Madison felt the blood drain from her face. “Oh, I didn’t know.”
“I’m glad he’s gone.” Anne straightened. “He didn’t escape the fire. Mother did, but she died a year ago.” Annie closed her eyes. “I had a son who died as well. Last winter was too much for him.”
Madison’s heart broke for the woman. “I’m so sorry.”
“So am I.” Annie looked around the room and began to stare at an older gentleman who was being introduced to the duke. “That’s my husband, Mr. Cox.”
Madison was surprised but kept the expression from her face. Mr. Cox looked far too old for a woman like Annie. “I’m sure he misses your son as well.”
“The baby wasn’t his.”
Madison looked at Annie. “What do you mean?”
Annie swallowed. “It belonged to another man.” Her gaze flickered to someone else present amongst the crowd.
The one with the broody pale green eyes. “Sir Husher?” Madison remembered someone calling him that earlier.
Annie nodded. “He came for me. It took him five years, but he came. Husher came up to the mountain to get me, but It was too late. Our son was gone and I was already wed. Five years in a cave is a long time to cling to the hope of ever leaving again.”
Madison was amazed by this story. There were similarities but also great differences between their tales. “I, too, had a son by another man, but my new husband accepts us both.” Madison’s smile became genuine. “Are you in love with your husband?”
“No.” Annie closed her eyes and then looked longingly at Husher.
Husher avoided looking in their direction entirely.
“Oh.” Madison didn’t know what to say. The situation was vastly different than her own. “Well, surely, something about Mr. Cox drew you to him.” Perhaps Annie just needed reminding of the good.
“I was desperate and lonely,” Annie confessed. “My son Paul needed a father. I thought Mr. Cox would be a good one, but Paul is gone and now I’m stuck.” Her eyes burned with determination. “I love Husher. We’re meant to be together. I’m so glad you’re here and you know these people. You can help me.”
Madison was once again lost at what to say. She remembered Annie being a little dramatic but never of this magnitude. “I don’t know Sir Husher at all. Does he feel the same about you?”
“No. He only came because he felt dutybound to do so, but that’s enough for now.” She smiled. “I want him, Madison. I want to be happy. It wasn’t my fault I was in the cave when Husher came for me. Why am I being punished for my father’s choices?”
Madison squeezed her hand. “Annie, you’re married.”
“For now,” Annie said. Her face brightened. “Mr. Cox is old. He won’t live for long.”
Madison’s stomach turned.
Leo’s voice startled her. “Madison, introduce me to your friend.”
Madison tried to keep the panic out of her eyes but apparently failed, because Leo pulled her away at the first opportunity.
He’d been forced to yank her out of Annie’s grip. “What’s wrong? What did Annie say?”
“I think her time in the cave has left her mind unsettled,” Madison confessed. “I think she needs to speak to someone.” Before she does something dangerous.
Leo nodded. “Van Dero plans to get a few more doctors to help everyone and plans to keep soldiers around them.” He rubbed her arms. “He’s going to take very good care of everyone. All will be well.” He smiled. “Trust me.”
Madison calmed and nodded. Soldiers and doctors would help everyone. She had nothing to worry about. She’d pray for Annie though. But just in case…
She shared her suspicions with her husband. “But I don’t want Annie hurt. She’s been through so much.”
Leo’s expression became thoughtful. “I’ll make sure Mr. Cox is given extra care and I’ll warn Husher to keep his distance.”
Husher seemed already aware of the need. Madison could see him circling the room in the opposite direction of Annie. He kept his distance.
She’d keep them in her thoughts.
∫ ∫ ∫
epilogue
* * *
Two Weeks Later
Madison laughed as Lady Serveck ran from the room. The moment Madison had mentioned she’d not only brought Edmond to London, but she’d also brought him to tonight’s event, the woman sped away to see him.
She and Leo were at Van Dero’s ball. Tonight, the gentlemen and ladies who’d been hiding from the public were returning to Society and so far, they’d all been politely received, but the tension was far too great to ignore.
It seemed half the city had been invited to Van Dero’s London estate. The mansion sat in a spread of acreage in the heart of Regent Park. Not a single member of the ton had refused his invitation.
There’d been some outburst early in the evening. One lord stomped away and breathed his outrage as he’d left the party. He’d assumed his cousin’s title, but now that his cousin was back, he and his wife would have to leave the estate.
It had been a terrible thing to witness. Instead of being glad that his cousin had managed to escape Gregory’s wrath, the man’s thoughts were selfish.
“Where has my grandmother run off to?” Leo asked as he approached with his brothers and their wives.
“To see Edmond.”
“I love that you feed him yourself,” Belle said. “I want to do the same with mine.”
“I think not,” Oliver said heatedly. “Your body belongs to me.” Then that heat changed from anger to need.
Belle’s eyes widened, and her cheeks went hot.
So did Madison’s. She turned away and giggled. The others laughed loudly.
“Well, it’s my decision,” Belle suddenly said.
“We’ll see,” her husband countered, confident that he’d win.
