Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

" P ardon?" Christine said, trying to focus on what Theodore had said.

"What is wrong?" Theodore asked. "Has someone arrived who will make trouble for you? Is it Adeline or your sister?" The Duke looked around to try and spot what Christine had seen. "Are they okay? Did something happen to one of them?"

"No, no," Christine claimed. Her body shook. "No, I was only looking for my sister, and there she is now. Please, will you do me the enormous favor of meeting my family?"

"I met them at the wedding and before," Theodore reminded her.

"I know, but the interactions were only brief. It would mean the world to me if you would come and talk with them while they are here. And it would make us look like a lovingly married couple." Christine sold the suggestion by pushing herself up onto her tiptoes and kissing Theodore on the cheek.

"If it means this much to you, then I shall, but I should get Adeline first."

"Ah, there is no need," Christine said. "She is with two matrons right now, and they are talking her ear off. She will be fine for a moment, and then we will return to her before the next dance starts."

Christine took Theodore's hand and pulled him from the dance floor.

Theodore guffawed. "I dance with one sister and leave her on the dance floor; I dance with the other, and she drags me from the dance floor."

Christine forced herself to laugh. "Yes, yes, that is quite amusing."

She had thought about coming clean to Theodore, but Adeline trusted her and had confided her secret, or some of it at least. Christine was not worried about what she saw, but what she did not see—or who she did not see.

Lord St. Vincent was standing on the edge of the dance floor, looking more awkward than he had before, but Adeline was not with him. Nor was she with any matrons—Christine had lied about that. The only reasonable assumption was that she had met her mystery man, and they were off somewhere, or she had been tempted by another man.

Christine wanted to think the best of Adeline, but she was young and naive, and even Christine had found herself in a compromising position because she had lost control of her emotions.

"Thank you for doing this," Christine said. "I have enjoyed getting to know you, I really have, and my father especially will love to see you again."

"I didn't realize it would make you so giddy," Theodore replied.

"Oh, it does. I can't stop thinking about you meeting them. Ah, and here they are!" Christine was almost panting when she got to her father and sister.

"Father, you remember His Grace, don't you?" Christine asked.

Cornelius looked at his daughter and furrowed his brows. He stuttered a little as he spoke. "What had gotten into you, Christine? Of course, I remember His Grace. You are married to him."

Christine giggled. "Yes, yes, you are right. And Irene, you know His Grace from dancing with him at that ball."

Irene's eyes opened wider. " And from your wedding, Christine. Are you sure you are feeling well?"

"Yes, yes, of course," Christine managed, almost choking on her words. "Why don't you all converse a moment, and I shall visit the powder room quickly, and then I shall pick up some refreshments on the way back."

"I can get us refreshments," Theodore said.

Christine quickly placed her hand on his arm. "No, stay here. I shan't be a moment."

"I will come with you to the powder room," Irene announced. "The man I danced with was not very coordinated, and he stepped on my foot multiple times."

"No, you must stay on your feet," Christine said. "That is the best cure."

"Are you sure?" Irene asked.

"Yes, of course." She noticed she still had a hold of Theodore's arm, and she squeezed it gently.

"Yes, it is far better to stand than sit," Theodore confirmed, receiving the message.

"Ah, there you go then," Christine said. "You three stay and converse here, and I shall be back in two shakes of a lamb's tail."

"Take your time," her father replied. "You need the rest."

Christine smiled and nodded before she left the three to talk. She looked over her shoulder to ensure Theodore was not looking her way, and then she skirted the outskirts of the hall, trying to find Adeline.

She did not like that she had a secret from Theodore, especially about his sister, but she had made a promise and needed to keep it.

What I need to do is to convince her to either end the relationship or to come clean about it.

Christine did not know how Theodore would react to what Adeline had told her. Christine did not like keeping the secret, but she liked less that Adeline was being reckless at the ball.

Perhaps she went to the powder room, and everything will be fine.

Christine had almost made a full lap of the room. She would check the powder room next, and that would?—

She stopped in her tracks. Something drew her toward the verandah. That was where she had been caught with the Duke—not the same one as they had been at a different ball at a different venue—but she had a niggling feeling in the back of her mind that it was where she would find Adeline. She doubled back and headed for the door leading out.

