Adrian frowned. “You are aware of the situation…”
“Of course,” Lord Warwick chuckled. “And I have much to say about it. But not here.” He waved Adrian down. “Inside, yes. Let us head inside.”
While Miss Ophelia might have said that she was nervous about seeing her father, Adrian saw none of that now. She looked upon the man with utmost love, and he returned the look in kind.
Adrian’s chest tightened as he observed them. Shame struck him. Lord Warwick might have been putting on a brave face, but this was not nearly the happy circumstance that he pretended it to be. And while it was not Adrian’s fault, he still felt as if it was.
Lord Warwick led the two inside and as could be expected, the manor was as warm and inviting as its host. The staff smiled as they passed by. The sun shone warm through the windows. There was a constant air of comfort and happiness found without having to look for it, and Adrian continued to feel uncomfortable because he was not used to such things.
“Now, I have tea ready for us outside,” Lord Warwick announced as he led them through the manor. “And I want to hear everything.” He scowled jokingly at his daughter. “Three years and I have not heard from you once!”
“I am sorry, Father…” Miss Ophelia grimaced with shame.
“Oh, perhaps I should be sorry,” he said. “I too did not write, and I can only imagine what you must think is the reason.” A shake of the head. “But that is in the past now. Let us not dwell on such things.”
“Agreed!” Miss Ophelia beamed.
Adrian considered the small exchange with great curiosity.
He knew little about Miss Ophelia, save for what she had told him. And what she had told him made little real sense. She was the daughter of a baron, but she worked as a maid. And if she was this close to her father, why had he sent her away?
There was more to it, Adrian was certain. Time and again, she had hinted at something in her past that she was not proud of. He thought to ask, to push the subject, but refrained from doing so.
Even though he was set to marry Miss Ophelia, Adrian believed the less he knew about her the better. And the same went for the less than she knew about him.
“Before we do head outside, however…” Lord Warwick raised an eyebrow at Adrian. “Perhaps it is best if His Grace and I have a little chat first.”
“Of course,” Adrian agreed. “There is much to discuss.”
“Ophelia, might you meet us outside?”
She looked between the two men, and Adrian was certain she was about to argue. But she must have seen something in her father’s eyes because she smiled, rolled her eyes, and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek.
“Be gentle with him, Father.
“Me!” he laughed. “I am the one you should be worried about. Jokes, of course,” he hurried to add with more humor. “Just jokes.”
Adrian stood silently and awkwardly throughout the small exchange. He had no idea how to handle such warmth and enthusiasm, so he chose to say nothing.
This was not his world and never had he felt so out of place.
He followed Lord Warwick into his office. The diminutive lord was sure to shut the door behind them, after which he took a seat behind his desk. There, he folded his hands on the table, fixed a scowl to his face, and Adrian almost breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally, the charade was dropped…
“Well?” Lord Warwick said. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
Adrian stood tall and proud. “I want to start by apologizing, Lord Warwick. I did not intend for any of this to happen, but since it has, you should know that I have worked tirelessly to soften theblow of scandal that threatens both my name and the name of your daughter.”
“Have you now?” he said without emotion. “I read today’s scandal sheets and nothing about what they have to say suggests a softening of this blow. They are ripe with speculation and judgment.”
“False accusations,” Adrian countered. “And once we wed –”
“Assuming I allow it.”
Adrian started in surprise. He was not used to being spoken to this way, especially by some country lord who ought to have known better. He was trying to do the right thing, even if he was not to blame. And this was how he was treated.
“Careful, Lord Warwick,” Adrian said with a sharp tone. “I have been kind to you thus far, and to your daughter. But I will not be spoken to like –"
