by Tracy Kay
“But that means inviting her daughters.” Gretchen wrinkled her nose at the idea.
“I know, but it can’t be helped. You do not want on Lady Worton’s bad side. Also, I want you to invite the Farringtons,” she said as she got up and handed back Gretchen’s list.
“Why? Isn’t Aaron Farrington, Lord Brumley, the one who is trying to kill Joselyn,” Gretchen asked, a little surprised at Madeline’s request.
“We don’t know that for sure,” Madeline answered as she resettled herself in the settee. “But I want his family invited. He has several sons I believe and I am hoping at least one of them will attend. I want to try and dig for some information. You never know what one of them might let slip.”
“Then on the list they go,” Gretchen dipped her pen in the ink well and wrote down Lady Worton and Lord Brumley’s names on her list. “What about Henry Cummings and Marshall Nevell? Haven’t they been calling on you and Joselyn a lot recently?”
“Yes, they have. They both want to marry Joselyn. Neither of them could possibly be interested in me. They both know my brother would never approve of either one of them,” Madeline replied in amusement. Even if her brother did approve such ridiculous matches, she would refuse them both. If she had to marry, she wanted a man similar to her older brothers.
“Obviously, they must be calling for Joselyn. They are quite beneath you,” Gretchen remarked absently, scanning through her lists. She was secretly pleased that Joselyn had chosen not to visit today. Although she would never say it to Madeline, Gretchen wasn’t fond of Joselyn. She thought the woman was spiteful and untrustworthy. Simply, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something not right with her.
“Obviously. But the odd thing is that neither Joselyn nor I have had any other callers since this whole thing started. I guess death threats scare some men off,” Madeline mused off-handedly.
“I guess.” Gretchen shrugged before asking again, “What should we do about Lord Henry and Lord Marshall?”
“Invite them. It wouldn’t hurt and it will annoy Joselyn,” Madeline grinned impishly, still irked with the woman and pleased that she could cause Joselyn some aggravation.
“Why do you wish to annoy Joselyn?” James Malany, Gretchen’s younger brother, inquired as he entered the room. James was a handsome, young man with light brown hair and hazel eyes.
“She is not exactly in my good graces at the moment, James.” Madeline pitied Joselyn, particularly since her brother’s death, and now her aunt’s death, but it still didn’t excuse her actions and attitude towards her family.
“Why not?” James questioned as he sprawled in the sofa across from Madeline.
“I had a bit of a fight with her after the kidnapping attempt. She was calling my brothers tyrants and being her usual dramatic self,” Madeline grumbled with displeasure. “I had enough and told her if she didn’t like my brothers’ protection, she could leave. Also, I told her that we were aware that she uses us, and I mentioned that I could destroy her if I wanted.” Madeline gave an uncharacteristic shrug of nonchalance.
James whistled low. “You were angry.” He liked Madeline. He thought she was spirited, humorous, and beautiful. If he thought he had a chance with her and if he was ready to settle down, he would ask for her hand. Indeed, he would.
“That isn’t like you, Maddy,” Gretchen pointed out. Replacing her pen in the ink well, she stood and poured James and herself a cup of tea.
“Gretchen, she has been criticizing my brothers since they offered to help her,” Madeline complained. “She acts as if they are monsters or something. She is convinced that Brandon beats me all the time. I simply do not understand. Brandon is not a violent man. He never has been.”
“That is true, but Maddy, he has spanked you before, if you recall,” Gretchen reminded her as she settled herself in a chair in between the two settees. “Remember our excursion a few years ago to that tavern. The Snaggletooth, I believe it was called,” Gretchen laughed in memory. She couldn’t believe how foolish they had been.
“How could I forget?” Madeline groaned. “When Brandon’s friend, Conrad Morgan, dragged us home from that tavern, Brandon was furious. I not only got a spanking, but he confined me to my room for a week.” She reddened in remembered embarrassment, and oh, how she had deserved that punishment. She knew better than to go to a tavern unescorted.
“And Simon wouldn’t allow us to see each other for a month,” Gretchen added with a grimace.
