by Matilda Hart
Maddi ignored her relatives and dug into the food with appetite. Whatever else may be said about Cumberland Castle, the one thing that always made any stay there bearable was the food. The cook was exceptionally gifted in the gastronomic arts, which was surprising given where she worked. But the mince pies were a delight, the meats succulent, the cheese rich and hearty, the breads nutty and wholesome, and fresh made daily. Maddi washed down her supper with three cups of tea, and was then quite pleased to sit and doze by the fire while her elders droned on. She heard snatches of conversation...the constable would be summoned at the crack of dawn, the Earl of Ross had recently died, and his son and heir was coming back from the Americas to take over his holdings, there was to be a house party at the weekend...she had all but drifted off to sleep when she felt herself gently shaken.
“Really, Madalene, why did you not ask to be shown to your rooms? You are not a child, to fall asleep in the sitting room!”
Her mother’s reproving tones, albeit turned down to avoid notice, woke her up instantly, and she wondered, as she stifled a yawn, why her life had to be so difficult. Who made the rules regarding how and when people should fall asleep when they were tired? And why were those rules so particularly arduous for women? Covering her mouth to hide the yawn that no self-respecting lady ever allowed in public, she rose to her feet and was relieved when her mother did the same.
“Fanny, I think it best that madalene and I retire for the evening,” her mother said. “She is dead on her feet, as am I. And after all the unpleasantness of the day’s journey, I hope we may be excused.”
Maddi blinked at her mother in astonishment. Aside from her having called her cousin by name, Lady Mary had spoken with an extra touch of asperity usually missing from her speech. She must really be exhausted. Whatever the cause, it seemed to galvanize her aunt, who rose and addressed the men.
“My Lords, the ladies and I will retire for the night,” she announced before turning and leading the way out of the sitting room, up the broad staircase to the second floor where she guided Maddi and her mother to their quarters.
A lady’s maid was waiting to help Maddi undress, and after she had had her hair brushed till it shone, she climbed into the luxury of a soft, warm feather bed. She was asleep almost as soon as her head touched the pillow.
Chapter 2
“Cailean, you will be discovered,” Drew warned, pacing back and forth before his friend, who lay atop his hard mattress staring at the ceiling. “You cannot long continue to steal from innocent passengers before you are shot and killed.”
Cailean Blair turned weary eyes to his friend’s face. “I know this, Drew,” he said, “but I do not have enough funds to pay for our passage to Nova Scotia. I canna leave my sister and her bairns to starve.”
“At least promise me to stay off the roads for the next fortnight,” Drew said. “I have business to attend to, including a house party at Cumberland Castle, where the victims of your latest adventure are currently housed. Fiona will have enough food and coin to keep her solvent for another two months. In that time, we will find a way to get you all to a ship, or at the very least perhaps find her a willing husband here.”
Cailean looked up at his friend, Andrew Dunn, the newly minted Duke of Annadale, and wished again that his life could have run along as easy lines as Drew’s. However, instead of a ducal inheritance in two countries, he was a wanted man, as like to be hanged as not, trying to find a husband for his sister, the unmarried mother of twins, and a way of escape to the New World for himself. He tried not to dwell on the way he had ended up in the predicament that he was in, but it was hard not to do so, when all around him, his story was clear.
The illegitimate second son of a philandering duke, Cailean had never had a chance at being anything more to his dead father than an embarrassing lapse in judgment. He had been left no inheritance, and had instead been warned against trying to make or have any kind of contact with his father’s family. His mother was a trollop, and his sister, who had been his only advocate before he had been banished, had been disowned for refusing to obey her family’s dictates where he was concerned. He felt wholly responsible for what had happened to her, as he had taken her into his shabby lodgings, where she had been mistaken for a woman of the streets and ill used by the landlord and his men.
He cut short the painful memories, and sat up. The room he occupied was drab at best, and downright depressing at worst. The walls were stained an unappetising gray, and here and there were splatters of food thrown or blood spilled...Cailean could never tell. The wooden floors were permanently scarred by the markings of brawls and the movement of heavy furniture. The bed was sturdy enough, but the mattress was thin, and the bedclothes threadbare. A grimy window overlooked the street below, the dirt so thick it had no need of further covering. And yet he had strung a thin pillowcase across it, to disguise the times when he was in and not.
“I caught a glimpse of one of the passengers on my latest trip,” he said, and smiled widely. “What little I saw of her told me she is a true beauty. Perhaps an English rose, creamy of cheek, luscious of lips, hair a crown of glory on her head.”
Andrew turned to look at him and grinned at the smile on his face. “You sound enamored, my friend,” he commented.
“Would that I could afford to be,” Cailean replied, “but what woman of any quality would wish to associate with a man such as myself, a common thief who can ill afford to keep himself in clean shirts?”
“You are more than just a common thief,” Drew replied, coming to his defense.
“You are what you do, they say,” Cailean retorted. “But I am thankful to have a true friend in you.”
