Dangerous Games of a Broken Lady: A Historical Regency Romance Novel

by Linfield, Emma

  Jasper grumbled playfully. “Very well, then I shall not stray into any such subject.”

  “Good, now begin…”

  “She and I danced one dance, as you saw. The conversation was rather wonderful, and there appeared to be a perpetual smile upon her face,” he explained. His gaze remained fixed on the wall opposite, as though reliving each moment. “I attempted humor and she laughed accordingly. There was a delightful sweetness about her that I found utterly charming.”

  “That does not sound like doom and gloom to me,” Adelaide quipped. “Unless she was thoroughly disheartened by your sense of humor. Who could blame the poor girl in such an instance?”

  Jasper shot her a look. “This is not the time for jests, Adelaide.”

  She chuckled. “I could not help myself, Jasper. Please, go on. I shall refrain from making further quips at your expense.”

  “Thank you.” He cleared his throat and continued, “During our dance with one another, the conversation turned towards your engagement. Naturally, I told her of my disapproval. Before I could say another word, she fell into this desolate silence that I could not penetrate. She would not speak to me, and when the music came to an end she broke away and did not return.”

  “And what, pray tell, did you do?”

  “Why, I left.”

  Adelaide tutted. “I am aware of what you did, Jasper. Miss Green was most discouraged by your abandonment.”

  “I did not abandon her,” he spluttered.

  “You must never walk away from a lady whose affections you wish to cultivate… never. It shows a lack of feeling. The sight of your retreat gives a lady the impression that you no longer care—you no longer give your concern to her wellbeing.”

  “But that could not be further from the truth!”

  Adelaide flashed him a grin. “Complex female behavior. It is no easy thing to comprehend, my dear.”

  “But you believe she cares for me?”

  “I believe you are in the fledgling throes of a potential courtship, yes. Providing you do not make another mistake, of course. To do that may jeopardize the entire enterprise.”

  His expression brightened instantly. “How may I remedy my error?”

  “Be patient and strive for reparation without haste.”

  “A letter, perhaps?”

  Adelaide tilted her head from side to side. “A letter is always a pleasant thing, but that can come later. First, I think you must allow me to make amends for you. I can repair the initial wounds you have inflicted. Once the path is clear, you can send the most beautiful love note ever written by man’s fair hand.”

  Jasper smiled. “You would do that for me?”

  “I suppose I must, for you would make an enormous mess of it if you were to be left to your own devices,” she replied, her tone teasing. “As luck would have it, she is due to visit this afternoon—I believe she has misplaced a shawl and believes it to be here. So, I will accost her with your profound apologies then, and gauge her response. As soon as we have spoken, I will send word to you.”

  Jasper looked relieved. “I am so terribly sorry that I strode in here the way I did. Truly, it was purely my exasperation getting the better of me.”

  “You are quite forgiven, Jasper.”

  “Even so, I should not have spoken to you like that. It was most ungentlemanly.”

  “You are often ungentlemanly towards me, Jasper, so I have grown used to it. I suppose I must accept that behavior when I am such a peculiar fish,” she remarked. “Nevertheless, there is no harm done. There is one thing I wish to say to you, however.”

  “Go on…”

  “I would like you to know that, despite our differences, I am as protective of you as you are of me. I do long for your happiness, regardless of appearances,” she explained tentatively. “I know we do not always see things in the same light, and we are often at playful conflict with one another, but that does not alter my friendly affections towards you. I should delight in seeing you joyfully matched.”

  He frowned. “You do not think Miss Green suitable?”

  Adelaide thought back to the previous evening, and Leah’s mortification in the back of the carriage. Countess Gaumont had ridiculed her in the cruelest of ways. However, Adelaide did not share in the Countess’ opinion. True, Leah bore no title, but what did that matter? If she had the power to make Jasper content, then everything else could be overcome.

  “If you find her to be suitable, then she is perfectly so.”

  “But you do not care for her?”

  “Why must everyone believe that I bear some sort of grudge against Miss Green?” She sighed in frustration. “I like Miss Green well enough. Her company is most distracting. I mean, she does not appreciate the friendship that you and I share, but that has not turned me against her. It is simple envy.”

  “She has said as much?”

  Adelaide nodded. “She has, but I think I have succeeded in convincing her that you and I share a purely platonic companionship.”

  “That is a relief,” Jasper said softly.

  “Why is that?”

  “For if she were to ask me to cast you aside, I am not certain of how I would answer.” He looked at her sheepishly. She understood his position, but it did not sit well with her. He had known Adelaide most of his life, but if Miss Green asked such a thing of him, how could he refuse? If he wished to court her, he’d have to do as she asked. A painful truth.

  “You would truly put an end to our friendship?” She felt oddly crestfallen. There was often conflict between them, but she had never thought him capable of ceasing their acquaintance. Meanwhile, the letter to Reuben still burned a hole in the desk. Another potential rejection, taunting her.

