An Enchanted Christmas Collection : Regency Romance

by Wendy Vella

  “What were you and Gabriel discussing, Madeline?”

  “Nothing, Mama.”

  “It did not look like nothing, in fact it looked very much like something. And can I add that once I thought you and he would one day marry. Perhaps now that you seem to be talking once more, that may happen. He would make you a wonderful husband.”

  Bloody, bothering hell!

  “No, Mother, he would not. Now please do not discuss this again.”

  “And here he comes to take us to our seats. I was just saying to Maddie how wonderful it is to have you back in our lives, Gabriel. You and she were once such close friends, after all.”

  “We were.” His voice gave none of what he was feeing away.

  “I shall have to write to your mother tomorrow; she will be as happy as I when she hears you and Maddie have reconnected.”

  I am doomed.

  Chapter Nine

  Why had she asked him that question? Gabe mulled it over as he watched the pantomime. It made no sense to him—unless one of her children was in trouble.

  Surely she wouldn’t be foolish enough to go anywhere near a prison? The thought of Maddie attempting to secure the release of someone from such a place made him feel ill. Was he being dramatic? Had she just asked the question out of curiosity?

  Gabe had been there and it was not suitable for gently bred ladies… in fact, any lady.

  He looked at Maddie, who was watching the performance, and apparently enjoying it if her smile and the clapping was any indication.

  Was he wrong, and she had simply been curious? Lord, he hoped so.

  Tonight’s dress was a soft rose color. Demure, without too many bows or frills, it made Gabe’s hands itch to touch her. He wanted to run them over her body and have no barrier between them. He wanted to kiss her again, had thought of little else since leaving her.

  Maddie Spencer had thrown Gabe off-balance, and that didn’t sit well. He was a man who liked to be in control at all times.

  Looking at the two curls that sat on her slender shoulder, he wondered at their texture and had to clench his fists to stop from reaching for one.

  When intermission came, she rose, stating she needed to visit Verity. Minutes later, she hadn’t made an appearance in the box two along from Gabe’s, where her sister and her fiancé sat with his family.

  Lady Spencer was busy chatting with someone to her left and hadn’t noticed, so Gabe went to find Maddie. He nodded and forced a smile onto his face, as apparently he scared people otherwise, but saw no sign of her.

  Where are you?

  He walked down the hallway, eyes searching the guests, and finally found her standing beside a painting.

  “How is your head?”

  “Gabriel!” She clutched her chest dramatically, which told him she’d been deep in thought and not heard him approaching.

  “The very one. Why are you standing here alone looking at this painting of a pantomime when the live one is about to restart?”

  “I was hoping the walk and air would ease the ache in here.” She tapped the side of her head.

  “What air? You’re inside a theatre.”

  “But it is less crowded out here.”

  “Have you looked at the many people milling at your back?”

  “I forgot that about you.”

  “What?”

  “The need to question everything. The need to point out the faults in every sentence. The need to always be right.”

  “I like things to be factually correct.” Gabe shrugged.

  “How pompous of you.”

  “Maddie. What are you up to?”

  “What?” She shot him a look. “Nothing,” she added far too quickly before returning her eyes to the painting.

  “Why did you ask me about the prison earlier? It has made me extremely nervous.”

  Her laugh was stilted.

  “There is no need, I was just curious. My maid mentioned that her nephew was in there. I just wondered what the process would be for his father to get him out.”

  It was a perfectly plausible explanation… so why then did the hair on his neck suddenly rise?

  “Maddie, I have spent time at Newgate for various reasons— ”

  “Have your nefarious activities caught up with you, Gabriel?”

  “Ha, no. It is not a place for a woman such as you... in fact, any woman.”

  “Why would I go there? Good Lord, Gabriel, have you gone mad?”

  Her eyes looked innocent, and her head hadn’t tilted, so perhaps he was wrong and her question had been innocent.

