Stiffening, she shook her head. “You know nothing about me, my lady. I wed Rayne because I came to love him.”
The dowager made a derisive sound. “That is a bald-faced lie if I have ever heard one. You could not possibly fall in love in so short a time.”
But I did, Madeline thought despairingly. To my great regret.
She didn’t want to give Rayne’s grandmother the satisfaction of seeing her pain, however, so aloud she said dismissively, “I will consider your offer, Lady Haviland. Now I will thank you to leave.”
Not accepting so easy a victory, the dowager eyed her with a dubious scowl. “I wish to have your answer now.”
“I am sure you do, but I am not prepared to give it just yet.”
“Fifty thousand pounds is an enormous sum, Miss Ellis.”
“A hundred times that amount would not elicit my decision any sooner.”
Thankfully, Lady Haviland backed down, albeit grudgingly. “Very well. But I expect to hear from you shortly.” Turning abruptly, she regally whisked herself from the parlor.
The encounter left Madeline reeling. She couldn’t breathe for the crushing weight in her chest. Her world was crashing down around her. Rayne wanted to annul their marriage and was willing to pay her for the chance to do so.
The thought of ending their marriage, of uprooting her entire life and abandoning all that remained of her dreams, of leaving Rayne so that he could wed some other socially acceptable lady…. Dear God.
She could believe that Rayne regretted marrying her, especially after their clashes during the past few days. But understanding his perspective didn’t make it any less excruciating.
She felt raw inside, stricken with a horrible emptiness.
Oh, why had she ever succumbed to Rayne’s seductive proposals? Enduring a lonely spinster existence would have been far better than this anguish.
She couldn’t bear to leave him. How could she when she was so desperately in love with him? Yet perhaps, Madeline thought bleakly, it would be best for Rayne if she accepted his grandmother’s offer.
Should she give him his freedom? Could she make such a sacrifice for his sake?
Just then Bramsley tapped gingerly on the parlor door. When Madeline looked up blindly, concern wreathed the majordomo’s features. “Are you unwell, my lady?”
Madeline swallowed. Her throat ached from the force of her refusal to give in to weeping, yet she temporarily won the struggle. “No, I am not unwell. What is it, Bramsley?”
“Mr. Lunsford has called and wishes to know if you are at home to him.”
“Pray tell him that Lord Haviland is in London.”
“Mr. Lunsford specifically asked for you, my lady.”
Before Madeline could answer, Freddie came sauntering into the parlor. She shut her eyes momentarily, wishing she didn’t have to deal with him just now.
“That will be all for the moment, Bramsley, thank you,” she said as her latest visitor flung himself into a chair without ceremony.
“I say,” Freddie greeted her, “was that Lady Haviland’s carriage I passed?”
“Yes,” Madeline answered dully, feeling hopelessly dismal.
“What did she want?”
It was just like Freddie to be so ragmannered, but Madeline barely registered the infraction. “It doesn’t matter. Why are you here, Freddie?”
“I’ve come to beg a favor of you.”
She frowned at him. “Are you in another fix? If so, you should apply to Rayne—but he is not here at present. He is in London.”
“Don’t I know it,” Freddie said peevishly. “Some sort of hush-hush spy business, I collect. But no, I am not in a fix this time … for once. I learned my lesson with the last debacle. I am keeping well away from scheming widows.”
“Then what do you want?”
“I hoped you might put in a good word for me with a young lady I have my eye on.”
Madeline’s eyebrow rose. “You are interested in a young lady?”
“Yes, but it is all quite proper. Miss Merrywether is the sort of female whom even my stickler father would approve of. And she has the loveliest smile—enough to make a chap go dizzy. But she says her mama would not allow her to further our association, since I have developed a rakish reputation. Me, a rake! It is quite unfair, since I don’t hold a candle to the true rakes of the Beau Monde. Besides, I have become rehabilitated. I’ve given up any thoughts of debauchery and fun under pain of being disinherited.”
