Chapter XXIX

The morning light filtered through the curtains of the master bedroom at Ashbourne Manor, casting a warm, gentle glow over Luca and Adelaide as they lay in bed together. Their conversation had shifted from the day's concerns to the joyful anticipation of their future.

Adelaide, her head resting comfortably on Luca's chest, looked up at him with a soft smile.

"Luca, have you thought about names for the baby?"

Luca's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Yes, I've been considering a few names. If we have a daughter, I'd like something elegant and timeless, like Isabella or Eleanor. What do you think?"

Adelaide's eyes lit up with excitement. "I love those names. And if we have a son?"

Luca chuckled. "Perhaps we could name him after my father—William or Grayson."

Adelaide nodded thoughtfully. "Those are strong names. And what about having more than one child? Would you like a large family?."

Luca's expression softened as he spoke about their future.

"Yes, I'd love to have as many as five children. We're both only children, so I want our family to be larger. It would bring us joy and companionship."

Adelaide's smile grew. "I agree. We can keep trying until we have a son, but I'm happy with whatever we have."

Their conversation turned lighter, and Luca's curiosity got the better of him. "Adelaide, you were so stoic because of something you'd learned regarding our first night together. I'm curious—who taught you all those things?"

Adelaide's cheeks flushed slightly as she recalled the memory. "My grandmother did, when I was seventeen. She told me about it and said only women with certain… interests enjoyed consummation. She made it sound like it was something to be endured rather than enjoyed."

Luca's eyes widened in surprise. "That sounds quite unsettling. I'm sorry you had to go through that."

Adelaide laughed softly, a hint of embarrassment in her voice. "Yes, it made me quite timid and unsure. I was nervous and naïve that night because of what she said."

Luca's face softened with understanding. "I'm sorry you felt that way. I'm glad i've been able to convince you." he nudges her.

Their light-hearted conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Clara and Tina, summoned to discuss new arrangements.

Adelaide looked at them with a friendly smile. "Clara, Tina, please come in. I have some important news to share."

Clara and Tina entered, Clara's curiosity evident and Tina's demeanor calm but with a hidden tension. Adelaide continued, her tone warm but authoritative.

"I've decided to employ Tina as my personal maid. She will be moving from the east wing to the servants' quarters on the bottom floor."

Tina's eyes sparkled with feigned enthusiasm. "Thank you, Lady Adelaide. I'm eager to start my duties."

Adelaide nodded. "Clara, please assist Tina with her transition. You'll be in charge of helping her get settled and ensuring she understands her new responsibilities."

Clara's face brightened with joy. "Of course, Lady Adelaide. I'll make sure Tina is well-acquainted with her duties."

Turning to Tina, Adelaide's tone became more formal. "You will need to pack your things and move to the servants' wing. The room you'll be occupying was previously Jenna's. Clara will help you settle in."

Tina's outwardly cheerful expression barely masked her frustration. Sharing a room with Clara, the head maid, would complicate her plans and limit her freedom. Tina's mind churned with thoughts of how to overcome this obstacle. The idea of Clara constantly monitoring her movements was infuriating.

As Clara left to begin the preparations, Tina's gaze shifted to Luca. He was tenderly rubbing circles on Adelaide's stomach, a gesture of affection. Although there was no visible bump yet, Tina's jealousy surged.

Her thoughts wandered to the life she could have had if she hadn't been consumed by revenge. She could have been happily married to the Duke, perhaps with children of her own. The thought of what might have been filled her with longing.

Tina's gaze lingered on Luca, her feelings conflicted. She realized that she still harbored feelings for him. His smile, which had once brought her joy, now seemed like a painful reminder of what she had lost. The idea of being with Luca, of becoming his partner and manipulating him, began to take shape in her mind.

She envisioned a plan where she could eliminate Adelaide and potentially set her up with her brother. Tina imagined herself by Luca's side, wielding power and control over him. The idea of exacting her revenge in this way seemed almost poetic.

Adelaide's voice broke through Tina's dark musings. "Tina, you can start preparing your things now. If you have any questions or need assistance, don't hesitate to ask Clara."

Tina nodded, masking her inner turmoil with a smile. "Of course, Lady Adelaide. I'll begin immediately."

As Tina left the room, her mind was already racing with plans. The prospect of avenging her parents' death while securing a place with the Duke seemed both thrilling and daunting. She had to be cautious, ensuring her schemes remained hidden while she navigated the new arrangement.

Adelaide, content with the new changes, turned her attention back to Luca.

The days following the intense events surrounding Jenna's death seemed to stretch endlessly for Adelaide and Luca. Though the immediate threat of their unknown enemy had lessened, the sense of foreboding and anxiety persisted. The couple's growing unease stemmed from their ignorance of what might come next, heightening their fears and making them increasingly vigilant. To counter this, they had arranged for extra security around the manor, hoping to deter any further threats.

One late afternoon, while the golden light of the setting sun cast long shadows through the windows of the manor, Adelaide received an enigmatic note. It was written in a hurried scrawl and bore no signature, but its contents were clear: an invitation to meet someone who claimed to have crucial information about Jenna's death. The note promised revelations that could shed light on the mystery, yet the sender remained a mystery in itself.

