Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-two
You don’t say.” Lord Blackthorne lowered his quizzing glass and followed Adam and Madeline into the parlor. “My word, Coates, what an abominable turn of events.”
“Shall I get tea?” Madeline asked.
Adam gestured for the lieutenant-governor to take a seat. “No, Madeline. Please stay. I am sure Lord Blackthorne would like to hear your story as well as mine.”
“Yes, yes,” the viscount replied, raising his quizzing glass again and shifting his attention toward Madeline. “I understand that you were the one to find Lady Thurston. Heavens, you did well, Miss Oxley. It must have been a terrifying night for you.”
For the next half hour, Adam and Madeline described the events of the flood, as well as the current condition of the marsh and what it meant for the future of Cumberland.
Lord Blackthorne was both sympathetic and optimistic, and promised to do all he could at Government House, to attend to the matter.
“And what about Lady Thurston?” he asked. “How is she faring?”
Adam and Madeline glanced at each other. After an awkward pause, Adam answered. “Her spirits are rather low, I am afraid.”
“Ah. That is to be expected. Take it from one who knows.” He gestured toward his wooden leg. “I presume she is still in some degree of pain.”
“Yes, my lord,” Adam said.
“And what does the doctor have to say? Is he a dependable fellow?”
“Yes, he’s very capable,” Madeline said. “I have complete faith in him. He did his best for Diana the night of the accident, and he saved her leg.”
Lord Blackthorne gestured toward his own wooden leg again. “I wish he had been on the battlefield in ’42.”
Madeline smiled in understanding.
The viscount waved a dismissive hand through the air.
“But that was so long ago, now. I rarely think of it. Perspective,” he said, raising an authoritative finger.
“Lady Thurston must look to the future and see her life as a whole, and know that this is just a small piece of it. These difficult weeks will pass, and soon she will be up and around, and everything will seem normal again. It’s just a matter of acceptance and determination, and perhaps a little reassurance from those who care about her. ”
Quite unable to mask the despair in her voice, Madeline lowered her gaze to her hands on her lap. “I wish she had your vision, my lord.”
Madeline did care about Diana, she truly did.
Even though Madeline was angry at her for all the cruel things she had said in their lifetime together, Madeline still wanted her sister to rise from this setback.
She wanted her to find joy in life again, no matter what became of their sisterly relationship.
There was a moment of grief-filled silence, then Lord Blackthorne pushed himself to his feet. He squeezed the polished brass handle of his cane.
“May I see her? I might be able to lift her spirits, be of assistance in some way. I do have personal experience with this sort of thing after all.”
Madeline rose as well. “I will go and tell her, my lord. I’m certain she would be grateful for your concern and your generous regard for her welfare. Give me just a moment.”
Madeline left the parlor, but Adam followed and took hold of her arm. “What happened with Diana?” he whispered. “Did you talk to her?”
She saw the hope in his eyes again, and could not bear to look at him. She lowered her gaze. “I did, Adam. Nothing has changed.”
Adam let go of her arm and dropped his hand to the side. His dark eyes narrowed and hardened. She felt as if she had failed him.
“Right,” he said with disappointment. “Thank you for trying at least. Go now. Go and be with your sister.”
He returned to join the lieutenant-governor in the parlor.
Fighting tears, Madeline picked up her skirts and walked slowly up the stairs to Diana’s bedchamber.
* * *
Two days later, after Lord Blackthorne had spent the better part of each afternoon and evening talking to Diana, she surprised everyone by asking to take supper downstairs in the dining room.
Hilary spared nothing in preparing her ladyship for dinner. She washed her hair and swept it into a spectacular twist on top of her head, helped her into her best silk gown and draped her in her most exquisite jewels.
Adam carried Diana down, and she sat across from Lord Blackthorne while Madeline and Penelope served the meal. The whole family was present—except for Mary and Jacob, who were now living in their own home—and the conversation was light and full of laughter.
“You still remember nothing from the flood?” Lord Blackthorne asked over dessert, leaning forward with fascination. “Even after Madeline described it all to you again today? What a remarkable situation. Does it trouble you greatly, Lady Thurston?”
Diana raised her wineglass. “No, it is truly the least of my troubles. How can one regret what one cannot remember? To put it simply, I really don’t know what I am missing.”
