claiming to have preparations to oversee.
Adelaide slumped the moment they were alone.
“What are you doing?” Cecilia hissed, her green eyes narrowing. “Why are you doing this?”
“It is not as though I have a choice, Cecilia. Hargrave followed me in the square and then chased me. The Duke of Ashford rescued me, but because Hargrave cannot seem to accept defeat, he has claimed that he was attacked.”
“And so, to thank His Grace for helping you—which you did not ask for—you are going to marry him? This is insanity, Adelaide!”
Lady Cecilia Kingsman was not the sort of lady who kept her opinions to herself. She made her thoughts known, but rather than becoming an outcast, she was respected for it.
Adelaide envied her for that; she had been chased out of London for daring to disrespect one gentleman, whereas her friend was able to speak unkindly to as many as she pleased without risking punishment.
Then again, Cecilia had never crossed Hargrave.
“If I had a choice, I would not be doing this. It is not only for his sake, Cecilia. If I did not accept his proposal, I would be at society’s mercy. It is not as though any other gentlemen want to marry me.”
“They did not want to marry me either, which is precisely why I was always the happiest lady of them all. You would be happy too, if you would let yourself be.”
“I do not have that luxury. I am an outcast, and that means I have to do what I can to be accepted again. Marrying a duke, regardless of what the ton thinks of him, will help.”
Cecilia sighed, taking an apple and biting into it. “What you fail to comprehend,” she huffed, “is that their opinion of you does not matter half as much as you think. You did not have to run away last year. I would have been there for you, and you know that.”
“Yes, and I would have dragged you down with me. You may not think that it matters, but it does. I cannot only think of myself and what is best for me, but I must think of my mother, too. She has been alone for a long time now, and I have a cousin who would like to take over. This house is technically his.”
“But you do not need to give in! You could fight it, Adelaide. I do not know why you refuse to do so.”
“Because you have been married to a duke for years, and you have forgotten the peril that comes with being an unmarried lady with no prospects.”
“I am not that old!” Cecilia reminded her. “Only ten years your senior.”
“And a duchess, at that. You can do as you please, for your husband cannot do away with you. My mother and I, on the other hand, may find ourselves in the streets, for my cousin will not allow us to remain in this house. I need to make connections, and I will not find better than a duke.”
“The Dragon Duke.” She grimaced. “Oh, Adelaide, I cannot stand this!”
“I am not particularly happy about it either, if you can believe it, but this is what must be done. It is not all terrible, though. He wants a loveless marriage, which means that he will keep his distance from me, and I can live as I please.”
Cecilia eyed her carefully. She did not seem pleased about it, nor particularly angry. Her expression was… inscrutable, which was unlike her.
“That is the sort of marriage I would have enjoyed once,” she admitted quietly.
