This was obviously some sort of signal to the sleeping dogs, for they bounded to their feet and raced over to take up positions along the length on both sides of the table. Madelyne didn’t understand the reason for this strange behavior until the first bone went flying over one of the soldiers’ shoulders. The discarded bone was immediately snatched up by one of the larger dogs, a Levrier nearly twice the size of the greyhounds on either sides of him. Fierce growling came next, until another bit of garbage was thrown over another shoulder, and then another and another, until all the dogs were in a frenzy of feeding, just like the men surrounding her.
Madelyne stared at the men. She couldn’t hide her repulsion and didn’t even try. She did, however, lose her appetite.
Not a decent word was exchanged throughout the meal; only obscene grunts from men thoroughly enjoying their food could be heard over the snapping of the dogs at her backside.
She thought, at first, that it was all some sort of trick to make her sick, but when it continued on and on, until all the men had filled their bellies and belched their satisfaction, she was forced to reevaluate her way of thinking.
“You’re not eating anything, Madelyne. Aren’t you hungry?” Gilard asked with a mouth full of food. He had finally noticed that Madelyne hadn’t touched any of the meat that had landed between them.
“I’ve lost my hunger,” Madelyne whispered.
Madelyne watched Gilard take a long swig of ale, then wipe his mouth on the sleeve of his tunic. She closed her eyes. “Tell me this, Gilard,” she finally managed, “why didn’t the men wait for Duncan. I would think he would demand it.”
“Oh, Duncan never eats with us,” Gilard answered. He ripped a piece of bread from a long loaf and offered Madelyne a share. She shook her head.
“Duncan never eats with you?”
“Not since our father died and Mary took ill,” Gilard qualified.
“Who is Mary?”
“Was,” Gilard corrected her. “She’s dead now.” He belched before continuing. “She was housekeep. It was years past her time to die,” he went on, rather callously in Madelyne’s opinion. “I thought she’d outlive all of us. Adela wouldn’t hear of replacing her, said it would hurt her feelings. Toward the end, Mary’s eyes went bad on her and she couldn’t find the table half the time.”
Gilard took another huge bite of meat and casually flipped the bone over his shoulder. Madelyne was forced to dodge the garbage. A fresh spurt of anger washed over her.
“Anyway,” Gilard continued, “Duncan is lord of this manor. He separates himself from the family as much as possible. I think he prefers to eat alone too.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Madelyne muttered.
To think she’d actually looked forward to getting out of her room. “Do Duncan’s men always eat with such enthusiasm?” she asked.
Gilard looked confused by her question. He shrugged his shoulders and said, “When they put in a full day, it would seem so.”
When Madelyne thought she couldn’t watch the men a moment longer, the ordeal abruptly came to an end. One by one the soldiers stood, belched, and took their leave. Had it not been so disgusting, she might have found the ritual humorous.
The dogs also retreated, lazily making their way back to form a new pyramid in front of the fireplace. Madelyne decided the animals were better disciplined than their masters. None of them belched their farewell.
“You didn’t eat anything,” Gilard said. “Didn’t you enjoy the meal?” he asked. His voice was low. Madelyne thought he kept it that way so Edmond wouldn’t hear.
“Was it a meal?” Madelyne asked, unable to keep the anger out of her voice.
“What would you call it?” Edmond interjected with a scowl the size of the hall.
“I would call it a feeding.”
“I don’t understand your meaning,” Edmond said.
“Then I will be most happy to explain,” Madelyne answered. “I’ve seen animals act with better manners.” She nodded, emphasizing her comment. “Men of breeding eat their food, Edmond. What I have just witnessed wasn’t a meal. Nay, it was a feeding by a pack of animals dressed as men. Is that clear enough for you?”
Edmond’s face had turned flushed during her speech. He looked as if he wanted to leap across the table and throttle her. Madelyne was too angry to care. It had felt good to let go of some of her anger.
“I believe you’ve made your position quite clear. Wouldn’t you agree, Edmond?”
Oh, Lord, it was Duncan speaking, and his deep voice came from right behind her back. She didn’t dare turn around, else lose her newfound courage.