“I was miserable not being able to see you,” Madeline found that to be the worst part of her punishment. “Honestly though, Brandon doesn’t spank me as often as Joselyn makes it out to be. He only does it when I deserve it which has been only a few times, and it is not something I want repeated. Brandon’s spankings do hurt and are humiliating, which I suppose is the point or it wouldn’t be an effective deterrent for disobedience,” she frowned from her memories. “However, the worst spanking I have ever received came from Raven. Remember our excursion when we were in Philadelphia about five years ago?” Madeline contemplated her friend with a glare. “If I recall, it was your idea, Gretchen.”
“Our schemes usually are,” Gretchen admitted with a giggle. She was always doing things society deemed improper for a lady. It wasn’t that she was defiant on purpose, but simply, she did what she wanted to do with little thought to the consequences. She didn’t think it was always fair that women couldn’t do the same things a man could or go where men could go. What was the big to do about women visiting a tavern anyway, or being about town in the evening without an escort? It wasn’t fair and she didn’t like it one bit.
“What was your idea?” James wanted to know, finding the conversation very interesting. He hadn’t known his sister had gotten into so much mischief in her past. Simon must have kept his sister’s adventures to himself rather than letting the brothers know and causing her unwanted teasing. Perhaps that was wise considering her temper.
“The notorious shopping excursion,” Gretchen replied wryly.
“We got it into our heads that we had to go shopping. You know how much we like to shop,” Madeline explained with a grin.
“We had begged Brandon and Simon to let us go on Brandon’s voyage to Philadelphia, and after a lot of badgering, they relented, but there was the one condition that we obey Brandon and Raven, who was the captain on that voyage, to the letter,” Gretchen added, trying to suppress her humor. It had been easy to convince her brother into letting her go, and at the time, she knew she wouldn’t be able to keep her promise to men she hadn’t really known, particularly when there was an adventure to be had.
James spluttered. “And they believed you, Gretchen?” His sister rarely obeyed anyone. She was strong-willed, stubborn, and did what she wanted.
“We meant it at the time. We didn’t intend on disobeying,” Madeline explained innocently.
“That is until we realized we weren’t going to actually see Philadelphia,” Gretchen added dryly with a smirk.
“I begged Brandon to take us shopping in the morning before his business, but he made some excuse and wouldn’t take us.” Madeline frowned, still vaguely vexed at Brandon for not letting them see some of Philadelphia. Someday, she intended on going back to Philadelphia and actually see the city.
“I couldn’t get him to budge either. Instead, Brandon left us on the ship with orders to mind Captain Raven.” Gretchen took a sip of her tea to hide her smile.
“We didn’t,” Madeline scrunched her nose in amusement. “We decided to go shopping on our own. We had no idea it might be dangerous. It didn’t even occur to us that we could get lost or get into a predicament. We were invincible and believed we would be back before anyone noticed us missing.”
Gretchen returned her grin with one of her own and turned to her brother. “We sneaked off the ship when Captain Raven was preoccupied.”
“But we didn’t get very far before Raven found us. He brought us back to the ship, put Gretchen in his cabin and me in the
one Gretchen and I shared. Raven gave me a sound spanking I will never forget,” Madeline winced in memory. Raven’s hand was a harsh and heavy one.
“My backside hurt for a week,” Gretchen laughed with Madeline and James joining her.
“You must have deserved it,” James pointed out after their laughter subsided. “Otherwise, Simon would have had a fit over it when he was informed. He was informed of the incident, wasn’t he?” He was concerned that perhaps Simon hadn’t been told that his sister was punished without his authorization. No one disciplined his sister without his brother’s permission, not if he had anything to say about it, and he knew his other brothers felt the same way. Gretchen was their responsibility, she was a Malany, and she belonged to them.
“Yes, Brandon told him,” Gretchen nodded. “Simon would have been put out if I hadn’t deserved it. He doesn’t show it to others, but he is protective of me, and he does have a bit of a temper when provoked.”
James nodded in agreement. That was an understatement. In his opinion, an angry Simon was kind of frightening.