Adelaide's initial impulse was to inform Luca of the note immediately. However, knowing his protective nature and his likely reaction, she hesitated. If Luca were to learn of the note, he would insist on accompanying her, which could potentially endanger them both. Determined to uncover the truth on her own terms, Adelaide decided to act with discretion.

She spent a significant amount of time preparing herself for the meeting, choosing an understated yet elegant traveling dress that would allow her to blend in rather than stand out. Her anxiety was palpable as she penned a quick note to Luca, instructing Tina to deliver it to him. The note simply stated that Adelaide was taking a brief trip and would return later in the evening. With her preparations complete, she made her way to the carriage waiting outside.

As she settled into the carriage, her thoughts were fraught with a mixture of trepidation and resolve. The carriage driver, a seasoned man with a weathered face, offered her a cautious word of advice. "The outskirts of London can be a dangerous place, miss. Be careful. It's not the most welcoming of areas."

Adelaide thanked him, though her determination was unshaken. She felt compelled to uncover whatever secrets lay hidden behind the note's cryptic promise. The carriage rattled over uneven cobblestones, and as the buildings grew sparser and the streets more forlorn, her resolve only hardened.

The inn she arrived at was a modest, unremarkable establishment on the edge of town. Its sign creaked gently in the evening breeze, casting an eerie shadow across the entrance. Adelaide was greeted by a man who looked far from the shabby figure she had expected. Clean-shaven and handsome, he introduced himself as Joel.

"Thank you for coming," Joel said with an enigmatic smile. "I'm afraid the news I have is not easy to explain, but I will do my best to clarify things."

He proceeded to regale Adelaide with a series of convoluted stories and half-truths about Jenna. The details were complex and frequently contradictory, leaving Adelaide more confused than enlightened. As the evening wore on, Joel suddenly fell silent, an inscrutable look on his face.

"I'm afraid that's all I can share with you for now," he said abruptly. "Return in a week's time for more information. I promise it will make more sense then."

Adelaide found Joel's sudden cessation of information and the need to return peculiar, but she resolved to follow through, believing there might be some truth hidden within his cryptic stories.

As night fell, she made her way back to the manor, her heart heavy with the weight of the uncertainty she carried. When she arrived, the manor was dimly lit, and Luca was waiting for her, his expression a mix of anger and concern.

"Where have you been?" he demanded as soon as he saw her.

Adelaide, taken aback by his tone, reminded him of the note she had left with Tina. "Didn't you read the note I asked Tina to give you?"

"No," Luca snapped. "I was too busy worrying about you to think about any note. Why did you leave without telling me? Do you not care about the baby?"

The sting in his words cut deep, and Adelaide's eyes filled with tears. "I was trying to find out more about Jenna's death," she said, her voice trembling. "I thought it might help us."

"Help us?" Luca's voice rose in frustration. "You're putting yourself and our baby at risk for some vague promises from a stranger. Do you think so little of our safety?"

Their argument escalated, their voices echoing off the walls of their once-shared sanctuary. Harsh words were exchanged, and for the first time since their marriage, they did not share their bed. Adelaide retreated to her own room, her heart aching with the sense of betrayal and misunderstanding.

Unable to sleep, Adelaide lay awake, replaying the argument in her mind. She couldn't fathom why Luca had reacted so harshly. Wasn't she trying to protect them both, even if it meant taking risks? The thought of her actions potentially endangering their child only deepened her distress.

Meanwhile, Luca, consumed by his own turmoil, retreated to his study. In a bid to numb his frustration and sorrow, he indulged heavily in laudanum and brandy. His mind, clouded by the effects of the substances, grew increasingly disoriented.

Tina, always lurking in the shadows, saw this as an opportunity to further her scheme. She approached Luca, her intentions clear. Under the guise of comforting him, she began to seduce him, her touch both desperate and deliberate. In his drunken haze, Luca's resistance faltered, and he referred to her as Alexandra, though he struggled to maintain any semblance of control.

Tina, seizing her moment, removed her clothing, her advances becoming more insistent. Despite his weakened state, Luca attempted to push her away, murmuring for her to leave. Tina, however, ignored his protests, her intentions as cold and calculated as her demeanor.

Unable to bear the strain of the night's events, Adelaide decided to seek reconciliation. She quietly slipped from her room and made her way to Luca's quarters, hoping to apologize and find solace in his arms. When she didn't find him there, she ventured to his study, her heart racing with worry.

The sight that greeted her was both shocking and heartbreaking. There, in the dimly lit study, was Tina, her body entwined with Luca's. Tina had removed her clothes, and Luca was barely able to fend her off, his strength depleted by the drugs and alcohol. From Adelaide's vantage point, it appeared as though Luca was willingly engaged with Tina.

Adelaide's heart shattered at the sight. Her mind raced with hurt and betrayal as she stumbled backward, her voice breaking as she shouted at Luca, demanding to know why he had done this. Receiving no response, she fled from the room, tears streaming down her face as she retreated to her own chambers.

Tina, sensing the completion of her manipulation, dressed quickly and left the study, her expression one of satisfaction mixed with disdain. Luca, now alone and feeling the weight of his actions, called out weakly for Adelaide, but his voice was lost in the silence that followed her departure.

In her room, Adelaide wept uncontrollably, her heart heavy with the pain of perceived betrayal and her mind struggling to make sense of the night's events. The gulf between her and Luca had never seemed wider, and the trust they had built now felt irrevocably shattered.