He had singled out a suitable candidate to marry
without even realizing what he was doing. He saw nothing to hinder the match. She was a duke’s daughter without a husband, and he was a rich earl in need of an heir.
Finding the right time to broach the subject might be tricky, though. Ask for her hand too soon, and Rebecca would say no immediately. Too late, and she might think him an irredeemable scoundrel.
Adam nodded slowly. Yes, Rebecca Warner might just do for him as a wife and for Ava as a mother, if she wanted the job.
He smiled quickly at Whitfield. “I’ll wake you at dawn, so you’re not late to the ceremony.”
Whitfield chewed on his lip a moment, and then his skin colored pink. “Perhaps it would be best if I come to find you, instead,” Whitfield suggested. “To avoid any awkwardness.”
Adam almost laughed out loud. He’d already suspected the wedding was mere formality between Whitfield and Lady Jessica. It was the way they looked at each other that gave them away. He’d wager they were already spending every night together. “Understood.”
Whitfield moved away, made a show of wishing his future wife good night, before appearing to depart the manor for his neighboring estate.
Adam watched closely and in less than five minutes, Lady Jessica was declaring herself exhausted, too.
He kept his amusement to himself as she left the room, no doubt intent on a pre-wedding assignation with her betrothed, and found an out-of-the-way spot to observe his acquaintances.
Most were married, half happily.
Yes, Adam would like to be married again. To have Rebecca host a gathering of their mutual friends like this at Gable Park, and when it was all over, they could slip away together.
Yet, he hadn’t the faintest idea if Rebecca might consider him a potential spouse or even want to marry again. She seemed to have a full life chasing her own family about. She spent most of her time living in their homes.
He would have to pick the moment he broached the subject very carefully if he wanted the best outcome.
Shivers tickled the back of his neck, and he glanced around suddenly, catching Mrs. Warner observing him from across the room. Although she tried to hide what she’d been doing, Adam was utterly charmed by her blushes.
Determined to speak to her, he made his way across the room. She met him halfway.
“I trust my daughter gave you no trouble?” he asked immediately.
“Not at all, Lord Rafferty, although she was very wound up over her letter still.”
“I think I will issue an invitation to the Hawthorne girl, but as you suggested earlier, I should not let Ava immediately believe she’ll have everything she asks for.”
Rebecca beamed. “Very wise, my lord.”
“Yes, you are wise, my dear,” he murmured.
She nodded but looked around. “I trust you have enjoyed your evening.”
“Indeed. It has been an exciting house party so far. I hope to enjoy the delights of Stapleton Manor for days to come.”
Her face became closed off, and then she smiled benignly in a way he instantly knew meant he’s said something wrong. “We should expect very fine weather for the wedding tomorrow.”
“And for the wedding night, too, I trust?”
“Yes.” Her lashes fluttered and she looked away. “You will have to excuse me, my lord. I see my maid trying to catch my attention.”
Adam donned a concerned expression as he reached for her hand. “May I escort you to her?”
Rebecca allowed him a brief hold of her hand before pulling it back and looking beyond him. “I don’t think so.”
Adam was certain no one at the party had the slightest inkling that he and Rebecca had shared a bed, but he could tell that Rebecca lived in fear that someone would uncover their dalliance. If he was going to marry her, Adam had better start behaving like a suitor soon, or Rebecca might think him only interested in bedding her.
Winning her complete trust might just be the greatest challenge of his life.