Protected by the Major

by Anne Herries

  ‘I heard something about Lord Ravenscar’s son Mark being foully murdered, but do not know the details,’ Madeline said. ‘Please tell me only enough so that I may not trample on his father’s feelings unaware.’

  ‘Mark was murdered here at his home,’ Jenny said. ‘Adam, Hal and Paul discovered the murderer’s identity and he has paid for his foul deed. But do not let us speak of it, for you have problems of your own.’

  ‘You must not pity me,’ Madeline said. ‘My marriage was not a happy one and I am relieved to be free of it, though shocked, of course, by the circumstances of his death. This other business remains a mystery for we do not truly know who tried to have me abducted, though we suspect it to be the Marquis of Rochdale.’

  ‘Adam told me that he knew the marquis to be a wicked man who might stoop to an act of this nature. You must be very careful not to give him an opportunity to harm you.’

  ‘Yes, I know. It is the reason I am so grateful to you for giving me a home until things are settled. I am not certain of my situation, though I hope to have a home of my own in the future.’

  ‘You do not wish to return to your family?’

  ‘No, I think not—if I have a choice.’

  ‘Is Hal to act on your behalf in the matter of your settlement?’ Jenny asked. ‘I know that Adam or Lord Ravenscar would be glad to help if you needed advice.’

  ‘I think my father intends to claim the estate in my name, but I need very little,’ Madeline said. ‘I dare say there may be papers from the lawyers to sign—and I should be glad of advice if Hal were not here when they came.’

  ‘He has promised to stay with us for a few weeks while his estate is being refurbished,’ Jenny said, smiling. ‘He and Adam are good friends and I think they intend to go into business together—and of course they both wish to be of help to their uncle until Paul returns.’

  ‘Yes, I believe Hal mentioned something of the sort,’ Madeline agreed. They had reached the upper landing and Jenny stopped outside one of the guest bedchambers. She opened the door and invited Madeline to enter. ‘This is one of my favourite rooms in the house. It is normally given to a couple, but it is large and I thought you would find it comfortable. If you stay with us some weeks, as I hope, you may spread your own things about and make it home.’

  Madeline thanked her and after some more conversation, Jenny left her to make herself comfortable. Sally had already unpacked her small trunk but she was aware of how few clothes she had at her disposal. It had been well enough to wear the same simple dress for three days at the farm and then let Sally wash it, but it would not do here. Somehow she must acquire more clothes, even if it meant parting with some of her precious trinkets.

  Madeline allowed herself a sigh. She did not wish herself in possession of a great fortune, but she could wish for some of the clothes and personal possessions she’d been forced to leave behind.

  Her life was still precarious for she did not truly know how she was to go on in the future. She must discover how she stood with regard to the settlement that ought to have been hers from the start of her marriage and at least to recover some of her own things. If nothing more, she must be entitled to recover her clothes.

  She would speak to Hal about it later, she decided. She ought to write to her father, but she did not wish him to demand her return to his house, which he had the right to do since she was not yet five and twenty and no longer a wife.

  Glancing at herself in the beautiful dressing mirror, she tidied her hair and her gown before going down to join her hostess in the parlour for tea.

  * * *

  ‘I can see why you were devastated when she married Lethbridge,’ Adam said when he and Hallam were alone in Lord Ravenscar’s library. ‘She is very lovely—and will be quite wealthy, I imagine, once his estate is settled.’

  ‘From what Sir Matthew told me, the count had no family whatsoever. I suppose that was why he was desperate to get himself an heir. One can understand it in the circumstances, but he was a devil to Madeline. I cannot be sorry he is dead, Adam—though to shoot a man in the back is cowardly work.’

  ‘Yes, most disagreeable. It leaves one with a bad taste in the mouth. But Madeline must be relieved to be free at last.’

  ‘He treated her abominably.’

  ‘Yes, most unfortunate for her. Still, I confess I am glad you were not the one that killed him, Hal. I know you would have killed him for her sake, but it would have been a shadow over your life.’