  “As I say, I do not know,” he replied with a sigh. “I pray it never comes to such a crossroads.”

  “As do I, Jasper… as do I.”

  “Anyway, enough of my woes and future prospects that may never come to pass. Let us speak on happier subjects. Has the engagement been announced?” he asked, a little too brightly. She could tell he wanted to launch into another tirade about Reuben’s lack of suitability. Only, she could not face hearing it.

  Adelaide turned and crumpled the letter into a ball. “I am uncertain. I have yet to retreat downstairs.”

  “Shall we go together?”

  “Are you certain Miss Green will not mind?” she replied sarcastically, drawing in an anxious breath.

  “Let us not quarrel, my dear friend.”

  Adelaide sighed. “Very well, then we may go together.” At least then she would have Jasper to steady her if the worst should befall her.

  Replacing her quill and ink, she set out a new piece of stationery. The note could wait. Perhaps, she would not even need to write one. Even so, she left the crumpled ball of vellum on the desk, where it unfurled like a creature stretching out weary limbs. Jasper eyed it curiously, but he did not say a word about it. For that, Adelaide was grateful.

  Side-by-side, they walked along the softly-lit landing. Below, Adelaide could hear the soft music of her mother’s harp drifting up. An accomplished musician, Lady Leeds often liked to play. It soothed her and brought a tranquility to the house. Ordinarily, Adelaide would have shared in the deep sense of peace, but she could not relax today.

  Reaching the elegant entrance hall, where the chandelier cast sparkling dapples on the polished parquet, Adelaide broke away from Jasper.

  “I will only be a moment,” she said, excusing herself from his side.

  He nodded and folded his arms behind his back. Glancing at him in amusement, she thought he looked rather like a tin soldier preparing for a parade. She might have teased him for standing so proud and stoic, but she lacked the will.

  Trying to calm her racing heart, she headed towards the drawing room and peered around the threshold. Her mother sat at the far side, her fingertips dancing across the seemingly endless strings of the harp. Lady Leeds eyes were closed in concentration.

  Reluctantly, Ad
elaide cleared her throat. “Mama?”

  Lady Leeds looked up in surprise. “My darling, I did not hear you come in. Was I disturbing you?”

  “Your music could never disturb me, Mama.”

  “Is something the matter, then?”

  Adelaide exhaled shakily. “Has there been any word of the engagement?”

  Lady Leeds’ expression said it all, a sympathetic sadness that bordered on pity. A look that Adelaide could not cope with.

  “Has something been said, Mama? I must know,” she pressed.

  “Nothing has been said, my darling girl,” Lady Leeds replied solemnly. “We have received no word, though I confess I have yet to look over the day’s papers. As far as your father and I are concerned, everything is due to proceed as planned.”

  “Then why do you sound so disheartened?”

  “Do I, dear?”

  “You know you do.”

  Lady Leeds sighed. “I am sure it is nothing to worry yourself over. Perhaps, there has been a delay in the printing of it. I would not be surprised if all of this was remedied by this time tomorrow.”

  “There must be something from him, Mama.”

  She did not wait to hear what her mother had to say, as she turned and hurried back towards the entrance hall. Brushing past Jasper, she strode into the library and snatched a paper from the side-table where her father always left it. Ephraim himself had departed for town earlier. Adelaide had heard him leave just as she was sitting down to write her note.

  She flicked frantically through the newspaper, but there was no word of their engagement. Dropping it to the ground, she hurried out of the library and over to the letter tray. Surely, there had to be something from him? Anything. Sifting through the letters like a madwoman, her heart sank like a stone. There was nothing addressed to her. His handwriting was nowhere to be found in the pile.

  He would not do this to me, she told herself. He admires me. He finds me exciting. He told me so himself.

  “Adelaide?” Jasper murmured, his voice laced with concern.

  “Not now,” she begged. Forcing away the persistent prickle of humiliated tears, she riffled through the letters again.

  Have I missed something? He did not seem any different the last time we met. Indeed, he spoke with mother and father and was remarkably amiable. Everything was set in place. He promised to have the announcement made today. He swore it in good faith. So… where is it? What did I do to dissuade him? She could not remember saying or doing anything untoward, but personal history had made it clear that it was likely her fault.

  Her breath caught in her throat. With her heart pounding in her chest, she staggered towards the front door. Her lungs begged for the sting of cold, fresh air. The house was too small, too claustrophobic. The walls were closing in.

  Stumbling out onto the top step, she gripped the balustrade for support. A curious mist had rolled in, the vapor snaking across the ground. Behind her, she was half-aware of Jasper hurrying after her. She paid him no heed. Right now, he did not matter.

