Hugh handed the letter to her, and she quickly scanned its contents, her brow furrowing the lower down the page she went. After a while, she gave it back to Hugh.
“It’s Turkish, alright, but it seems to be written in a code of some sort. The least that I could gather from it was something about a Silver Wolf bringing shipment to pirates. Does that mean anything to you?”
“I’m afraid that it does, but it is nothing for you to worry about. How is James coming along with his lessons?”
Madelene smiled. “Wonderfully. He truly is an intelligent boy. James can now read a simple text in both English and French, and he recognises the numbers one to one hundred. If you think that he has only been learning this for less than a year, you would see the significance of it.”
Hugh perched himself on the table, picking up a book that Madelene had previously been reading.
“Are you not too old for fairy tales, Maddy?”
“La Belle et la Bete by Madame Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve is a classic. No one is ever too old for classics.”
“But it is a children’s story, is it not?”
“Certainly not! What does a child understand of true love? The love of a daughter, willing to sacrifice her life for her father, seeing through the exterior of a man to love the person on the inside. It is a story of love, sacrifice, and redemption. A child is far too young to understand such concepts.”
Hugh looked at her carefully. “Would you say that you identify yourself with the heroine of the story?”
Madelene thought about it. She would gladly lay her life down for her father, and she had never been concerned about physical features, but the character of the man.
“Yes, I would say so. The heroine is an intelligent woman, beautiful, but with character. Certainly not a simpering fool.”
Hugh stared deep into her eyes. “Would you be able to love a beast, Maddy? A man in need of redemption?”
Madelene had to watch herself. She could easily fall into those grey eyes and never come back. Just answer the question, Madelene, never mind your feelings.
“What would the man have done to be in need of redemption? Looks fade, My Lord, but a man’s character carries him throughout his life. If the beast is a man who gives of himself, who stands for what he believes in no matter the opposition, and can stand fiery trials, then I believe that I would love that man. It would be difficult not to.”
Hugh’s quick smile caught her breath. Breathe, Madelene, breathe. You are being quite ridiculous! This is the Earl, for goodness sake.
“That is a good answer, Maddy. Now, I must be going – I have pressing matters to attend to in town. Will you be available this evening?”
“As always, My Lord.”
His smile widened. “Excellent. I will not make it for dinner, but I will not miss our evening conversation. Good day, Maddy.”
“Good day, My Lord.”
Madelene waited for the Earl to leave before getting up. Her legs felt strangely weak, and her heart was still racing. What did he mean by asking her those questions? Did he consider himself to be the beast?
“No, you are wrong, Madelene. He was simply asking questions; he is like that. Always asking, always seeking.”
However, it was growing harder to ignore that there seemed to be something building between the Earl and herself, and Maria had also seen it. There was seldom a day that went past that the Earl did not seek her company. Often he would come down to the stables, helping her brush the horses while he asked her various questions. Hugh insisted that she sit down to dinner with him whenever he was available, but she had agreed on the condition that James joined them as well. Being near his uncle had done him good, and she could see that Hugh was beginning to warm up to the boy, but there was a long way to go before Hugh felt comfortable enough to show him some affection. Often, Madelene would catch the Earl looking at her with the strangest of expressions, but no sooner would she look his way than he would turn away from her.
“I could not possibly be falling for the Earl! No, that is not an option. I simply value his company and opinions. He is a generous and kind man; why would I not appreciate such traits?”
Madelene refused to consider any romantic feelings for the Earl. She was still intent on leaving for America, but it was taking longer than expected. But she was going to go; she was sure of it. Madelene had to be sure, or she was in trouble.
*****
Lady Scarborough, the previous Countess of Scarborough, was not a woman who had patience.
“Hugh needs to do right by his title and produce an heir – he is not getting any younger! And I am not getting any younger myself. I wish to see grandchildren before I am too old to carry them! He has been Earl for nearly two years, and there has not been a word of a suitable match.”
She drummed her heavily jewelled fingers on the tabletop, thinking of the conversation she had had with Lady Fairweather just last week. The woman had boasted of her grandchildren, throwing the fact that she, Lady Scarborough, had none to bounce on her knee.
“How dare she speak to me like that! The nerve of that woman! If only my Philip had not broken my heart with his choice of lover. What is a mother to do when her only son favours the attentions of his own gender? What hope is there of any grandchildren?”
