Chapter 2
Chapter Two
“Where is Father?” Nerissa’s voice cracked from the nerves that were surely pouring through her body. “Madeline? He should be here.”
Madeline did not respond to her sister’s fair question.
She paced the drawing room like a hurricane bent on destruction. As worried as her sister was surely feeling, Madeline was certain that her own sense of panic was beyond even that.
No… not panic. Resolve! My father might think that this deal is done, but we shall see. Nothing is done until it is done, and Lord Ellingham is about to learn this the hard way.
“Madeline? Should I send for Father?” Nerissa asked. “He really ought to be here.”
It was two days following their father’s announcement and as was promised, the Marquess of Ellingham was on his way to visit his future bride and confirm the particulars of their pending marriage.
In his mind, it was surely a routine visit, and he likely expected nothing to go awry. Madeline had other plans…
In the two days that proceeded that most awful evening, Madeline had explained to her sister who the Marquess was and why she could not marry him.
And while Nerissa was determined to be the good daughter and do as she was told, she struggled to pair this side of herself with the terrible things that she learned.
What was more, Madeline was all but certain that once Nerissa met the Marquess, she would agree wholly with Madeline: that she could not marry him.
“Perhaps I should send for him?” Nerissa said again. “He cannot be far –”
“Will you forget about Father!” Madeline snapped before she could help herself.
Nerissa gasped and leaned back… and then her chin began to wobble.
“Oh, I am sorry, Nerissa.” Madeline swept to her sister, sat down on the same couch, and put an arm around her shoulder. “I did not mean to snap. Not at you.”
“It is fine…” She sniffed back tears.
“It is not,” she said. “Father is who deserves my rage. And he will get it. That, I promise you.”
Typically, their father was nowhere to be found. It was just like him, organizing something of this magnitude, and then failing to be there when it came to a head. He truly was hopeless!
In this, Madeline chose to see the positive. Without him here, it would give her a better chance to talk the Marquess out of this marriage, possibly even scare him away if that was what it took.
“It will be fine,” she soothed Nerissa. “I promise I will not let anything happen to you.”
“Perhaps the Marquess won’t be so bad?” she asked hopefully. “Perhaps… what if what you have heard is exaggerated? Surely, Father would not set me up with a man who he did not think was right for me?”
It had always been so strange to Madaline how different she and Nerissa were.
Physically, they could have been twins. They both had the same dark hair and piercing green eyes.
They both had the same tall bodies, slim in the waist, but curvaceous at the hips.
And they both had the same long nose, just a touch too big for their faces.
That was where the similarities stopped. Her sister was an innocent, she needed Madeline to protect her, and that was what she would do. No matter the cost.
“Maybe.” Madeline squeezed Nerissa’s hand in support, needing her sister to be strong.
It was five minutes later when Lord Ellingham arrived.
Madeline was still sitting with her sister, squeezing her hand and holding her close, when the door popped open.
Madeline expected a footman to announce the lord’s arrival, as was proper, but he simply strolled into the room as if he owned the place.
“Ah, there she is.” He swept across the room and made straight for Nerissa.
“The apple of my eye, my bride to be, and the center of all things good in this world.” He reached where the two sisters sat together, snatched Nerissa’s hand, and brought it to his lips. “It is so good to finally meet you.”
It did not escape Madeline’s notice that not once did Lord Ellingham so much as look at her.
In fact, he all but pushed her away as he held onto Nerissa’s hand, forcing Madeline to lean back.
And he continued to ignore her long after Nerissa’s hand left his lips because his eyes locked onto Nerissa’s and refused to let go.
Madeline had seen Lord Ellingham before, but not this up close.
He was a tall and lithe fellow, the type with long features and gangly limbs.
Blonde of hair, pale skin, and blue eyes that were a little too close together.
And although he was not ugly or off-putting…
there was something not quite right about him.
Something that made Madeline’s skin crawl.
“Lord Ellingham…” Madeline cleared her throat. “My name is Lady Madeline Bennet, and it is nice to meet you.” She held her hand out for him to take.
He eyed the hand and his lip curled. “Yes, lovely to meet you.”
“Sadly, our father is not here, but I am sure that he will be shortly. Until then, might we –”
“It is no matter.” He dropped Nerissa’s hand and took a step back. Then he turned to observe the drawing room, wearing a look that suggested he found the room not to his liking. “I am not here for your father, girl. Besides, the particulars of this arrangement have already been agreed upon.”