  ‘Yes, perhaps,’ Hallam agreed. ‘Murder is a foul crime, Adam, and it did feel a little like that to shoot in cold blood. But he shot first and would’ve killed me if he could. I feel no regret for his death.’

  ‘Nor should you—though someone undoubtedly took advantage of the situation to murder him. You have no idea who it was?’

  ‘No...unless...’ Hallam shook his head. ‘It occurs to me that it may have been the same person who tried to abduct Madeline. Rochdale wants her and I believe Lethbridge owed him a large sum of money.’

  ‘Would any man do murder for such a thing?’

  ‘A man like that would do worse. I fear for her, Adam. If I should fail her, she would be at his mercy.’

  ‘You should not doubt your abilities, Hal.’

  ‘I would back myself against any man in a fair fight, but a damned rogue who could murder a man and then attempt to abduct his wife does not fight fair.’

  ‘Indeed, you are right. I’ve spoken to my uncle. We shall double the guards patrolling the grounds while she is here,’ Adam said and frowned. ‘If you fear for her, you must expose this man for the devil he is, Hal. It would not be possible for you to protect your own estate as we may Ravenscar.’

  ‘I know—but it will not be easy. Rochdale covers his tracks well. I made a few enquiries in London and, apart from a few whispers of depravity was unable to discover anything that could have him arrested.’

  ‘I trust you do not plan to challenge the marquis to a duel?’

  ‘No, for it would not serve. I have never met the man to my knowledge, other than to glimpse him at a large gathering, and I doubt he would oblige me.’

  ‘Have you considered going abroad to live?’

  ‘It would not be my first choice,’ Hal told him. ‘I shall try to discover what Rochdale wants of Maddie. If he is willing to settle for money, she would be better paying him off.’

  ‘It seems to me that her family has served her ill. Her father should never have let her marry Lethbridge.’

  ‘He had little choice for the count could have ruined him.’

  ‘Yet to give one’s daughter to such a man...’ Adam shook his head, then his gaze narrowed. ‘Do you intend to ask her to marry you?’

  ‘Yes, of course, in time. I must settle my affairs first and she must observe a period of mourning. I would marry her at once, but I must have thought for the future. I should not wish her to be censured by society.’

  ‘No, most certainly not,’ Adam agreed instantly. ‘She will be safe enough here, Hal. But I should not permit her to return to her father if I were you. He might see a way to use her to his own advantage.’

  ‘Yes, I did see a gleam in his eyes when he learned she was a widow.’

  ‘He sold his daughter to a man not fit to kiss her feet,’ Adam said. ‘A man like that might do anything.’

  ‘Well, Maddie thinks much the same and has expressed a wish not to return to her former home. I intend to enquire into the particulars of the count’s estate. While I am uninterested in his fortune, she is entitled to the settlement left her by her grandfather, which ought to have been protected in law. I should wish her to have that for her own use. You know my circumstances. I cannot give her as much as I would wish, Adam. Indeed, had she not been in danger, I dare say I should not have thought of approaching her again.’

  ‘
Because she broke your heart?’

  ‘That...and the fact that she could do so much better. She has been used to moving in the highest circles. I can offer only a medium-sized house in the country and a comfortable living. If she had something of her own, it might serve and she could spend a few weeks in town if we had what is due to her. I do not wish to make her a prisoner of poverty after the life she has led.’

  ‘You are worthy of any woman,’ Adam said. ‘Pray do not undervalue yourself, Hal. Besides, your fortunes will come about in time. We shall make a reasonable living from importing wines together. I believe you have more to offer than you know.’

  Hal smiled and agreed, but he could not help wondering how Maddie would take to living in a small country house. He would naturally give her all the comforts he could, but he was unable to offer a smart London house or to give her all the jewels and clothes she deserved. It was his intention to see what could be recovered of her personal possessions, but as to the huge fortune that might come her way...it was his opinion that they would do better without it, even if it was on offer to them.

