“You go. Lady Antonia and I will chat,” Margaret said to him as she gave him the devil of a smile, as if he needed the reassurance. Her heart was with Adeline, and he knew it.
Luke egressed quickly through the closest exit of the north corner. Once out of the room, he took off in a run toward the stairs. He could make only one assumption, that based on her limited time here, she would probably head back to her room.
He saw Chauncey coming down the hallway. “Chauncey. Have you seen Miss Adeline?”
“I have not, Your Grace.”
Something was askew in the old man’s eyes.
“This is no time for games, Chauncey. If I find out you know where she is, I’ll have your gloves for this.”
Chauncey sighed. “If I may, she’s a lady’s maid, Your Grace.”
“You may not. I don’t know why you can’t see her goodness and beauty, but if you don’t see it soon enough, there’ll be no place for you in my house. Now tell me where the hell she is.”
The butler exhaled again, “Of course, Your Grace. I saw her walking to the library.”
Luke took off. By the time he reached the library, his heart was heavy. She was light and goodness and beauty and joy. And if anyone so much as made her feel a smidgen less than that, well, they had no place in his life. All he needed now was to know that she would accept him.
He pushed open the library door and saw Adeline curled up in front of a fire. She tried to hide it, but he saw her wipe her cheeks. He went to her and rested on one knee in front of her on the chaise lounge.
“Adeline, what happened?”
“Nothing of import.”
“I beg to differ. What caused you to leave such a nice evening?” Her silence incurred a second question. “It was nice, wasn't it?”
She nodded.
“Then why did you leave? And on such unhappy terms?”
“Please pay it no mind, Your Grace.”
“Your Grace? I thought we were beyond that.” He stroked her cheek with his knuckles.
“We can never be beyond that. I will always be a lady’s maid. And you will always be a duke. I’ll continue working with Her Grace, the Duchess of Somersby. She is lovely. And I’ll keep making my flower-embroidered reticules for those who ask. It’s a nice way to live. But I have no place in your life.”
Luke leaned back on his haunches. She would keep making reticules? Flower-embroidered? Like the one he had picked up after the kiss? She couldn’t be the same woman, could she?
“Meet me in the drawing room in ten minutes.”
“No, I will not.”
“You must.”
“No,” she looked away with wet-rimmed eyes.
“Adeline,” his voice took on a ducal tone he rarely used. “If you don’t meet me in the drawing room in ten minutes, rest assured I will convince Margaret to leave you here at Glass Hall far after the party is over, whether by force or free will, and wewillsort this out.”
He watched Adeline’s eyes narrow. “You have ten minutes. If you’re not there, I’m leaving.”
Upon her agreement, he popped up, kissed her hand and dashed out the door. He finally knew what prize to give her.
Chapter 10
HEADHELDHIGH,ADELINEwalked back to the drawing room where guests milled about completely oblivious to the dissolution of her world. Her paltry dreams of working as a lady’s maid and making reticules paled in comparison to being with the one she loved. Yes, she loved him. But why in all of creation did she have to fall in love with a duke?
She took a deep breath and entered the room. Shortly upon entering, Margaret approached. Margaret. Her stalwart friend. True, she was her employer, but she had always been generous, kind, and inclusive of Adeline. It was more than the gowns and the chatter between the two, it was that Margaret called her by name and shared things with her. Even took her advice from time to time. It was a good relationship. The best she could hope for as a lady’s maid. She should remember that.
