Chapter 32

Chapter Thirty-Two

" A deline, dear, do try to look less like you're marching to your execution," Lady Gillingham chided gently, patting her granddaughter's arm. "It's a beautiful day for a stroll in the park."

Adeline forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Of course, Grandmama. I'm sorry, I'm just…"

"Distracted? Melancholy? Utterly miserable?" Isabella supplied, earning a reproachful look from their grandmother.

"I was going to say ‘preoccupied'," Adeline finished, shooting her sister a wry look. "But I suppose those work too."

The three women continued their promenade along the winding paths of Hyde Park, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows over the manicured lawns. Despite the pleasant weather, Adeline couldn't shake the cloud of gloom that had settled over her since her argument with Edmund.

"Oh, look!" Isabella exclaimed suddenly, pointing towards a group of fashionable young men lounging near the Serpentine. "Isn't that Lord Pembrook? Perhaps we should go say hello."

Lady Gillingham raised an eyebrow. "I thought you weren't interested in ‘silly boys and their vapid conversations,' my dear. Wasn't that what you said just last week?"

Isabella flushed, smoothing her skirts unnecessarily. "Well, I… that is to say… Lord Pembrook isn't like the others. He's quite… intelligent."

"Mhm," their grandmother murmured, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "And I'm sure his handsome face and sizeable fortune have nothing to do with your sudden interest in his intellect."

As Isabella spluttered indignantly, Adeline found herself smiling genuinely for the first time in days. The familiar banter between her sister and grandmother was comforting, a reminder that some things remained unchanged despite the turmoil in her life.

"Don't tease her too much, Grandmama," she interjected, linking arms with Isabella. "I think it's sweet that she's found someone who interests her."

Isabella's smile faded, replaced by a look of uncertainty. "I don't know if ‘interest' is the right word. After seeing what happened with you and Edmund… I'm not sure I want to risk falling in love at all."

Adeline's heart clenched at her sister's words. "Oh, Bella, don't say that. What happened between Edmund and me… it's not typical. You shouldn't let our troubles discourage you."

"Your sister is right," Lady Gillingham agreed, her voice gentle but firm. "Love is always a risk, my dears, but it's a risk worth taking."

Isabella looked skeptical. "How can you say that, Grandmama? After everything Adeline's been through?"

Lady Gillingham's eyes took on a faraway look, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Let me tell you a story, girls. It's about your grandfather and me, in the early days of our marriage."

Both Adeline and Isabella leaned in, intrigued. Their grandmother rarely spoke of their grandfather, who had passed away before either of them was born.

"We were so young," Lady Gillingham continued, her voice soft with nostalgia. "And oh, how passionate we were! Your grandfather and I, we loved as fiercely as we fought. One moment, we'd be lost in each other's eyes, and the next, we'd be quarreling over the most trivial things. I remember one day, we had the most ridiculous argument. I can't even recall what started it, but I was so upset I stormed out of the house."

"What happened?" Isabella asked, captivated.

Lady Gillingham chuckled. "I stormed out of the house, determined to never speak to him again. I made it all the way to Hyde Park—this very spot, in fact—before I realized I had nowhere else to go. And do you know what I found when I turned around?"

Adeline shook her head, equally engrossed in the tale.

"Your grandfather, red-faced and out of breath, having chased after me the whole way. He looked ridiculous, his cravat askew and his hair a mess. But the moment I saw him, all my anger melted away. Because I knew, in that instant, that no matter how much we fought, we would always find our way back to each other."

"That's… actually quite romantic," Isabella admitted, a hint of a smile on her face.

"The point is," Lady Gillingham said, squeezing both her granddaughters' hands, "love isn't always easy. It's not all flowers and sonnets and grand gestures. Sometimes it's messy and painful and downright infuriating. But when it's real, when it's true… it's worth fighting for."

Adeline felt tears pricking her eyes, her grandmother's words striking a chord deep within her. Was her love for Edmund worth fighting for? Or had too much damage been inflicted?

As they continued their walk, Adeline found her mind wandering, replaying her grandmother's story. She was so lost in thought that she almost missed Isabella's sudden intake of breath.

"That's odd," Isabella murmured, glancing over her shoulder.

"What is it, dear?" Lady Gillingham asked, following her gaze.

"I'm not sure," Isabella replied, her voice uncertain. "I just… I have the strangest feeling we're being watched. Silly, isn't it?"

Adeline felt a chill run down her spine despite the warm afternoon. She scanned the park, her eyes narrowing as they landed on a figure in the distance—a woman, though it was hard to be sure at this distance. The figure sat atop a horse, always keeping pace with them, maintaining the same distance no matter how slow or fast they moved.

