The Long Awaited Lord

by Deborah Wilson

  He’d been gone for three days. Upon his return, he’d sought Madison out, but by then, she’d numbed herself to feel again. She’d stared blankly as he’d apologized to her. Why she’d tried to be his friend again, she didn’t know. Some people simply couldn’t be trusted.

  That had been two days ago, and she hadn’t seen him until now. She couldn’t help but notice a change in him. There was a brightness in his eyes and even his color. It made his dark hair richer in tone. How was it fair that the worst people in the world only grew more beautiful?

  When he’d asked her to accept his apology, she’d told him no. When he offered to take her to her parents’ home, although it pained her deeply, she’d said no again. She would not risk the disappointment and humiliation again.

  They would never be friends.

  Matthew had disappeared right after Leo left. He was gone for days and hadn’t told Madison a thing about where he’d been. He didn’t come back until after Leo. She’d resented him for leaving her with Leo. He was a monster, but Matthew trusted him to keep her safe.

  Movement caught her eye.

  Some of the men present moved toward the front of the room. They wanted Leo’s attention. They wanted his approval. She’d not be surprised at all if someone asked him to bless their baby or touch and heal their dying relations. Their smiles were nauseating.

  Madison would have thought the entire scene amusing were she not annoyed.

  Leo, or rather Dr. Childs, as everyone present called him, had taken over her father’s last lecture session and the students had stayed back for yet another hour after that, asking him questions and getting his opinions on life.

  Was there anything this man couldn’t do?

  She’d remained in her room for most of the week, weaving and trying to keep her mind off the baby that kicked often. Yet even as she kept to herself, she was aware of both Matthew and Leo’s movements.

  They’d become the very best of friends since Leo’s arrival. They went to the other wing of the house and Madison had no clue what went on there.

  Leo also left at night, and she knew he’d found a way to break into Arland’s home.

  From what she’d heard from the maids, there had been an infestation of rats at Arland’s residence. The family was sleeping at an inn in town until the footmen could round them all up and dispose of them.

  She should have never doubted him.

  She wondered, not for the first time, what it was like to be him. He was so in control and so powerful. Wise. Charming. It was no wonder everyone wanted to be him. He was inspiring.

  She loathed him.

  She looked around the busy room. Anywhere but in Leo’s direction.

  Sadly, she couldn’t block out the voices around her. The men who still gathered between the rows kept his name on their tongues.

  Lord Childs. Dr. Childs.

  The man had two doctorates yet acted like a child.

  She sat at a small table in the front corner of the room. It was the place she was used to occupying when she’d helped her father a few years ago after his secretary had fallen ill. Her father had allowed her to attend for Leo’s session and Matthew had strangely insisted on it.

  The room was fuller than she’d ever seen it before. Since word spread that her father had a special speaker coming, the people in town had been anxiously waiting. No one had grumbled about the session fee and everyone seemed pleased.

  She crossed her arms and sighed. She had to admit that he’d been impressive. She didn’t know what it was that made him special, but what Lord Leonard Childs had gone beyond charm. He was captivating.

  But Madison saw through the smiles and straight down to the depths of his black heart.

  Her belly grumbled, and she slipped her hands underneath the table to check her pocket. She’d brought some bread along. Ducking as though to retrieve something off the floor, she slipped a few pieces in her mouth and chewed quickly. She made sure to wipe her face before she straightened.

  She was startled by Matthew’s sudden appearance. He stood by the table.

  “Gifted, isn’t he?” her fake husband asked.

  Madison looked around the room. There were a hundred other people he could be speaking to. His friends were present. Why trouble her?

  He sat on the edge of the desk close to her, dipped his head, and whispered, “Play nicely and I shall reward you.”

  Her stomach dropped. “What will you give me?”

  He jerked his shoulders. “What do you want?”

  She couldn’t read his expression at the moment. His eyes were nearly as pale as Leo’s, yet they didn’t hold the same power. When he smiled, he failed to add any warmth to his gaze.

  Madison had noticed a change in him as well. She didn’t know what it was, but Matthew’s face seemed more… appealing. Also, his body looked different in his clothes.

  But she didn’t trust him. What if he was only asking what she wanted so he could take it away from her later?

  Without thinking, she found herself leaning forward and sniffing the air around his face, searching for spirits.

  He frowned but didn’t move away. “What are you doing?”

  She pulled back. “Nothing.”

  He placed his hand on hers. “Answer me.”

  She pressed her lips together and fought down her fear. She glanced around. “I wanted to know if you were drunk.”

  “I haven’t had a drink in days.”

  She blinked. “I didn’t know that.”

  He didn’t reply.

  An uncomfortable silence followed that.

  “Be pleasant and I’ll let you visit your family for the remainder of the week.”

  She gasped. He’d never offered her anything of the sort before. Whatever he wanted, she knew it was important. “What do I have to do?”

  He began to lightly toss a shiny stone that sat on the table. It was used to keep the papers down when the window was open on a windy day. “We’ve been invited to attend dinner with the Vice-Chancellor next week.”