Madeline was growing dizzy herself with Freddie’s meandering commentary. “So how can I help you?”
“You could improve my suit if you would sing my praises to Miss Merrywether and her mama. They will take special note of your opinion, you being a countess and all.”
“But I may not be a countess for much longer,” Madeline said morosely.
His expression arresting, Freddie sat up. “What the devil do you mean?”
Madeline shuddered as she recalled the dark dilemma she was facing. “Never mind. But I am afraid I cannot help you just now.”
“Why not?”
“Freddie, please—just leave me alone.”
“My, you are viperish today.”
Raising a hand to her temple, Madeline grimaced at his complaint, knowing she had no right to take her despairing mood out on him.
“What is it, Madeline?” he pressed. “Do you have the megrims?”
She sighed. “No, it is nothing like that. I beg your pardon, Freddie. I am just poor company today.”
His gaze turned somber. “Why don’t you tell me what has you so blue-deviled?”
“It would not make any difference.”
“How do you know unless you try? I can be a good listener if I truly put my mind to it. And you look as if you could use a friend just now.”
Madeline debated a long moment before deciding that Freddie was right. She badly needed a friend, given her current emotional state—her mind spinning with turmoil, her chest aching with grief and anger.
“Very well, I will tell you,” she murmured before spilling out the truth in a rush. “Lady Haviland offered me fifty thousand pounds if I would leave England and disappear from Rayne’s life so he could secure an annulment and marry someone more suitable. And I don’t know what to do,” she finished miserably.
Freddie’s eyes widened with shock. “Fifty thousand pounds? Why, that is a king’s ransom.”
“I know,” Madeline agreed.
“But of course you will not accept.”
“No? Why should I not? Lady Haviland said that Rayne now realizes his mistake in marrying me. I don’t want to remain his wife if he doesn’t want me.”
Freddie’s brow furrowed in thought. “And you trust that old bat’s word? Maybe Rayne does not want you, but I can’t credit that he would send his grandmama to do his dirty deeds for him and buy you off with a bribe. It was likely Lady Haviland’s idea entirely.”
“Even so, perhaps it is best if I accept her offer.”
Shaking his head, Freddie rose and began pacing the floor. “You should not be so hasty, Madeline. You are not nearly as unsuitable as Lady Haviland claims.”
She appreciated his indignation on her behalf, but Freddie was hardly a good judge of the ton’s standards.
He didn’t allow her time to reply, however. “I think you make Rayne an admirable countess. I have thought so from the first. In fact, I was the one who encouraged him to propose to you.”
“You were?”
“Yes, indeed. I knew he needed a wife in order to sire an heir, and you seemed a good choice. Even if you are no beauty, a man can be comfortable with you.” Freddie paused in his pacing to eye her. “Although you do seem to have improved in looks of late.”
Madeline flinched at his backhanded compliment. “I hoped Rayne would come to love me someday,” she said in a small voice.
He made a dismissive sound. “I don’t know if that is possible, considering the way his heart was broken.”
She s
tilled. “What do you mean, his heart was broken?”
Freddie halted altogether to look at her. “I do not really know the details. I only heard that Rayne had a tragic love affair with a Frenchwoman many years ago. Much more tragic than anything I ever suffered. But if the rumors of a shattered affair are true, you cannot expect Rayne to recover quickly.”
“You said it happened years ago.”
“So I heard, but I could be mistaken. Besides, love is not all it is cracked up to be, Madeline. I know. I have been in love countless times—and I am almost ready to give it up altogether.”
She couldn’t help a shaky laugh. “I cannot imagine you giving up on love, Freddie.”
He grinned at her. “No, I don’t suppose I could, either.” Then he sobered. “You should not make any hasty decisions,” he repeated, “particularly when you are feeling so low. If you ask me, you should give Rayne a chance to fall in love with you if he can.”
“I have tried,” Madeline admitted. “But my efforts have had no effect. On the contrary, they seem to have made matters between us even worse.”
“Perhaps you just need to give him more time.”