“Worse than yours?” Madeline teased, lifting one golden eyebrow.
Gretchen laughed, shaking her head. “No, but close. He is more controlled than I am.” Taking a sip of her tea, she changed the subject. “What are you going to do about Joselyn, Maddy?”
“Nothing,” Madeline shrugged. “She will have to make up her own mind whether she wants to stay with us or leave. The next move is hers.”
“Do you think she will leave?” James asked. Gretchen had told him and his brothers about Joselyn’s circumstances, and although he felt sorry for her, he was glad she hadn’t come to them for help. He would have hated her living in their house and disrupting their lives. He thought the woman was demented and he would prefer that Gretchen wasn’t friends with her. He didn’t trust the woman, not one bit.
“No,” Madeline answered. “She is too afraid and has no one else, particularly now that Lady Beatrice has died.”
“I guess I would be afraid too if my family members where being killed off, receiving threats, and being attacked,” Gretchen commented, shaking her head with sadness. Joselyn may not be her favorite person, but she wouldn’t wish such tragedy on anyone.
Madeline nodded in agreement. “So would I, but it doesn’t excuse her behavior.”
“No, it doesn’t, Madeline,” Brandon agreed, finally letting his and Raven’s presence known. Brandon and Raven were casually leaning against the wall listening to their conversation. “But something does make her the way she is, and with the strain of current events, I am not surprised by it.”
“Brandon, Raven, I didn’t hear you come in.” Startled, Madeline looked up at the two men and caught her breath in embarrassment, hoping they hadn’t heard too much of the conversation. They had been so silent, she hadn’t noticed them. She hated it when they were so stealthy they seemed invisible. It was unsettling, borderline scary. “Have you been here long?”
“Long enough to be reminded how the two of you have a penchant for defying me.” Brandon grinned as he walked into the room, sat beside his sister, and squeezed her hand. “James, good to see you. Gretchen, you are beautiful as usual.”
Raven sauntered into the room, taking a seat across from Gretchen. His powerful presence filled the room, commanding everyone’s attention. Although he could be intimidating at times and demanded absolute obedience, those he cared for felt safer with the strength of his presence and calming energy. “Madeline, Gretchen,” he greeted with a perceptive twinkle in his eye, causing both of the young women to blush. “James,” he nodded to the young man.
“Raven, it is good to see you. I missed you. How was your voyage?” Madeline inquired, recovering first. She was actually happy to see him. Raven had been away for what seemed like years to her and she had missed him. When he was home, Raven visited with Brandon so frequently and was so involved in her family’s activities, he was like another brother.
“I missed you too, luv. And the voyage went well, thank you.” Raven easily accepted his intense, protective feelings towards Brandon, Madeline, and their other siblings. He viewed the Cathcarts as part of his family, even though they were not related. He learned from past experience not to fight his instincts because there was always a reason for them. Now those instincts were telling him to be particularly vigilant with both the Cathcarts and Malanys for he felt danger all around them. “Although I must say, it wasn’t as memorable as our trip to Philadelphia not so long ago,” he remarked with a teasing smile.
Gretchen blushed again and mumbled, “It was certainly memorable.” Raven caught her eyes with his and Gretchen gave out a small gasp, her eyes widening with surprise. She could have sworn he had slapped her bottom, even though he was sitting a good distance from her. At least, her bottom certainly felt as if he had.
Sensing Gretchen’s discomfort, Brandon turned to Madeline, picked up her hand, and gave it a squeeze. “Maddy, are you about ready to go?”
“We haven’t gone over the menu or the decorations yet. You are early, Brandon,” Madeline accused.
He grinned and winked. “So I am, but I know you two. I could have come late this evening and you would not be ready.”
“Brandon, that is not fair. I arrived less than an hour ago,” she argued.
“I know, puss. I am only teasing.” Brandon ruffled her hair and stood. “Raven and I have some business with Simon while you two are finishing up.” Lifting one black brow, he asked, “Coming, James?”
James nodded and left the room, not about to argue with Brandon.