  Her eyes widened. She’d never attended a dinner hosted by the leader of the school. Appointed by the Chancellor himself, Mr. James Collins ruled within the limits of the man who’d placed him there. Yet while the Chancellor could be little more than a wealthy nobleman, Mr. Collins was a man of academics.

  She’d seen the Vice-Chancellor sitting in the front row during the session and it was only now as the crowd thinned that she saw him and Leo in deep conversation.

  “It’s Lord Leo he wants, isn’t it?” Madison asked.

  He nodded. “Your father is retiring.”

  Madison’s mouth fell open.

  “Don’t tell anyone,” Matthew said. “I don’t think I was supposed to share that with you.”

  “Where did you hear that?” She hadn’t heard her father say anything like that.

  “I heard Mr. Collins speaking to his assistant about it,” Matthew said.

  Madison frowned. “When?”

  “Some time ago.” He leaned forward. “Say nothing.”

  When did Matthew and Mr. Collins start sharing the same space?

  Her father wanted to retire? He was getting older. She hated to think about that, but it was true.

  “I don’t have to go to the dinner.” She didn’t want to go. Perhaps before she’d found herself in her current situation, she might have cared, but this city and its people no longer mattered in the grand scheme of things. “You can attend alone.”

  “No, I need you there.”

  He needed her? He’d never needed her for anything but the baby before.

  “Are you sure? I don’t want you to have to worry about me.”

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  1 7

  * * *

  This was probably the first pleasant conversation Madison and Matthew had had since the day he stole her from her parents’ home.

  Mr. Collins’ voice broke into their conversation. “It’s always good to see a young husband who knows how to atte
nd his wife.”

  Madison stood and Matthew grabbed her arm to aid her. She pressed down the urge to rip her arm away. Once she was on her feet, she retracted herself slowly while Matthew introduced them.

  “Did you enjoy the lecture?” Mr. Collins asked. The question was said comically. He didn’t actually expect her to know anything.

  She was a woman, after all.

  Madison was aware of Leo’s presence nearby even though he couldn’t see her. Irritation had her speaking her mind. “I enjoyed his speech on Plato and the distinctions between speculative and practical reasoning, or as Dr. Childs called it, logic versus passion.”

  Leo had used the term because he’d known it would keep everyone’s attention. It had worked.

  She smiled. “But I found his speculation over necessary truths didn’t do the students justice.”

  Mr. Collins looked surprised.

  Matthew narrowed his gaze, and Madison remembered that he’d asked her to behave.

  “And what do you think I should have said?” Leo asked from her back.

  She looked over at him. “Well, if I had led the lesson, I would have spoken about love.”

  “Love?” Leo said as though offended.

  Mr. Collins laughed. “Of course. The only woman in the room would say love is a necessary truth. How clever. Yes, you must come to dinner.” Mr. Collins shook hands with Madison’s father, who she hadn’t known had been standing close.

  Mr. Collins spoke with her father and Matthew about the other guests who’d be present at the dinner.

  Leo took that moment to whisper in her ear, “Well, aren’t we being pompous this evening.”

  She stiffened and without looking back, she addressed him in a low tone, “Pompous would imply that Mr. Collins found me irritating, but he didn’t.”

  “Well, who wishes to upset a lady with child? Once again, your condition works on your behalf.”

  She spun around then. “I could walk circles around you on this subject. You do know what a circle is, don’t you?”

  He chuckled and she spun back around. Anger made her skin tight. Why was he speaking to her? Couldn’t he tell that she didn’t want to be around him?

  He’d said she was useless to him. So why did he insist? She couldn’t understand how he could be so hot and cold. Cold with her and warm with everyone else, and all in the span of a minute.

  She was caught by surprise when she noticed her friend Geneve and a few others by the door’s entrance. Her heart was filled with happiness and she nearly ran to them.

  The moment she reached Geneve, her friend pulled her around a corner and grabbed her hands. Geneve smiled. “I’ve wanted to talk to you for over a month. I wanted to write to you about it, but you hinted that Matthew was reading our letters and refused to let anyone else visit.” She sighed. “Even the servants won’t give you a letter without giving it to him first.”

  Madison’s belly tightened, and she struggled her air. “Geneve, what is it?”

  Geneve just smiled and then she touched Madison’s belly. “You’re one step away from getting everything you hoped for the future heir of Arland.”

  The heir...

  A lightness fell over her, but Geneve kept her upright.

  It worked.

  She was so glad Matthew had forced her to attend the meeting today. She’d never had gotten this news if she hadn’t. It had cost Madison half the fortune Judd had given her, but…

  “One step away?” Madison asked.

  “We need more money.”

  “More?” Her mouth fell open. “But I already paid—”

  Geneve lowered her voice. “The clergyman will have to pay others, Madison. It isn’t easy getting a marriage license to a viscount after his death. This is treason.”

  “I’ll get you the money.” It would cost her everything, but she’d do it. “Thank you. Do you think you can trust him?”

