Adelaide woke up with a wince of pain. Her body ached, and she struggled to stand, feeling the soreness from the night before. She realized she had overslept and slowly sat up, gingerly placing her feet on the floor.
Luca entered the room, his face softening slightly as he saw her discomfort. Despite his concern, a trace of anger lingered in his eyes.
"Good morning, Adelaide. How are you feeling?" he asked, his tone more formal than warm.
Adelaide attempted a smile but it quickly turned into a grimace. "I've been better, I suppose."
Luca moved closer, gently pushing her back onto the bed. "Lie down. Let me take care of you."
He took a washcloth, dipped it in cool water, and carefully began to clean her up, his touch gentle and soothing. Adelaide relaxed slightly under his care.
"Thank you, Luca. I... I'm sorry if I was..." Adelaide's voice trailed off, unsure how to articulate her feelings.
"There's nothing to apologize for," Luca said, though his voice was strained. "This is all new for both of us."
Their eyes met, and Luca leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. Adelaide responded, the kiss a tentative promise of understanding and patience.
Jenna received a letter from Alexandra, her hands trembling as she read the instructions to poison Adelaide. The letter also questioned why Jenna had not been providing updates about the Duke.
"Jenna, your silence is troubling. I expected regular updates on the Duke's activities. Ensure Adelaide meets an unfortunate end soon, or there will be consequences. Do not fail me."
Jenna's eyes narrowed as she considered her response. She wrote back to Alexandra, her mind racing.
"Alexandra,
The marriage has been consummated, but something seems off. The Duke returned to his room early and in a foul mood. I will investigate further and keep you informed.
Jenna"
Feeling somewhat better, Adelaide decided to venture into the village to buy a gift for Luca. She hoped it would be a small gesture of gratitude and perhaps start to bridge the gap between them. Jenna accompanied her, keeping a close eye on everything.
"I think a nice pocket watch would be a good gift for Luca. Something elegant and useful," Adelaide said as they walked through the village.
Jenna nodded, though her mind was elsewhere, contemplating her next move regarding Alexandra's orders.
They visited various shops, Adelaide taking her time to select the perfect watch. As they walked through the village, Adelaide started to feel a bit more at ease, her pain from the morning forgotten in the excitement of finding the right gift for her husband.
~~~
Luca sat in his study, staring out the window, lost in thought. The memory of the previous night replayed in his mind, mingled with confusion and frustration. Adelaide's behavior during their consummation had been hesitant, almost fearful. He couldn't ignore the feeling that something had deeply unsettled her.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. He suspected her misconceptions stemmed from the teachings of her grandmother and the other ladies of the ton. Their skewed perceptions had likely filled her head with notions of consummation being a mere duty, devoid of pleasure.
"I need to change that," Luca muttered to himself. "She needs to understand it can be pleasurable as well as painful."
He leaned back in his chair, formulating a plan to break down the walls she had built around her idea of intimacy. He wanted to show her that it could be a shared experience of trust and affection, not just a marital obligation.
As he thought about Adelaide, he found himself drawn to her innocence and sincerity. Despite his initial anger and distance, he couldn't deny the growing affection he felt for her. She was different from anyone he had ever known, and her genuine nature was slowly capturing his heart.
But then his thoughts shifted to his own scars—both physical and emotional. The pain of his past experiences surged back, and he jerked up from his position, shaking off the memories that threatened to overwhelm him.
"No," he whispered fiercely to himself. "I won't let my past define our future."
Determined to make things right, Luca resolved to be patient with Adelaide. He would earn her trust and show her the true nature of intimacy, without the shadows of the past clouding their relationship.
~>~
Adelaide was in the drawing room when the mail carrier arrived with a bundle of letters. Sorting through them, she noticed one addressed to Jenna but found the address curious. Her curiosity piqued, she hesitated, knowing she shouldn't open it. But seeing her name written within the text of the letter through the envelope's thin paper, she couldn't resist.
Carefully, she broke the seal and unfolded the letter. Her eyes widened as she read the contents:
"Jenna,
Your silence is troubling. I expected regular updates on the Duke and Adelaide. Ensure everything proceeds as planned. Do not fail me.
Alexandra"
Adelaide's heart raced. Who was this Alexandra? And why was she demanding updates on her and Luca? The informal use of Luca's name disturbed her deeply. Who had such a familiar tone with him?
She needed answers and instinctively called for Jenna, but there was no response. Growing more anxious by the moment, she decided to find Luca.
