Chapter 31

CHAPTER 31

" I should leave," the Baron said.

"You don't have to go," Adeline said. "I am sure there has been a big misunderstanding."

"I know who the Viscount Chiverton is, and he is very good friends with His Grace. I shall not stand in the way of any family business," the Baron said.

"They are not good friends," Christine interjected.

"I don't want to marry him," Adeline said.

"That is not for you to decide; it is for your brother to decide," the Baron said.

"What if I want to decide," Adeline said.

Lord St. Vincent took Adeline's hand. "It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know you recently, but I can see that your mind is not made when it comes to marriage. Something still holds you back, and that is fine. You are young, and you have a lot of time to make a decision. I know His Grace will guide you. If you were to tell me right now that you wanted to wed me, I would arrange it by the end of the week, but you can't tell me that, can you?"

Adeline was silent for a few seconds. "No, I can't," she admitted. "It is complicated."

"Marriage often is," the Baron replied.

Christine could not argue with that.

"Yes," Adeline said.

The three of them stood in silence, and Christine wished it could be different. She wished that Adeline felt differently about the Baron, and she really hoped that Theodore was telling Percival that he could not marry his sister.

"I will leave," the Baron said. "I shall… goodbye to you both."

"Goodbye," Adeline said.

"Travel safely," Christine added, unsure what else to say.

They watched the Baron leave through the front door and the butler close it behind.

"How are you feeling?" Christine asked.

"I don't know," Adeline admitted. "I like him; I really do, but with my situation, I can't do that to him. If I submitted to him, it would be for all the strong reasons, and he might end up regretting everything. He deserves to be happy in an uncomplicated marriage, and I know he will be. He really is a good man. Christine…?"

"Yes?"

"I don't want to wed Lord Shelvey. Do you really think my brother will make me? This is what he wanted, and the perfect opportunity has fallen in his lap, and I know what I did was foolish, and?—"

"He is the one, isn't he?" Christine asked.

Adeline hung her head. "I really thought he loved me, but he never did, did he? Did he really do it all just to get me into bed?"

"Yes, I believe he did," Christine said. "Men like him prey on the weak, and he told you what you wanted to hear. The only mistake you made was to see the good in people and to trust. That is a good thing, and he took advantage of you."

"I am a fool," Adeline said as she started to sob.

"You are not." Christine put her arm around Adeline. "You did nothing wrong, and I will make sure you do not have to marry that awful man. You have my word about that."

Adeline wrapped her arms around Christine and hugged her tight. "I worry about my brother. Lord Shelvey is Theo's best friend, and I know my brother has a good reputation. What if?—"

"No," Christine interrupted. "Your brother is nothing like that man. Theodore has done things to protect himself, but he would never hurt anyone. He does not live that life anymore. He is a good and honest man."

"And you love him?" Adeline asked.

"Yes," Christine said immediately and honestly. "Yes, I love him. I love him for the man he is."

"I want to find love, Christine," Adeline wept. "Perhaps I could have that with Lord St. Vincent if it were not for my mistakes. I shall never know."

"We will talk with Theodore, and we will sort out this mess together. In fact, I will go up there right now and ensure Lord Shelvey is thrown out, never to return. I know you are worried about it, but your brother needs to know what he did to you. Even if he?—"

"Yes," Adeline said. "He thought he could come in here and claim me and make a fool of the man who truly loves me, but he won't. I will tell Theo the truth, and I don't care what happens to Lord Shelvey."

"We can—" Christine started.

There was a loud thud from upstairs. Christine and Adeline both looked up. They looked at each other, and then they both took off at speed, along with a couple of concerned footmen.

Christine took Adeline's arm as they rushed up the stairs. The door to the drawing room was open, and Christine put herself before Adeline when they got to the room. She jerked back as Theodore swung his fist, and it connected with Percival's jaw with a crack.

Adeline gasped from behind as Percival crumpled to the floor. Christine could not imagine what the young woman was going through. She had been in love with him, and now, her brother was beating him.

"Do not get back up!" Theodore warned.

Percival did not listen. He pushed himself to his feet, blood trickling from his mouth. "I will tell everyone in London what a wench and trollop she is, and when I am done, you?—"

Percival didn't get to finish. Theodore took a step forward and slammed his fist into Percival's cheek. Percival went down like a felled tree. His head lolled back and forth as he tried to keep eyes on Theodore.

