Page 45 of Adeline

“You must agree it is a rare occasion indeed when you speak to a person’s merits.” With her words, Theo looked away from Adeline.

“What do you mean by that?”

“You are not known as a…shall we say, agreeable or kind lady, Adeline,” Alistair bit out. “This Lord Ailesbury being the exception.”

Adeline’s stomach hardened, and a sense of betrayal lanced through her. “How can you say that?”

“You spread word at Miss Emmeline’s School that Headmistress preferred the company of animals to people.”

“That was five years ago,” Adeline countered, crossing her arms.

“And what about insisting Amelia would only find a suitor if she painted her face like a harlot and wore clothing to match?” Alistair grumbled.

Adeline suppressed her smile. “Well, the girl is quite contrary and whines more than the stable master’s new lot of puppies when they desire their mother’s tit to feed.”

“Perhaps it is you who should be worried about gaining the notice of potential suitors,” Alistair said, returning his stare to her. “Amelia has yet to be presented to society, while you have been…”

“I have been what?” she demanded when he allowed his words to trail off.

“In mourning this past year,” Theo finished for her husband.

“Let me reassure you, Lord Ailesbury—Jasper—is a kind man. I was well cared for while at Faversham Abbey, as Poppy and Maxwell can verify.” Why did she feel the need to offer such support in Jasper’s favor? Nothing untoward had occurred during her stay in Kent—not that Adeline hadn’t daydreamed of very inappropriate things; though that was something she would not speak of with her brother present. Maybe one day in the distant future, she, Theo, Josie, and Georgie would all chat about it in hushed tones as Adeline regaled them with tales from the Abbey. “Besides, I dare say you could learn a lesson or two from the earl.”

“Be that as it may,” Alistair said through clenched teeth. “As your guardian and the head of this family, I have a duty to keep the reputation of all under this roof above gossip and speculation—or risk seeing us all ruined.”

“Adeline, please understand the immense burden placed on your brother this past year—and even before that,” Theo said, coming to her husband’s defense once more. “With your mother in a persistent state of mourning, his responsibilities to Abel, Amelia, Adelaide, Arabella, Ainsley, Alfred, Adrian—and you—have been fairly crushing.”

“And I do not have the time to contend with your childish escapades and flights of fancy.” Alistair slammed the ledger closed and turned to return it to its place on the shelf to his left.

“Then it is advantageous for everyone concerned that I will reach the age of majority in a fortnight and will no longer be in need of a guardian,” Adeline snapped, her brother’s back immediately stiffening at her callous remark. “At that point, I will endeavor to remove at least some burden from you, dear brother.”

“You cannot mean that—“

“Oh, but I do, Alistair,” Adeline responded, pushing from her chair.

“Thankfully, I am still within my rights, for at least the next fortnight, to send you to your chambers.”

“I would like to see you try.”

“Come now, the pair of you are acting as if you loathe one another,” Theo cut in.

Adeline held her brother’s narrowed glare for a moment longer but sighed and turned to Theo. “I do not, nor have I ever, loathed my brother. However, his high-handed nature has resurfaced of late, and I find it trying on my nerves.”

“Trying on your nerves?” Alistair boomed.

“Stop!” Theo commanded, jabbing her finger at her husband and then toward Adeline. “The pair of you are so similar you fail to see you both have need to be in control.” Adeline blinked several times and refocused on Theo, shocked at the woman’s outburst. “However, allow me to tell you both something. Until Adeline’s birthday celebration is over—and it is deemed a success—I am in control. Josie, Georgie, and I have worked ourselves to the very bone putting together this grand event, and I will not have the likes of either of you ruining it. Do I make myself clear?”

Theo’s brow pulled low as she turned her glare on both Adeline and Alistair.

They both nodded in unison.

“Very good,” Theo said, the tension draining from her shoulders. “Now, Adeline, if you will kindly accompany me to the drawing room, I will show you what we have planned for your special day.”

Her friend did not wait for Adeline to answer but marched from the room, leaving the door open, as if fully expecting Adeline to follow.

Which she did, with all due haste.

Chapter 18