Alas, Adrian knew well enough that things were not nearly that simple either.
He was not alone anymore, nor would he ever be again. Like it or not, Ophelia was tied to him forever and while he liked to believe that she was capable of surviving without his constant attention, he knew too that he couldn’t just ignore her.
Nor did he want to ignore her.
Today had been most difficult and it had everything to do with Ophelia. Adrian had done his best to ignore her forlorn expression, the sadness and loneliness that poured from her like perfume, but it was impossible to avoid. She had just looked so upset… so broken… so utterly lost and with no way out.
She might not have loved him, or even liked him, but she needed him. And while Adrian did not want to care about her needs, he simply did.
My life might be worth less than nothing, but my wife should not suffer the same fate. She needs me…
“The child is what matters most,” Adrian said, almost to himself. “She is not my child and I cannot fathom why this Lady Delacourt thought that she was.”
Rupert frowned. “I know little of Lady Delacourt, I will admit. But I can do some digging.”
“I would appreciate it,” Adrian said. “The more we know about her, the more we might understand her motives. Hopefully, I can find the child’s father soon.”
“And then…” Rupert prompted.
Adrian sighed as he felt the fight leave him. “You are correct, Rupert, as loathe as I am to admit it. I did not ask for this marriage, but I have found myself in it. And…” He grimaced. “And I should not punish Ophelia for mistakes that had nothing to do with her.”
“Well said.”
“It is my duty to care for her,” he continued, just as he felt something stir inside of him. Like a candle lit in the dark, it was small, not at all prevalent, but it was there. “To ensure that she is… that this marriage not be the end of her.”
Rupert grinned. “How very romantic.”
He scowled at Rupert. “This is not about romance. It is about doing the right thing, and I will do the right thing. My honor demands it.”
It sounded good to say. It sounded right. After all, had Adrian not spent his life bound by duty, determined always to not bring shame to his name? How was this any different?
As to the notion of romance? Such a thought made Adrian squirm. Even had he wanted such a thing, it was not as if Ophelia would want them same. He was cold, he was detached, and he was not one that anyone, anywhere, might ever fall in love with.
She is far too beautiful for someone like me. I would not dishonor her by thinking differently…
With that said, Adrian felt remarkably at peace, more than he had since he’d first decided on this marriage. It might not solve his woes, and it certainly would not be easy, but it was a path forward that he knew he could walk.
Once again, it was the right thing to do.
So it was that Adrian left Rupert shortly after their discussion. The evening was turning late, it was his wedding night, and he ought to be home with his wife. Not that Adrian knew what he would do when he arrived home. But he sensed that simply being there would be enough.
Stranger still, the thought of seeing Ophelia’s surprise when he walked through the door made him smile… if only for a moment.
Adrian arrived home to find the manor cloaked in silence. He waded through the dark foyer and up the stairs, listening for the sound of Harriet crying or his wife’s laughter. She was always doing that, laughing. Even when times were at their worst, somehow, she was able to smile.
He walked the hallway, not sure where he was going, but soon came upon Harriet’s nursery. The door was cracked open and he poked his head inside, unsurprised by what he found.
Ophelia sat in a rocking chair with Harriet on her lap. Even as dark as the room was, he saw that she was fast asleep, and as always, there was a smile on her lips.
Adrian smiled at the sight. He felt that light inside of him grow slightly bigger. For a moment, he simply stood and watched, finding it hard to comprehend that this woman was now a part of his life, just as he did not mind the thought nearly as much as he should have done.
Can I change? Can I find happiness as effortlessly as Ophelia does? Do I even want to…
He crept into the room and gently lifted Harriet from her arms. The baby remained asleep and Adrian was careful as he lay her in her cot. He thought to watch Harriet sleep for a moment but stopped himself from doing so. Soon, the baby would be with her father, so there was no sense in growing attached to it.
Next, we walked to where Ophelia sat asleep.
The moon broke through a bank of clouds suddenly and spread across her face. Her skin was milky white, her auburn hair glowed like a fire in the depths of winter, and that smile… how was it that she wore it so effortlessly? And why did Adrian find it so hard to look away?