  “Excellent. And can you assure me you are not about to invade someone else’s study to rifle through their desk drawers?”

  “You know why I did that, Gabriel, and have seen Spoke House.”

  “You appear to be telling the truth. I see none of the little telltale signs you give when you are not.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous! You can have no idea the person I have become. We’ve barely conversed.”

  “You’re shrieking,” he said reasonably. “And you definitely used to do that when you were cornered.”

  Her mouth closed with a snap of her teeth.

  “And we may not have conversed a great deal of late, but after what we shared today, I feel we know each other a great deal better than we did yesterday.”

  Color filled her cheeks.

  “Do not mention that kiss. It should not have happened and will not again.”

  “What upsets you the most, Maddie, that you enjoyed our kisses, or that it was with me... the man who you have lately found stuffy?”

  “Desist in this line of questioning,” she hissed, looking over her shoulder. “And I did not enjoy those kisses.”

  Gabe saw just the place to prove her wrong. Nudging her backward a few steps, he had her in the small alcove before she realized it.

  “What— ”

  He swallowed the rest of her words. He felt it again, the surge of emotion. Slipping his hand around her back, he pressed her close, loving the feel of her body against his. He wanted more of this woman. The emotion pulsing through him was nothing like he’d felt as a sixteen-year-old. This was so much more.

  “Please.” She pressed a trembling hand to his mouth when he pulled back to take a breath. “This must stop.”

  “Look up.”

  She did and saw the mistletoe.

  “We are allowed to kiss under that.” Gabe tried to lighten the mood, because he was off-balance himself. He’d disliked the woman Maddie had become, but today everything had changed, and now he wanted her desperately.

  “We cannot do this again, Gabriel.”

  He lifted her chin so he could read her expression. He saw the heat in her eyes; she wanted this as much as he did.

  “Everything changed between us today, Maddie. You know that, as I do.”

  “No.”

  “Yes.” He kissed her again, a soft brush of his mouth over hers.

  “My m-mother, she will wonder where we are.”

  He ran his thumb down her cheek.

  “Gabe, please let me go.” She pushed against his chest. “Please, I have no wish for anyone to see us.”

  “All right, but I meant what I said. Everything has changed between us now, Maddie.”

  “I know” was all she whispered.

  He could see she was unsettled, as was he, so he took her back to the box.

  The pantomime was loud, with plenty of participation from the audience. Maddie smiled and chatted with her mother, but didn’t look at Gabe again. He spent the remainder of the evening looking at her and wondering how his feelings toward her could have changed irrevocably in the space of a day

  “That was wonderful, Gabriel.”

  “I’m glad you enjoyed it, Lady Spencer.” Gabe assisted her out of her chair when the show finished.

  “I will collect Verity and meet you in the foyer.”

  “I’ll get her, Mother.”

  But Lady Spencer had already left the
box. Gabe took Maddie’s arm and followed.

  “I want to call on you tomorrow, Maddie. I have some things I wish to discuss in relation to Spoke House.”

  “What things?” She looked worried.

  “Nothing bad, I assure you.”

  “Very well.”

  “I meant what I said, Maddie. I don’t want you going there without me.”

  “Gabe, we’ve discussed this, and I have no wish to do so further tonight. The day has been a long and tiring one.”

  Which did nothing to ease his mind. Maddie could be reckless, as evidenced by the fact she’d traveled to Spoke House alone many times already. He would leave it alone for now, but tomorrow they would be having a talk, and he would be telling her quite clearly what he expected.

  “Come then, I will walk you to your carriage.” He guided her down the hallway.

  “Hold on to Gabriel, darling. I would hate for you to faint on the way to the carriage because of your poor head.”

  These words came from behind them.

  “I am quite well, Mother. There is no need to fuss.”

  “But we would hate for anything to harm you, dear Madeline,” Gabe teased.

  She dug her nails into his sleeve, but as she wore long gloves and he a shirt and jacket, the effect was not felt.