Lord Blackthorne laughed uproariously. “Oh, what a wit you have, Lady Thurston, and after such an ordeal. I am both dazzled and moved by your courage and fortitude.”
Madeline glanced across the table at Adam. He was watching her. Studying her. She felt exposed, as if he knew every thought she was having—even though for the past two days, they’d barely spoken three words to each other.
In many respects, she was an open book to him now, no matter how hard she tried to keep herself closed off to the world. He knew she was aching from a botched attempt to reconcile with her sister. He also knew that she loved him, but was afraid to give in to it.
She hated that open feeling. It was strange and unfamiliar to her.
Adam slowly blinked and turned his cool gaze away from her. She could see how disappointed he was in the set of his jaw, the way he squeezed his spoon.
Her entire being flooded with sadness and a profound sense of loss. The loss of hope.
Was it too late to hold onto his love? she wondered suddenly, knowing that he was right about so many things. She was afraid, and she was clinging to something that no longer existed. She had tried to reconcile with Diana, and Diana had rejected her.
Was Madeline going to allow that rejection to stop her from finding happiness elsewhere? It was true: Madeline was using duty as an excuse to run from what could be the best thing that ever happened to her.
She gazed with fresh eyes at her sister, and felt as if she were seeing her for the first time.
Diana giggled and gave the viscount a sweet, flirtatious smile.
Madeline felt her own courage and fortitude rising. Perhaps there was still a chance.
After dinner, Adam carried Diana into the parlor, where she entertained everyone with her talents at the pianoforte. Madeline turned the sheet music for her, while Diana sang a ballad and a few old English folk songs, bowing her head appreciatively at the applause after each piece.
Adam then carried her to the sofa, where she sat with Lord Blackthorne, telling him more about her life in England as Lady Thurston, and how she had spent her days there.
From her chair in the corner of the parlor, Madeline noticed Penelope yawn and knew she should take the children upstairs. She collected them and they said goodnight, then she escorted them to the stairs. She stopped, however, when she heard Adam address her from the parlor door.
“You will return?” he asked in a formal tone.
She hesitated a moment, staring into the intense blue eyes that never failed to set her insides afire.
Adam continued to gaze at her, waiting for her answer. Now was the time to act, if she was ever to find her own happiness.
Yes. She would act. She would talk to him tonight. Try to fix things.
A knock rapped at the door. Madeline jumped. Adam seemed startled, too. He moved to answer it.
Madeline waited at the bottom of the stairs to see who had come calling at such a late hour.
As Adam opened the door, the bright light from a lantern momentarily blinded her before she could ascertain that the man at the door was John Metcalf.
Adam cleared his throat. “Hello, John.”
John removed his tricorn hat. “Good evening, Mr. Coates. I know it’s late, but I wonder if I might have a word with Miss Oxley.”
“This isn’t really the best time, John,” Adam said. “As you can see, Lord Blackthorne is here, and—”
“I know you have visitors, sir, and I’m sorry for intruding, but I just couldn’t wait.”
For a long, tense moment, Adam stood in the doorway, barring John from entering, then he finally stepped aside.
John nodded gratefully and entered. His gaze fell upon Madeline at the other end of the hall. She froze there, not sure what she was feeling.
Part of her was annoyed at John for interrupting her moment with Adam, when she was so close to finding her courage. Another part of her was thankful that John had interrupted, for she was not yet as brave as she wanted to be.
Diana and Lord Blackthorne laughed from the parlor, seemingly unaware that anyone had even knocked on the door.
“Miss Oxley, may I have a moment of your time?” John asked.
Madeline looked at Adam questioningly. He gave her a nod that told her she was free to do as she wished.
She whispered to the children to go upstairs and get ready for bed, and that she would be up shortly to say good-night. Then Madeline put one foot in front of the other, slowly moving down the hall to where Adam and John stood side by side, watching her.
“Shall we go sit on the veranda, John?” she suggested.
She noticed Adam’s shoulders rise and fall, and knew that he was worried.
* * *
John sat on the bench outside. “Thank you for seeing me, Miss Oxley. I know it’s not the usual time for a social call, but I needed to come and say my piece, before it was too late.”
“Too late?” she replied. “What is it, John, that holds such urgency?”
He squeezed his hat in his callused hands, took a deep breath and blurted out, “I have come to ask you to marry me.”
Lively music from the pianoforte inside began again, lending a clumsy quality to the already awkward moment.