by Wendy Vella
She had not told her mother the entire truth about where she was to go, as she would have been forbidden from leaving the house. Maddie knew she would be in a huge amount of trouble were the truth to ever come out, but the risk was worth it. This was something she needed to do.
“She’ll find out one day, Miss Spencer.”
“But not today, Penny,” Maddie told her maid, who sat across from her wrapped up warmly in her winter coat.
On her second day in London, Maddie had stumbled across a young girl lying in a doorway. Blind, she’d been huddled in a tight ball attempting to escape the cold. That girl’s name had been Hetty. Everything had changed for Maddie from that moment on.
“But what can be done for the people in Spoke House if they must leave, Miss Spencer?”
“I’m unsure as yet, Penny, but I will think of something,” Maddie said hoping she was right.
Spoke House was in Spitalfields, where Hetty lived. A run-down old house where children went when they had nowhere else to run to. Often only a few were there when Maddie arrived, but some days there were as many as twenty.
The problem they were now facing was that the landlord had given them an eviction notice, and Maddie had little time to find an alternative arrangement for the children before she left London.
“It is sickening to think that house will become a brothel.” Penny shuddered.
“I won’t let them be evicted without a fight,” Maddie said. There had to be something she could do.
Maddie had found this piece of information out through the man who looked after the property for her.
“Come, Penny, we cannot dwell on that at the moment. We have lessons to give,” Maddie said as the carriage pulled up outside what had once been a grand old house. James opened the door for her.
“Bring the hampers, please, James.” The footman nodded.
She’d had to sneak those out, paying more servants to keep silent, and Mrs. Fitch, her mother’s cook, for the leftovers she often contributed.
All around them were buildings in various sizes. Smoke billowed from some chimneys, others had broken windows and missing boards. People scurried about on the filthy streets trying to get out of the cold. The once prosperous Spitalfields was now a desperate place that housed people of dire circumstance. It was many miles in both distance and circumstance from where she lived in Mayfair.
“This place is dreary,” Penny said. “Thick black dust and dirt is everywhere. Have a care where you step, Miss Spencer.”
“Yes. We are the lucky ones, living in the luxury we do.”
Walking across the road, she had nearly reached her destination when she heard the clip-clop of hooves. Of course, there was nothing unusual in that, but Maddie, who was inherently nosy, had to look.
Her eyes found the tall, erect form of Lord Lockhart. She quickly looked away.
What is he doing in such a place?
She doubted he had seen her, and even if he did, he would not be stopping. He wouldn’t give a fig that she was here in Spitalfields.
The old Gabe would have. He’d cared about everything she’d said and done.
Maddie hurried in through the doors of a building and out of the bitterly cold day.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the sweet little do-gooder.”
Maddie didn’t hate many people in the world, but this man was an exception.
“You’ll leave here at once and not approach my mistress again, Blackley.” James moved to her side.
Frank Blackley. Local thug who believed he and his family controlled this area of Spitalfields. She avoided him where possible, but that was not always the case.
“You are trespassing, Mr. Blackley,” Maddie said.
“I want payment for you being here. The others pay, you should be no different.”
Maddie’s fingers itched to slap the smug smile off his face. Loathsome beast.
“Leave now,” James said in a menacing tone that made Maddie relieved her mother had insisted he accompany her.
“I have told you, you will receive no money from me, Mr. Blackley. I am not intimidated by the likes of you, nor do I live in this area. I am immune to your brand of intimidation and blackmail.” Maddie kept her voice calm.
His eyes narrowed and he leaned closer. James pushed him roughly back. He didn’t retreat far.
“Oh, you’ll pay all right, don’t you worry about that. Remember to look over your shoulder, sweetheart, because I’ll extract that payment when you least expect it.”
“That man is dangerous,” James said, watching him walk from the building. “It’s not safe here for you, Miss Spencer. Next time you’ll need to have both me and Peter with you.”
“He will not harm a nobleman’s daughter,” Maddie said with a confidence she was far from feeling.
“Him and his sort don’t play by the rules you live by, Miss Spencer. Please remember that.”
With her heart still thudding hard inside her chest, Maddie started up the stairs.
The building no longer held traces of the grand place that had once been inhabited by a family many years before.
“It’s icy in here today, Miss Spencer,” Penny said, following.
“It is, and the children will be feeling it.”
Pushing open the door that led into the rooms she’d set up for teaching, she found them all seated in their chairs around a fireplace. They turned and greeted her with genuine enthusiasm. It had taken her many weeks to gain their trust, but now she had it was a wonderful thing. She had just taken a step closer when she heard his voice.
“Madeline? What in God’s name are you doing here?”
Chapter Four
Gabe looked at Madeline, then around the room to the children who were seated watching them.
What the hell is she doing here?
Intrigued after reading the address on that deed of sale last night, he’d decided to ride past today. Gabe had been shocked to see Madeline walking across the road, even considering he’d found her in that office last night.
