Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
“ M adeline!” The Marchioness of Ollerton’s voice was as cutting as glass. “You are away with the fairies. Your food is congealing on your plate, Daughter.”
Maddie jumped a little in her chair, almost dropping her fork, as if she had been caught in a private act. In fact, she had been indulging in a private act: daydreaming about the impossibly dashing and handsome man she had collided with in Hyde Park that very day.
She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him ever since she had returned home—he had been constantly on her mind. She had barely concentrated during her pianoforte lesson, which had earned her a sharp rebuke from Mr. Farquar, her tutor.
As soon as she could, she escaped to the privacy of her bedroom, languishing on her bed, indulging in the memory of the brief encounter. But, as always, she had been forced out of her solitude to attend dinner with the family. And now, it seemed she could barely eat… and her mother was noticing her distraction.
“I apologize, Mama,” she uttered, trying to sound chastened. “But you do know that I have never been overly fond of venison pie.”
Her mother gave her a sharp look. “However, you are fond of artichoke soup, and you barely touched the first course either.” She sighed dramatically. “Now that I think about it, you have been in a singular mood ever since you returned from promenading in Hyde Park. Mr. Farquar remarked that you were particularly absent-minded during your lesson as well.”
Maddie played with her fork, twisting it in her hand. “You should dismiss Mr. Farquar,” she said, wondering if she could distract her mother successfully. “The lessons are a waste of time. I will never be proficient in the pianoforte. We all know that Augusta is the only musical talent in the family!”
“Maddie, you are too harsh on yourself.” Her father’s eyes softened as he gazed at her. She knew she had always been his secret favorite. “You play well, my dear child, and will only improve with practice.”
“A lady’s education is woeful,” Augusta declared crisply, weighing into the conversation. “Maddie should be proficient in languages, mathematics, and literature, the same as a gentleman. Instead, all we do is endlessly practice an instrument, learn to dance, and embroider. It is a travesty.”
There was an awkward silence. Lord Ollerton looked dumbfounded, staring at his oldest daughter as if he couldn’t quite fathom what kind of creature she was at all.
Lady Ollerton rolled her eyes, not even trying to disguise it. She never hid her irritation when Augusta went on her bluestocking tirades.
“Be that as it may, Daughter,” she gritted out, “we pay good coin for your sister’s pianoforte lessons, and at the very least, Madeline needs to be conscious of that fact and respect her tutor’s time and dedication.”
“Perhaps you should ask Maddie what she wishes to do with her time,” Augusta countered tartly. “If she studied something she was actually interested in and found useful, there might be a better outcome all around. Instead, you treat her as if she is a puppet and you are the puppeteer, pulling her strings as you see fit.” There was a loud clatter as she dropped her fork, quite deliberately, onto her plate.
Lady Ollerton glared at her. “He who pays the piper calls the tune,” she said, her mouth curling. “That is something that you would do well to remember, Augusta. You are a dependent in this household. And it is high time you started to earn your keep.”
Augusta’s green eyes were shooting daggers now. Maddie shifted uncomfortably in her chair.
The battles between her older sister and their mother were becoming more pronounced and virulent. All that Lady Ollerton wanted was obedient daughters, and Augusta was quite determined to rock the boat, as vigorously and as often as she could.
“How can I earn my keep?” Augusta asked in a deceptively calm voice. “You refused to educate me properly, so I cannot earn a living in any way commensurate with my talents. I am forced to be a dependent in this household.”
“You should be married by now, Augusta,” their mother hissed. “You should be running your own household. You are five-and-twenty and far too old to be living as a dependent in your family’s home. If you would only accept this, and put your mind to finding a suitable husband, then you would not need to listen to a thing I say any longer, would you?”
Augusta’s nostrils flared. “It is unacceptable that marriage is the only option for a lady—or any woman, for that matter! I refuse to be cowed in this manner!”
