by Matilda Hart
After a half an hour’s ride in open carriages, the family arrived at Claybourne Abbey to a very warm reception. Maddi liked Drew’s mother, the Dowager Duchess, very much.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace,” she told that lady with a polite smile. “Thank you for the kind invitation to your home.”
“Think nothing of it, child,” the lady said. “Andrew has been champing at the bit to get this dinner party going since he returned from your uncle’s home. And now I can see why.”
Maddi managed to stop herself from blushing, especially when his was the next hand that held hers, and followed her family indoors. Everything indoors bespoke the family’s great wealth, and though she could see that whole sections of the house were cordoned off and blackened by soot, the part that had been restored was resplendent.
They sat down to drinks before dinner in an elegant parlor, and while the Dowager Duchess regaled them with stories of her late husband’s work on the original west wing, Maddi took the opportunity to observe the man she had been missing. He was engaged in a clearly serious discussion with her father, and she could only hope that it involved getting to spend more time with her.
When dinner was announced, she was none the wiser as to the subject of their discussion, and as she was not sitting next to him, she couldn’t ask. But she could feel his eyes on her all through dinner, and the need for his touch was growing stronger as the evening wore on. She was quiet for most of the meal, because she was so tense from holding her body in tight control. And she didn’t wish to say anything to give away the feelings she was having such difficulty controlling. The gentlemen remained in the dining room after dinner, and Maddi repaired with the ladies bck to the drawing room where the older ones played whist, and she and her cousin watched them.
When the men rejoined them, she noted that Drew stood close to her, and her mother turned to smile at her knowingly. She didn’t understand what was going on, until her father drew her aside, with the duke, and said,
“His Grace has asked for my permission to address you, Madalene. What say you? Do you consent to his request?”
Maddi held her father’s gaze for just one moment before turning her eyes to the duke and saying, “Yes, Papa, I do.”
“Splendid!” He pulled her toward his and kissed the top of her head. “Your mother and I are very proud of you, Madalene.”
He walked away, and Drew spoke quickly before she was forced to step away from him. “I long to feel your lips against mine again, my Beauty. Will you come to me tonight before you go? I will arrange it with Jane if you say yes.”
Maddi nodded and moved away at once, afraid that everyone would know that she had just agreed to another tryst with Drew. No one seemed to notice that she had stayed a few moments too long by his side after her father moved away, and she rejoined her cousin on the couch they shared. Jane looked her over and smiled.
“What?” Maddi asked, petrified that she had been observed by someone other than Jane.
“Nothing,” Jane said, “except that you have a certain look about you. Has the duke made you an offer?”
“He has told my father he wishes to address me,” she said. “
“I think an offer cannot be far behind then, cousin,” Jane said. “I am so happy for you!” her smile was wide and Maddi returned it.
“He wants to meet me. He says he will arrange it with you.”
Jane glanced over to where Drew sat with his mother, and he looked up just then, as though he knew she was looking at him. “Will you excuse me, cousin?” she asked, and without waiting for a reply, she walked out of the drawing room.
Maddi watched her leave, and sat in quiet anticipation of the next move in the game she knew was about to begin. When Jane returned a few minutes later, Maddi felt an acute disappointment wash over her. Perhaps as they were not staying the night, it was not possible for her to meet him.
Then Jane leaned over and said, “Would you like to come and see the observatory? I have been there before, and it is beautiful at night.”
“If it’s all right with everyone, certainly,” Maddi said, and followed Jane out of the room, where they were joined by Drew, who led them along a narrow passage to a set of spiraling stairs then ended in a room completely enclosed by heavy glass windows. There was a telescope set in the middle of it, and Jane walked over and set her eye to it.
While she fiddled with it, Drew walked up behind Maddi and pulled her back against him into the shadows of the room away from Jane. He leaned in, making sure their bodies never touched, and whispered, “I have missed you, my Beauty. Have you missed me?”
“Yes,” she whispered, nuzzling the hand that he used to stroke her cheek.
“And would you like me to leave you with another kiss, to tide us over until next time?”
“Yes please,” she said and turned to face him, eager to get on with the next lesson.
He lowered his head and rested his lips for a moment on hers, but Maddi didn’t want that innocent touch again. She wanted the one that let her taste him. So she opened her mouth beneath his lips and moved closer so she could feel the warmth of his body. Her own was on fire, heat rising from her feet to her head, burning her up as he sucked on her tongue, holding her steady with an arm behind her while the other cupped her chin and raised her face so he could deepen the kiss. Maddi lost herself in the pleasure that his mouth and tongue were giving her. And when he pulled away, she moaned, and he rested his forehead against hers.
“You are delightful, my love,” he said.
“What did you call me?” she asked him, pulling away to look him in the eye.