  Geneve grinned and her cheeks colored. “I do, actually.”

  Madison narrowed her eyes. “Geneve, are you…?”

  Her friend waved her off. “Later. There is so much to say and I know we don’t have much time. I took the vicar in the next parish one of your love letters from Arland, the one you gave me that spoke of all the promises he made you. He says, according to him, that paper was as good as vows.” She laughed. “And of course, the money made it hard for him to refuse, though he did say he’d have to pay off a few others.” Geneve shrugged.

  Her plan had been so dangerous. But her son deserved to have everything his father intended for him.

  “I can’t believe you’d do this for me.” Madison was weeping.

  Geneve laughed. “I’d do anything for you. Now, the vicar will say he forgot to tell the courts about the marriage. He listed the witnesses as two elderly folk who died just around the time of the marriage license. You already have letters that stated why you and Judd kept your relationship a secret. He was a student of your father’s. You’ll pretend that you were distraught after Judd’s death and when Matthew offered to make you Lady Hivers… You wanted the protection his name could offer. What woman in her right mind would turn down the proposal of an earl?”

  It was all very convenient. Her parents would find it all very strange, but it didn’t matter.

  As a widow, Madison could finally do as she pleased.

  But it all came down to timing and the date on the license. Her marriage to Judd had to be revealed before Matthew could convince Vicar Myers to lie as well.

  Which meant Madison needed to leave soon before he found out about her ‘marriage’ to Judd and set his own plan in motion.

  Either way, it didn’t matter. Even if Madison never got away and was forced to take the name Lady Hivers. Even if she was separated from her baby, her son was Arland.

  “I’ll get you the money,” Madison promised.

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  1 8

  * * *

  “You seem to be in a better mood,” Leo said the moment Madison stopped playing the piano.

  Matthew was gone again, where she didn’t know. She was not to leave the house for any reason. Not even with Leo. But it didn’t matter. Madison was feeling lighter. Her child’s future was secured.

  Even if he was ripped from her arms later… she’d survive. She’d be happy knowing he reached his destiny. She’d begun to write him letters and would tell Geneve or her mother where to find them before she left.

  She thought about letting Leo be the one to get them, but she didn’t trust him.

  “You’re happy,” Leo said.

  Madison turned away from the piano and looked at him. “What makes you say so?”

  “Your selection is very light today.” He grinned. “Is this the effects of my presentation?”

  She wanted to ask him if he was considering the teaching position at Oxford but didn’t. Matthew had told her to keep it a secret and there was no point in upsetting him. She’d be able to see her family for a full week after the dinner at Mr. Collins’ home.

  She planned to tell them everything then.

  She straightened and stared at Leo. With her news, she found looking at him much less upsetting. He seemed bored and at least he wasn’t threatening her. “Where did you go when you left?”

  “Business.”

  “What sort of business are you in?”

  Leo shrugged. “The protection sort.”

  That was interesting. She’d have thought the exact opposite. “Who do you protect?”

  “Many people. I work with a group of other men who have England’s best interest at heart.”

  He was in a good mood. Madison doubted she’d have gotten this much out of him before.

  “No wonder Matthew trusts you to take me to my parents’ home.”

  He shrugged, but he was grinning. “Happiness suits you, my lady.”

  She smiled. The compliment hadn’t been accompanied by a heady look or a smothering tone. Instead, the words had sounded… nice. “Thank you.”

&
nbsp; “What have I missed since I’ve been away?” he asked.

  She laughed. “Do you truly wish to hear about my basket weaving?”

  “It looked interesting.”

  “Did it?” She lifted a brow. “Would you like to learn how to do it? I could teach you.”

  He placed a hand on his heart. Looking at his eyes was like looking at spring skies. “Would you honestly show me how it’s done? Am I to learn to weave from a master weaver?”

  She laughed and rolled her eyes. “Actually, I’ve changed my mind. You already know far too much as it is.”

  Her comment made him laugh. “Well, I suppose it’s only fair that you take back your offer. I did run out on you.” After a pause, he said, “Actually, someone I know was injured. A ten-year-old boy.”

  Her mouth fell open. “Injured how?”

  “A fight.” Leo frowned. “He was attacked by a group of boys who think themselves better than him. His parents are gone.”

  “Oh, poor boy.” The story was dreadful. She was moved that Leo would share it with her. “I’ll make him a basket,” she decided.

  He lifted a brow. “You’ll make him a basket?”

  “Yes, what does he like?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, what should I put in it?”

  His eyes widened. “You put things in your gift baskets?”

  Madison stared at him and wondered if he was joking. Who gave people empty baskets?

  A light appeared to go off in Leo’s head. “Oh, that makes so much more sense.”

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  1 9

  * * *

  Madison laughed for so long and hard that her side began to ache and tears filled her eyes. She was forced to grab her belly and grip the piano bench. Otherwise, she’d have fallen.

  “I didn’t think it that amusing,” Leo murmured.

  She couldn’t stop. “I can’t… did you honestly think I was only giving the poor baskets?”