Belle crossed her arms. “It’s decided, and you don’t have long to get used to the idea, so I’d suggest you use your time wisely.”
Their entire group went silent.
Oliver turned to fully face his wife. “How long do I have?”
Belle swallowed and shrugged. “I don’t know. Six months or so?” She smiled. “I’m pregnant.”
Oliver’s eyes widened, and his mouth fell open.
Nick and Leo both grabbed his brother just as the man’s knees seemed to give.
But Oliver straightened as he received their congratulations. Still, his eyes stayed with Belle.
“I love you,” he told her.
“And I can feed my baby myself?” she asked as she spread her hands on her belly.
Oliver’s eyes dropped to her hand and then lifted to her face. “You can do whatever you want.”
Belle squealed and turned to everyone. “You heard him. Now we can all hold him accountable to those words for the rest of his life!”
Oliver barked a laugh and then took Belle’s hand. “Dance with me before I do something to embarrass us.”
Belle’s eyes glittered as her husband pulled her away.
“Congratulations,” Madison called after the happy couple.
Nick and Elisa followed.
Leo took her hand. “What would you like to do right now? Dance? Go see Edmond?” There was something in his eyes.
The same something she’d seen lurking there from earlier in the day.
“I miss Wess, too.”
Leo closed his eyes.
They’d taken him back to Heaton and only just arrived in London last evening.
The journey to Heaton had been wonderful. Leo had spent a great amount of time showing Wess different things and telling him stories about the places he’d seen. Wess confessed that he wanted to be just like his father and Leo hadn’t seemed to mind the sentiment in the least.
“We don’t have to stay for the whole Season,” Madison said. “We can go visit him later if you wish.”
Leo’s eyes opened. “You’d truly take that journey with me again?” It was a long way, especially w
ith a baby.
Madison nodded. “He’d want to see his little brother.”
Leo chuckled and kissed her hand. “You’re a treasure.” He escorted her amongst the other dancers and they took their place and swayed with the music.
As they moved about, Madison couldn’t help but take in the difference in her husband. He rarely brooded anymore. Laughter lingered in his eyes, often hours at a time. A consistent state of peace seemed to surround him.
She sent up a prayer of thanks and realized a moment later that she had no request. There were no petitions on her heart. Only gratitude.
She was thankful for life, mercy, and most of all, love.
∫ ∫ ∫
Keep Reading
From: Deborah Wilson
To: Beloved Readers
Subject: Next book in the series
Hi lovelies!
Thank you for reading The Long Awaited Lord, which is book 15 in the Valiant Love series.
The next book is targeted to release on 06th Jan.
While waiting for the next breathtaking book in the series…
I believe you will love to read the previous book in the series, which I had such a good time writing it.
Flip the page for a special first look at the previous book.
Thank you for reading my books and letting me serve you doing what I love!
xx Love,
Deborah Wilson
Author of Valiant Love series
PROLOGUE
1819
England, on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean
Lady Cebele Lawrence wrapped her shawl tighter around her arms as the wind fought to take it away. She stood with her boots planted in the sand and watched in wonder and fear as Oliver Childs climbed out of the ocean.
And he kept coming, rising up like a true Poseidon. His toned body seemed endless. Few men were built in such a way. Only inches away from seven feet, he was pure power.
Sand and water clung to his white shirt and dark breeches. His large bare feet left prints on the shore.
The air blew around him, tussling his red locks, which had darkened in the water. In a month, he’d grown out his hair and beard. The expression in his blue eyes was menacing.
He stopped before her, and Belle was forced to wrench her head back to meet his eyes.
He dripped on her, soaking her chest quickly, but she didn’t move away, not even when water from his head fell to her cheek.
The Marquess of Venmont’s property often looked ready for rain. With the water rushing up wildly against the rocks and the sky one continuous gray cloud, she’d spent nearly thirty days waiting for a storm.
And here it was.
There was no thunder or chilling rain. Only him.
Oliver’s anger was like lightning, making his eyes nearly glow.
She’d followed him here. When he’d left the estate, she trailed him through the trees, pressing forward through her tears, even as her muscles ached and her feet begged for rest.
Then she’d watched him walk into the sea, and there he’d remained for at least the last hour.
Every time his head disappeared under the dark water, she’d feared he’d not come back up.
She’d walked closer and closer to the edge of the sea and prayed for his safety and that she’d not pushed him too far.
“I can kill him,” Oliver said.
She shifted anxiously. “Who?”
“Van Dero.”
Belle’s eyes widened. “That’s impossible.”
“Nothing is impossible,” he murmured.
“You can’t kill Gregory and even if you could, you shouldn’t. He has terrible things set in place should he die from anything but natural causes. People, innocent people, will suffer if Gregory is murdered.” She’d known the Duke of Van Dero for years and though the old man was weak, his mind was strong and full of wickedness.
Her eyes filled with tears, and her voice shook. “Do you not think that I’ve wished for that very thing every day for the past thirteen years of my life? I’m twenty-five. I never wanted any of this.”
“I’ll speak to him.”