  * * *

  ‘You look lovely this evening,’ Hal said when she came down to the drawing room before dinner that night. ‘That colour becomes you, Maddie.’

  ‘The gown belongs to Jenny,’ she replied, a faint flush in her cheeks. ‘Sally had time to put up only a few gowns for me and she chose the simplest she could find, for she knew we must go into hiding. They were very well for the farm, but not right for dinner here. Jenny saw my lack and loaned me this gown. It fits well enough for we are much the same size, though I prefer my gowns to be a trifle more modest. Jenny bought this in Paris and it was all the rage there—but I am glad to have a stole to cover my shoulders.’

  He smiled and reached for her hand, carrying it to his lips to place a kiss within the palm. ‘You are too modest, Maddie. You look charming—and this style is all the rage even in London now.’

  ‘Yes, perhaps.’ A flush of heat touched her cheeks. ‘I fear to wear such gowns for they draw the eye of gentlemen I prefer not to notice me. Lethbridge liked even more immodest gowns—I believe it was the gown he forced me to wear that night that brought the marquis to attempt seduction.’

  ‘Rochdale is not here, Maddie,’ Hal said gently. ‘Adam is a perfect gentleman and I would never do anything to hurt or distress you.’

  ‘I know.’ She lifted her eyes to his with a look of appeal. ‘You do not know what my husband did to me sometimes. The different ways he hurt me, Hal. I have not told you, but after the first few weeks of our marriage he was unable...he could not play his part in my bed...and he blamed me.’

  ‘Was he violent to you?’ Hal asked, a little nerve flicking at his temple.

  ‘Yes, sometimes. He often pinched me, but his rages took all forms. He would shout and throw things, smash things I liked and tear my pretty gowns. He accused me of pride and coldness and withheld anything he knew might please me’

  ‘I wish that I had known—that I could have taken you away.’

  ‘Until I had discovered and burned my father’s notes I dared not leave him. He gave me jewels, but only allowed me to wear them when it pleased him, and he never released my settlement. When I fled I had only a few trinkets of my late grandmother’s.’

  ‘I shall recover what I can for you,’ Hal promised. He reached out and touched her cheek. Madeline did not draw away, but he saw a flicker of something in her eyes and knew that he would have to be careful with his lovemaking. She had been ill treated and would need to overcome her nervousness of physical affection.

  ‘I know...I do not trust my father to handle my affairs, Hal. He is a gambler and even though he no longer has the threat of his debt to Lethbridge, he might seek to keep as much of my late husband’s fortune as he can. And he might withhold what is rightly mine to force me to return home.’

  ‘I shall look after everything—if you give me your permission?’

  ‘I wish you would do so,’ Madeline said fervently. ‘I want only my clothes, my personal possessions and the settlement that was mine on marriage, but withheld.’

  ‘You may be entitled to more,’ Hal said. ‘If you refuse it, Lethbridge’s fortune might revert to the Crown with his title.’

  ‘Please do what you think right,’ Madeline said, looking at him with such appeal that it took all his strength of will not to gather her into his arms and tell her of his love. ‘I know only that I want to forget that I was ever married to that man.’

  ‘You shall forget it,’ Hal promised. He leaned towards her, brushing his lips lightly over hers, keeping his hands away from her so that she should not fear what he might do next. ‘I want you to be happy, Maddie. You have told me how he hurt you. Please believe that I would never hurt you in such a way. I care for and respect you too much—and it is my hope that we may marry one day.’

  ‘Oh, Hal,’ she said, her voice catching. ‘I think I should like that so much, but...’

  ‘You know it cannot be yet,’ he said and ran a gentle finger down her cheek. ‘We need time to get to know one another again. You were badly hurt...’

  ‘Yes.’ She did not deny it, her voice faltering as she added, ‘I would wish to be the wife you want, Hal, but...I do need time to know you, time to forget what happened.’