He felt terribly close. She leaned back just a little and felt his thighs touch her shoulder blades. Madelyne realized she shouldn’t have touched him, remembering all too well the power in those muscular thighs of his.
She decided to knock him off the platform. Madelyne stood up, turned at the same time, and found herself plastered up against Baron Wexton. He hadn’t given an inch, and it was Madelyne who was now forced to edge around him. She lifted her skirt and stepped off the platform, turned again, fully intending to tell Duncan just what she thought of his barbaric dinner. Then she made the mistake of looking up at him, stared into his gray eyes, and felt her courage run right out of her.
It was unfortunate, this mystical power he seemed to have over her mind. He was using it now, she told herself, robbing her of her thoughts. God help her, she couldn’t even remember what she wanted to say to him.
Without a word of farewell, Madelyne turned and slowly walked away. She considered that victory enough, because she really would have preferred running.
Madelyne made it halfway to the entrance of the hall before Duncan’s command stopped her. “Madelyne, I did not give you permission to leave.” Each word was slowly enunciated.
Her back stiffened. Madelyne turned, gave him an insincere smile, and returned her answer with the same exaggerated tone.
“I didn’t ask it.”
She saw his astonished expression before she turned her back on him again. Madelyne started walking, muttering to herself that she was nothing but a pawn, after all, and pawns certainly didn’t have to do the bidding of their captors. Aye, the injustices dealt out to her were so unfair. She was a good, gentle lady.
Because she was busy muttering to herself, she never heard Duncan move. He acted just like a wolf, she thought a little frantically when she felt his big hands settle on her shoulders.
Duncan applied subtle pressure to stop her, but it really hadn’t been necessary. As soon as he touched her, he felt the stiffness leave her shoulders.
Madelyne sagged against him. Duncan felt her tremble. He realized then that she wasn’t paying him the least attention. Nay, Madelyne was staring at the entrance of the hall. She was staring at Adela.
Chapter Nine
“Abhor that which is evil;
Cleave to that which is good.”
NEW TESTAMENT, ROMANS, 12:9
Madelyne was horrified by the sight standing before her. She recognized Adela immediately, for the woman looked remarkably like her brother, Gilard. She had his brown-colored hair, brown eyes too. But she wasn’t nearly as tall as Gilard, and she was much too thin, with a sallowness to her complexion that indicated to Madelyne she hadn’t been well.
Adela was dressed in a gown that might have been a pale color at one time. It was so covered with dirt and filth now, the true color wasn’t recognizable. Her hair, long and stringy, appeared to be just as filthy as her gown. Madelyne thought there might be more than dirt living in the sticky-looking mess.
Madelyne wasn’t repelled by Adela’s appearance once her initial shock had eased. She could see the haunted look in the poor girl’s eyes. There was pain there, and such despair. Madelyne felt like weeping. Dear God, her brother had caused this. Madelyne knew then that Louddon would spend eternity in hell.
Duncan wrapped his arm around Madelyne’s shoulders and pulled her roughly up against his side. She
didn’t understand his motive, yet quit trembling in his embrace.
“I’ll kill her, Duncan.” Adela shouted the threat.
Edmond suddenly came into view. Madelyne watched him hurry over to his sister and take hold of her arm.
Adela slowly followed her brother to the table. Edmond was speaking to her but his voice was too low for Madelyne to hear what he was saying. He did seem to soothe his sister though. Her gait lost its stiffness and she nodded several times in response to her brother’s words.
When Adela was seated next to Edmond, she suddenly screamed her threat again. “It is my right to kill her, Duncan.”
There was such hatred in those eyes. Madelyne would have taken a step back had Duncan not held her so firmly.
She didn’t know how to respond to the threat. Madelyne finally nodded, indicating to Adela that she understood what she promised, and then considered it might look as though she were in agreement. “You may try, Adela,” she answered.
Her answer seemed to push Adela into a full rage. Duncan’s sister stood up, so quickly the stool toppled off the platform and crashed to the stone floor.
“When you turn your back, I’ll—”
“Enough.” Duncan’s voice echoed off the walls. The command got an immediate reaction from Adela. She seemed to wilt right before Madelyne’s eyes.
