Regency Wagers

by Diane Gaston

  Linette ran in, coming to a stop when she noticed the strange lady seated next to her mother. Her thumb went into her mouth.

  Resigned, Madeleine said. ‘It is all right, Linette. Come give a curtsy to Miss Duprey.’

  Linette, still sucking on her thumb, wobbled on one leg as she tried to accomplish her mother’s request.

  ‘Your child?’ Emily asked, her eyes wide.

  Madeleine nodded.

  ‘Lord Farley’s?’ she asked.

  Madeleine shook her head.

  Emily stared at the little girl who climbed into her mother’s lap and laid her head against her mother’s breast, rubbing her eyes.

  Emily’s gaze met Madeleine’s and held there for several moments. ‘She is Lord Devlin’s.’

  Madeleine nodded. She did not expect Emily to understand how wonderful it was for her to have Linette, to believe that Devlin was indeed Linette’s father and that a part of him would always be with her in Linette.

  Emily walked to the window. ‘Why should Lord Devlin pretend to be courting me or any other lady while living here with you and…and this child? What game has he been playing?’

  A game to win money, money enough to support her and their daughter, a coil Madeleine had forced upon him.

  She could not tell her sister this. The best she could do was preserve Devlin’s chances to marry whomever he wished.

  ‘I am not fit to be his wife, Emily. Not after Lord Farley. I assure you, I was no more than a momentary indiscretion on Devlin’s part, but he would not abandon us.’

  Emily rubbed her brow. ‘It is of no consequence, I suppose. Tell Lord Devlin he may resist Father’s trickery. I will not place any damage to my reputation at Lord Devlin’s door. He has no obligation to me, and so I will say to anyone. I’ll threaten to expose what Father has done to you. That will stop him.’

  It would also expose her family to terrible scandal. ‘I do not wish for our family to be hurt—’

  ‘Father, hurt? He would never take such a chance. Leave it to me.’ Emily briskly retrieved her reticule from the side table and headed toward the door. ‘I must leave.’

  ‘No, not so soon,’ cried Madeleine, jumping to her feet with Linette still in her arms. Please, allow her a little bit of family for a few minutes more.

  Emily turned back to her, the pinched expression on her face softening. Gently she touched Madeleine’s cheek. ‘I was always so jealous of you, Madeleine, more reason for me to feel guilt when I thought you dead.’

  ‘Jealous of me?’

  ‘You are quite a dazzling beauty.’ Emily smiled at her with a wistful expression. ‘That year before you disappeared, you had grown so pretty, you cast Jessame and me into the shade. We were green with envy.’ She gave a little sigh and kissed Madeleine’s cheek. ‘I am glad you are alive. Please thank Lord Devlin for being so kind to me. I have had the loveliest time this Season.’

  Madeleine could think of nothing to say to this. Emily strode purposefully toward the door, pausing on the threshold. ‘Madeleine?’

  Madeleine rushed to her side. ‘Yes?’

  She gave a little laugh. ‘I do not have the least notion how to get back home. Do you know where I can find a hack?’

  Madeleine gave a tentative smile. ‘Wait a moment. Linette and I will walk with you. There will be a hack near the shops.’

  As they walked toward the shops, Madeleine begged for news about Jessame and Robert, thirstily drinking in each small tidbit of information Emily provided. Neither spoke of their parents. As they walked, a stylish phaeton came into view, the gentleman holding the ribbons doing an admirable job controlling a pair of spirited chestnuts.

  ‘Oh, my goodness,’ said Emily. ‘It is Amanda Reynolds.’

  The young lady seated next to the phaeton’s driver was the loveliest creature Madeleine had ever seen, fair, delicate, with blonde curls peeping out of a modish bonnet. Her stylish fawn-coloured dress, topped by a matching spencer, adorned a perfect figure.

  ‘Who is she?’ she asked.

  The two sisters paused to watch these passers-by.

  ‘The Diamond I told you about,’ Emily said. ‘And I believe that is Devlin’s friend with her. She does not like him above half. How shocking for them to be riding together with no more than a tiger for chaperon. What could it mean?’