“How much more time?”
“How should I know? I am obviously no expert on love. But I cannot believe you would be vanquished so easily. Do you mean to give in to Lady Haviland without a fight? Honestly, I thought better of you, Madeline.”
Freddie had a point, she realized, straightening her spine. She at least needed to drum up the courage to confront Rayne, even though she wasn’t sure what good it would do her. If he truly wanted to dissolve their marriage, there was likely nothing she could say to change his mind.
Feeling that hollow, crushing ache flood her again, Madeline pressed a hand to her stomach. She hadn’t known she was capable of feeling such emptiness.
Still…. Despite what his disdainful grandmother thought of her, she was indeed worthy of him, and of being his countess.
Squaring her shoulders, Madeline set her jaw. If Rayne wanted their union annulled, he would have to tell her so to her face.
She stood abruptly.
“What do you mean to do?” Freddie asked.
“I am going to London to speak to Rayne.”
“You cannot. He is hip-deep in spy matters, remember?”
Madeline sank back down, frustration and despair warring inside her. Again Freddie was right. At this very moment Rayne was probably attempting to stop the assassination of England’s Prince Regent. She at least needed to wait to confront him until he concluded his mission. The future of her marriage might be of vital import to her, but it did not quite trump the fate of the country or the Regent’s very life.
So why did it feel as if her own life was hanging in the balance? Madeline wondered desolately. And why was it so hard for her to make the noble choice?
Chapter Twenty
Is it possible that he truly loves me, Maman? Dare I believe it?
A warning shout rang out across from the Parliament building, alerting Rayne of the danger to his charge. Acting instantly at the prearranged signal, he shoved England’s portly Prince Regent to the pavement and covered the great bulk with his own body, much to the chagrin of His Royal Highness. Yet the pistol shot that immediately followed whistled harmlessly overhead.
Moments later, Rayne glanced across the street to see a cadre of agents led by Will Stokes swarm three armed culprits, who seemed shocked to have their assassination plot foiled.
Meanwhile, Prinny lay beneath Rayne, gasping and cursing. However, upon realizing that only his dignity had suffered, the prince broke into a sheepish grin.
“By God, you were right, Haviland. They were out to kill me.”
“Fortunately they missed, Your Highness,” Rayne said, helping the corpulent prince to his feet to the tune of creaking corsets.
“My thanks to you, Haviland. How can I ever repay you?”
“There is no need, Highness. But you might recognize the efforts of Runner Will Stokes. Stokes put a great deal of time into vouchsafing your protection this past sennight.”
“That I will,” the Regent agreed. “And I will also mention your services to your grandmother. Mary raised a formidable grandson, if you ask me.”
“Thank you, sire,” Rayne said in a drier tone.
He stepped back as the Regent’s usual retinue came rushing toward him in alarm. Prinny himself did not seem overly upset, as a man who had just escaped death ought to be. Indeed, he appeared rather cheerful about the thwarted assault. Perhaps because although he was reviled in many quarters for his infamous extravagances, an attempt on his life might actually raise his stock in public opinion. While his subjects might not care for his policies or personal conduct, most did not want him dead.
Rayne turned Prinny over to his royal coterie with a bow and extricated himself. Then moving through the gawking crowds, he crossed the street to find Will supervising the arrest of the three main perpetrators. None of them bothered protesting their innocence, since they’d been caught red-handed after being carefully followed for days.
Happily, the extensive surveillance Rayne had arranged was paying off. These three plotters would be put on trial and their fellow conspirators rounded up. Rayne was confident that with the preponderance of evidence against them, they would likely be found guilty.
As the three were being bound and loaded into a wagon to be taken to the Old Bailey, Rayne reflected on the irony of having to deal with prisoners twice in as many days.
“Excellent job, my friend,” he said to Will. “His Highness sends his compliments, by the by.”
Will grinned more broadly than Prinny had. “You and I still work well as a team, old chap.”
“So we do,” Rayne agreed.