  Her eyes scoured the park beyond with panicked desperation, just in time to see a dark-coated figure sweep away into the distance. Someone had been watching her.

  Is this another one of your games, Reuben? Or have we been playing one all this time… and I have already lost?

  Chapter 7

  “Was there anywhere in particular that you wished to frequent in Mayfair, Lady Adelaide?” Lady Francesca purred as they walked along with their chaperone, Edith, trailing behind. Puffs of condensation swirled from Lady Francesca’s lips with every word. Meanwhile, their ermine collars were pulled tight to keep out the wintry bite that nipped at the cheeks of those brave enough to wander amongst it.

  “Now that you mention it, yes, there is somewhere I wish to go,” she replied firmly. A day had passed since she had watched the shadowy figure disappear into the fog. There was no guarantee that the shadow had been Reuben. However, his continued silence spoke volumes.

  “Oh?”

  Adelaide looked towards a row of charming townhouses up ahead, each one gleaming in the autumn sun. They were perfectly identical, though peppered with a hint of personality. Some had flowers blooming from hanging baskets, whilst others had quaint statues or stone lions perched in protection of the house. The doors stood out in an array of different colors, too. Adelaide had her gaze fixed on one with a door of bottle green.

  “I had hoped to visit with the Dowager Duchess of Bradford,” she said defiantly, steeling herself for the courage to come.

  Lady Francesca shot her a horrified look. “I thought I recognized this street. You cannot, dear Lady Adelaide. Truly, there is nothing to gain from such an intrusion.”

  “Honesty would seem a good enough reason for me, Lady Francesca.”

  “I must insist that we turn around this instant and find more joyful distractions for our afternoon.”

  Adelaide shook her head. “I will not be deterred, Lady Francesca. You may accompany me, or you may leave. It is entirely your decision. I must have answers.”

  “This is a foolish endeavor, Lady Adelaide,” Lady Francesca warned. “I can understand your disappointment, but the Duke’s absence at the Assembly Rooms does not mean anything.”

  “And the lack of announcement in yesterday’s and today’s news?”

  “There are often delays in publishing, too,” Lady Francesca stumbled over her words. “I am sure this is all one enormous misunderstanding. You will soon see that everything shall be put to rights. A little patience is all that is required.”

  Adelaide smiled. “A virtue that I, sadly, do not possess.”

  “I implore you to see sense. No good may come of this.”

  “I will not stand by and have a gentleman humiliate me,” Adelaide explained coldly. “If he is toying with my good name and my reputation, then I deserve to discover it for myself before he can cause any sort of ruination. If this is a misunderstanding, then no harm can come from a casual inquiry with my future mother-in-law.”

  Lady Francesca reached for Adelaide’s hand. “I do not think it wise.”

  “Perhaps not, but that will not prevent me.” She extricated herself from Lady Francesca’s grasp and headed in the direction of the bottle-green door. Two lions stood at either side of the steps. They were somewhat weathered, with a smattering of lichen growing across the dull stone. From the looks of them, Adelaide imagined they had been there since the house was built.

  She reached the top step and turned to find Lady Francesca and Edith loitering at the bottom. Edith was a rather casual sort of woman, who cared not what her charges did as long as they did not get her into trouble. As such, it seemed that neither Lady Francesca nor Edith were going to accompany Adelaide inside. That suited her just fine.

  Slowly, she reached up and rapped the brass knocker. It was shaped like a stag, the antlers curving up towards the green wood. A proud snout faced outwards, indented eyes staring Adelaide down. The sound ricocheted into the house beyond. All she could do now was wait.

  A few moments later, she heard footsteps echoing in what she presumed was the hallway. Her heart leapt into her throat as she waited for the door to open. If Reuben answered, she had no idea what she was going to do. In truth, she hadn’t really planned that far. Then again, a gentleman such as Reuben was unlikely to answer the door personally.

  A middle-aged man answered. Dressed in a crisp black suit, with his gray hair neatly combed and oiled back, Adelaide supposed him to be the butler. “Yes, how may I help you?”

  “My name is Lady Adelaide Colborne. I was wondering if the Dowager Duchess was at home?”

  “Do you have a scheduled appointment, Lady Colborne?”

  “I do not.”

  “Then I highly doubt that she will see you, My Lady. She is not prone to inviting unsolicited guests inside.”

  “I am an acquaintance of the Duke.”

  The butler pulled a face. “Another one,” he muttered. “Are you in some sort of trouble? Do
you require some… specific assistance?”

  Adelaide was not entirely sure what the butler was referring to, but she could guess. Evidently, she was not the first spurned woman to turn up at Reuben’s door. Although, she supposed they were not often as high in station as she was. Nevertheless, as she had already told Jasper, she did not care for Reuben’s past. She sought only to better his future, so she might better her own. A few indiscretions could be easily ignored for such a reward.