“Then why are you here?”
He turned and his smile was all teeth. “To see my prize, of course.”
Beside her, Nerissa turned stiff.
Madeline narrowed her eyes at Lord Ellingham, and she did not care how it might be perceived. He had walked into this room with a haughty nature, and the way he had acted since confirmed everything that she knew of him.
It might be too early to say, but I fear that this is only the tip of the mountain and the more we get to know this creature, the worse he will become. If such a thing is even possible!
“Your prize?” Madeline stood up. Nerissa went to do the same, but she indicated for her to remain seated.
“A figure of speech, I assure you,” He chuckled. “I had heard that Lady Nerissa was a great beauty, and I wished to see for myself.” He looked at Nerissa and his smile was devilish and wicked and hungry. “For once, I am pleased to see that rumors are correct in their telling.”
“And if she was not a great beauty?” Madeline said darkly. “My sister is more than…” She sneered. “She is more than a trophy to be purchased.”
Lord Ellingham chuckled. “Is that so?”
“It is.”
“Madeline…” Nerissa spoke from behind, her voice cracking.
“I do not know what my father has promised you, or what you have promised him, but I am here to tell you that this so-called arrangement is far from certain.”
Madeline’s cantankerous attitude only amused Lord Ellingham further. “I can see why your father offered Lady Nerissa as my bride and not yourself.” He snorted. “He might not be the sharpest of individuals, but in this he was wise.”
“What did my father promise you?” Madeline demanded.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard what I asked.” She stood up to him, her glare fixed and rueful. “What did he promise in return for my sister’s hand? What is it that you want?”
“That is between your father and I.” He waved her away. “Now, sit down girl. I did not come here to explain myself to you.”
“Too bad, because that is exactly what –"
“Sorry I am late!” Her father blew into the room suddenly and when he saw the snooty lord his eyes widened. “Lord Ellingham! Please forgive me tardiness!” He rushed for the Marquess, hands extended. Lord Ellingham smirked at Madeline before turning to greet her father.
“Not at all,” he purred as he took his hands. “I was just acquainting myself with your daughters. Fire and ice incarnate.”
Her father grimaced and then flashed a warning glare at Madeline. “Ignore my eldest. She is… enthusiastic.”
Lord Ellingham chuckled. “Nothing I cannot handle, I assure you. Besides, I am not here for her…” He smirked and licked his lips. “It is Lady Nerissa who has captured me and as promised by you, she is a special creature.”
Again, Madeline saw Nerissa stiffen, and a tiny gasp escaped her lips.
“Is she not?” their father said with pride. “A true beauty who will make a fine wife.”
“She will do nicely. All things considered, I could not be more pleased. And what is good for me is even better for you.”
Madeline watched the interaction closely, glaring as she did so – wanting her father and Lord Ellingham to see it.
She had suspected that a deal was struck between her father and the Marquess, a reason that this marriage was going ahead as quickly as it was.
But as to what that deal might be… she could only guess.
Likely, it was for status. Her father wanted to marry his daughters to the best possible candidate in the ton, and a marquess was certainly that. This made her wonder further about Lord Ellingham… what on earth did her father offer him?
Frustratingly, with her father there now, Madeline was unable to intercept and ask more questions.
Not only did she want to find out what the Marquess was getting out of this marriage, but she wanted to dissuade him from it entirely.
Even if doing so meant that she would need to be rather rude… likely, I will have to scare him away.
Her chance came soon after.
Her father spent much of this short meeting speaking praise of Nerissa, while Nerissa sat in a state of stunned silence. Her eyes were wide, fear raced behind them, and her body trembled in a way that told Madeline that she had no desire whatsoever to marry Lord Ellingham.
When the meeting finished, her father suggested that Nerissa walk Lord Ellingham to the door so that they might have some time alone, and Madeline saw her chance.
“I’ll do it!” She stepped in front of her sister.
“Madeline…” Her father sighed. “It would be best if your sister –”
“I said I will do it, Father.” She eyed her father. “Nerissa is tired, and she trusts me. Don’t you, Nerissa.”
“Y – yes,” Nerissa agreed with a sense of desperation. “I… thank you, Madeline.”