“My love.” He bussed her gently on the lips again and added, “As you will always be. Is that all right with you?”
She smiled and nodded, and then said, “Perhaps I should have a look through your telescope before we return, in case I am asked what I saw.”
Drew chuckled, and walked with her to where Jane was now seated, looking up at the night sky. “Thank you, Lady Jane,” he said. “I know what it is to be the go between, and you are naturally gifted at it.”
Jane laughed delightedly and said, “I am pleased to be able to help, Your Grace.”
“Should you ever need my help in any way, please do not hesitate to call upon me,” he told her, and then led Maddi to the telescope where he proceeded to show her how to adjust it, and then told her what she would see when she moved it from place to place.
She was delighted with it, asking questions about the constellations, and just enjoying the brilliance of the stars. After the kiss they had shared, she was in a state of euphoria. The star-studded sky just seemed to be the jewel in the crown of her happiness.
Chapter 8
Cailean was nowhere to be found. Drew had been in town for more than a day now, but his friend was not in the room he rented, not had anyone seen him for a week before that. He had a bad feeling about it, but he didn’t know what to do. He paid Fiona a visit, but she also had no idea where her brother might have gone. She did not know how her brother made a living for them both, and Drew would not be the one to tell her. He returned to Claybourne Abbey with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
He went for a ride when he got home. His horse needed exercise, and he needed to think about where his friend might be. On the way back to the stables, he noticed movement behind the small shed that the gardeners sometimes kept potted plants in the winter. He rode over and dismounted. Being careful to keep his approach as silent as he cold, he walked around the outside of the shed, but saw nothing amiss. About to leave, he heard what sounded like a groan, and his heart picked up its pace. There was someone inside. The only door was ajar. He pushed it and stepped inside.
Cailean lay sprawled on the dirt floor, unconscious. Drew looked him over, alarmed at the possibility that his friend was dead. However, he found a faint pulse, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He put the wounded man on the horse and take him back to the house, where he had Gibson help him t
ake him up to his own bedchamber.
“Fetch the physician,” he instructed the butler. “And say nothing to anyone about this. If pressed, say the doctor is for me.”
Drew knew he could trust the butler to be completely discreet. While he waited, he removed Cailean’s soiled clothing and had his valet bring up water so he could clean him up before he put a clean nightshirt on him.
“Bring fresh water, and have Gibson send up a bottle of brandy with glasses.”
The valet departed to do his bidding, and Drew sat with his friend, who drifted in and out of consciousness until the doctor arrived in the early evening.
“How is he?” Drew asked, once the doctor had finished his examination.
“He has lost a lot of blood, Your Grace, and his wounds are severe. He will need constant care for at least the next fortnight, but it will be a month before he is back on his feet again.” He packed away his instruments as he asked, “Do you know how he came to be so injured, Your Grace?”
“I do not, Doctor,” Drew replied. “I found him unconscious in the potting shed in the garden.”
“Use this salve on his wounds, and change his dressings daily. I will return in a week to check on his progress. Soft gruel until he can stomach real food.”
Drew noted the doctor’s instructions and passed them on to his valet, whom he would leave in charge of tending Cailean’s injuries and changing his dressings. He could also be counted on to be discreet. He was late for dinner, but he explained that he had had an emergency that needed to be dealt with immediately. No one questioned him, for which he was grateful, and dinner was a pleasant affair. When the women retired for the night, he and Percy shared a drink before bed.
“So, you’re going to take the plunge, eh? Congratulations, Drew!” His brother-in-law clapped him on the shoulder.
“I haven’t asked for her hand as yet. I want to get to know her a bit better. And besides, something’s come up which will keep me away from her for longer than I had expected.”
Percy studied his face, and asked, “Is it something that you can talk about?”
Drew nodded, thinking how much he appreciated having a male relative whom he could trust. And he realized that this was one of the reasons he admired the man who had stolen his sister’s heart. He was thoughtful and intelligent without being overbearing, and could be relied upon to give sound advice.
“It’s Cailean,” Drew told him. “He’s been badly hurt.”
Percy frowned. “Why is that an issue for you?”
“He’s in my bedchamber recovering.”
Now Percy’s brow rose, so Drew told him as much as he could, without disclosing the most damning fact about his friend. He was very much afraid that his injuries were a direct result of Cailean’s brigandry.
“Poor chap! He must have been set upon by brigands, confused by his apparel. He certainly doesn’t dress like the penniless second son and byblow of a dead duke.”
Drew smiled, more at the irony of Percy’s words than at the words themselves, since it was Cailean who was the bandit, and therefore more likely to do the setting upon.