  Madeleine only half attended to these words. Her eyes were fixed on the Diamond, who looked beautiful even seated in silence next to the gentleman. Devlin’s friend, another unknown piece of Devlin’s life on the town.

  Her knowledge of him was confined to their apartments and the few places he could take her. She could not have known he’d attracted this exquisite lady.

  As the phaeton rolled past, the Diamond turned around and caught Madeleine’s gaze.

  Emily quickly covered her face with the brim of her bonnet. ‘I must not let her see me.’

  A hack pulled up at the end of the street, and Madeleine and Emily rushed over to it. After a swift hug, Madeleine bundled her sister into the vehicle and waved her goodbye, watching until the hack drove completely out of sight.

  Lord Farley paced the pavement across the street from Devlin Steele’s apartments, waiting. It had become his practice to spend some part of each day or night in this neighbourhood. He often caught a glimpse of Madeleine, but she was always accompanied by Steele, that brutish-looking man of his, or that insipid little maid.

  He could hardly believe his good fortune when she bid goodbye to the female who walked out of the house with her. She was alone at last. The child did not matter. Farley crossed the street, timing it so that he placed himself between her and her door. She was as absorbed as ever in the child and did not attend to his approach.

  He stepped directly in her path. She looked up and gave a strangled cry.

  He smiled at her, his most winning smile, the one he’d used to attract her in the first place. ‘Madeleine, my dear, it is my pleasure to see you.’

  Her eyes darted to both sides and she protectively grasped her daughter’s hand. ‘Let me by, if you please.’

  ‘I wish to speak to you.’ He placed his hand on her shoulder. She wrenched away.

  She picked up the child and tried to walk past him. ‘I have no wish to speak to you.’

  He blocked her way, putting his arm tightly around her waist so that she could not easily squirm away. She struggled nevertheless. He held her more tightly against his side. With his mouth tantalisingly close to her ear, he said, ‘I want you back, Madeleine.’ He did not resist the opportunity, but let his tongue lap the delicate skin of her earlobe.

  The sharp heel of her walking boot pounded into his foot. Pain shot through him and he dropped his hold on her. She hurried away, but not quickly enough.

  He caught her arm and held it vise-like, his lips again near her ear. ‘You will return to me, Madeleine, or one dark night that pretty soldier of yours will find a knife in his back.’

  ‘No!’ She struggled. The child began to cry.

  Farley wrapped his fingers with Linette’s curls. ‘I wonder how easy it would be to snatch this child? The chimney sweeps would pay a pretty price for her, I own. Or perhaps a gentleman might fancy some sport with her?’

  ‘Do not touch her!’ shrieked Madeleine.

  ‘I repeat, Madeleine. Return to me or I will carry out my threats. You will never know when I am about. I will get them, both of them, you may be sure.’

  A man walked up to them with a swift step.

  ‘Sir! Sir! Help me!’

  The man faced Farley. ‘Let the lady go.’

  ‘This is not your affair,’ Farley protested. ‘It is only a trifling bit of spirit from my fancy piece here. Nothing to trouble you.’

  ‘No, do not heed him,’ Madeleine pleaded.

  The man grabbed Farley by the back of his collar, pulling so forcefully, his breath was cut off.

  ‘Unhand her,’ the man growled.

  Farley, gasping futilely for air, knew when the cards dealt could
not be played. He acquiesced.

  ‘Be gone.’

  Farley brushed off his coat. Before he turned to leave, he bowed to Madeleine. ‘Remember what I said, my dear. I will carry out my plans.’

  Farley strolled off, taking care not to look nonplussed.

  Madeleine clutched at Linette, whose little arms were tight around her neck and whose head was buried into her shoulder. ‘I cannot thank you enough, sir. We are truly in your debt.’

  The man bowed. ‘Glad to be of service. May I escort you to your destination?’

  Madeleine recognised the gentleman as the man who, moments before, had driven by with the Diamond. Devlin’s friend.

  ‘Thank you, but I am near my residence…’ Madeleine glanced toward her door, just a few houses away.

  The Diamond stood at the top of the steps at her door, watching her with interest. Madeleine could not avoid her, too afraid to go somewhere else until they drove off.

  She allowed Devlin’s friend to walk her to her door as Miss Reynolds watched. Madeleine halted. ‘We are here. Thank you, sir.’

