Adam's Promise Read Free Page A

Ripley struggled for a reply. She knew that Madeline had first met Adam when he was courting her older sister, Diana, so Mrs. Ripley must have understood that a mistake had been made.
    â€œI’m afraid Madeline’s sister did not accompany her.” It was a tactful, clever response, and Madeline was thankful for it.
    Adam turned his gaze toward her again and she knew the precise instant he understood who she was. His disappointment was clear in the depths of his eyes and in the set of his shoulders. The color drained from his face, too.
    â€œI’m sorry, I—” He stumbled over his words.“You’re Diana’s sister? What was your name again?”
    Madeline squared her shoulders against the stinging humiliation and labored to speak in a steady, dignified voice. “My name is Madeline.”
    Adam stared at her for another few seconds. “Yes, I think I remember you now.” He paused again. It was the most acrid silence she’d ever experienced. “Was there some kind of problem? Why did you come?”
    This couldn’t be happening….
    Dear God, she felt as if she were going to be ill. “I…I was told you wished it.”
    â€œNo.” He paused. “Well, this is awkward, indeed.”
    â€œAwkward for whom, sir?” Madeline replied sternly. “For you? Or for these people standing behind me?”
    Thankfully, the others recognized the hint and casually dispersed, including Mrs. Ripley, who gave Madeline a sympathetic pat on the arm before turning away.
    She was now standing alone, face-to-face with Adam Coates, not knowing what in the world to say to him—to this man who only a moment ago she had thought was her husband-to-be.
    â€œWho told you I wished for you to come?” he asked directly.
    â€œMy father. He said you wrote him a letter.”
    Adam’s mouth tightened into a hard line. “I did write to him, and to Diana, as well. Did he not deliver my note to her?”
    â€œNot to my knowledge. She was away in London when your proposal arrived. I never saw the letter and I never even said goodbye to her. I barely had time to write and tell her where I was going.”
    The muscles in Adam’s jaw clenched visibly as his anger took root and burst forth. He began to pace in front of Madeline. “I was more than clear about wanting to marry Diana. He had no right to send you instead. What was he thinking of?”
    Madeline had to work hard to maintain her dignity, when her whole being was winding tight with rage at her father.
    At Adam, as well, for humiliating her like this in front of everyone. Not to mention for crushing her dreams without even noticing, or taking the time to consider the fact that she, too, might be disappointed.
    â€œMy apologies for the misunderstanding, sir. My father has a tendency to manipulate things to his liking.”
    â€œManipulate? He sent me the wrong bride!”
    Madeline gritted her teeth together, unable to hide her fury any longer. “Sir, you are not the only one who has been inconvenienced by this. I just spent forty-six days on a damp, creaky ship eating dry oatmeal and drinking stale water, and now you tell me in front of everyone that I’m not the one you ordered, and I shouldn’t have bothered. I believe I’ve had quite enough insults and frustrations for one day.”
    He stopped pacing and looked at her— really looked at her—as if for the first time. “Didn’t you think it strange that I would ask for your hand? Didn’t you question what your father was telling you? Dianaand I have a history together, a past, and you were just a child then. You’re still a child now.”
    â€œI’m twenty-two, sir.” She was quite unable at this point to keep the ire out of her tone.
    â€œAh, I see. Twenty-two, and wanting marriage so badly you were willing to deceive a man to get it.”
    â€œIt was my father who deceived you, not