Likely, he knew that she was hiding something, and while it was nothing to be ashamed of, she suddenly realized that perhaps she should have told him sooner. And whether that might have affected his decision to marry her.
“It is… there is nothing that…” She fidgeted. “Sometimes, these things happen.”
“But why do they happen?” he pressed. “Clearly, there must have been a reason.”
He looked at her without blinking. It was not aggressive or assertive, but it told Ophelia that Adrian wasn’t going to back down or be convinced to drop the topic. She winced, her stomach continued to twist, and guilt took her.
He has a right to know. Even if it is sure to infuriate him...
“I –" She started to speak but was quickly interrupted when the wet nurse swept into the room.
“Your Grace! There you are!” The wet nurse was a middle-aged woman who Mr. Watley had assured Ophelia was responsible for the rearing of dozens of children in the residence, one who could be trusted and knew her business. And while Ophelia believed and trusted him, to look at her then called such trust into serious question.
“What is it?” Adrian turned and his voice became hard.
“Oh.” She blinked and cowered back. “Forgive me, Your Grace, but I was speaking to…” She grimaced and looked warily at Ophelia. “Her Grace is who I…”
“Harriet.” Ophelia was on her feet. “What is wrong?”
“Nothing severe, I promise you,” the wet nurse said. “But she has become somewhat unruly. I finished feeding her just now, and while she needs to sleep, she cries and refuses to rest. I know not what to do,” she sighed. “Ordinarily, I am quite good at reading –”
“Let me see to her.” Ophelia hurried toward her, somewhat glad for the distraction.
“I think that is for the best, Your Grace.”
Ophelia sighed with relief as she followed the wet nurse. She was certain that Harriet was fine, and she likely just needed a familiar face to calm her down. But that it was a chance to end her conversation with Adrian was something to be grateful for, and hopefully, by the time that she saw him again, he would forget their topic.
“I will come to.” Adrian walked after them.
Ophelia started and turned around. “Oh, there is no need to –”
“Of course there is,” he said without emotion. “Until her father is found, Harriet is in my care. It is only right that I come.”
Ophelia looked at him with confusion. She frowned with surprise. She blinked through her shock because once again Adrian was acting in a way that she did not expect. Did he care about Harriet? Or was it his own reputation that concerned him?
Whatever it was, he continued to prove that he was more than she thought. A small thing, perhaps, but it was something to hold onto.
CHAPTER 10
Adrian followed Ophelia through the manor and into the nursery. He told himself that he was doing so because he wanted her to answer his question. Since meeting her, he had sensed that there was more to his wife story than he knew, and her reaction just now all but proved it.
However, deep down in those places that he refused to visit, there was a small part of Adrian that worried about Harriet too; enough that he felt the need to make sure that she was fine.
But only because she is under my care. That is why…
“You really do not have to come,” Ophelia said as she rushed into the nursery. The sound of Harriet’s cries was piercing, and Adrian very nearly took her advice and turned around.
“I told you that she is in my care,” he said loudly as he followed her to the cot. “It is the right thing for me to do.”
She looked over her shoulder at him, obvious confusion and disbelief playing across her face. But she did not press, for which he was grateful.
“There, there…” Ophelia reached into the cot and scooped up Harriet. The baby wailed and it did not cease once it was in Ophelia’s arms. “What is the matter? Everything is fine.”
Adrian stayed back a few feet, struck by a sudden feeling of discomfort. He watched how tender Ophelia was with the baby, how caring and loving she treated it. The baby was not her own, but that did not matter. She was the type who would treat even a stranger with absolute affection if she thought it would help.
She was just so different to Adrian. Nothing like what he knew or had ever known. Again, he was forced to acknowledge that she was far too good for someone like him, and guilt struck him because he knew how poorly he treated her.
“Is she…” He swallowed. “What is wrong with her?”
