Before She Ruled (Before Series, Book 1)

Chapter Thirty-Six

Addie's mood had been plummeting ever since their return from the Baxley ball. So, in other words, for nearly three months. She longed to reach out to Theo and tell him...well, everything. She wanted to tell him that she loved him and that the incident with Will had been a misunderstanding. She wanted to tell him about the baby.

George had been inconsolable in his mood swings. Often he would be positively youthful in his moods, laughing with those around him about any passing jest. But other days, his words to her would be harsh and clipped. His nature careless in a mean way.

Above all else, he was obsessed with her condition. He spoke incessantly about how the news of "their" child would be received by the public, and at the same time continued to fret about Theo. He knew the Duke of Kingfield had sway with the ton, and he continued to be fearful over the idea that he would be challenged for the parentage of her baby.

On multiple occasions, Addie had attempted to explain to him that Theo wouldn't do that, at least, not publicly. She wagered that he may be curious, and that he may try to find a way to speak with her about it, but she couldn't convince George of that, much to her despair.

She told him that his little act back at the Baxley ball had likely convinced him to forget about her already.

Addie was glad that George hadn't tried to kiss her again since that evening. If it wasn't for the fact that she was carrying "his" heir, he likely wouldn't care to speak to her at all. Addie was beginning to see that the George she had known at the beginning of her marriage was not an accurate portrayal of her husband. That, or her being pregnant had truly changed him.

Because George wasn't assuaged by any of her reassurances. He said that if Theo found out, he wouldn't believe her, or that he would purposefully spread rumors amongst society that the baby could be his.

One dreary morning, George passed any level of reasoning. Addie had been considering the ways she could appeal to George about speaking to Theo, since she knew there would be no way to deceive her husband. She wanted badly to, at the very least, have a conversation with Theo to clear the air between them.

Addie knew that George was in the library and so she walked into it, preparing her plea. Instead, she approached to hear a footman informing him of the Duke of Kingfield's activities the previous day.

"George!" she marched toward him. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Ah, Adelaide." He said, surprised and slightly guilty at seeing her. Good. Let him sweat a bit, she thought. "Just keeping tabs on our mutual adversary."

He dismissed the footman and rang for tea. Tea. He wanted tea at a moment like this? When she was more likely to throw the scalding liquid at him than drink it?

"Mutual adversary?" Addie repeated in disbelief.

"Yes, the duke of course. That delightful footman there used to be in His Grace's employ, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity that he presented."

"What? Who—" She whisked around to catch a glimpse of the footman in question, but he had long vanished.

"You needn't worry," George continued, "Nothing of interest has been reported."

"Of course nothing of interest has been reported! He doesn't even know anything about my condition."

"But he might, Adelaide. He might have noticed at the ball," George pointed out with a mischievous smile.

That was it. George had lost it, and Adelaide had no idea what to do.

"George. George," Addie repeated twice, trying to make up her mind how to approach him. "I understand that you don't trust the duke. That's fine. But why are you so concerned about what people believe about this baby? I have given you my word that I would support your claim to this child. Perhaps there will be a few rumors about it. But there are always rumors in the ton, and most are just that. No one would truly be able to prove anything." She came up next to him, putting a hand gently on his wrist. "It will be all right, George."