Lady Scarborough pulled a handkerchief from her heaving bosom drying the little tears that pooled in the corners of her eyes. It had been a terrible scandal when Philip had eloped with that officer. Such a thing was simply unheard of. And for it to happen to her! Oh, the shame! But her husband had not given up on finding an heir, choosing the second son of his brother. Hugh was as good as her child, and he had an obligation to provide her with grandbabies. She needed to know how far along he was in the search for a wife.
“Nicholson!” she yelled.
Her voice was shrill, a high-pitched sound that could be heard throughout Pemberley Manor. Her butler came running into the drawing room, slightly out of breath.
“You called, My Lady?”
“Yes. I need you to bring my stationery to me – I wish to write a letter to my son.”
“Philip, My Lady?”
“No! Of course not! To Hugh, you fool. What have I to do with Philip? He has broken my heart and shamed me. He is not the child of my womb, but he is my child by title. Go, hurry along and fetch my stationery.”
Nicholson ran out of the room, returning moments later with her ladyship’s stationery.
“Good. Now, wait right here while I write this letter. You will send it with the postmaster, and in three days you will leave for London. I have heard of strange stories surrounding Scarborough House, and I need you to get to the bottom of it. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, My Lady.”
“Good.”
Lady Scarborough bent over her writing pad, squinting as she wrote the letter. She truly should wear her glasses, but she believed that she looked horrendous in them. Better to strain her eyes than appear ugly. The message was brief, not detailing any of the rumours she had heard. A so-called friend had dropped the hint that perhaps the present Earl of Scarborough may have a tendre for his own stable hand. It was of course ludicrous. Hugh had been married before, and Lady Scarborough could not see him leaving the arms of a woman to fall into those of a man. It made no logical sense to her mature mind. No, that friend must have been trying to get a rise out of her, which she nearly succeeded in doing, but Lady Scarborough was nothing but a lady of the highest regard. She would not stoop to bickering and the throwing of harsh comments. However, she needed to find out, just in case there indeed was some truth to the rumour. Satisfied with the letter, she sealed it with the Scarborough crest and handed it to Nicholson.
“See that it reaches the Postmaster today.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
Nicholson ran out the door once more, his coattails flapping behind him. She could trust him to get to the bottom of whatever was going on in London. Lady Scarborough was willing to make the ar
duous trip to London if she had to, even if it was during Season.
*****
Hugh stared at the letter, shocked at its contents. Lady Scarborough was sending a servant to find out about his well-being. That was code for snooping. She was sending her servant to Scarborough House to see what he was up to.
“This is the last thing I need! Why is that woman meddling again?”
She was no doubt sending Nicholson, her butler, to do the dirty job. The man was like a hound dog when it came to sniffing out the truth. And what of Maddy? She would need to remain at the stables to avoid discovery and keep away from the boy until Nicholson left. Who knew what his nephew might reveal in the presence of a stranger? Not that Hugh believed that James would purposefully do so, but a child was just a child at the end of the day. Maddy clearly did not want people knowing who she was, and should her true form be discovered, it would surely set tongues wagging. Who would believe that she was James’ governess and not his mistress? She was far too beautiful for people not to take notice of and assume the worst. Hugh had a reputation for being a rake, and yet he was far from it. It was Jasper, his friend, who owned that title. Hugh supposed that he was a rake by association and not by deed. If Nicholson were to relate to his mistress that Hugh had a beautiful woman living under his roof, his aunt would be at Scarborough house in little time.
“She will remain in the stables for the duration of Nicholson’s stay. All of James’ lessons will need to be postponed until that sneaky butler leaves.”
But what if Lady Scarborough intends to match him to a woman she believes is suitable? It would not be the first time. Last year’s Season had seen a forced Hugh attending numerous balls and being stared at by countless young women and their mothers. Some were mortified that a rake such as him should be near any of their darling daughters, and others seemed to find him exciting. Hugh had found it all rather tedious and draining. This year’s Season was nearing an end, and Hugh had not attended a ball.
“I would lief burn my hands with fire than be put through that rubbish.”
Besides, he had found the best company in the form of his very own employee. Maddy certainly had brought colour to his life, and Hugh believed that he may be growing certain feelings for the young woman. But how did she feel about him?
“It is best that you put all notions of romantic feelings out of your mind, or you may end up hurt again. Almeria may be dead these past seven years, but her betrayal lives on. Forget Maddy.”
