Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

M adeleine found Emily in her bedchamber taking a private moment away from the garden party. The smell of recent sickness wafted from the chamber pot in the corner where she found Emily doubled over it.

“Emily!” Madeleine gasped, rushing to her aid.

“What has happened?” she asked in concern, putting a soothing hand on her sister’s bowed back.

Another sickly wretch came from Emily, and Madeleine winced at the intensified scent and sounds of her sister’s malady.

“I took a sudden turn,” Emily groaned, holding her abdomen. “All is well; I am sure of it. Something I ate did not agree with me, but it is passing now.”

Madeleine eyed her carefully. She was pale, and trembling from the severity of her retching but did not seem ill otherwise.

“I will get you some water,” she offered. “Stay there.”

Getting off of her knees, Madeleine hurried over to a pitcher on a side table and poured her sister a glass of water.

Emily whispered her thanks as she took it quickly and washed her mouth out.

“My apologies,” she sighed then drew in a deep breath before she closed her eyes to the nausea.

“You have no need to apologize to me, pet,” Madeleine soothed, taking the empty glass away.

She then noticed that beads of perspiration had started to form along Emily’s hairline, so she went to the washstand, picked up a cloth, dunked and rang it, and pressed it to her sister’s forehead.

Emily let out a whimper of gratitude as the cool cloth soothed her burning head, and Madeleine took on her sister’s weight as she leaned toward her. She was not sure what was wrong with her dear older sister, but Madeleine did not like it one bit.

“Do not worry about the party or your guests; you have been a most gracious host to one and all,” she continued with her comforting words. “Do not give it another thought. Rest and recover for the night. Mama and I will tend to everything.”

“You are an angel,” Emily sighed, taking Madeleine’s outstretched hands.

She helped Emily off of the floor and over to the bed. Once she had her seated, Madeleine pulled a clean, white linen gown from her closet and came back to help her change. Once Emily was settled back against the pillows, she went to go find their mother, but Emily called out to her.

“Wait, sister. You wished to speak to me, yes?” Emily asked. “That is why you came searching for me?”

For a moment, Madeleine contemplated lying, but instead, she shook her head and admitted, “I was avoiding Percy.”

“Why?” Emily’s face showed confusion. “I thought that you were courting. Have you changed your mind about him?”

Madeleine shook her head. “No. My conversation with Cecil yesterday reminded me that I have not fully forgiven Percy. He still calls me by the nickname that he gave me when we were children.”

“Bacon Face?” Emily questioned. “I thought Cecil gave you that name?”

Madeleine shook her head. “No, not Bacon Face. Percy calls me Monkey.”

Emily looked at her with a confused look on her face. “Monkeys are adorable creatures. Why would that bother you? It sounds like a loving endearment to me.”

Madeleine sighed. “Monkey in Cant is a large amount of money, five hundred pounds to be exact. A large number of pounds…” Madeleine let her explanation hang in the air between them, gesturing towards her own body.

Emily’s brow furrowed. “Surely that is not his meaning,” she argued in disagreement. “Have you asked him about it? Have you told him how it makes you feel?”

“I have not,” Madeleine admitted. “I thought that I could move on from it, but he still calls me by that name. He just did so but a few moments ago. Sometimes he uses it in public, as he did today, where others can hear him. It is humiliating.”

“I think that you should speak with him, Madeleine. It is clear to all with eyes that he cares for you. He would not wish to offend you intentionally. I believe that if you share your feelings with him, he will respect that you did so.”

Emily looked as if she wanted to say something more, and when she didn’t, Madeleine gave her an expectant look.

“I… do not mean to negate your feelings, sister. But I do not believe that the name Monkey, in relation to you, means what you think it does.”