  “Tut tut, play nice, Maddie.”

  “I’m extremely grateful, Gabriel, for your kindness to my dear daughter.”

  “Mother, he merely escorted us to our carriage,” Maddie said in a sharp tone that had Gabe swallowing another smile.

  He’d thought her submissive and a society miss who would be a pliant and biddable wife for some man one day. He’d been wrong. She was very much still the young spirited girl he’d known.

  “Yes, well, it was still kind, and to take us into his box at the theatre, Maddie. We must not forget that.” Lady Spencer gave her daughter a look that he’d received many times from his own mother, suggesting she was displeased.

  “Good evening, Gabriel.” She turned and batted her eyelashes at him. “Thank you for taking the time to walk me all the way to our carriage.”

  She whispered “all the way” so only he heard the sarcasm.

  “You are most welcome, Madeline, and if it is acceptable, I would like to call on you tomorrow, to see if your head is better.”

  He said the words loudly so Lady Spencer heard them. As he was helping Maddie into the carriage, she could not glare at him.

  “Lovely! We shall await you tomorrow then, Gabriel. Good evening.”

  Gabe waited for Lady Spencer to nudge her daughters firmly onto a seat, then he closed the door. He watched the carriage roll away and tried to understand what he was feeling, and he came to the conclusion that it was something he’d never felt before.

  Interest, yes, but there was more. When he’d seen Maddie tonight, he’d felt something warm settle inside his chest.

  Smiling, he decided to make for his club. Once there, he and Elliot would discuss the business they must attend to early tomorrow morning, and then he would be paying a call on a certain Miss Spencer. The thought made him ridiculously happy.

  Chapter Ten

  Maddie held a handkerchief to her nose as the man with the foul-smelling breath remained adamant in his refusal to release Lewis.

  “He’s not being released, and that’s my final word. It’s not my decision to make.”

  “Then tell me who I must speak with?” She’d asked him this question several times already; as yet he had not given her an answer.

  She’d risen before the sun and arrived at Newgate early, only to confront this man who did not understand the concept of bathing.

  Dear God, what was that running across her feet... a rat, perhaps? Fighting back the scream that had threatened to make an appearance at least twice since she entered the dark, dreary walls of Newgate prison, Maddie tried again to persuade the jailer, one Mr. Stint, to release Lewis into her care.

  “But surely if I pay you handsomely you can look the other way, Mr. Stint. I will whisk Lewis from your care without another soul aware of my intentions. I can assure you no one will hear of these events.”

  Maddie’s heart sank further as the large man before her crossed his big, beefy arms and shook his shaggy head.

  Looking around the damp walls, she wondered how the little boy fared in such a dismal place. Was he scared? Crying for his mother? How many boys his age were in here? The thought was a sobering one.

  “Are you telling me you won’t be bribed, Mr. Stint? That you are above such things? Come, we all know everyone is in need of more money.” Maddie went for the friendly approach. “I have plenty here in my purse should you just agree to let Lewis Brown, the boy put in here four days ago, out. He stole that watch so he could sell it to feed his family. Can you be so heartless you do not understand that, Mr. Stint?”

  Perhaps she should not have left James outside? Would he be able to reason with this man?

  “You need to leave here now,” Mr. Stint said. “Bloody do-gooders, always thinking they can help those less fortunate than themselves. The boy’s a thief, and he’ll be punished for his crimes.”

  “Do you have children of your own, Mr. Stint?” Dismayed, Maddie watched him shake his shaggy head.

  Dear Lord, was that something crawling down his shoulder? Focus, Maddie. This was not the time to notice the man’s hygiene or lack thereof.

  “Well, perhaps a niece or nephew?” Again, he shook his head but remained silent. Maddie furiously tried to search for something to bribe Mr. Stint with.

  “You are being unreasonable, sir. That boy cannot leave London. How would his family see him again? It would be a gross miscarriage of justice were he deported for such a petty crime.”