But would he be able to? Hugh would find thoughts of her creeping into his mind at all times of the day. Her smile, her voice, her eyes – everything about her seemed to be engraved upon his memory. Perhaps it was best that he kept his distance from her. However, Hugh already knew that it would not be easy to do so. He folded the letter and placed it in his drawer, already dreading the butler’s arrival.
*****
Lord Allandale was livid. He swept the papers off his desk, knocking down the bottle of rum that he had just consumed. I should have had her by now! She should be my wife! Instead, she is hidden behind that insipid Earl’s walls, far from my reach. He stood up when a head peeked around his door.
“My Lord? You called for me?”
Magnus narrowed his eyes at the man. I should just do away with the man. Why have I continued to suffer his failures?
“Yes, Pringle, take a seat.”
The man picked his way around the scattered papers and broken pieces of glass. When he eventually sat down, Magnus returned to his own seat. He had a pistol in his drawer, one accurate shot, and he could rid himself of another useless fool.
“How is my wife-to-be, Pringle? You have neglected to inform me of her whereabouts for quite some time.”
The man squirmed under his gaze, his eyes looking everywhere else but at him.
“My Lord, I’m afraid that there is not much to tell. She rarely leaves the house, and when she does, she is always accompanied by one of the male servants. I am having a hard time getting close to her.”
“Excuses! Nothing but excuses! Tell me why I should not just do away with you right now?”
Pringle’s eyes widened. “I am a useful man, My Lord. I am the only one with access to the house. If you should decide to do away with me, then you lose your eyes and ears in Lord Scarborough’s house.”
What the man said was true enough. Magnus stretched his neck, hearing the little cracks as he bent to each side. He had spent far too much time in London already, but he could not leave until Madelene was at his side as his wife.
“I need you to do something about this problem, Pringle. My next shipment should have left several months ago. Do you know what that means?”
The man shook his head. What did this man know? He was just a simple criminal.
“It means that I am losing money, and you know how I hate to do that.”
Magnus watched as Pringle took a hard swallow. Good, be frightened.
“My Lord, perhaps if you were to leave for the time being, and return once the next shipment was delivered ...”
The man’s words trailed off into silence as he watched the pistol being taken out of the drawer.
“Need I say more, Pringle? I do not want any more failures, do you hear me? I will not leave London until Madelene is with me. Now, you know that I do not make idle threats.”
Pringle nodded. “Yes, My Lord. I fully understand. I will bring her to you.”
Magnus could nearly taste the man’s fear. He enjoyed striking fear into the hearts of those around him, relished it. Of course, there were those that tried to be brave by coming up against him, but Magnus usually just did away with them. He had quite the reputation, and it pleased him. Magnus lived a good life, but it was incomplete. This was where the beautiful Madelene came in. He had to have her; it was as simple as that. Cardross had been a fool to think that hiding his daughter would keep her safe from him; on the contrary, it had made him only more determined to make her his.
“I do like a challenge.”
*****
Nicholson arrived at Scarborough House in low spirits. His woman had just left him, and now he was in London, instead of staying at home to try and win her back.
“It’s that old hag, Lady Scarborough. If she weren’t so meddlesome, I would be at home, winning Lacy back.”
But he shouldn’t complain. Better to be working than living on the streets again. Nicholson had been working for Lady Scarborough for little over ten years now, first as her messenger, and when her butler, the old geezer, Theodore, had kicked the bucket, she had put twenty-eight-year-old Nicholson in his place. The position had come with a suit, a better salary, good lodging, and free access in the house. But it had also come with the old crone, who couldn’t stop sticking her nose in other people’s business. Lady Scarborough has taken advantage of his young and spritely frame and sent him on crazy errands that had him sneaking into houses, spying on people, and acquiring illegal items at the docks. Nothing too hectic, mainly artefacts that should not have entered the English docks.
“And now here I am, about to spy on some other poor unsuspecting folks. This had better be successful, or the loss of a warm bed mate will be far worse than it already is.”
Nicholson peeped out of the window, relieved to see the gates of Scarborough House. He hoped that they had good refreshments waiting for him, but knowing the Earl, he couldn’t be so sure. Lord Scarborough had made it evident from his previous visits that he did not like him, which Nicholson understood. What man appreciated a spy unless the spy worked for him? Moments later, he had arrived at the Earl’s front door and been greeted by a large man that he did not recognise.
A Lady for the Forsaken Earl: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 21
