Theodora by Amanda Mariel & Christina McKnight

Author:Amanda Mariel & Christina McKnight [Mariel, Amanda & McKnight, Christina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

A listair slumped against the padded seat in his carriage, the weight of his obligations receding, at least for a few brief hours. The time away from his townhouse—and his siblings—had done as he’d hoped by easing the constant tension.

“Thank you for accompanying me, Abel.” He took in his younger brother, now a man, sitting across from him. One and twenty years of age, but still the boy Alistair remembered. Also, the closest thing to a friend he had growing up so far from town.

“Any time, Price,” Abel said with a smile using their surname as Alistair had yet to inherit his father’s title. “It is about time you and I take a turn about town. All this talk and preparation for Adeline’s season is getting old rather quickly.”

Alistair sighed. “Yes, and to think we will have to repeat it four more times.”

Abel chuckled. “You need repeat it on four more occasions. I cannot imagine Adelaide, Arabella, Amelia, or little Ainsley being as much worry to you as Adeline.”

“One can hope—and say innumerous prayers to that end.” Relief had flooded Alistair the moment he and Abel departed for Tattersall’s, and had continued as they’d surveyed the stock up for auction. “But as luck would have it, they will be the death of me.”

“Do you think Adeline will be home when we return?” Abel shifted in his seat, stretching his legs in the cramped quarters. “We’ve been gone several hours—there is no telling what scheme she concocted to gain exit.”

“Her scheme did not include shimmying down the side of the townhouse, I can tell you that.” Part of him longed not to care. He was losing the willpower to continue fighting her determination to ruin herself. The rest of his siblings counted on the success of Adeline’s launch into society as it meant that their chances of favorable matches would increase tenfold. Everyone realized this except, apparently, Adeline.

She seemed not to notice all he’d given up in his life to make sure her future was bright. Not that his commitment to his family had derailed his own choices in life—he would give up anything and everything if his siblings needed him to.

Alistair could be spending his time in London focused on his own path, securing a wife for himself, starting a family, working to build a partnership that would help him in the future when he inherited his father’s estate. However, he was locked in a battle of wits with Adeline. It was maddening, infuriating, and altogether unnecessary. He would hate to look back on his many years focused on his family to discover it had all been for nothing; his sacrifices going unrewarded.

He’d asked one thing of her: behave until the season officially began.

It would please him greatly if she acted with a measure of decorum and grace until she was properly betrothed; however, even Alistair knew that was far too much to ask of his sister.

“After the tongue-lashing I gave her, she should be fearful of leaving her room even at mealtime.

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