Adelaide found Luca in his study, pacing restlessly. She held up the letter as she entered.
"Luca, I received a letter meant for Jenna. You need to see this," she said, her voice trembling slightly.
Luca took the letter, quickly scanning its contents. His expression hardened as he finished reading.
"This is troubling," he said, his voice low. "Alexandra is a woman of influence and danger. But we mustn't let Jenna know we're aware of this correspondence yet. We need to handle this carefully."
Adelaide nodded, her mind racing with questions. "What should we do? Who is this Alexandra to you?"
Luca's eyes met hers, filled with a mixture of determination and concern. "Alexandra is a manipulative woman from my past, someone who thrives on control and chaos. For now, keep this letter hidden. We'll watch Jenna closely and gather more information before confronting her."
Adelaide agreed, though the fear and uncertainty lingered. She trusted Luca to protect them both, but the realization that they were being watched and manipulated added a new layer of tension to their already complicated relationship.
~~~
Luca sat alone in his bedroom, staring blankly at the letter on his desk. The familiar pain and anger bubbled up inside him. Alexandra. The name brought a flood of painful memories. What did she want this time? She had already destroyed his family. What more could she need from him?
He felt the weight of his past pressing down on him. Adelaide needed to know the kind of person they were dealing with. He was determined to make her understand Alexandra's true nature.
He found Adelaide in the hallway and gently took her hand, leading her to his bedroom. She looked at him with concern, sensing his distress. Once inside, he closed the door behind them and took a deep breath.
"Adelaide, we need to talk," he said, his voice somber.
~~~
They sat on the edge of his bed, and Luca began to speak, his eyes fixed on the floor.
"I need to tell you about Alexandra and the role she played in my life," he began, his voice heavy with emotion. "I once loved her deeply. She deceived me, claiming she was with child, but it was all a lie. When I discovered the truth, she laughed in my face. I ignored the warnings from my family, blinded by love and lust."
Adelaide listened intently, her heart aching for him.
"Then, she lured my family into a trap. Her brother killed them, and she made me watch. I still don't know why she did it, but I am determined to find out this time. With you by my side, I believe I can survive this."
Luca paused, his voice breaking. "These scars I bear... they remind me of that day."
Adelaide gently touched his hand. "Luca, you don't have to show me if you're not ready. But when you are, I'll be here."
He looked into her eyes, seeing genuine concern and compassion. It moved him deeply, but he wasn't ready to reveal those physical scars yet. "Thank you, Adelaide. Your understanding means more to me than I can say. But... I'm not ready to show you my scars. Not yet."
Adelaide nodded, respecting his boundaries. "I understand, Luca. Whenever you are ready, I'll be here."
Luca took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "There is more I need to tell you," he continued. "After that horrific event, I was lost. Wandering aimlessly, filled with despair. That's when I met my valet, Clement. He found me on the streets, half-dead and out of my mind with grief. He saved my life, took care of me, and has been by my side ever since."
Adelaide squeezed his hand, offering silent support. "Clement seems like a good man," she said softly.
"He is," Luca agreed. "He's been my anchor in the storm. Without him, I don't know if I would have survived those dark days. But now, with you here, I feel like I have another reason to fight, another anchor to hold onto."
Moved by her words, Luca laid his head on her lap. For the first time in years, he let his tears flow freely. Adelaide stroked his hair, whispering words of comfort as he sobbed.
Unbeknownst to them, Jenna was spying from a crack in the door, her eyes narrowed in suspicion.
As Luca cried, Adelaide held him close, offering a silent vow to stand by his side. She knew they faced a formidable enemy in Alexandra, but together, they would uncover the truth and find a way to overcome the past.
Luca, feeling a glimmer of hope amidst his sorrow, found solace in Adelaide's presence. Her understanding and compassion gave him the strength to face the darkness that lay ahead.
Adelaide continued to stroke his hair, her touch gentle and reassuring. "Luca," she whispered, "you don't have to face this alone. We'll get through this together."
He looked up at her, his eyes red and swollen from crying. "Thank you, Adelaide. I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I'm grateful."
"You don't have to do anything," she replied softly. "I'm here because I want to be, because I care about you."
Luca felt a warmth spread through his chest, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time. With Adelaide by his side, he believed they could face anything together. As he lay on her lap, he vowed silently to protect her and keep her safe from Alexandra's schemes.
Jenna, watching from her hidden vantage point, sensed the growing bond between them. She knew Alexandra would not be pleased with this development, and she would have to tread carefully in the days ahead.