  ‘Here?’ he asked. ‘These are Devlin Steele’s apartments.’

  As Miss Reynolds stood decorously, Madeleine said in a feeble voice, ‘I…I am in his employ.’

  ‘Indeed?’ A smile, somewhat cynical, flashed across his face. Miss Reynolds looked shocked.

  ‘Well,’ said the gentleman agreeably. ‘Let me make our introductions.’ He gestured to the ethereal creature at his elbow. ‘This is Miss Reynolds, and I am Captain Ramsford, a friend of Lord Devlin’s.’

  ‘Mama, I want Deddy!’ whimpered Linette.

  Ramsford’s eyebrows shot up, and Miss Reynold’s mouth fell open.

  Blushing, Madeleine hurried to the door. ‘I will see if Lord Devlin is at home.’

  She rushed inside with Linette, caring not if they thought it rude to be kept waiting on the doorstep like tradesmen. Linette curled up on the stairs, still looking frightened. Madeleine called for Devlin, but there was no answer.

  Before she stepped back outside she heard Lord Ramsford and Miss Reynolds through the crack in the door.

  ‘Oh, my goodness,’ Miss Reynolds cried.

  ‘Compose yourself. You will see Devlin by and by.’ He added in a mocking tone, ‘In the meantime, you may depend on me.’

  Noting Miss Reynolds used Devlin’s given name, Madeleine stepped back outside. ‘Lord Devlin is not at home.’

  Ramsford peered at her quizzically. ‘A pity.’ He turned to Miss Reynolds. ‘We have come on a fool’s errand, as I predicted. Now, perhaps you will allow me to convey you home.’

  Miss Reynolds gave him a scathing glance. Her forehead wrinkled, and she spoke to Madeleine. ‘Who was that man who accosted you?’

  Madeleine blinked. ‘No one you should know, my lady.’

  ‘Are you all right, Miss…?’ Miss Reynolds lifted her eyebrows, obviously wanting Madeleine to reveal her name.

  Madeleine lowered her eyes. ‘I shall require no further assistance.’ She ignored the other request. ‘If you will forgive me, I must see to my daughter.’

  Without a glance back, Madeleine rushed through the doorway, bolted the door, and went directly to Linette. ‘Come, darling,’ she said soothingly. ‘The bad man will not scare us again.’

  The afternoon crept by, spent soothing Linette, entertaining her and attempting to still her own agitation from the afternoon events. Madeleine longed for Devlin to return home. She had decided to warn him only about her father’s trickery and Farley’s threat. If he did not wish her to know of the Diamond, she would pretend ignorance. In any event, her future would be unchanged.

  As time wore on, Madeleine grew more uneasy. When she peeked out the front windows, there always seemed to be some man loitering near the lamppost across the street. Not Farley, but familiar figures. His lackeys. He was having her watched.

  Each minute Devlin did not return caused her increased agitation. She pictured him bleeding in some alleyway, a knife thrust into his back. And if that image were not disturbing enough, she envisioned him in the arms of the beautiful Diamond.

  She jumped at a sharp knock on the door. With a pounding heart, she peered out the window. It was not Farley, nor one of his men, but a footman dressed in Heronvale livery. She opened the door. The footman handed her a note and left.

  The note was addressed to her. With trembling fingers, she broke the seal and read: My dearest Maddy. I am called away on urgent business. Everything will be settled upon my return. I will be gone only one night and will be home for dinner tomorrow. Explain to Bart. Kiss Linette for me. Yours, etc., D.S.

  She folded the paper again, her heart pounding in her chest. What urgent business was this? Did it involve the Diamond, perhaps? Well, at least Farley could not make good his threat. Devlin would not be killed in some alleyway this night.

  Madeleine sat down again with her sewing, trying to calm herself. Linette played close by at her feet. Through the crack in the curtains, she watched two men conversing. They scrutinised the house. How long before they determined she and Linette were alone?

  She pricked her finger with the needle and put her finger to her mouth to stop the bleeding.

  She’d be damned if she would sit here and wait for Farley to come after her. Even if Farley captured her, he would still make good on his threats to Devlin and Linette. She knew Farley too well. Nothing would save the two people she loved as long as that man breathed life.