Maddie felt the dull throb of a headache coming upon her. It seemed that every family meal ended this way, nowadays, with her sister and mother locking horns, while her father and herself looked on helplessly. The older two women were the dominant personalities in the household. And her mother was right on at least one thing: there could only be one mistress in this family. There was no way she would stand being challenged like this forever.
Lady Ollerton pursed her lips. “I have given you every opportunity to secure a suitable husband for yourself, Augusta. But my patience is over. I am making it my mission to find you a husband… and Madeline knows that she will not escape the executioner’s sword either if she does not procure herself one as well… sooner rather than later.” She swiveled her head around to Maddie, giving her a hard look.
Maddie stood up, feeling pained, throwing her napkin on the table. “May I be excused?”
“If you wish,” Lord Ollerton said, gazing at her sadly with large owl eyes. Dear Papa . He was losing his only ally. “You look pale, Maddie. You should rest.”
Maddie smiled at him, before leaving the room. Her attempt at distracting the Marchioness had been successful, but there had been a price to pay, as always. Augusta just couldn’t seem to help herself, always making such bold and provocative statements. It was as if she were trying to lure their mother into battle.
As she made her way upstairs to the sanctuary of her chambers, Maddie knew that Augusta had overplayed her hand, at long last. Their mother was determined to marry her off quickly and would brook no further argument on the matter. Augusta was going to be saddled with a husband she neither desired nor would be able to tolerate.
And that will be my fate as well if I do not find a suitable match of my own.
Maddie entered her chambers, at last. Jane had already tidied up and lit the candle. All she needed to do was call her lady’s maid to help her undress for the night and crawl into bed. She couldn’t face the thought of joining the others in the parlor after dinner for games or reading or whatever else. Not when her mother and Augusta were locked in such a fierce battle.
But she didn’t call Jane. Instead, she sat down at her desk by the window, dropping her face in her hands, dreaming about the devilishly handsome gentleman she had encountered in Hyde Park once again.
He was tall and had an exceedingly fine physique, broad-shouldered and muscular, with thick dark hair, curling around the collar of his jacket. And his skin was darkened by the sun as if he had been residing somewhere with a more temperate climate than England. The Continent, perhaps? Magical Spain, or far-flung romantic Greece?
The darkness of his complexion had contrasted dramatically with those piercing grey eyes that she could still vividly see in her mind’s eye…
Maddie felt another wave of heat engulf her. Who could he possibly be? She had never seen him at any London event, and she had been to so many over the past three Seasons. He had been very well dressed, in fine clothing, but he wasn’t a typical foppish dandy. Very far from it.
In fact, the dark-haired gentleman was the most masculine man Maddie had ever beheld. He exuded a raw energy, which might be quite alarming if it wasn’t so very arousing.
She eyed the book on the desk—the one that contained her saucy list. The list that had so shocked and titillated Selina. She had stuffed it hastily into the book after her friend had left her, and in the shock of the encounter with the handsome gentleman, she hadn’t given it the slightest thought since. Perhaps she could add finding out his name on it?
She picked up the book, thumbing through the pages. She frowned, then thumbed through the pages again. Her heart clenched, and her breaths came out in short, sharp gasps.
The list wasn’t there. It was gone.
A cold wind swept through her. It wasn’t possible. Once more, she searched the book, trying not to drop it in her panic. But it was clear, the list wasn’t nestled within its pages, as it should be. It had vanished entirely.
Oh, dear Lord , it must have slipped out. Perhaps when the gentleman collided with me. And I tried so hard not to drop the book!
She stood up hastily, her heart racing. If anyone found that list and somehow worked out who had written it… well, she would be doomed. She needed Selina’s help, and she needed it right this minute!
“Jane,” she called, grabbing a cloak quickly. “Jane!”
The lady’s maid appeared, staring at her boggle-eyed. “Milady?”
“Come along,” Maddie said in a breathless voice. “We are going to the Huxleys’ residence. You go and rouse the coachman while I tell my family.”
Jane nodded quickly, knowing better than to question her.
