“Ada,” Grace said from just behind them. Vice turned to see her looking rather comfortable on Bad’s arm. “Do you think we might go shopping tomorrow? The Appletree ball is tomorrow evening and I’ve hardly any ribbon.”
Vice’s gut clenched. Ada and Grace had been safe because they’d made very few trips out. Six weeks prior, the Duke of Darlington’s former fiancée, the Countess of Abernath, had attempted to expose their club by sending the unsuspecting Chase women to its door. When the ladies had kept the men’s secret, Lady Abernath had begun attacking them one by one. If they went out shopping, they could be at risk. “No ribbons,” he said before Ada could answer.
Ada turned to look at him. “You’re sweet one second and a monster the next. Are you always so erratic?”
He shook his head. How had this day gone so terribly wrong? “You know that Lady Abernath attempted abductions of two of your cousins. Why would you be so foolish as to shop for ribbons?”
She sucked in a breath. “I didn’t ask to shop for ribbons.” Her cheeks turned that shade of pinkish brown that he was growing quite fond of. “Besides, I don’t need your permission to do anything. My father can decide what shopping trips I take.”
“Your father isn’t aware of several key circumstances. I’m sure if he was, he wouldn’t allow you to go shopping at all.”
She raised her brows, stopping. “If he were aware of the circumstances, I’d be shopping for wedding attire.”
She had him there and he knew it. If Lord Winthrop knew he’d been at an illicit late-night meeting with his daughter, Vice would find himself at the altar very quickly. For a wallflower, she was decidedly feisty. And he might enjoy that side of her if it didn’t mean he was now being forced to go ribbon shopping. “My apologies. Perhaps Lord Baderness and I could escort you but not tomorrow. Mayhap on Monday?”
Grace gave a little squeal behind them while Bad made a definite rumble of disapproval. But Ada’s face softened and that’s what he’d been hoping for all along. Perhaps it was just the challenge of the hunt. But when had he grown so sensitive to her happiness? “That would be very nice, actually. We’ve been trapped in the house for days.”
“I look forward to it,” he said, finding that he meant the words. He also had every intention of collecting an invitation to the Appletree ball. Hell, he might have one sitting in his stack of unopened correspondence. Somewhere over the course of this wedding, catching Ada’s affection had become a personal goal. And he was a man who enjoyed a challenge. The question was, how would he work his way past her prickly exterior and her marriage-minded mother?
* * *
Grace linked her arm into Ada’s as they rode in the carriage back to Lord and Lady Winthrop’s estate for the wedding breakfast. Her father sat across from them, staring out the window.
Grace leaned over, whispering in Ada’s ear. “Are you all right? You didn’t seem yourself in the church.”
Ada shrugged. She was anything but all right. “It’s Lord Viceroy. He’s so…”
“Handsome?” Grace sighed. “That one next to me just scowls all the time, but not Lord Viceroy. He’s lovely to look at.”
Ada made a face. The sort that wrinkled her nose and scrunched her lips as though she’d smelled something terrible. “I was going to say something far more like irritating.” Grace was better suited to his taste, she was certain. Ada had seen him once, in a tea shop with the most beautiful woman she’d ever laid eyes on. Absolute perfection. Not a freckle to be seen…
Grace laughed, covering her mouth with her hand, but Ada tapped her chin, continuing, “Also false. Most of what he does and says seems like a façade. As though he were an actor playing the part of a Viscount.”
Grace shrugged. “He seems charming enough to me.”
Ada shook her head. “Charming men do not hold interest in me for very long.” Her stomach began to quiver. Her heart had been broken six months prior and she couldn’t face the idea of that happening again. If any man were capable of the deed, it was Lord Viceroy. She needed to stay away from him. “I’m not very exciting. Not like Diana
or Minnie. Or you.” They all knew how to flirt or argue, or incite some sort of passion. All she seemed able to do was sit quietly smiling.
Of course, one might argue that she did anything but that today. It was just that Lord Viceroy was so vexing. There had been that moment when she’d been on top of him when he hadn’t been vexing at all. Then he’d been exciting. But he’d quickly slipped his veneer back in place.
She didn’t like that man at all.
Grace patted her arm. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re absolutely stunning and so kind. There is a man who is perfect for you and he will be handsome and smart.”
Ada let out a sigh. Perhaps that was true. Then again, experience had told her it wasn’t.
The only man who’d ever been truly interested in her had been a researcher of exotic wildlife. She’d known Walter Conroy for years as he was a family friend. And she’d been thrilled when he’d shown her favoritism over her cousins and sisters. So much so that she’d been happy to spend hours listening to his adventures. Until he’d left for one. Then, Walter had been clear. She was not to wait for him as he didn’t know when or if he’d return. “Do you really think so?”
“Of course I do. Even Lord Viceroy is tempted by you.”
Ada shook her head. He was only pretending out of habit or some other motivation. “It’s an act. He’s no more interested in me than he is in settling down and moving to the country.”
“How do you know?” Grace asked, leaning even closer.
“I feel it.” She pressed her hands to her cheeks. “He wants something from me. I’m just not certain what.”
Grace covered a little giggle. “That’s exactly my point. He wants something from you.” Then Grace wiggled her eyebrows.