Against her better judgement, Madelene was intrigued. She sat back down, waiting to hear what excuse Julia would have for her brother. A look of sadness passed over the woman’s face as she told Hugh’s story.
“My brother was married once before. She was his childhood sweetheart, and he loved her to distraction. I was still a young girl when tragedy struck. Almeria died during childbirth, taking the life of their child as well. Soon after, my older brother, Edward, fell from his horse to his death. My parents blamed him for Edward’s death, but deep down inside, I knew that Hugh could have never done such a thing. But I was just a child, no more than eleven. All I knew was one minute I had both my brothers, and then I lost them both. Hugh enrolled himself in the war, and I did not hear from him for five long years. My brother has had to deal with much tragedy in his life, and I imagine that he is afraid of giving his heart to you, only to suffer the same tragedy once more.”
Madelene was stunned. Hugh had been married? No wonder she had sometimes seen such great sadness within him. He had experienced terrible losses, and then to be accused of being his brother’s murderer as well? Her heart reached out to him, compassion making her forgive him for his behaviour towards her. However, her forgiveness did not do anything to lessen the ache in her heart. Hugh will never be able to love me, as I have come to love him. For I do love him – how could I not? I have witnessed the kindness and generosity of his heart, his genuine interest in the lives of those around him. Beneath his hard exterior is a man with a wonderful heart. And to have suffered such tragedy and false accusations? This made her love him all the more, but it was a love that was doomed to fail. He still loves his wife; I could never compete with that. How will I ever measure up to the memory of a wife who he has held close to his heart for so many years? He must have believed that he was being untrue to his wife’s memory by kissing her. Hugh had been remorseful to the point of sorrow, and that hurt her more than anything else. I cannot remain here and look him in the eyes, knowing that whenever he looks at me, he will see his own shame. I cannot do that to him.
“Thank you for sharing this with me, Julia. Now, I must go for I have much to do.”
“But, Madelene –” Julia began.
Madelene held her palm up. “Please, Julia. I need some time to process all of this.”
Julia nodded. “Yes, I understand. But know that I am right here, should you ever need me.”
Madelene smiled and nodded before leaving Julia’s room. She entered her own room, shutting her door firmly. Madelene leaned against her door, feeling the hot pinpricks of tears once again.
“I cannot remain here,” she sobbed. “I just cannot.”
But what of Giles and Maria? They were happy in Scarborough House, who was she to remove them? Besides, Hugh had not managed to discover who they were, and there was a good chance that he would not. Unless someone who knew of them should come to the house.
“Hugh does not surround himself with people of my uncle’s circle.”
But what of the gambling wager for her hand? They had been gambling together then. Madelene did not understand what Hugh had been doing at a gambling house that her uncle frequented, but she was reasonably certain that it was not something that Hugh would typically have done.
“I do not know what brought him to the gambling house that day, or what made him accept my hand as payment for my uncle’s debt, but the Hugh that I know is not a man like that.”
Madelene still needed to figure out what she would do about Maria and Giles. Should she leave them behind, or should she inform them of her plans to leave Scarborough House?
“I cannot leave them behind – they have been with me every step of the way. I will inform them of my plans, and we will make the necessary arrangements to leave. But when?”
Madelene did not want Julia or Hugh to know of her plans to leave. A sudden loud commotion drew her out of her room and to the balustrade. She looked down and saw Nicholson run to the door, opening it to admit a large woman who immediately called out for Hugh.
“Lord Scarborough! Where are you? Come and greet me now, I say.”
Madelene winced at the loud boom of the woman’s voice. Who was this woman? Prescott and Giles came hurrying towards her, Giles grabbing her luggage as Prescott bowed before her.
“Lady Scarborough! We were not aware that you were coming today,” Prescott said.
“Yes, well! I have important matters to discuss with your master. Where is he?”
Hugh appeared from the study, his handsome face frowning.
“I am here, Lady Scarborough.”
The woman turned to him and narrowed her eyes.
“There are matters that I must discuss with you, Lord Scarborough. I’m afraid that it cannot wait.”
“Yes, of course. But perhaps some refreshment before we discuss this important matter? I am sure that you are tired and in need of something light to recover from your long journey.”
Lady Scarborough hesitated. “Yes, perhaps some refreshment will do me good. It has been a most arduous journey.”
Hugh gave a brief nod. “Allow me to accompany you to the drawing room. We can speak in there.”