“I had best be going now,” Drew said. “Mother expects me home for supper, and in two days I must spend a weekend with the Darrows. I must say that with your description of their young guest, it might prove to be a more inviting weekend.”
The young men chuckled and Cailean stood to shake his friend’s hand. “Let’s have dinner together some evening soon,” he said. “It will give me a reason to do more than bring supper up to my rooms and eat in my shirtsleeves.”
Andrew Dunn, Duke of Annadale, rode back to his family seat slowly. He had no real desire to dine with anyone this evening, but being a dutiful son, he would not let his mother down. She was still grieving the death of her husband of thirty years, and though Andrew could not conceive of being in any relationship for that long a period of time, he admired and respected his mother for her devotion to his father who had, at one time, bade fair to be as perfidious and wanton as his friend Cailean’s father had been. A duel in which he was severely wounded had been the cause of his father’s complete change of heart, and he had become the most exemplary and devoted husband and father.
The road rose and curved sharply as it neared his family’s ancestral home. The setting sun cast its ancient walls in bold relief, the battlements standing sharply against the deepening pinks, golds and lavenders of the early evening sky. He loved the place, although it was a drain on their finances. So much work still needed to be done to restore it after the devastating fire that ravaged most of it in the months before his father’s death. Andrew was sure that the devastation of their home had hastened his father’s demise.
The butler met him at the door. “Ah, Gibson,” he said, “any word from the builders about when the rest of the work on the castle will be complete?”
“Yes, my Lord,” the butler replied. “Shall I meet with you now, or will this wait until after dinner?”
“Most definitely after dinner, Gibson. Say a half hour after? In my study.” After Andrew had washed up and changed his clothes, he returned to the main floor where dinner was waiting his arrival. He strode into the dining room and apologized to the assembled group -- his mother, his great-aunt, his sister and her husband.
“I beg your pardon. I had to wash the dust of travel from me, and change my clothes before I could sit in polite company,” he said. “How was your day, M
other?” he continued, looking over at his mother.
“I spent the afternoon playing whist, if you must know,” his mother said, “and lost nearly every hand.” She laughed merrily at herself, and everyone at the table joined in.
Talk became general as they ate, until someone brought up the question of the house party at the Darrows.
“We’re invited every year, but I have always found a reason not to go,” his great aunt confessed. “I cannot think of an excuse this year, though.”
“Why have you not gone, Aunt Clara?” he asked.
“I am more and more reluctant to leave my home for another these days, nephew,” she admitted. “Have you not remarked on how little time I spend away from my little cottage? I find that for the most part, I am coming to prefer the company of own my thoughts and my pets.”
“Mine will be fairly easy,” his mother said before he could reply to his aunt. “I cannot leave the restoration of the castle unsupervised.”
“Surely that would be my excuse, Mother,” he said, chuckling.
“Not if what I hear of the James girl is true,” she retorted immediately.
Drew’s forehead wrinkled in confusion. “The James girl? Who is she?” he asked.
“Lady Madalene James,” his sister Nora explained, “is Lady Fanny’s niece. She has achieved the age of majority, and her parents are now in search of an appropriate match.”
“Which is where you come in, Andrew,” his mother chimed in.
“Where I come in how?” Drew asked, his brow raised. “Is this why you want me to go in your stead, Mother? So I can set my head on the auction block of wedlock?”
“Hear me out, my son, before you refuse me,” his mother implored him. “The girl is ready to be wed, and you need an heir, as the family needs one to carry on the name. Your visit will at least allow you to throw your hat into the ring, and if she turns out to be passing fair, mayhap you will find yourself more amenable to a marriage of affection, if not love.”
Drew’s mind went immediately to Cailean’s description of the beauty in the carriage, and he admitted that were she to be the lady in question, and as beautiful as his friend said, he might not be averse to seeing how much further he might wish to go. Still, he felt compelled to voice an objection.
“It may be possible that I find her less than objectionable, Mother, but how am I to overcome the obstacle of her indifference, should she find me less than palatable?”
Nora laughed. “Drew, you have never been less than palatable to any woman since the moment you learned how to smile. There can be no worries on that front. So, unless you have unearthed an unsavory pastime, or have become the world’s worst boor, I can see no reason why your good looks, charm and wealth will not bowl this girl over.”
The assembled relations laughed in quiet self-satisfaction that they had borne among them a winner in the marriage race. Andrew ate his pudding without further comment.
Two days later, as he stepped down from the gig that he had driven to Cumberland Castle, he smiled at his host and hostess, shaking hands with Sir John and commenting on the weather to his dour-faced wife.
“Mother sends her regrets, Lady Fanny,” he said, “but she has sent some gifts for your table, and a bottle of the best whiskey for you, Lord Oakley.”
“Welcome, young Andrew. It has been a long while since you were last here. We shall have a much livelier time of it this weekend.” Lord Oakley led the way into the house, and while Drew’s luggage was taken to his rooms, and his valet settled in, he went to the study to share a bit of brandy with his host.