Maddie flew down the staircase, with the lady’s maid hot on her heels. She burst into the dining room. Dessert was just being served. Her family all turned to stare at her, looking surprised.
“I am calling on Selina,” she panted.
“But… why?” her father asked, frowning, looking bewildered. “The evening is growing late, Maddie.”
“I… I forgot a book,” Maddie lied, flushing. “And I need it. I will bring Jane. I promise I will not be long.”
She flew out of the room before they could question her any further.
Jane was waiting for her at the front of the house, near the carriage, as arranged. A footman helped her into it, and then they were off, hurtling through the dark London streets towards Selina’s home in fashionable Grosvenor Square.
Maddie gazed out the carriage window in despair, watching the gas streetlights sputtering furiously. It was so dark that she could barely make out the buildings. She absolutely must find that list, but she had no idea how it was even possible.
She could have lost it anywhere in Hyde Park. She berated herself soundly for her foolishness in even bringing it outside the house. How could she have done such a stupid thing?
Selina will know what to do . She always knows what to do.
The trip seemed to take forever, but in reality, it was only a few streets away. She counted herself lucky that she and her friend were both living in Mayfair. As the carriage drew up in front of the tall, grand house in Grosvenor Square, her friend’s London residence, Maddie started to open the carriage door, even before the wheels had stopped turning.
Bronson, the Huxleys’ butler, looked surprised and a bit disgruntled when he finally opened the door. Clearly, he wasn’t expecting any callers this evening. But he knew her well and didn’t make a fuss when she insisted on entering the house, striding into the grand foyer as if the very hounds of hell were on her tail.
“Stay here and wait for me, Jane,” she barked at her lady’s maid. She then turned to the butler. “I will find my own way, Bronson. I know where Selina will be!”
The butler looked a little startled but didn’t protest.
Maddie knew he was used to them coming in and out of the house on a whim. And she did know exactly where Selina would be. At this hour, her dear friend would have sought escape from the claustrophobic dining room and be curled up reading in the study—as well as sneaking a half glass of brandy, for good measure, if the occasion demanded it.
There was no one about in the long hall as Maddie made her way towards the study, flinging back the hood of her cloak so she could see better.
She flung open the study door, letting out a sigh of relief. It seemed her friend hadn’t disappointed and was indeed doing exactly as Maddie suspected she would be doing—sitting in the chair behind the desk, even though the chair was swiveled around, enshrouding Selina in darkness.
There was only one candle burning on the desk, so it was very difficult to see, but Maddie could clearly make out the brandy decanter on the drinks cabinet, top off, with a glass beside it.
Clearly, the occasion had demanded a little liquid entertainment.
“Why is it so dark in here?” she demanded, closing the door firmly. “Never mind! Oh, Selina, I am in a dither! You will never guess what has happened!”
Maddie barely drew in breath. She was so flustered that she couldn’t help spilling it all out to her friend, right this minute. She had no idea how long they would be able to talk privately— someone might come and interrupt them. And she had promised her family that she wouldn’t be long. Her mama would probably send out the Watch to look for her if she overstayed.
“I lost the list!” she cried, her heart skipping a beat. “It must have slipped out of the book in Hyde Park! Oh, Selina, if anyone recognizes my handwriting, I am surely doomed! My mother shall kill me or marry me off to some old baron in the countryside before I can draw breath, or something else equally horrendous.” She managed to gulp some air. “I must find it! You must help me!”
Selina was oddly silent.
Maddie frowned. She simply didn’t have time for games.
“Do you have any ideas?” she entreated, her heart skipping a beat again. “Any at all?”
On tenterhooks, she waited for a response. Any response.
Irritated, she was just about to entreat Selina again. What was wrong with her?
“Oh, you would be surprised by the ideas I have, My Lady,” a deep, masculine voice responded, sounding amused.
Maddie’s heart hit the ground with a thud. She didn’t know who was sitting in that chair, but it decidedly wasn’t her best friend.