  ‘Of course,’ he said. ‘We are fortunate to have such good friends. Here we shall have all the privacy we wish for and the time to become accustomed to one another.’

  Hal stood back, controlling his raging emotions. Once he would have swept her into his arms and kissed her passionately, but he was afraid of frightening her, of giving her a disgust of him. He’d seen her reaction to the marquis’s lovemaking and would not have her recoil from him in that way.

  Hal must show her that there was another side to loving, a sweetness and satisfaction that came from tenderness and concern one for the other. He knew that if he could ease away the painful memories she would respond with all the sweetness and trust that she’d once had towards him. He would need to be patient, but she was worth waiting for...if only that devil Lethbridge had not made it impossible for her to love and trust again.

  * * *

  Afterwards, when she went up to her bedchamber, accompanied by her smiling hostess, Madeline thought it one of the most pleasant evenings she’d ever spent. For the first time in years she could retire to a comfortable room and bed without the fear that her husband would arrive to pinch and taunt her. Even at the farm she had not been able to sleep because she feared her husband would discover her.

  Lethbridge was dead. She was no longer bound to him by her father’s debt and could follow her own inclinations. The feeling of freedom was wonderful and she was smiling as she sat down and allowed Sally to brush her long hair free of its pins and curls.

  ‘Are you feeling happier now, my lady?’ Sally asked as she smoothed the brush over her thick hair.

  ‘Yes, and more relaxed.’ She looked at Sally’s reflection in the mirror and noticed that she was tight with anxiety. ‘You must not worry too much. Thomas was delayed for some reason and when he gets to the farm he will have yet another journey here.’

  ‘Yes, I know, but I cannot help thinking if someone took him prisoner to make him tell where you had gone...’

  ‘Oh, but you must not fear him dead. Thomas is too clever to be taken in by their threats. I am sure he will come to us soon, Sally—and if he does not, I will ask Major Ravenscar to make enquiries.’

  ‘I pray you are right, my lady,’ Sally said. ‘Thomas spoke of buying a small inn for us. You would not wish to live with us now, but if I knew you were safe here I might agree to wed him.’

  ‘I know you love him,’ Madeline said and smiled at her. ‘I may have some money of my own soon, Sally. I could then pay your wages and employ Thomas as my secretary for he is too clever to be a footman all h
is life—but if you prefer, I will give you something and you may marry him with my good wishes.’

  ‘I should like to remain with you, at least until I had a child,’ Sally told her, ‘but I must ask Thomas what he wishes to do for I love him. I would not like it if he took another girl in my place.’

  ‘I am sure he would not. He adores you,’ Madeline said. ‘You are fortunate to have such devotion, but I know you love him in return.’

  ‘Yes, I do,’ Sally agreed and smiled.

  * * *

  The following morning Jenny took Madeline visiting with her in the carriage. They were accompanied by two grooms and driven by Lord Ravenscar’s own coachman, ensuring their safety.

  ‘Adam insisted we use the carriage. I should have driven us in my phaeton, for he has been teaching me to drive a pair and I enjoy driving a team about the estate, but he thought it best we take the carriage and grooms to accompany us in the circumstances.’

  ‘How you must curse me,’ Madeline said. ‘To have your freedom curtailed because of me must irk you, Jenny.’

  ‘No, of course not, think nothing if it.’ Jenny smiled and shook her head. ‘Adam fusses over me too much—but he loves me and I do not wish him to be anxious.’

  ‘Certainly not,’ Madeline agreed. She said no more about it, but Jenny’s careless remark had made her realise that her presence at the house might place Hal’s friends in some danger and was certainly inconvenient.

  She enjoyed the morning spent visiting Jenny’s friends and envied her, her uncomplicated life and the happiness her marriage had brought her. How wonderful to be that confident, to love and know you are loved—to have no fear of love. Having seen the way Jenny went to her husband’s arms so willingly, lifting her face for his kiss with such a look of joy, made Madeline realise that there must be pleasure to be found in marriage—if only she could forget the hurt inflicted on her.