Edmond obviously didn’t like the way Duncan had shouted at their sister. He gave his brother a scowl before regaining Adela’s chair and helping her sit down.
Duncan muttered an expletive. He let go of Madelyne’s shoulders but kept her prisoner by taking hold of her hand. And then he walked out of the hall, pulling her behind him. Madelyne had to run to keep up.
Duncan didn’t let up his pace or his grip until they had reached the narrow landing outside her tower bedroom.
“How could you let her get that way?” Madelyne demanded.
“Your brother is responsible,” Duncan answered.
She knew she was going to start to cry. Madelyne straightened her shoulders. “I am very tired, Duncan. I would like to go to bed now.”
She slowly walked into the room, praying he wouldn’t follow. When she heard the clip of his boots against the steps, she knew he’d left.
Madelyne turned and closed the door, and almost made it to the bed before she started to weep.
Duncan immediately went back to the hall. He intended to command cooperation from his brothers on his plan for Madelyne.
Edmond and Gilard were still sitting at the table, sharing a jug of ale between them. Adela had, thankfully, already left the hall.
When Duncan sat down, Gilard passed the jug to Duncan just as Edmond challenged him. “Are we Wextons now going to have to protect Louddon’s sister from one of our own?”
“Madelyne hasn’t done anything to Adela,” Gilard defended. “She’s nothing like her brother and you damn well know it, Edmond. We’ve treated her shamefully, yet she hasn’t spoken a single word of protest.”
“Don’t play Madelyne’s champion to me,” Edmond returned. “She is courageous,” he admitted with a shrug. “You’ve already recounted the story of how she saved your backside during the battle, Gilard. God, you’ve retold it so many times, I know it by heart,” he added, looking at Duncan now. “The issue isn’t Madelyne’s character, however. Her presence upsets Adela.”
“Aye,” Duncan interjected. “And that pleases me.”
“What say you?” Edmond demanded.
“Edmond, before you lose your temper, answer me this. When did Adela last speak to you?”
“In London, right after we found her,” Edmond answered. His voice sounded with irritation, but Duncan wasn’t offended by it.
“Gilard? When did your sister last speak to you?”
“’Tis the same as Edmond,” Gilard answered, frowning. “She told me what happened and that was all. You know she hasn’t spoken a word to anyone since that night.”
“Until this evening,” Duncan reminded them. “Adela spoke to Madelyne.”
“And you view this as a good sign?” Edmond asked, his voice incredulous. “Adela finally speaks, aye, but only of murder, brother. Good God, our sweet sister vows to kill Madelyne. I don’t see this as recovery.”
“Adela is coming back to us,” Duncan explained. “There’s anger now, so fierce it all but consumes her mind, but I think, with Madelyne’s help, Adela will begin to heal.”
Edmond shook his head. “When our sister Catherine came to visit, Adela wouldn’t even look at her. Why do you think Madelyne can help when Adela’s own sister couldn’t?”
Duncan was hard pressed to put his feelings into explanation. He wasn’t at all accustomed to discussing anything of significance with his two younger brothers. Nay, his usual custom was to issue commands, expecting each and every one to be carried out to his satisfaction. Duncan ruled his house just as he ruled his men, and in much the same manner as his father had ruled. The only exception to this sacred law was when he trained with his men. Then Duncan became an active participant as well as their instructor, demanding only from each soldier those feats he’d already accomplished himself.
Yet this was certainly not a usual circumstance. His brothers deserved to know what Duncan thought to do. Adela was also their sister. Aye, it was also their right to voice their opinions.
“I say we send for Catherine again,” Edmond interjected, a stubborn set to his jaw.
“It isn’t necessary,” Duncan stated. “Madelyne will help Adela. We’ve only to give her direction,” he added with a hint of a smile. “Madelyne is the only one who’ll understand what’s going on inside Adela’s mind. Eventually our sister will turn to her.”
“Aye, Duncan, Adela will turn to your Madelyne all right, but with a dagger in her hand and killing in her mind. We’ll have to take every precaution.”