Theodore stood above Percival, pointing his finger at him. "Show your face around here again, and I will end you. As soon as you are cleaned up, you are to leave London and never return. Threaten me or my family again, and you will be sorry, Percival. We both know the people we have encountered over the years and the debts I am owed. It won't take much money to have you disappear. I will give you two days, and if I hear a whisper of your name, I will ensure no one ever says your name again. Do I make myself clear?"

Percival's eyes were wide. He managed to nod.

"Show him out," Theodore said to the two footmen who had entered the room.

The two footmen strode to Percival, picked him up roughly, and led him out of the room. Percival looked at Adeline on his way past and opened his mouth to say something.

Adeline slapped him harder than Christie had ever seen someone be slapped. Percival's head almost spun in a full circle. Adeline ran wailing from the room.

"I must go after her," Theodore said. "She needs to know that I support her. She needs to know that I do not blame her."

Christine placed a hand on his chest. "She knows." She wrapped her arms around Theodore. "She saw exactly what I saw: a brother protecting his sister. She was worried you were going to make her marry him, and I was, too, and I am glad you did not. She has been through a lot, and we need to give her a little time."

"All right," the Duke said. He wrapped his arms around Christine and held her tight. "I have never seen a wad oman slap a man as hard as that. Remind me never to get on Adeline's bside."

Christine rubbed her husband's back. "I think that slap echoed across the country and reminded all men to be careful about what they say around women. At least it helped him forget about your punches."

Theodore laughed. "I don't know whether to be offended by that or not."

Christine and Theodore came apart.

"We know his name now," Christine said.

"How could I not have known? I had no idea he was the one who did this to her. I know now why he convinced her not to say anything—he would have known how furious I would have been. I don't know what he was thinking. Not with what he did—I know what he was thinking with that—but with the proposal. Did he expect that they would marry, and I would never find out, or did he hope it would be too late by then?"

"I don't know," Christine said. "But I do know we will never hear from him again. I saw the look in his eye when you threatened him. I have never seen anyone more scared in my life."

Theodore smiled. "I hope I did not scare you. I have encountered people in my time who would do things for me if asked."

"No, I am not scared," Christine said. "I know you will protect me as you protect Adeline."

"I will," Theodore said. He took Christine's hand, wincing a little.

Christine held his hands gently and turned them over to see bruised knuckles.

"You poor thing," she said. "We must get to the kitchen and put some ice on this."

Christine didn't move for a moment. She stared at the bruises and cuts on her husband's hands, and she felt the love inside herself grow. There had been no opportunity to defend her as he had defended Adeline, but she knew he would step up and protect her if needed. She rubbed the knuckles on his hand softly with her thumbs.

She looked up into his eyes, and the love for him only grew until it became unbearable. He might have his faults, but he was a man who stood up for what was right and just, and it was everything to her. He was a man who would find a way to help Adeline, and she respected that in him.

She did not know it when she married him, but he was everything she wanted in a man. Everything except for one thing: he did not love her back. She had a relationship far less complicated than anything Adeline had, but she was still not happy.

Theodore turned his hands back over and pulled Christine closer. He kissed her on the lips and then the forehead.

"Come, let's go to the kitchen," Theodore said. "I don't know if I need ice, but I do want some food after all of that."

Christine walked with him, and she felt her heart split in two. There was nothing worse than a love not returned. She did not know what the future held, but she had an inkling that she would continue to love him more and more, and when that happened, it would make it harder and harder—she would become more and more heartbroken.

Perhaps I can collect broken ladies like me. Adeline shall be the first, and we will support each other. We can own our happiness and misery together.

Christine held Theodore's arm as they descended the stairs.

No, I can't drag anyone else down. I will work as hard as I can to ensure she has some happiness in her life. The misery has been removed from her life, and that gives her a chance.

"I know this has been a lot," Theodore said. "You don't need to be sad about it. I am glad it came out, and we can finally deal with it. I know Adeline will be fine in time with you and me around. Don't be sad, my dear."

"I am not sad about that," Christine said.

"Then what are you sad about?" Theodore asked.

Christine tried to voice it, but she could not. She could not come out and tell the truth, no matter how much she wanted to. Part of it was that it would become real; it would be set in time. She and Theodore would know it, and it would hang around them for the rest of their lives.

"I am sad you got hurt because of that awful man," Christine said, a half-truth.

Theodore pulled his wife closer and kissed her on the side of the head.