Madeleine sat for a moment thinking about Emily’s suggestion. She had never considered it from the perspective of a loving endearment. In the childhood context by which she had gained the name, it most certainly had felt as if it were referring to her weight at the time. If he had meant it another way, in an endearing way, then she had held anger in her heart for years without cause. The notion was daunting. If she were to let go of her anger toward him, she feared that it would open the flood gates, drowning her in all of the desire that she had been feeling for him. Her anger was her only shield against him. She could not release it without damning herself.

“Are you well?” Emily asked, her face showing concern. “You have gone quite pale.”

She then grimaced as she leaned further back into her pillows.

“Oh, dear, I hope I have not given you whatever it is that has befallen me.”

Madeleine let out a weak laugh, shaking her head.

“No, it is not that; it is just that I had never thought…” She let her words hang between them, heavy with uncertainty.

She could feel Emily studying her closer, and she welcomed it. Perhaps she could finally find what exactly it was that was wrong with her.

“Perhaps you should,” Emily suggested quietly.

“Aside from the anger that you have been harboring, it is evident that you care for him as well. The way you speak about him has changed since the beginning of your courtship. You speak of him with more fondness and respect. Your heart has been affected by him whether you see it or not.”

Madeleine shook her head, denying it to herself and her sister. “I do not wish it to be so. This was not the pla?—”

She paused, her nerves running rampant as she realized how close she had just been to telling her secret.

“I just mean, no,” she finished.

Emily studied Madeleine’s face intently for a moment longer, and Madeleine could feel herself blushing.

“You have shared something, the two of you,” Emily murmured. She cocked her head to the side in concern. “Something intimate. Has he taken advantage of you?”

Startled, Madeleine shook her head. Percy could be a dolt regarding feelings, but he would never do anything like that.

“No!” she exclaimed.

Emily looked back at her patiently, waiting for her to keep talking.

“We have kissed, that is all,” she confessed. Madeleine did not feel guilty for the lie. In truth, it was not an actual lie. She just did not specify which part of her body he had kissed.

Thinking about it made her insides begin to quiver; she shifted on the bed as the vividly seductive memory came back to haunt her.

Emily nodded. “Make certain to protect yourself. There are men who take what they want and leave the woman they have enjoyed to deal with the consequences alone. Many a young woman has been ruined by such men.”

“Do you think Percy is such a man?” Madeleine asked.

“Do you?” Emily replied quickly. “That is the more important question here. If so, simply tell us now. I shall go downstairs, nightgown and all, to have him thrown out. We do not have to wait for a tragedy; we can prevent it.”

A strong surge of affection for Emily bloomed in Madeleine’s heart. She so appreciated how willing her sister was to protect her.

“I do not believe Percy to be such a man,” she answered, laying a calming hand over Emily’s, “but I will certainly heed your warning.”

“See that you do.” Emily gave one last final warning look before launching herself up from the bed, whereupon she emptied her guts into the chamber pot once more.

“I believe that the garden party is over,” Madeleine remarked. “I will go and inform the Viscount.”

“Perhaps that is best,” Emily agreed then lurched forward as another bout overtook her.

After ordering Emily’s handmaid to bring up some mint tea with honey, Madeleine returned to the garden party to find her brother-in-law and inform him of his wife’s condition. The moment that she told Charles of Emily’s state, his face grew pale, and he took off at a run, not waiting to bid farewell to his guests. Madeleine smiled at the evidence of his affection for her sister.

“Love makes fools of us all,” Percy’s voice murmured from behind her.

Turning around, Madeleine met his eyes. The dark green depths pulled her in making her feel lightheaded. “Have you ever been in love?” she asked, unable to stop herself.

Percy stiffened for a moment then shook his head. “I try to avoid it at all costs. Love is dangerous. Not to mention foolish.”

In spite of herself, Madeleine felt disappointment at his words. “I never believed you to be a coward, Your Grace.” She knew better than to poke the bear, but she could not stop herself. The memory of his arms around her, his tongue upon her most private parts, was still fresh upon her mind.

His eyes flashed with fire. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, his hot breath rousing her further. “Believe me, My Lady, it is for your own good. This sort of danger you would not survive. It would burn you alive, and I would be the one responsible. I could not live with that.”