"I'm sure it's nothing," Adeline said, trying to sound reassuring even as her unease grew. "Perhaps one of your many admirers is too shy to approach you directly?"

Isabella laughed, the tension breaking. "Oh, please. As if I have many admirers. You're the one who married a duke, remember?"

The mention of Edmund sent a fresh pang through Adeline's heart, but she pushed it aside, her attention still drawn to the mysterious figure in the distance. As they rounded a bend in the path, she caught a clearer glimpse of the woman—for it was definitely a woman, she could see now. Something about her seemed familiar, though Adeline couldn't quite place it.

"Adeline?" Lady Gillingham's voice broke through her reverie. "Are you all right, my dear? You look as though you've seen a ghost."

Adeline shook her head, trying to clear it. "I'm fine, Grandmama. Just… lost in thought, I suppose."

"Thinking about Edmund?" Isabella asked softly, a note of concern in her voice.

"No," Adeline lied, forcing a smile. "I was just… remembering what you said, Grandmama. About love being worth fighting for."

Lady Gillingham's eyes softened. "And what do you think, my dear? Is your love for Edmund worth fighting for?"

Adeline opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat as she caught another glimpse of the woman following them. She was still not quite close enough for Adeline to make out her features.

Edmund urged his horse forward, his eyes scanning the paths of Hyde Park with an urgency that bordered on desperation. The afternoon sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the manicured lawns, but he paid no heed to the beauty around him. He was focused on one thing only—finding Adeline.

As he rounded a bend, his heart leaped. There she was, walking arm in arm with her sister and grandmother. Even from a distance, he could see the tension in her posture, the way her head was bowed slightly as if carrying an invisible weight. Guilt gnawed at him, knowing he was the cause of her distress.

Without hesitation, he dismounted, his boots hitting the gravel path with a crunch that seemed to echo in the quiet afternoon air. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come, and began to approach.

"Adeline," he called out, his voice carrying across the short distance between them.

He saw her stiffen, her head snapping up at the sound of his voice. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still. Then, chaos erupted.

"Edmund!" a shrill voice cut through the air, followed by the sound of hoofbeats.

Edmund turned around, his heart sinking as he saw Joanna approaching on horseback, her red riding habit a stark contrast to the muted greens of the park. She brought her mount to a stop beside him, a triumphant smile playing on her lips.

"My, my," she purred, her eyes raking over Adeline dismissively. "What a touching scene. The prodigal Duke, come to reclaim his… damaged goods."

Edmund felt rage bubble up inside him at Joanna's cruel words. He opened his mouth to retort, but Adeline beat him to it.

"Lady Strathmore," she said, her voice steady despite the flush on her cheeks. "How kind of you to grace us with your presence. Though I must say, eavesdropping is rather unbecoming of a lady of your… standing."

Joanna's eyes narrowed. "Oh, you poor thing. Still clinging to the illusion of propriety? Tell me, do you really think Edmund could ever truly love someone like you? Scarred, plain, utterly unremarkable?"

"That's enough, Joanna," Edmund growled, stepping between the two women. "You've said quite enough."

Joanna laughed, the sound brittle and harsh. "Oh, Edmund, always the gallant protector. But we both know the truth, don't we? You deserve someone whole, someone who can stand beside you without shame. Someone like me ."

Edmund felt something snap inside him. Years of pent-up anger, hurt, and regret came pouring out in a torrent of words.

"You're right about one thing, Joanna," he said, his voice low and intense. "I do deserve someone whole. But not in the way you mean. I deserve someone with a whole heart, someone capable of true love and compassion—something you've never been able to offer."

Joanna recoiled as if slapped, but Edmund pressed on.

"What I felt for you was never love. It was a boyish infatuation, a foolish fancy that blinded me to your true nature. But Adeline…" He turned to look at his wife, his eyes softening. "What I feel for Adeline is real. It's deep, and true, and more powerful than anything I've ever experienced."

A hush fell over the small group. Adeline stared at Edmund, her eyes wide with shock and hope. Isabella and Lady Gillingham exchanged glances, clearly unsure whether to intervene.

Joanna, however, was far from finished. Her face contorted with rage and humiliation.

"You can't be serious," she spat. "This… this scarred little nobody? She'll never be able to give you what I can, Edmund. Never!"

With that, she turned her horse around, preparing to storm off in a dramatic exit.

But as Edmund's eyes followed her, he saw things didn't exactly go her way.

Perhaps it was the sudden movement, or maybe the tension in the air had affected the animal—whatever the cause, Joanna's horse suddenly reared up, pawing at the air with its forelegs. And Joanna, caught off guard, lost her grip on the reins.

Time seemed to slow as she toppled backward, her scream of surprise cut off as she plunged into the waters of the Serpentine.