  Madeleine’s pricked finger remained poised in the air. Was that something she could do? She set her sewing on the side table and absorbed herself in thought. She could sneak back to Farley’s establishment and wait for him. Surprise would be on her side. She could wait until he slept. Then she could kill him.

  Almost without effort, the plan formed itself in her head. First, she would take Linette to the Marquess and Marchioness. They wanted to adopt her and would be very pleased to have her. Linette would receive every advantage under their care, and, if things went wrong, Farley would not dare to touch a child under the Marquess’s protection.

  But would Devlin be safe? The only way to be sure was to kill Farley. Devlin could then marry Miss Reynolds with no impediment. And have a happy life.

  If she were caught, she would be hanged. If she escaped, she must disappear forever. If she failed…well, she must not fail.

  Rushing over to the desk, she composed a farewell letter to Devlin. She had to write it several times before sealing the final effort. The bleakness of the task made her hand tremble. How to tell him to forget her? How to tell him how much she loved him? How to explain this was the only thing to be done?

  At dusk, Madeleine, donned yet another costume. With her newly acquired sewing skills, she altered some old clothes of Devlin’s, stitching the trousers so that they fit her slim hips and came over her walking boots. She found an old cap of Bart’s to cover her hair, and a caped coat. Shortened and its cuffs removed, the coat was large enough to hide Linette beneath and Devlin’s sabre behind. Farley’s lackeys would be watching the back door as well as the front, but the house shared an area with other residences, so a boy walking out the back would not arouse suspicion. She took the risk of leaving candles burning in the house to look as if they were at home.

  She enlisted Linette’s cooperation by promising her a visit to the Marquess, who would let her see his horses. She also promised that Linette would see Devlin soon, and that she would have a supreme adventure, but first she must be quiet and still, so the bad man would not discover them.

  Linette played her role beautifully, as did Madeleine. A boy in a big coat sauntered down the street to no one’s notice.

  It was dark when Madeleine reached the Marquess’s town house. She had no idea how to discover the servants’ entrance, so she strode up to the front door. The huge brass knocker was removed. There was nothing to do but rap on the door with her knuckles.

  The Heronvale butler opened the door and looked disapprovingly at her.

/>   ‘Be gone, ruffian,’ he ordered through a crack in the door.

  ‘Please, sir, wait. It is Miss England. Do you remember me? I must see the Marquess. It will only take a moment.’

  The elderly man’s eyes grew huge as he gaped at her. ‘The Marquess and Marchioness are not at home.’

  The strap that she had devised to hold Linette dug into her neck, but she dared not reveal the child’s presence. ‘May I wait for them, please?’

  The man regarded her with a concerned look. ‘His lordship and ladyship intend to spend an indefinite time at Heronvale.’

  Heronvale?

  Madeleine walked down the long steps to the street. This spoiled her plans to be rid of Farley and herself before Devlin returned. She must travel to Heronvale first.

  She found her way to the Marquess’s stable, where once she had come with Devlin for an early morning ride. She crept inside when the stable boy was not looking. It was not difficult to find a secluded corner in which to hide, nor to convince Linette to be very quiet so they could sleep next to the horses.

  When the first rays of light shone through the stable windows, Madeleine rose and searched for the saddles. She was tightening the cinch when the stable door opened and the head groom walked in.

  ‘See here!’ he shouted, rushing over to her and grabbing her around the waist.

  ‘Mama! Mama!’ Linette shouted as she flung her arms around Madeleine’s legs.

  ‘What the devil…?’ the groom exclaimed.

  Madeleine recognised him as the man who had been with Devlin the night she had run away from the Marquess’s town house.

  ‘The Marchioness gave me permission. Do you recall me, sir? I am Lord Devlin’s…friend.’

  ‘Does he know you are here?’ the man asked.

  ‘No, Lord Devlin is away. That is why I must go to the Marquess. Lord Devlin told me I should.’ Madeleine struggled for an explanation that would win his cooperation.

  ‘Mama?’ Linette gripped the cloth of Madeleine’s trousers.

  The groom straightened. ‘Who is this?’

  ‘My daughter.’