“Go away, Gabriel; this does not concern you.”
She turned from him and waved the footman, holding two baskets, forward.
He watched as she opened one and began to hand out food.
“Madeline, I insist you answer me.” Gabe moved closer.
“You can insist all you like, but I shall refuse as this is no concern of yours, Lord Lockhart. Now, take your polished boots out of here before they get dirty. This is no place for you.”
“Don’t you dare dismiss me.” Gabe stalked closer.
She straightened, the gentle smile she’d been giving a young girl falling from her face. She shot him a look before addressing the children.
“Penny is to take today’s lesson. I hope you have all been practicing your letters,” she said, her eyes on Gabe.
There was a chorus of yeses, and then the woman with Maddie, presumably Penny, moved to the front of the seats and began to read from a book she held.
Maddie ignored him and went between the children, handing out things from the baskets.
Gabe only had so much patience.
“Maddie,” he said with more force. “I want to speak with you at once.”
“Why are you still here?” She threw him a frustrated look. “Leave, please.”
She looked different today, less... less elegant? Less like the untouchable beauty he’d come to know... or thought he knew.
Dressed in a deep blue velvet cloak, her hair, beneath the matching velvet bonnet, was in a simple bun at her nape, and her boots were a serviceable black leather.
“What are you doing here, is more to the point?” Gabe replied.
“She looks after us,” one of the children said. “She’s our angel, is Miss Spencer.”
She was blind, he realized, her eyes sightless as her head turned his way.
“Maddie loves me.”
“Yes, I do.” Maddie hugged the girl. “Now listen to Penny’s story, Hetty.”
He couldn’t take it in. The obnoxious Miss Spencer here in Spitalfields helping these young children.
I hate that we have so much, Gabe, and some have so little.
He remembered she used to say things like that constantly when they were children.
“Madeline.” He tried to draw her away so he could question her, but she ignored him and shook her arm free.
“Will you just go away please?” Her tone was flat and cold.
“Why are you here?” Gabe countered.
“That is none of your business, Gabriel. Now please leave.”
“Why are you helping these children, Madeline? I demand you answer me.”
“Someone has to,” she snapped, in a tone that the other inhabitants in the room would not overhear.
“But why are you doing this...?” His words fell away as her eyes narrowed.
“Should I perhaps simper and curtsey to them? Play the piano and sing? Oh dear.” She pressed a hand to her lips. “There is no piano here, how will I cope?”
“Maddie, stop now,” Gabe snapped. “I’m merely attempting to understand what is—”
“Or perhaps pat them on the head and hope they do not freeze or starve to death when they walk out into the brutal world they inhabit,” she interrupted him. “You know those twelve days of Christmas our families always looked forward to, Gabriel? The dancing and balls. The boughs of greenery and burning the Yule. Well, these children have no idea of such things. They have rarely if ever known joy or a full stomach. They had no idea there was goodness in this world.”
“So, what? You’re providing them with some goodness? You, a young woman who should know better than to venture into Spitalfields.” Gabe’s anger climbed at the realization of what she was doing. “How can you be so reckless, Madeline? I’m sure your parents—”
“Leave them out of this,” she hissed. “This has nothing to do with them.”
“Because you haven’t told them what you are doing,” Gabe said, knowing he was right when she looked away.
“Just leave, and don’t come back. There is nothing for you here. Go back to your cosseted life, Lord Lockhart.”
“Don’t dismiss me, you little baggage.” He felt the leash on his temper slip. She’d always been able to get a rise out of him with very little effort. “You will allow me some confusion. The woman I have come to know this season—”
“You know nothing of me, nor do I wish you to!”
“I just—”
“I do not want to hear anything you have to say, Gabriel. Why can you not understand that? This,” she waved a hand about, “is something I must do. I have not asked for your help, nor do I want you here. Leave at once.”
“I merely—” Gabe cut himself off and covered her mouth with his hand when she opened it to interrupt him once more.
“If I may actually be allowed to finish a sentence, I will explain that you must admit, this,” he looked at the children, “is not something I would have thought you involved in. Once, but not now.”
She bit him.
“Ouch!”
“Your hand was cold.”
“How? It’s in my glove.” Gabe shook his hand hard to stop the sting of pain.
“Look.” She exhaled slowly through her teeth. “We don’t like each other anymore, so I think it best you forget about anything you have seen, and we can carry on with our lives, avoiding each other.”
“You think I can simply walk away and leave you here? Carry on with my day as if this has not occurred?” Gabe couldn’t believe she thought him capable of that.
“Of course you can,” she scoffed. “Is it not your belief I have changed beyond recognition also? After all, your attitude toward me has been dismissive from that night we met at the ball.”
“Because of your attitude,” Gabe said with a calm he was far from feeling.
Her brows drew together. “My attitude? What about yours?”