“Are you certain I cannot persuade you to join Bow Street?”
“Not at present—although I promise to give your suggestion due consideration. Pray excuse me now, however. I have some urgent personal business to attend to.”
“Your new bride,” Will commented with a slyly amused glance.
“Just so,” Rayne replied, inwardly grimacing.
He was anxious to return to Riverwood. He hadn’t liked sending Madeline home when they had so many critical issues to settle between them. And now that he’d done his duty by his country’s sovereign, impatience was gnawing at Rayne relentlessly, along with his guilty conscience. He owed Madeline a more abject apology than the unsatisfactory one he’d given her yesterday.
To make amends, Rayne intended to stop by his town house briefly on the way to collect the best pieces of the Haviland jewels. He would also order Walters to oversee his affairs until further notice, since he was planning an extended absence from London. Directly afterward, Rayne would hasten to Riverwood, where he hoped to spend some very private time with Madeline, attempting to resolve the turmoil he’d created in their marriage.
To his surprise, however, when he reached Bedford Avenue, his younger sister met him at his front door in place of Walters, and she was clearly distressed.
“Thank heavens you are here, Rayne,” Daphne declared, dragging him inside. “I must speak to you at once.”
“What is it, love?” Rayne asked, noting that Walters was hovering nearby.
Daphne allowed the servant to withdraw a circumspect distance before saying fretfully, “I came straightaway to warn you. I thought you should know what scheme Grandmama is plotting against your new wife.”
Rayne felt his stomach muscles clench. “What do you mean, plotting?”
“Grandmama went to Riverwood this afternoon, intending to offer Madeline a huge sum so that your marriage can be dissolved.”
“Dissolved?”
“As in annulled,” Daphne explained worriedly.
A dozen questions streaked through Rayne’s mind, but he settled for a simple one. “How did you learn of her scheme, Daphne?”
“She mentioned it to Penelope, and Pen let it slip to me. Grandmama told her not to worry—that your marriage
would not stand.”
His muscles coiled even tighter. After the groundless accusations he’d made, Madeline might be eager to find a way out of their marriage, enough to accept a generous offer of independence.
“Walters!” Rayne barked at his aide’s retreating form.
“Yes, my lord?”
“Have a swift horse saddled for me at once.”
Riding would be much faster than traveling by coach or even curricle. Moreover, it would take precious moments to harness either carriage, moments Rayne feared he didn’t have.
“Certainly, my lord,” Walters replied before leaving promptly to do his bidding.
“Where are you going?” Daphne asked as Rayne spun on his heel and headed for his study.
“Where do you think? I need to find my wife before it is too late.”
When Daphne tried to follow him, Rayne halted long enough to grasp her by the shoulders and plant a swift kiss on her forehead. “You have my utmost gratitude, sweetheart, but you may go home now.” Then pointing his sister at the front door, he gave her a gentle push.
As he continued on his way to the study, however, Daphne called after him. “I like Madeline a great deal, Rayne. I don’t want Grandmama to interfere with your chance at happiness.”
“Trust me, I won’t allow her to,” he said determinedly. “Now take yourself home and let me deal with our grandmother.”
Not waiting to see if Daphne obeyed, Rayne entered his study. After retrieving a key from his desk, he opened his safe and withdrew a large velvet-covered box. Ten minutes later, he was riding toward Chiswick at a gallop, the jewel case strapped to the rear of his saddle.
His fresh mount ate up the miles, yet Rayne still had too much time to dwell on his frantic thoughts. The fear welling inside him was perhaps the closest he’d ever felt to true panic.
His chest was wire-tight, and so was his gut. He couldn’t lose Madeline now just when he’d come to realize how much she meant to him. Yet he might very well have driven her away. His grandmother’s financial proposition could be the final blow.
Without a doubt he was outraged and furious at his elderly relative’s machinations, and he intended to stop the dowager’s meddling once and for all. But for now he had to intercept Madeline before she had a chance to leave him.
To Tame a Dangerous Lord Page 33