Brandon kissed the top of his sister’s head and winked at Gretchen before following James.
Raven stood, kissed Madeline’s brow, and fondly stroked her cheek. “It is good to see you, little one.” He turned to Gretchen, and lifting her hand, he placed a lingering kiss in the center of her palm, and met her gaze with a long look. “A pleasure seeing you again, Gretchen,” he purred seductively with a knowing smile before departing the room.
Gretchen cleared her throat as she watched Brandon and Raven leave. “How could anyone accuse those men of being tyrants? A threat to a woman’s senses, yes, but tyrannical, no.” Gretchen shook her head. She refused to believe Raven slapped her bottom using only his mind. It had to have been her imagination. She cleared her throat before speaking. “The . . . um . . . menu needs help.”
Madeline laughed at her friend’s blush and discomfort from her brother and Raven’s teasing, and turned her attention to the menu for the ball.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Brandon, how do you like my gown? Isn’t it beautiful?” Madeline exited from the dressing room and twirled around for her brother, showing off her new gown. She and Joselyn were having their gowns fitted for the Malany ball and Brandon was their escort. Since Beatrice’s death, Brandon wasn’t allowing them to go anywhere without him or Nicholas in attendance. Despite the restrictions, Madeline was delighted to have something other than tragedy to think about, something fun and light hearted. Yesterday, she and Gretchen had gotten all the details finalized. The invitations were sent out, the decorations ordered and the menu planned. Everything was coming together perfectly. Madeline was looking forward to the ball and trying on the beautiful gown lifted her spirits immensely. Madeline smiled as she smoothed the supple, satin gown. She thought it was absolutely divine. The gown was a satin concoction in an emerald green which matched her eyes. The color was a bit darker than fashion allowed for women of her unmarried status, but she didn’t care. The dress showed off her creamy white shoulders with an empire waist and plunging, square-cut neckline which emphasized her ample bosom.
Brandon studied her and the revealing gown silently for a moment before he commented. “The bodice is too low, Madeline.”
“Brandon, it is the height of fashion,” Madeline argued and looked down at the neckline which showed off the full curve of her breasts, displaying the pinked edge of her nipples.
“It is a beautiful gown, Mad
dy.” Joselyn commented honestly as she entered the room wearing a fashionable, powder blue, chiffon gown with white lace trim, an empire waist, and a modest neckline. Madeline’s cheerful mood was contagious and Joselyn was as delighted as she was about the outing.
“Too low,” Brandon said sternly.
“But Brandy,” Madeline started to argue, but stopped in mid-sentence when Brandon lifted one sculpted, black eyebrow. She sighed and turned to the waiting seamstress. “Raise the bodice an inch.”
“Two inches, Madeline,” Brandon ordered.
Madeline turned in a pique and stomped her foot in irritation, which caused the dress to shift, slipping the neckline lower and fully exposing her plump nipples. “But Brandy,” she whined.
Brandon held up two fingers and commanded in a tone that she knew meant he would not budge in his decision. “Two inches.” He was not going to allow her to wear that dress in public if she didn’t do as he said.
Madeline stomped her foot again and reentered the dressing room with Joselyn and the seamstress following.
“You don’t give her much leeway, do you?” Simon Malany commented as he walked into the room and sat in the chair opposite Brandon, watching his own sister, Gretchen, follow Madeline into the dressing room to try on her gown. Although certain the danger surrounding the Cathcarts and Parkers didn’t extend to his family, Simon believed it wise to take precautions with his sister’s safety and had escorted her on her errands today.
Brandon snorted. “If she had her way, that bodice would be lower.”
“You are kidding me. I know it is the height of fashion, but that dress barely covered her,” Simon stated skeptically.
“I know,” Brandon breathed a long, suffering sigh. This was not the first time he had Madeline’s gown altered due to a low neckline. For some reason unknown to him, the girl wanted to show off her bosom.
“Thankfully, Gretchen is more modest. I would not want to have that conversation with her.” At Brandon’s quirked eyebrow, Simon clarified. “She would have ripped the dress off and thrown it at me.”