“What about me? I simply greeted my old childhood friend,” Gabe said. “You treated me like a stranger. Giggled inanely, then said some ridiculous, extremely feather-brained things. I could not leave fast enough.”
He watched as she drew in a large breath, then released it slowly before speaking.
“You said, ‘it seems you have changed a great deal, Madeline,’ in a tone that suggested it was not for the better.” She gritted out the words. “You could not even see I was nervous at meeting you again after so long. The man who once.... Well, never mind. The point is I was nervous, overawed at my first ball, and feeling like I was about to cast up my accounts on your polished evening shoes.”
He hadn’t believed her nervous… hadn’t even contemplated that fact. Perhaps he should have.
“I am the same person, Madeline.”
She barked out a laugh that held no humor. “You are nothing like the gentle, sensitive boy I once knew. You’re snooty, and your attitude suggests you think yourself superior to everyone else. Most of the women, married and not, are enamored with you, but terrified to even smile at you as you’re usually scowling. The men are in awe of you, the formidable earl with the ruthless reputation.”
“I beg your pardon?” Gabe wasn’t going to lie, her opinion of him was a surprise. It was also uncomfortably close to what Elliot had said last night. Yes, he wasn’t one for social chitchat, but he wasn’t rude... or hadn’t thought he was.
“I’m not repeating myself when clearly you heard.” Maddie folded her arms.
“Well, if it’s a character assassination that you want, let me oblige,” Gabe said, feeling nettled. “You’re obnoxious and parade around the ballroom with your minions most evenings as if you were a bloody princess.”
“I beg your pardon?” She looked outraged now.
“I’m not repeating myself, as clearly you heard.” He threw her words back at her.
They glared at each other.
He didn’t want to notice her beauty at that particular moment, but angry color filled her cheeks. And her brown eyes were darker, almost black now. Her skin was like porcelain, soft to the touch, he was sure. Her top lip had a perfect bow shape to it. Gabe had heard men waxing on about her beauty, and it was even more evident this close and in such a drab setting.
“I loathe you. Now leave,” she muttered as someone started coughing behind her. “There now, Jody.” She hurried back to the young girl and handed over a handkerchief she dug out of her cloak. “Take some slow, deep breaths for me.”
“Can you fix my doll’s hair?”
Gabe located that voice and found a little girl holding up a pile of rags for him to inspect.
“’Tis knotted.”
He looked to where Madeline crouched beside the other girl. She didn’t appear to be moving to help.
“Pleassssse,” she begged.
He couldn’t just ignore her; nor could he leave. No way was he leaving Madeline here in such a place, even if she was a mouthy little baggage.
“What is your doll’s name?” He moved closer, whispering so the story listeners would not be disturbed.
“Maddie!”
“It is a name for a sweet-natured lady,” he said with a heavy dose of mockery in his tone. Maddie ignored him.
“And I am Emma.”
“Hello, Emma, I am Gabriel.”
“Can you untangle it?”
He took the grubby doll but couldn’t achieve what he needed to with his gloves on, so he handed it back and removed them.
“It’s quite tangled.”
“I should brush it more, like Maddie says I should brush mine too. Bath day is for that, me ma says.”
“Very likely,” Gabe muttered as he wrestled with the knots... of which there were several. Twisted lumps in the material that had been that way for some time, he guessed.
“Do you live here, Emma?”
“Sometimes when Ma has visitors, she lets me come here to sleep.”
Gabe didn’t want to know who those “visitors” were. He wasn’t immune to the plight o
f others and gave money on the streets where he could. He sat in the House of Lords and played his part in getting laws passed to make things better for those less fortunate than himself. But he could do more.
The truth was, whatever Maddie was doing here would no doubt put him to shame. Although he’d never admit that to her.
“I can do that.” A hand reached around him to grab the doll.
“I have it.” He lifted it out of Maddie’s way.
“But there is no need as I am here now, and surely you have no wish to sully your hands with such a job.”
Handing the doll back to Emma with a smile, he turned to face Maddie. She didn’t look happy.
“Your opinion of me is very lowering, Madeline.”
“As yours is of me.”
She didn’t back away, wasn’t cowed by the scowl that was very likely on his face now.
“Is it spelling time now?”
The question interrupted their stare down.
“Soon, Jay. Let me just see Lord Lockhart to the door.”
“I will stay for spelling time,” Gabe found himself saying.
“Why?”
“Because I was always a great deal more proficient at it than you.”
If she could breathe fire, now would be the time. Stomping away, she muttered something unflattering he didn’t catch.
He moved to stand beside two boys as they attempted to form letters on the paper Maddie had obviously supplied them.
“You will find it easier if you hold the pencil like this.”
After a few aborted attempts, the boys got the hang of holding it the right way. He helped them form the letter A, and their smiles told him they were happy with the results.
“Have you met the Duke of Wellington?”
“I have.” Gabe nodded.
“Is he short?”
“Ah, well, shorter than me at least.”