Madeleine leaned back, meeting his eyes once more. “Then I would simply have to take you with me.”

She turned to walk away from him, determined to leave him a state of shock as he had done with her so many times, but his hand was quick in catching her wrist, and she was whirled back around to face him.

“Be careful how you tempt me, Madeleine,” he warned, his voice barely above a growl. “Some offers are too sweet to refuse.”

As he let go and walked away from her, Madeleine wondered if she even wanted him to refuse.

Madeleine did not see Percy for several days after the garden party. She was certain that he was keeping his distance from her. Suitors came and went, but none of them were the man that she was supposedly courting. It did not look loving or attentive, and Madeleine feared that her brother was beginning to suspect something as he had begun to make comments about Percy’s absence.

In an effort to avoid further suspicion, Madeleine sent Percy a missive to meet her at the opera that evening. She had planned to go with Emily and the Viscount, but they had bowed out due to Emily still feeling unwell. Her sister’s life was not in danger. Madeleine had made certain of that by interrogating Dr. Moberly when he had visited after the garden party, but that was all that he would say on the matter.

After sending her missive to Percy, Madeleine went in search of her father to inform him that she planned to attend the opera after all. She found him in the study, poring over his financial books and ledgers. Letters from their steward were scattered across the top of the desk. “Is all well, Father?”

Her father looked up with a smile. “Everything is splendid! Your brother and Mr. Stuart have achieved many things of benefit to our family’s advantage. I am quite pleased.”

Madeleine smiled at seeing his joy. “That is wonderful, Father. I am pleased to hear it.”

“Indeed, indeed,” her father removed his glasses and studied her face. “Does something concern you, my dear?”

Madeleine shook her head. “I have decided to attend the opera with the Duke of Greyhall.”

Her father nodded in approval. “I shall have a missive sent to your mother to inform her of your plans. She has been with your sister, Emily, this morning. I am not certain if she will be returning in time to be your chaperone for the event. Perhaps I shall go with you in her place. I would not mind conversing with the Duke about our mutual success.”

Madeleine did not mind his attendance as it would reinforce her and Percy’s relationship in her father’s mind. “That would be lovely.”

“You know, my darling,” her father went on with a chuckle, “I must say, this was not how I expected your second season to go. With how abhorrent the first had turned out…” he paused, shaking his head as if he were dispelling a bad memory, “well, I am just thankful that Percival returned to us. He has not only elevated your brother’s spirit but obviously yours as well.”

Madeleine stiffened, despite her father’s cordial tone and offer of compliment.

“How so?” she asked, attempting to sound off-handed.

“Well, last year, you seemed to run the young suitors off so quickly,” her father explained. “While I am not sure how you did so, nor do I want to know, it is obvious that your approach to finding a husband has changed since Percy began courting you. Your patience has improved greatly, it seems.

“I do not want to alarm you, my dear, but for a moment, your mother and I feared you were doomed for spinsterhood. We are elated that this is no longer the case.”

Madeleine felt her cheeks bloom with heat, and she suddenly wished for her fan. Sweat pricked at her brow, and her high-necked gown at once felt more like a noose than a collar as she thought of what the end of her and Percy’s little scheme would do to her parents. They would be destroyed by this lie of hers. Utterly and completely.

“Madeleine, my dear, are you sure that you are well?” her father asked, his brow furrowing as he rose from his chair. “You appear flushed. I pray you have not fallen to the same illness as Emily.”

“No, Papa,” Madeleine stammered out quickly, giving him a reassuring smile.

“Then what is it, hm?” he asked, his brow furrowing with concern. “Your brother’s jests of your weight still bother you, is that it? I was told of Emily’s interference the other morning.”

While it was not the current truth she was struggling with, it was a truth that she could respond to, and so she chose to cling to it.

“Yes,” she managed to get out. “It is still… strange… for me to not be the center of mockery. I suppose I am still waiting for the joke to be played on me.”

