Adrian’s story wasn’t nothing at all. A seemingly irrelevant hobby, one that was, if anyone else might not have been worth noticing at all, spoke volumes to who Adrian truly was.
She thought of his story about Lady Delacourt, how he saved her. She thought of her own tale, how Adrian saved her and Harriet when he did not need to. He liked to pretend that he did not care about anyone or anything, that he was happy alone and forgotten. But deep down, he was the type who saved those who needed it… fixing broken things because they could not fix themselves.
Once again, he reminds me that there is so much more to him than I could have possibly realized.
“You see,” she said, still holding his hand. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
He scoffed. “For you, maybe.”
She laughed. “Thank you, Adrian, for telling me that. Truly, I appreciate it.”
He forced an awkward smile, finally looking at her. The moon reflected in his blue eyes, a smile finding them, and Opheliadid not have to look to hard to recognize the significance of the moment. A small step forward, true. But it was a step in the right direction.
“I, ah…” Adrian looked at his hand, and Ophelia gasped as if only just then realizing how tensely she held it to her chest. “I think it is time for bed.”
“Oh, yes,” she said, suddenly awkward. “You are right. I…” She looked around, came to a decision, and started toward the door. “Best that I get some sleep.”
“The milk?” Adrian asked her. “Do you not want it?”
“No,” she said, turning and smiling at him. “I do not think I need it anymore.” Indeed, after what had just happened, Ophelia was certain that when her head touched the pillow, a peaceful night of sleep would be found. “Good night, Adrian. And thank you, again.”
About to leave, Adrian stepped forward as if to stop her. “One more thing, before you go.”
She looked at him hopefully. No idea what he might say but thrilled he was saying it. Another sign that he was starting to trust her.
“The honeymoon period of our marriage is almost over.” He scoffed and shook his head. “If it could be called as such. But that means that soon, we will be expected to reenter society.Attending balls and social functions,” he confirmed off her confused look.
“Oh.” She blinked, and her heart skipped a beat. “Is that something that you want?”
“It is expected,” he said formally. “It does not matter what I want.”
To that, she just smiled. Still, he was determined to act as if this was all for show, and he only did as he thought he must. But deep down, Ophelia saw that other side of him, the one that slowly peeked its head over those walls, wanting to be seen.
For that reason, she suspected that he wanted to attend social functions with her and that he looked forward to doing so. Oddly enough, so did she.
No… maybe not so odd, after all.
CHAPTER 14
It was funny how quickly things changed.
Just one day ago, all Ophelia cared about was her garden project. She’d poured days of effort into it, using it as a means to find purpose in her new life. Yes, she knew that it was more of a means to an end, a way to distract from the stagnation that was her married life while her husband did everything he could to ignore his new circumstance.
Nonetheless, she enjoyed the distraction, the project, and what it might lead to. Just as she had looked forward to completing it. When she started, she had doubted that there was anything which might force her attention away, because she was not one to start a project without seeing it through.
At least that was how things had been…
One day later, Ophelia no longer cared as she had once done about her garden project. Oh sure, she knew that she wouldfinish it eventually, just as she knew that she would one day turn her attention toward the interior of the manor as she slowly transformed the home into one that she felt comfortable in. But for now, it would have to wait.
“I have sent word ahead,” Mr. Watley explained as Ophelia walked across the foyer, the front door in sight. “They are expecting you.”
“Wonderful,” she said. “And thank you.”
“It is my duty, Your Grace,” he told her as he rushed forward and opened the door for her. “And as already explained, there is no limit to what you might wish to purchase today. The modiste knows of your wants and your needs, as she knows that His Grace will cover all costs.”
“I am thrilled to hear it.”
“I did ask if he wished to join you,” the butler continued as he followed her outside. “Alas, he is busy.”
