She shivered at the thought.
“You know, Emma, I want to talk to you about it,” she confessed. “I have so much to say. But like you, I’m exhausted. Will you let me wait until another day to confess everything you want to know?”
Emma examined her a moment, then she nodded once. “Of course. But I’m here if you need me. I hope you know it.”
Adelaide leaned in to buss her cheek. “After today, I couldneverdoubt your friendship. Thank you again for getting me out of that house.”
Emma pushed from the chair and sighed. “Come, we’ll both go up. I’ll send word to James that we’re both too tired for any more excitement tonight. He’ll explain to Graham.”
Adelaide inclined her head in agreement, though there was a part of her that was deeply disappointed she wouldn’t get to see the man again tonight. A fact that proved she was being foolish when it came to him. She would do well to remember that.
Emma linked her arm though hers as they began to leave the room. “Adelaide,” she said quietly.
“Yes, Emma?”
“It will be better in the morning.”
Adelaide swallowed. She wasn’t certain that Emma was right in this case. Soon enough, a tomorrow would come where she would have to tell the truth to everyone she cared for, including Graham.
When the day came, she was utterly unconvinced that anything would be all right ever again.
Chapter Fourteen
Graham sipped his drink as he watched James pace his office restlessly, just as he had been for nearly twenty minutes.
“How many do you think I should hire?” James mused.
Graham leaned forward. “Two will be enough,” he said. “One for the day, one for the evening, especially if you aren’t here. You don’t want to smother Emma, or make her a prisoner in her own home.”
James relaxed a fraction and slowly sank into a chair across from Graham. “Of course. You’re right, I would never want to do that to her. I just…the idea that the bastard is in London makes my stomach turn.”
“That’s two of us,” Graham muttered. “I’m sorry I didn’t keep a better eye on the man. Especially considering how he nearly—”
He cut himself off and stared at his bruised hands as memories flooded him. James stopped pacing to stare at him. “You lost control?”
Graham lifted his chin slowly. James didn’t ask the question with judgment, but Graham still felt defensive as he jerked out a nod. “I did.”
“It’s been a long time since you’ve done that.” James folded his arms. “You must like that actress a great deal.”
Graham pursed his lips at the knowing expression on his friend’s face. “I ought to know better than to tell anyone in our group anything. It all filters back to you, doesn’t it?”
“King of the dukes, yes? I must watch over my kingdom as best I can,” James said with a brief smile and a shake of his head. “Idowonder what it means for Adelaide, though.”
Graham stiffened at the mention of her name. “You think I’m being unfair to her?”
“It’s clear you like her, too,” James said with a shrug of one shoulder. “I know you well enough to know what I see when you two are together. Funny that I couldn’t see the trouble between you and Meg so clearly.”
Graham ran a hand through his hair, loosening it from its queue in the process. He shook his head. “That wasn’t your fault. You did what you thought was right for everyone involved. Any one of us could have stopped it before it…blew our lives apart.”
James tilted his head. “Why didn’t you? You clearly didn’t love Meg any more than she didn’t love you. Why didn’tyoustop it?”
“Most of our station don’t marry for love,” Graham said after a long pause where he considered the question. Considered the two women who were so confusing him. “I never thought I would. In truth, I never thought I’d want to. Strong emotion never…never seemed positive to me.”
“Because of your father,” James said softly.
Graham flinched despite himself. “Yes. His passions always led to anger. I fear I may follow in his footsteps.”
“You never could,” James said instantly and firmly as he came forward to clasp a hand on Graham’s forearm. “You couldneverbe like him.”