It was no lie. That fear still clung to her at every call she received, like a ghoul that never ceased to haunt her. She could not allow herself to believe that she was wanted or beautiful, for if she did, she knew what would come next—the shame of being another butt of a joke, Just as she had always been.

“You are no joke, my love,” her father said. The graveness in his tone took Madeleine by surprise, and she genuinely looked up at her father in consternation.

He came around his desk and in a rare show of affection, pulled her into his arms for a hug.

“You are beautiful and witty and a true gift,” he told her.

“Papa,” Madeleine whispered, feeling emotion well up in her throat.

“While I do hope it is Percy you share these talents with,” he went on, “any man worth his own salt would be honored to have a woman like you. You have the freedom of choice now as you had wanted. I only want you to choose what makes you happy.”

Though she tried not to allow it, tears fell trickled onto her cheeks at her father’s love. She had not known… all this time, she had not known that that was how her father saw her. Not as a fat, ugly cow that needed to be sold to the first farmer that would take her, but as a beloved daughter worthy of being loved for who she was.

“There, there, darling, none of that,” her father cajoled, pushing her away to pat her cheek warmly.

Lips pressed together in a smile, Madeleine nodded as he let her go and walked back around the desk.

“Now, go on upstairs and get ready,” he told her. “The opera house deserves the best from all of us.”

“Yes, Papa, of course,” she replied readily.

Pleased with his world, her father went back to work, and Madeleine left him to it. Ascending the stairs, she went to inform Lucy that she would be in need of a bath and her best opera dress. As usual, Lucy did not fail her. The moment that Madeleine told her of her plans, Lucy disappeared into an adjoining room and reemerged with the most exquisite dress of a pale blue-green and gold brocade. The effect was oceanic.

Madeleine smiled broadly. “That will do.”

Lucy grinned and set to work preparing Madeleine for the opera.

When the carriage pulled up in front of the opera house, Percy was standing on the steps waiting for them. He was as dashing as ever. When the carriage came to a stop, Percy did not wait for the footman but opened the door himself. He extended his hand to aid Madeleine out of the carriage. As she moved into the lantern’s light, Percy’s eyes widened in awe at her appearance. The moment did not last as he shuttered his thoughts quickly and dropped her hand without kissing it as he once might have. Something had shifted between them. Madeleine could feel it.

As he turned his attention toward her Father, Percy caught the look of concern in Madeleine’s eyes. Her gaze immediately called for him to give her the attention she deserved—the attention he wanted to give her—but he steeled himself further and gave his attention to the patriarch.

“Greyhall,” Madeleine’s father emerged from the carriage and greeted Percy.

“Stonefield,” Percy returned the greeting. He stepped aside to make room for the Earl between them then accepted the familial but quick pat on the back.

For a moment, the Earl looked at him expectantly, as if waiting for him to take Madeleine’s arm and escort her in. When he did not, the Earl asked, “Are you well, Greyhall? It seems everyone is not quite themselves this evening. Even Madeleine here appeared a bit disoriented today.”

“Perfectly well,” Percy forced himself to say then waved a hand toward the grand steps of the opera house, “though I did hear of Emily’s condition. I pray for a swift recovery.”

The Earl studied him a moment longer as if not believing him, but Percy doubled down on his lie and offered a charming smile.

“We do appreciate that,” the Earl replied after a fashion, giving him a nod. He then offered his arm to his daughter as Percy should have done which made a knot form in Percy’s stomach. “Shall we?”

“Indeed,” Madeleine answered with a wide smile, taking her father’s arm. Percy followed close behind.

The smile was fake; Percy knew it right away, but he was so relieved to be moving forward that he did not dwell on it, even if it did make every nerve in his body protest the distance between them.

They entered the opera house to the din of the English ton excitedly chattering in anticipation for the evening’s entertainment. The performance was to be an Italian work by Gioachino Rossini entitled La Cambiale di Matrimonio, a comic opera that had been released the year before.