She was almost there when she spotted Adeline outside. She stood with her hands clasped to her chest. She looked up toward the sky and was not talking with anyone.

Christine walked as quickly as she could without drawing any attention toward herself and burst outside into the chilly, dark night.

Adeline stood alone on the verandah. Christine looked around in case someone else was hiding outside, but there was no one else there.

"What are you doing out here?" Christine asked.

"Is it not a beautiful night?" Adeline asked.

"What are you talking about?" Christine demanded. "I was worried about you. The dance ended, and you were nowhere to be seen. I had to distract Theodore from looking for you. I thought the worst, Adeline! I thought you were out here with him, and he was taking advantage of you."

"I am in love!" Adeline declared. She gritted her teeth and gazed into the hall before clamping her hand over her mouth. "I should not say that too loud, should I?"

Christine's heart beat faster, but it was not the speed of her heartbeat that worried her— it was the erratic rhythm. She felt her body tremble some more. A coldness washed over her.

"You were out here with him, weren't you?" Christine asked as calmly as she could. "What did he do to you?"

"He didn't do anything," Adeline claimed. "He was a perfect gentleman, as always. We came out here, and we spoke briefly, and he declared his love for me, and I told him that I love him back."

"Let's just take a moment," Christine said. "You are starting to scare me, Adeline. Will you please tell me who he is?"

"No, I can't," Adeline replied. "I have been sworn to secrecy. I would tell you if I could, but that would betray his trust, and I can't do that."

"We have to tell your brother," Christine said.

Adeline gasped.

"How long have you known him?" Christine pushed.

"Two months," Adeline replied.

"Two months is not long enough to know you are in love. And if you have been sneaking around, then you have hardly spent any time together."

"You didn't spend any time with my brother before you married, did you?"

"That is different," Christine argued.

"Please," Adeline begged. "I will tell him soon. I only have to wait a little longer. He is a perfect gentleman; I promise you that. He has a good title and a wealthy family. His father is in the process of transferring him a sizable amount of money, and as soon as that happens, he will do the proper thing and ask for my hand in marriage. It will happen any day now. And Christine, he treats me so well, and he compliments me and listens when I speak, and he is so sensible and wise, and it is as if he can read my mind."

"I have known men like that, and they say and do anything to get you out of your dress," Christine said.

Adeline clasped her hands over her mouth. "It is not like that; I promise you. I am in love with him, and he has told me so many times that he is in love with me. I have never felt this way before in my life. I can't explain it very well, but we are in love. We are in love, and we will get married and start a family, and then my children and your children will grow up together. This is the best thing that has ever happened to me."

Christine should have felt some happiness for the young woman, even if she was still on guard about the whole thing, but all she felt was anger and anxiety. Adeline had a man who loved her and wanted to start a family with her, and that was all most women wanted. It was some of what Christine wanted. Yet, she would never have it.

Theodore had made it clear that their marriage was only for convenience, and he had told her there would be no children. Adeline's children would grow up with no cousins. Christine wanted to shout at Adeline to run from this man, but if there was a chance for Adeline to marry a man who loved her, then she could not stand in the way.

"You have to tell him soon," Christine warned.

"Yes, very soon," Adeline said. "And then you will meet him, and I know you will love him. He already feels like a part of the family. Oh, it will be the most wonderful thing, and?—"

"That will do for now," Christine said with a smile. "We must go back in there, and if you can't tell your brother about this yet, then you must act as if you are not in love. Can you do that?"

Adeline ruled her hands together in looping curles, over and over. "Oh, I shall try ever so hard," she said. "I am in love, but I will try to pretend not to be."

"Good," Christine said.

I am not in love, but I have to pretend to be in public. We have become polar opposites of each other.

Still, it was not all bad for Christine. The pretending to be in love part had been fun, and she did enjoy being pressed up to the Duke on the dance floor. She might have slipped up and asked about the Duke's father when it was not appropriate to do so, but he had responded kindly.

Christine and Adeline walked back to where the Duke was talking with Cornelius and Irene. Perhaps it was the giddy energy radiating from Adeline or the way her father and sister were smiling as they conversed with Theodore, but Christine felt some genuine happiness.

She and her husband were not in love, but she could not help but wish they were.