“I do not think that will be the case.”
“But you do not know for sure!”
The fear felt by Ophelia was undeniable. And she looked at Adrian with pleading eyes, desperate for him to change his mind. And while Adrian did not enjoy seeing his wife in such torment, he committed to his decision. Harriet could not stay with Ophelia, nor with him. This was the only way.
“She is not your child,” he said, hating how harsh it sounded. “And so long as you are with her, people will talk.”
“Let them talk.”
“You are already set to spend the rest of your life alone, Ophelia,” he pleaded. “You will never be allowed to socialize with theton. You will never be able to join that world again. If Harriet stays with you, she will be subjected to the same life. She might be happy. She might be safe. But she will grow up wondering alwayswhyshe was denied that which is her right.”
“No, I…” Ophelia shook her head. “I will be good to her, Adrian. She needs a mother.”
“She needs a proper life,” he said. “She needs someone who will give her that. As his wife’s affair was unknown, he would be able to raise her as his own. He will give her everything. What is more, I believe that he wants to. He wants to do right by his wife.”
“But… but…” Her chin started to wobble. “She is… I… what if you are wrong?” he pleaded as her eyes welled with tears. “What if he takes her and proves what I know?”
“I will ensure that does not happen,” Adrian said. “I will keep an eye on her, always. As I will let Lord Delacourt know it. Nothing will happen to her, Ophelia, I promise you. Surely, you must see that this is for the best? Think of Harriet.”
The pain in his wife’s eyes almost broke Adrian. How he wanted to go to her, to take her in his arms, and to hold her so that she would know that he was there for her. He did not enjoy this; he took no pleasure, but he knew that it was the right thing.
Just as he was protecting Ophelia by sending her away, he was protecting Harriet by giving her to a man who might raise her as she deserved. He had to believe that.
“Harriet is exactly who I am thinking of.” His voice was soft, his stare pleading. “I am going to write to Lord Delacourt today, Ophelia, asking that he come and see Harriet. Hopefully, when he does, you will see how he feels, and you will know that this is the right thing.”
She said nothing. She did not argue. She did not stand up and walk away. She simply held Harriet to her chest, allowing her tears to fall.
With his piece said, Adrian forced himself to turn and leave.
And while he knew that he had made the right choice, images of his wife’s crying face followed him as he went, battering him into submission, breaking him that little bit more than he was already broken.
Doing the right thing… it was never meant to be easy. But Adrian just wished that for once, it wasn’t so hard.
CHAPTER 30
Ophelia watched Adelaide playing with Harriet, doing her best to smile, as she did her best to hold back her tears. The baby giggled as Adelaide bounced her on her knees, Adelaide beamed and laughed at the cuteness, and Ophelia knew that such sounds of joy coming from the baby were what she would miss the most.
What Adrian proposed… Ophelia still struggled to admit that it was the right thing. He made it sound as if it was. And if he was right about Lord Delacourt, Harriet would be given the life that she deserved, and one that Ophelia could not offer her. But was it right?
Or am I just so selfish that I cannot admit such a thing?
She knew too that it wasn’t just the thought of losing Harriet that broke her. That was one thing, a pain beyond anything that she had ever known. But if she lost Harriet, while still having Adrian with her, then maybe…
Ophelia shook her head, refusing to go down that path. As she was set to lose Harriet, she had already lost Adrian. It was hard to reckon with that fact, and time and again Ophelia had wondered how she’d ended up here. They were so close… they almost had it all… and now she had nothing.
“When is Lord Delacourt set to see her?” Adelaide asked as she wrapped Harriet in a tight hug.
“Tomorrow,” Ophelia sighed. “Or so he says.”
Adelaide pouted. “Perhaps His Grace is right? If he is, it will likely be for the best. To be raised as his daughter, a lady of theton, and so loved that she cannot stand it.” Adelaide’s smile was hopeful. “I know you want that for her, Ophelia.”
Ophelia sniffed back her tears. “I do, Adelaide. And I hope Adrian is right…”
They sat in the back garden of Ophelia’s estate, out in the sun, enjoying what a pleasant day was. Ophelia had not sent word ahead of her coming to see Adelaide. Rather, she just climbed into a carriage and directed it to her home. And while she thought to leave Harriet behind, she also wanted to spend as much time with the children as possible.
As she had known, Adelaide was thrilled to see her. Just as she was compassionate when Ophelia told her all that had happened. She did not lie about the baby’s origins. She did not subvert the story in any way. She opened her heart and let it allout, needing it spoken so that she might come to terms with her new world.
“And what of you?” Adelaide asked.