“Stonefield!” a voice boomed just as they were about to walk into Percy’s box.

The three of them turned, and the Earl’s face filled with joy as he looked on to the fellow that had called his name.

“Howard? Good god, man, it’s been an age!”

The Earl quickly turned back to Percy and Madeleine, offering them an apologetic smile.

“You two go on; I shall join shortly. Allow me a few moments with this rouser.”

Percy stiffened as the Earl then walked to the gentleman who had called him over, leaving Percy alone with his greatest temptation.

“He may be a moment,” Madeleine said at his side, her voice immediately sending pleasure running from his ears to his groin. “Perhaps we should go ahead and take our seats?”

“Indeed,” Percy choked out. He forced himself to look down at her and was once again left breathless by how beautiful she looked. With effort, he took her arm, ignoring the pleasure that scattered throughout his veins as they made contact, and escorted her to their seats.

The dim lights of the theatre, and the separation of the Duke’s private box from the throng of humanity, allowed for a brief moment of privacy. Madeleine leaned over and whispered into Percy’s ear. He had been stiff from the moment that she had stepped out of the carriage, and she wished to know why. It was not good for the effectiveness of their ruse, and he knew it.

“What is wrong?” she whispered. “You are acting as though you do not wish to be here with me.”

He shook his head. “All is well. You are imagining things.”

This only served to irritate Madeleine more. As her father was present, she chose not to argue with him. It was not as if they were actually courting, so in truth, it did not matter how he felt about her. She should have been relieved that he was not taking their passionate encounter too seriously, but instead, she was disappointed.

A loud sound filled the theatre, startling Madeleine. In reflex, she reached out and grabbed Percy’s hand for reassurance. After his behavior outside, she had expected him to shake her off, but instead, Percy turned her hand over in his and rubbed the inside of her wrist with his thumb in an effort to calm her. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “It was naught but a piece of the scenery falling over. Fear not, my dear Madeleine.”

The way he said her name caused shivers of longing to travel up and down her spine. The feel of his thumb drawing soothing circles on the inside of her wrist was hypnotic, enveloping her into a sense of security as her muscles relaxed in response. When it came to Percival Hardy, her body had a mind of its own. When he was near, as he was now, all she could think about was how much she desired him.

When he pulled away, Madeleine felt bereft and could not help the pout that tugged at her lips. She was drawing her bottom lip into her mouth, attempting to nibble away some of her new feelings, when his fingertips grazed up her spine before wrapping around the back of her neck. Like he had with his thumb, Percy began to massage and soothe the expanse of flesh there, melting away the tension in her muscles.

“You must keep your head up and your eyes open, darling,” Percy commanded, his tone gentle, firm, and only loud enough for her to hear.

Madeleine let out a soft gasp as she threw her eyes open and lifted her head back up to the view of the stage. His soothing touch had worked too well, and she had, if only for a moment, forgotten herself and where she was.

She reached into her mind for a witty comeback—something to say that would deny his ego of the unspoken compliment she’d just given him to his touch—but instead she merely whispered, “Apologies. I… I do not know what just happened.”

Madeleine felt Percy’s eyes looking at her from her side, studying her closely, but she did not dare look back at him. Instead, she kept her eyes focused on the stage, even though she had no idea what part of the opera was now being performed. Finally, she felt Percy’s gaze slip back to the stage. A moment later, he gave the back of her neck one more intimate squeeze, nearly making her whimper, and then slipped his hand back to hers, enveloping her much smaller fingers easily into his.

With how quickly you shift from cold to warm, I am starting to think that you, Your Grace, are the thing that I should fear, Madeleine thought silently to herself, remembering his words when the stage had been disrupted. In spite of this internal warning, she did not remove her hand from his grasp.

They sat holding each other’s hands until her father slipped into the box. In the end, it was Percy who pulled away first, and Madeleine’s heart ached at the absence of his touch. Despite her best efforts to do otherwise, her feelings for the Duke had changed. Her heart had become too involved.

