Lady Gone Wicked (Wicked Secrets)(53)

Alice stroked her hair as she sobbed. “It can’t be any worse than what he’s done, and you managed to forgive him quite nicely.”

“No, you don’t understand. A mother abandoning her child is the one thing he cannot look past.” The whole story came pouring out with her tears. “He won’t forgive me, Alice. And he certainly won’t love me. If I marry Montrose, perhaps he will allow me to bring my son home. I can say he is the son of a dear friend, or a distant relative, who asked that I be his guardian.”

“You will not tell Nick his son is alive?”

“How can I?”

“Have you even told Nick you are engaged to Montrose?”

Adelaide shook her head.

Alice sighed. “Nick will never let you marry Montrose if he believes it is a forced arrangement. You must tell him yourself, or there will be a problem.” She paused, and appeared to struggle inwardly for a moment. “Come to Wessex’s ball tonight and tell Nick. He will not make an ugly scene when you are surrounded by friends and family. You will be quite safe.”

Adelaide hesitated. But Alice was right. After what transpired between them in the carriage, he would never believe she’d willingly marry another man unless he heard it from her own lips.

“Very well. I will go to the ball.”

And she would tell him goodbye.

Forever.





Chapter Thirty-Eight


Nick kept his eyes locked on the marble staircase as lady after lady descended the steps to Wessex’s ballroom. None of them were Adelaide.

“Where is she?” he muttered.

“She will be here,” Wessex assured him. “Alice will see to it.”

Nick clenched his jaw. It annoyed him greatly that Nathaniel had apparently felt the need to enlighten the duke as to Nick’s private matters.

“Why are you always about?” he demanded. “Go bother Miss Benton.”

Wessex’s eyebrows lifted. “It is my ball. It is my house. And I find your little love affair rather intriguing. Surely you don’t expect me to ignore such delightful drama in my own home? Really, it is too much.”

Nick growled, to which Wessex just laughed.

“Look, here she is now. Do stop your growls and scowls and try to behave like a gentleman. I would hate to have to toss you out.” Though he sounded positively gleeful at the prospect.

Nick ignored him. Instead, he riveted his gaze on the angelic creature entering the ballroom. He couldn’t breathe. How could one small woman have such an effect on him? But it couldn’t be helped. He stepped forward as though pulled by an invisible string that linked him to her.

A hand on his arm forced him to halt.

“Nick, stop,” Nathaniel said somewhat breathlessly.

He gave his brother an impatient look. “Whatever it is can wait.”

“This can’t.” He pulled Nick aside, away from Wessex’s prying ears.

Nick frowned. “What is it? Tell me quickly.”

“She is promised to Montrose.”

Nick’s whole world stopped.

“No,” he whispered. “She can’t be.”

But as his gaze collided with hers across the crowded ballroom, he knew it was true. Good God, they were truly going to marry her right out from under his nose. Her eyes widened and she licked her lips nervously. She turned quickly away from him, weaving through the throngs of people in a clear attempt to escape.

He could not allow it.

“Don’t do anything rash,” Nathaniel said, catching Nick’s shoulder in a half-hearted attempt to stop him.

Nick shook him off. “What if it were Alice?”

Nathaniel hesitated, and Nick could plainly see his internal battle. Finally his brother relented. “All right. But don’t make things worse for her. Alice trusted me—and, by extension, you—by bringing her here tonight. Don’t give any of us cause to regret it.”

Nick nodded curtly. He didn’t give two figs about Alice, but the only thing he wanted Adelaide to regret was her unfortunate choice of fiancé.

He gave chase, ignoring the lords and ladies who tried to waylay him. He caught up with her just as she slipped through the doors and out of the ballroom.

He matched her step for step, shortening his long strides to accommodate her smaller steps. His hand gripped her elbow and pulled her in close to his body. He grazed her temple with his lips. “What have you done, Adelaide?”

She shuddered and her shoulders sagged. But she did not protest. She meekly allowed him to guide her farther from the noise and laughter.

Her sudden acquiescence terrified him more than her flight would have. It was as though all the spirit had drained out of her and she had simply given up.

He did not want her to give up. He wanted her to fight—not against him, but for him.

He opened a door and peered in. It was empty. He put a hand to her back and gently pushed her inside. He followed her in, turning the key behind them. She stiffened against him as the lock quietly snicked into place.

He found the lamp and lit it. The warm glow danced on her face and— Christ, she was beautiful. His heart beat painfully in his chest. She couldn’t mean to marry another man. There must be a misunderstanding somewhere. He could explain, she would cry and beg his forgiveness, and then he would fix it and all would be well again.