Madelene crept away from the balustrade. This was her chance to put the first part of her plan into action. She hurried to find Maria, needing to speak with her before she took on the journey back to her uncle’s house. The idea to go to America was no longer possible. Eva had managed to find out from a few trustworthy men at the docks that Lord Allandale was looking for her. Her only option now was to go back to her uncle’s house, ask for forgiveness, and ask them for the money that her father had left for her. Her own small fortune in jewels was significantly less than when she had first come to London, but she did not regret it. Madelene would gladly give the poor all she had if it meant that their lives would be made easier. As it were, many families were no longer living in squalor, others had paid off their debts, and she had even managed to secure a space where mothers could take their children while they worked during the day. Madelene decided to leave much of what was left of her jewels, entrusting them to Nielsen to continue their work with the poor.
“After all, my father left a sizeable fortune with my uncle – surely he would not have touched it?”
Doubt crept in. Her uncle was a gambler, who was to say that he did not take that money and use it for his own devices? If that should be the case, she had one option left to her: to sell her mother’s diamond, ruby, and sapphire encrusted brooch. Together with her shawl, they were the only things that Madelene had taken with her when she had arrived in England.
“If I must, I will sell it. Mama would rather see me safe than hold onto it, I am sure of it.”
Madelene never knew her mother, but her father and Maria had told her many things about her. If there was one thing that they had stressed, it was that her mother had loved her with an everlasting love. Yes, she would sell the brooch if she needed to and secure fare to France for herself and her trusted servants. Although she no longer considered them as just her servants, but as her family.
“And what if they should try to contact the Earl, informing him that I am once again under their authority?”
Then she would merely need to come up with a story that would prevent that. Perhaps the story of the Earl having a tendre for his stable hand should suffice. The very thought sat ill with her, but she would do it. Not even her uncle would enforce a marriage upon her and risk being associated with an Earl that would cause such a scandal if that rumour should ever be released. She had overheard Nicholson speak of it to Mrs Rosely, but little did he know that Mrs Rosely was utterly loyal to Hugh. She had scolded him for saying such a thing, banishing Nicholson from her kitchen.
“But Hugh is no longer my concern.”
It was her hope that she would be gone by tomorrow, and with Hugh’s attention on the surprise appearance of Lady Scarborough, he would not notice her disappearance until it was too late.
Chapter 12
“I need just to go in there, grovel at their feet, and admit that I was wrong. Then I need to send a message to my father, request the rest of my money, and go to France. I cannot go to the docks because Lord Allandale may be watching for me so France may be my only option to escape this country.”
Madelene continued to run the plan through her head, saying it out loud as the stagecoach entered the countryside. The woman looked at her as though she was crazy and tried to move away, but there was nowhere to go to. She settled with looking away, holding her carpet bag closer to her chest. Madelene was positively cramped sitting next to many others who had been squashed in next to her. Many others were hanging onto the outside of the stagecoach, clinging to whatever they could find. Madelene had been lucky to have been able to secure passage from London to Grosvenor House. Giles had been the one to convince the driver to take her, parting with more coins than she believed necessary. The journey was going to be a long one before they reached Grosvenor House, and despite the noise and chaos that surrounded her, Madelene felt herself drift off into sleep.
*****
Magnus was a genius. Pringle had proven himself useless, all but in one area. The man had managed to uncover Madelene’s plans to return to her uncle’s house. This had suited Magnus very well, very well indeed. So well, that he had just arrived at the Huntingtons’ home, days ahead of Madelene. His little bride had taken the stagecoach, and Magnus had ensured that it took longer than usual.
“A few extra coins well spent.”
His arrival was unexpected, but he knew from the information gleaned from his spies that the wife and husband had no particular attachment to their niece. Magnus would have her for the right price, and he was confident that the gold coins he carried with him would satisfy the greedy couple well.
“That is if the fool does not lose it all on the gambling table.”
Magnus hated men who exercised no self-control over themselves, but he would need to be charming and approachable if he hoped to convince them to agree to their niece becoming his wife. His carriage came to stand several feet from the front door, and he eagerly stepped down, not waiting for his steward to assist him. Magnus was eager to set his plan into action, propriety be damned. He strode up to the front door, his steward running behind him to catch up. The door was opened by a man whom he guessed to be the butler.
“Good day, sir,” the man greeted.
“Yes, it is a good day indeed! I wish to speak to Mr Huntington if he is at home.”