“No.” She shook her head and reached out. “Don’t.”
He avoided her touch and walked around her. “It’s too late. I’ve made my decision.”
“What do you mean?” She followed him back toward the forest. “Oliver, you can’t kill him.”
He stopped and turned to her. “I won’t, but I must speak to him.”
“What about?” She feared she knew.
“I’ll do what he wants but only if he lets you go.”
“No.” She grabbed him even though she knew he didn’t want her to. Her blood ran cold at the thought. “Never get involved with the duke. He’ll find some way to control you. He’ll own you as easily as he owns so many other lords.”
“But you’ll be free.” His brows remained furrowed. “I’ll kill his enemies.”
She frowned. “How could you say that? Have you killed before?”
He lifted a brow. “Why do you think he sent you to get me?”
A terrible shiver ripped through her.
He shrugged. “I’ll kill anyone he wants if it means he and his friends never get to touch you again.”
She swallowed. “He’ll never agree to that. He’ll never let me go.” She couldn’t even imagine such a life. “Don’t you see? You’re walking into a trap. I didn’t tell you the truth so that you’d do exactly what he wanted.”
He gripped her chin. “Yet, he knew I’d do it. For you.”
“No,” she begged. “I can’t let you do this for me.” How could he wish to set her free when their time together had been a lie? She’d been planted by the duke. She’d come to the marquess injured and claiming a group of strange men had hurt her.
But the men weren’t strange. They were the duke’s enemies, and it hadn’t even been them who’d beaten her. Gregory had had his footmen do the honors. It was all done in the hopes to tempt the Marquess of Venmont down his mountain and into the ugly games that were played in the darkest parts of London.
It seemed every lord was picking a side, and Gregory’s side grew stronger even as his body diminished.
She’d had thirty days to convince Venmont to avenge her, yet she’d spent that time doing something else.
Falling in love.
“Don’t give him what he wants.” Her tears fell freely. “Don’t do this for me, please. I’m already ruined.”
He was quiet and then he brushed her tears and said, “So am I.” And with that, he started toward the house again.
* * *
Lord Van Dero pulled out a paper and slid it across to Oliver. Gregory’s pale hands shook as he moved it across the desk. Though he looked at death’s door, his eyes burned with excitement.
They had been since the moment Oliver walked in.
There were four other men in the room. Soldiers with guns. They’d shoot Oliver if he made the wrong move. This meeting would end with peace or death.
It took every memory of Belle’s broken and bruised body to keep him calm. If he wanted, he could take two of the guards and Lord Van Dero out with the daggers strapped to his front, but he wasn’t sure he could kill the two behind him before they shot him.
“As you can see,” the duke went on. “I own Lady Cebele Lawrence for the next seven years. After that, she is free to go.”
Oliver's stomach turned as he looked over the documented proof of Belle’s enslavement. She hadn’t been lying. The contract was old and had been signed between the Duke of Van Dero and Belle’s father.
She was in debt bondage.
It was 1819. How could this be? “Is this legal?” He couldn’t believe a father could sell his child. His own father had done unthinkable things to him and his brothers but never anything like this.
“Legal enough,” Gregory said. “But keep in mind, you and I work on a different system. I’m contracting you to kill three lords and after that, anyone else I point a
finger at. In exchange, you get Cebele’s body.”
“Her body?”
“I will keep her mind,” Gregory said. “She’s pretty, but there is more to her than meets the eye. She’s learned a great deal from me since she came to serve me. I have grown to depend on her thoughts.” He smiled. “She’s a clever woman. She shall remain in my service, but I vow that no one but you may have her for sexual purposes.”
He fought for his breath when he realized what he was being told.
He’d seen so much in his life and had suffered so much.
Nothing was worse than this.
Belle had told him that Gregory had put her up to the ruse. She was to lure him here. She’d had no choice.
He hadn’t known just how deep her pain ran though, only that she feared the duke.
He looked over the contract again and looked for a start and end date.
His mouth fell open and before he could think. he unhooked a blade and stabbed Gregory though the hand that still rested on the desk.
Gregory paled.
“She was twelve!” Oliver roared.
“No!” Gregory shouted to the men who stood around him. The old man was breathing through his pain. His dark eyes were wide. To Oliver, he hissed, “You’ll regret that.”
“I should kill you now,” Oliver said.
“Her father offered her to me,” Gregory said in his own defense. The fear had left his eyes. “I didn’t ask for her.”
“You could have refused.”
Gregory took another deep breath. “That is the past. We are here to discuss her future.” He looked at the blade. “Take it out and sit back down, Lord Venmont.”
Oliver did neither. “I’m taking her away.”
Gregory smiled. His smile was no longer that of a man in pain. “Do it but know that you kill a hundred innocent people when you do.”
Oliver stilled. “What do you mean?”
“My walls have ears. There are men waiting for my command. Should I die today or end this meeting without a new contract, they will kill men, women, and children. Babies, too.” He laughed. “Maybe even a few young men like your brothers. Do you even know where Leonard is?”
The Long Awaited Lord Page 31