“We’ll have to keep his presence here a secret until he is well enough to leave,” Drew said. “As it is, four people know he is here. That is more than enough.” He drained his glass and said, “I’d better go up and have a look at him before bed.”
“I’ll go up with you,” Percy said.
At Percy’s door, he bid him a soft goodnight. In his own room he checked on his friend and found him in a deep sleep and snoring lightly. He undressed and settled himself on the chaise. His valet had thoughtfully laid out fresh linens for his use. He wished to make his addresses to Madalene, but knew he would not be able to leave his friend attended to only by a servant. Still, he knew he had to give her reason to hope in a future together for them. And despite the searing kisses they had already exchanged, she was still an innocent who knew little of the ways of the world. He did not wish her to despair at his protracted silences.
Next morning, after his valet had left, he penned a brief note to her explaining that he had business to attend to that would keep him from visiting her as frequently as he would like, but that he would see her as soon as he could.
“Know that you are always on my heart, my Beauty,” he wrote, “And I will never leave you for too long. When this business is complete, I will return and you will not be without me again. Always in my thoughts, Drew.”
After he sent the note off with a servant, he went in search of Fiona, who would soon be needing his assistance once again. She obviously would need to be told about her brother, and he would need to leave her more coin to tide her over until a more permanent solution to their dilemma was found. He found her just about to leave her small room, the twins behind her.
“Good morning to you, Fiona,” he greeted her. “Where are you off to at this early hour?”
“It’s market day,” she answered, as though that explained everything. Drew frowned, since he knew that she was prepared to offer her services to the farmers and other merchants who frequented the town on market day in exchange for for and money to help[ her keep body and soul together.
“You know what I think of your plan, Fiona,” he said disapprovingly. “You are the daughter of a duke, not a strumpet! Surely you must see that your plan demeans you and your children?”
Fiona’s face clouded over, and her eyes filled with tears. “My status is no longer that of duke’s daughter, as you know, Drew,” she replied through trembling lips. “And it is because I must feed my children and provide them with shelter that I must do whatever I can. Especially as I have neither seen nor heard from my brother this past week.”
“It is about Cailean that I have come,” Drew told her. “Sit down again, and let the children rest awhile.”
He sat himself on the single chair, and took the little boy onto his lap while she sat with the girl in hers on the edge of the bed.
“He had been badly injured,” Drew began, “but he is safe now.”
“How did it happen? Where is he? I must see him.”
“I do not know how it happened, but he found me. He is with me in my home,” Drew told her, and he could see the relief in her eyes. “If you like, I can take you to visit him soon. When he had recovered his strength somewhat.”
“Thank you, Drew. I would appreciate that. But what am I to do in the meantime? There is no food left, and the landlord has already begun to threatened me with eviction of I don’t pay him. Or service him.” She dropped her head as she said the last words.
Drew saw red, but he kept his voice even. He did not wish to cause her any further distress. “I will handle the landlord, but you must promise me not to prostitute yourself to anyone. If we are to find you a good husband who will come to care for you, you must only come with these two children as the weight you choose to bear upon your conscience.”
He waited until she promised him, and then he handed her the small bag of coins that he had brought with him. “Let us go and make some purchases. When we return, I will speak to the landlord.”
Drew accompanied her through the market, holding the little boy’s hand and helping her to carry her purchases back to her small room. While she unpacked the food that she had bought, he sat with both children on his knees and hugged them to his chest, soothing them until they fell asleep. His thoughts wandered to Madalene and how she might look ripe with his seed. The thought of siring children with her filled him with new heat and desire, and suddenly, he needed to see her again. As he helped Fiona put the children to bed, he formed a plan to spend some more alone time with his Beauty.
The ride back to Claybourne Abbey was uneventful, but upon his arrival, he found his household in an uproar. Apparently Cailean had awakened delirious and had managed to escape from his bedchamber. His mother had taken to her bed with the vapors, something she rarely did, which meant he would have to do a lot of explaining. Percy had managed to capture him, though he was now domiciled in the
room above the stables. Drew sighed heavily. No sooner had he put out one fire than a second threatened the peaceful order of his life. The sooner he could find a merchant ship’s captain willing to take four passengers, two of them children under five years old, to Nova Scotia, the better for them all.
Chapter 9
Maddi frowned. She was in town with her aunt and cousin, having tea in the most fashionable tea room in the High Street, when she turned her head and saw Drew. Well, the gentleman looked like Drew, but he was with a woman and two small children, and he was ushering them into his carriage. His touch on the woman was most solicitous, as though she were important to him. He bent and kissed her cheek tenderly before closing the door. But Drew was not a married man with children. She blinked and shook her head, and when she looked again, the carriage had moved off, and the man had disappeared. She must be mistaken...though she had to admit the stranger looked a great deal like Drew.