“May I ask your name, sir?”
“Allandale, Lord Allandale, Viscount of Carlisle.”
The man’s eyes slightly widened. “Just a moment, sir.”
Magus heard scuffling behind the door before it was flung open to reveal a dishevelled thin man.
“Lord Allandale! To what pleasure do I owe this sudden visit?”
The man was suspicious. Perhaps he believes that I am here to collect a debt – the man owes half of London, after all. But thank goodness Magnus had never been one of the fools who gave Huntington any money.
“I come with wonderful news, my good man. May I enter?”
*****
The Lady Scarborough had retired early yesterday evening, which had worked in Hugh’s favour. He had needed time to digest all that had happened between himself and Madelene. The kiss had been an unexpected action on his part, a move that had surprised him. Hugh was always in control of himself, but it seemed that he lacked control where Madelene was concerned. He had not seen her yet, not that he had looked for her. Hugh had thought it best to give her space before he spoke with her, but he was accustomed to quick flashes of her as she walked the halls of Scarborough House or the grounds surrounding the house. Perhaps she has confined herself to her room, horrified at the liberties I took from her? Granted that she had not protested, but that may have been due to fear of speaking against him, her employer. Hugh loathed himself for what he had done. I have acted no better than the lowest specimen of the earth! Madelene may never trust me again, and I will be solely to blame. He hoped to put things right, to salvage what he could of their friendship. But do not deny that you wish to do it again. The thought entered his mind, unexpected and true. It took the kiss to prove that he was no longer haunted by his past with his late wife. Madelene had brought him life, healing, and joy, and he was free.
“But how does she feel about me?”
Knowing her own feelings towards him was suddenly of great importance. Hugh left his seat in a hurry, intent upon finding Madelene and seeking the answers that he needed. He departed from his study and immediately ran into a determined looking Lady Scarborough. Hugh swallowed a groan.
“Lord Scarborough, just the man I wanted to see. Lead me into your study, young man; we have urgent matters to discuss, and I shall not wait a moment longer.”
Hugh wanted to argue with her, but that would be useless. Best to let the woman say what she needed to say. He held his arm out, and she took it.
“Of course.”
He led her into his study, not surprising him when she took his own chair behind the table. Hugh chose the seat closest to the window, the very chair that Madelene had sat in just hours before. He smiled as he remembered her bare feet tucked in and her face alight with animated chatter.
“I know what has put that smile on your face, and I am telling you that I do not approve.”
Hugh frowned. What can Lady Scarborough know of Madelene?
“I’m afraid that I do not know what you mean, Lady Scarborough.”
“Ha! Do you think me a fool?”
“Not in the slightest–”
“You are carrying on with your stable hand, and don’t you deny it!” she bellowed.
Realisation dawned on him. Nicholson, he must have seen something.
“I would not exactly call it ‘carrying on’, Lady Scarborough.”
She huffed, the motion of her generous cheeks reminding him of a bullfrog.
“So you do not deny it? Despicable! This is not acceptable for the Earl of Scarborough, I tell you, not acceptable at all. What will people say when they discover the tendre you have for the boy? Was it not humiliating enough that Philip, my Philip, went after strange attractions and broke his father’s heart? And now you would do the same? My husband must be rolling in his grave!”
A boy? It seemed that Nicholson had not managed to uncover the whole truth. Hugh decided that he might as well be completely honest with the woman.
“There has been some mistake Lady Scarborough. You see, my stable hand is not a boy, but a young woman.”
“Do you think me such a fool that I would believe such lies?”
Her screeching caused uncomfortable vibrations in his ear, making him rub the inner part.
“I assure you that she is a woman – Madelene Huntington, and I plan to marry her.”
Hugh hoped that Madelene would forgive him for revealing her secret, but he had no other choice. As for the plans to marry her, Hugh was absolutely certain about it. He needed Madelene in his life as he needed air to breathe. Lady Scarborough sat back in the chair, her mouth slack. For a moment, Hugh believed her to have suffered a seizure, but she blinked and closed her mouth.
“I want proof of this Madelene. Bring her to me.”
Hugh stood up. “Of course.”
He left the woman and exited his study. How would he explain to Madelene what he had done? He had not even told her that he knew of her true identity! Hugh hoped that she would not hate him for this, for he could not bear it. He found Catherine coming from the upper floor, a duster in her hand.
A Lady for the Forsaken Earl: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 24