  “He’s not being released. Now take your do-gooding ways and get out of here. Bloody nobles.”

  “How do you know I’m a noble?”

  “They’ve got a certain look, and you have it.”

  Maddie wasn’t sure if she was offended by that statement or not.

  “Is there anything I can do or say to persuade you to release Lewis, Mr. Stint?” Maddie tried one last time. If not, she would leave and regroup. Perhaps she would then seek Gabe’s help.

  Maddie felt her flesh crawl as the large man’s demeanor suddenly changed. Those beady eyes ran over her body. Not that he could see much, as she wore a thick coat, but still, it unsettled her further.

  “Of course, I might be willing to release the brat if....”

  “Certainly not. How dare you suggest what I think you have just suggested!”

  Mr. Stint suddenly advanced on her. Oh dear, this was not good, not good at all. She was here alone in a prison with a large, filthy man. It was then Maddie felt the full folly of her impulsive actions, which was what usually happened. Act first and think later seemed to be the motto she’d lived most of her life by.

  No one but James knew she was inside, and he would not hear her screams. Her eyes searched for a weapon or somewhere to run, but found nothing. The door was not a great distance, but still, he’d grab her before she reached it. “I... um... I think I can come up with more money, sir, if that is what you wish.”

  “I’ve never laid with a proper lady,” he said, moving closer.

  His foul breath nearly made Maddie retch as she pushed against his chest. She was just about to lift her leg into the man’s groin when a voice stopped her.

  “I see no reason for your education to change today, Mr. Stint. If you will kindly unhand Miss Spencer, I will think seriously about sparing your life.”

  Maddie exhaled a breath of relief as Mr. Stint released her and staggered back a step. The fist that followed drove the man back into the wall with considerable force.

  With a feeling of impending doom, she turned from Mr. Stint, who was now groaning in agony on the floor, to look at the man behind her.

  The anger radiating from his large body was so strong it filled the room. One look into his eyes and she saw he was in
a towering rage.

  “Get up off the floor, Stint. I did not put as much force as I wanted behind that punch, as we have business to discuss. I will leave my associate to do that while I return Miss Spencer to the safety of her carriage.”

  Gabriel’s words were cold enough to form ice.

  “What associate?” Maddie said, attempting to look behind him.

  “That would be me.” Mr. Elliot Yates entered the room. “Are you all right, Miss Spencer?”

  “I am, thank—”

  Before she could finish the sentence, a large hand banded around her wrist and dragged her from the room. She was then lifted off her feet and carried down the long, smelly corridor under his arm.

  “Unhand me!” She tried to prize his fingers from her waist, but the effort was futile. “I insist you unhand me at once!”

  The cold air caught in the back of Maddie’s throat as they reached the outer door. She coughed several times. Even this failed to gain a response from Gabriel; instead he kept walking until he reached his carriage.

  Wrenching the door open, he threw her inside. Maddie landed in a heap on the soft seat. She struggled to right herself and her bonnet, which was now covering her eyes.

  A hand shoved it back.

  Finally free, Maddie looked to where Gabriel stood in the carriage doorway.

  His large body filled the space, eyes blazing with fury. Hands opened and closed, almost as if he wished he had something clasped between them, namely her neck. Maddie swallowed several times. She would not be intimidated by him. She had something to do and must see it done.

  “I am going back inside the prison, Gabriel. It is imperative to the safety of a small boy.”

  “Be quiet!”

  “I will not!” Maddie tried to get off the seat, but he merely nudged her back onto it.

  “Gabriel, please, you need to understand—”

  “For the love of God, woman, be quiet! I am this close to shaking you so hard your teeth will rattle, but as that would be wrong, I am instead attempting to calm down.”

  Maddie closed her mouth.

  Chapter Eleven

  Gabe had been angry in his life before, there were not many who hadn’t. He’d even known rage, but this.... God, he wanted to shake her. Then he’d hold her until the emotions inside him had eased, and never let her go.