Chapter 3
“Mama, do stop fussing,” Maddi said. “You look perfectly wonderful, as do I.” She turned to view herself from the side, and was as pleased with the result as she was with the frontal vision. “This gown is delightful. Such soft materials and pretty colors. I love it, Mama.” She smiled again at the soft silks and satins that covered her voluptuous frame in swirls of yellow and gold.
“You should thank your Aunt Fanny,” her mother said, and Maddi’s jaw dropped in astonishment.
“Why so, Mama?” she wondered.
“The dress was ordered specifically for you to wear this evening. Consider it your Scottish coming out party.”
“But Mama, I have already come out,” Maddi protested, not liking the thought of once again being paraded around like a hank of meat for men to gawk at.
“That is true, and this will be far less formal,” her mother agreed, “but the people whom you will meet this evening represent some of the wealthiest and most prominent families in Scotland. Being seen with them will be a great honor for us, and specifically for you.”
“I hate having to smile and sashay around like a prize cow at the market, Mama,” Maddi whispered, a frown replacing her smile.
“There will be no need to sashay anywhere, my dear,” her mother said, standing at last and patting her daughter on the arm. “All you need to do is be yourself. You have a beautiful face and are a pleasant conversationalist. That is far more than many girls bring with them when they are introduced to the world. Just think...at the end of the weekend, you may have a Scottish suitor!”
Maddi managed to keep her frown from deepening. The last thing she wanted was any suitor, Scottish or otherwise. She wasn’t ready to be grown up just yet. She wanted to enjoy the parties and watch the world unfold around her. To be married would tie her down, she was sure. So far, she had not met any man who inspired more in her than an overwhelming desire to yawn. And her previous experiences with dinner parties at Cumberland Castle did not bode well for any happier result this evening. Still, she forced herself to smile and followed her mother out of the bedchamber. Her father was waiting to escort them both down to dinner, and as she walked down the stairs beside him, she felt a frisson of excitement when she heard the hum of voices coming from the drawing room. There was a different feeling in the air, and the house was more brightly lit than she had ever remembered it being.
Buntin announced them, and immediately as Maddi was introduced to the invited guests, she found herself surrounded by young men, all vying for her attention. Her dance card was almost full, and she had not yet sat down to dinner. She observed them discreetly, and noted that none of them captivated her. She did not feel a spot of interest in any of them. Still, the party had been planned for her, and while she thought it would be the last interesting thing to happen on this holiday, she owed it to her parents to make the most of the opportunity.
There were two places left on her dance card, and as far as she could tell, all the young men had already taken a spot...except… Her heart skipped a beat, then two, then ten, as she looked into the deepest brown eyes she had ever seen. The light was swallowed up in their depths, and the lashes that hid them when he blinked were long and luxurious. His brows arched perfectly over those beautiful orbs, and they seemed to be raised in a question. Maddi blinked and brought her focus back to the room that she was standing in.
“Welcome back, Lady Madalene,” a voice said above her, and she looked up...right into those incredible eyes again. “Good evening to you. I am Andrew Dunn.”
“Are you a duke, an earl, a viscount…?” Her question was a serious one, as she did not wish to offend him by using an incorrect form of address. However, by the sheer amusement on his face, he thought it a hilarious one.
“I am the Duke of Annadale,” he replied, his lips twitching.
“Good evening, Your Grace,” she said.
“I wonder whether I might claim a dance with your ladyship?” he asked courteously.
“Why, you are in luck, Your Grace,” she said, smiling widely. “There are two spots remaining…” Her voice trailed off as she realized how her words might be construed. She had not meant to invite him to dance the last two number with her, as she had no idea if he were interested in her beyond one dance. Struggling to control her deepening color, she opened her mouth to try and extricate herself when he interrupted her.
“
Then if there are no other suitors, I claim them both, my lady!” He bowed with a flourish and departed, leaving her standing there in frank astonishment.
“I see you have made a conquest already, my dear,” her mother said in her ear. “Two dances, and at the end of the set. And by a personage such as the Duke of Annadale!”
‘Mama,” Maddi replied in as low tones so as not to be overheard, “you speak as though I should know who he is. But I have never heard of him before.”
Her mother smiled coyly. “That will be remedied soon enough, my girl, if you play your cards right.”
Dinner was announced, and the assemblage sat down to a sumptuous meal. Somehow, as if the genie of arranged marriages were sitting on her shoulders, she found herself next to the Duke of Annadale on the one hand, and the Lady Anabella Brougham on the other. His nearness was sending small electric shocks through her system. Every time he reached for a plate, or passed one to her, they managed to connect flesh to flesh, and she was seared by the heat that rose inside her and spread along her limbs and up her neck into her hair. She could barely concentrate on the conversations going on around her, and finally had a huge gulp of wine to calm her down.