“I don’t want Madelyne placed in jeopardy,” Gilard remarked. “I think we should have left her behind. Louddon would have found her soon enough. And she isn’t Duncan’s Madelyne, Edmond. We are all equally responsible for her.”
“Madelyne is mine, Gilard,” Duncan announced. His voice was soft but the challenge was there, in the set of his shoulders and the way he stared at his brother.
Gilard reluctantly nodded agreement. Edmond watched the exchange between his brothers. He wasn’t at all pleased by the possessive tone in Duncan’s voice.
Edmond was suddenly in complete agreement with Gilard, a rarity, for Gilard and Edmond usually took opposing viewpoints in nearly all matters of substance. “Perhaps Madelyne should have remained behind,” he said, thinking to next bring up the possibility of returning her as soon as possible.
Duncan’s fist hit the table with enough force to overturn the ale. The jug would have toppled off the table had Gilard not reacted so quickly.
“Madelyne isn’t going anywhere, Edmond. I’ll not ask again, brother. Do you back me in this decision?”
A long moment of silence stretched between the two brothers.
“So that’s the way of it,” Edmond finally said.
Duncan nodded. Gilard watched the exchange, perplexed. He’d obviously missed something but couldn’t understand what it was.
“Aye, that is the way of it,” Duncan acknowledged. “Do you think to challenge me on this?”
Edmond sighed. He shook his head. “I do not. I stand behind you, Duncan, though I would advise you of the problems this decision will bring.”
“It wouldn’t sway me, Edmond.”
Duncan didn’t look disposed to explaining the conversation. Gilard decided to wait until he had Edmond alone, and then find out what was going on. Besides, another comment had nagged him into a quick question. “Duncan? What did you mean when you said Madelyne only need be directed toward helping Adela?”
Duncan finally turned to look at Gilard. He was pleased by Edmond’s support, and his mood was therefore lightened. “Madelyne has had experiences that will help her with our sister. My suggestion is to place the two toge
ther as often as possible. Edmond, it will be your duty to escort your sister to dinner each night. Gilard, you’ll bring Madelyne. She isn’t as frightened of you.”
“She’s afraid of me?” Edmond sounded incredulous.
Duncan ignored the question, though he gave Edmond an irritated look to let him know he’d little liking for being interrupted. “It isn’t significant if either Adela or Madelyne wishes to decline. Drag them if you have to, but eat together they will.”
“Adela will destroy our gentle Madelyne,” Gilard rushed out. “Why, sweet Madelyne could never hold her own against—”
“Sweet Madelyne has a temper as fierce as a winter gale, Gilard.” Duncan’s voice sounded exasperated. “We have only to direct her to lose a bit of it.”
“What say you?” Gilard all but shouted, clearly astonished. “Madelyne is a gentle maiden. Why …”
Edmond’s usual scowl deserted him. He actually started to chuckle. “She’s got a sweet left hook as well, Gilard. And we know well enough what a gentle little maiden she is. She bellowed it loud enough for all of England to hear.”
“The fever ruled her mind then. I told you we should have cut her hair to let the demons out, Duncan. Madelyne wasn’t herself, I tell you. Why, she doesn’t even know she blackened Edmond’s eye.”
Duncan shook his head. “You needn’t defend Madelyne to me,” he said.
“Well, what are you going to do with Madelyne?” Gilard couldn’t keep the demand out of his voice.
“She will have a safe haven here, Gilard.” He stood then and was about to walk out of the room, when Edmond’s comment reached him. “It won’t be safe until Adela comes to her senses. Madelyne’s going to be put through an ordeal.”
“An ordeal for all of us,” Duncan called out. “God willing, it will all be over soon enough.”
Duncan dismissed his brothers. He made his way to the lake for his swim.
His thoughts kept turning to Madelyne. The truth was inescapable. By an ironic twist of fate, Madelyne had remained unblemished by Louddon’s black nature. She was a woman to be reckoned with. She hides her true character from herself, Duncan thought with a smile. Yet he’d been given treasured glimpses of the real Lady Madelyne. It had taken a raging fever to bring out her passionate spirit though. Aye, she was sensual, with a thirst for life that pleased him considerably.
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