After the opera was over, Madeleine needed a moment to herself. Percy’s distant behavior after their brief moment of emotional connection had caused her to feel as if she might cry. She did not understand it and needed to take back control of herself. She needed to erect the emotional walls firmly back up around her heart. Excusing herself from her companions, she made her way to the refreshment table.

“You look lovely as always,” Laura Knight’s voice complimented from beside her.

Madeleine looked up and greeted her with a smile. “A pleasure to see you again, Lady Laura. As do you! Your gown becomes you perfectly.”

Laura accepted a drink from the attendant, and the two ladies moved over to a seat by one of the front windows. “That is kind of you to say. How have you been?” she asked between sips of her drink.

“Honestly, I have been confused since our last meeting,” Madeleine confessed. Though, she was not sure why. Though they had been friendly, she had not yet had a chance to get to know Laura well enough to call her friend.

“Oh?” Laura responded, her delicate brows drawing down as a pout formed on her pink lips. “Well, I certainly did not mean to cause you such feelings. Is there a question I can answer that may perhaps quell your mind?”

Though she had said so in a perfectly appropriate way, Madeleine felt a subtle hint of danger as she saw, for a moment, pure glee flash through the woman’s eyes. Choosing to ignore it, she pressed on. At this point, it did not matter who the source was, only that the truth came forth.

“When we last spoke, you mentioned someone by the name of Francis having died as a result of a curse. Who was Francis?” she asked.

“Oh, my dear, he has not told you?” Laura gave her a look of deep sympathy.

Madeleine shook her head. “Should he have?”

Laura shrugged as if she did not care, but it seemed as if she was struggling for a moment not to smile.

“Were it I that he was courting, I would wish to know.” Laura patted Madeleine’s hand as if to lend her courage. “Francis was the Duke’s betrothed. The Duke loved her very much. She was killed in a terrible carriage accident on her way to meet with the Duke at his estate. She had been quite ill and should not have been out and about. Perhaps he did not tell you because he is still in love with her and did not wish to hurt you. Or perhaps he feels guilt for her death.”

Laura shrugged her shoulders again—as if the information was as trivial as the comedic pamphlets that were sold in the park.

Madeleine felt every muscle in her body grow still as she contemplated Laura’s revelation. Was it true? Percy had been betrothed before? And she had died? Why did Madeleine not know? Why did her brother not know?

“Lady Madeleine,” a masculine voice broke into her revery, and she looked up to find one of her many suitors standing in front of her.

“Mr. MacElroy, how lovely to see you,” she forced out politely.

Pushing this new information to the back of her mind, Madeleine pulled forth her best talents and appeared unbothered as she accepted the new company.

“May I introduce you to Lady Laura Knight? Lady Laura, this is Mr. Hamish MacElroy. Mr. MacElroy’s father and my own are associates in the slate business,” she explained to Laura.

“A pleasure, My Lady.” MacElroy bowed and kissed both Laura and Madeleine’s hands.

Hamish MacElroy was charming, and Madeleine did not mind his company. Out of all of her suitors, he was the one that she could actually stand to be around. They had had many riveting conversations about books that they had read and his exciting travels. He somewhat reminded her of Percy but without the childhood emotional baggage or sensual charisma that she had with the Duke. She simply enjoyed MacElroy’s company.

“I read the book that you recommended,” MacElroy informed her, taking the seat beside her. “It was indeed thought provoking.”

Madeleine smiled at him, pleased that he had read it. “I am glad that you enjoyed it. The author is brilliant, is he not?”

“Indeed,” MacElroy agreed then launched into an explanation of the book to Laura who had expressed interest in what they were talking about.

Madeleine saw an abrupt motion out of the corner of her eye and looked up to find Percy standing near the door, glaring daggers at her and her companions. Without saying a word, he turned and left the opera house. He did not return.