by Jade Lee
“Miss Wilson,” he began, but again the blonde spoke and everyone had to wait in silence for her to finish.
“Was I to understand, Mr. Frazier, that you were captured by pirates? Barbary pirates? I thought that’s what the servant said, but I couldn’t be sure, you understand. Such a fantastical tale! And you escaped, no less! Oh please, you must tell us how you did it! And were you, Mr. Morgan, equally enslaved? My goodness, how horrible!”
“It was, Lady Rose. It was quite horrible,” he responded, his tone flat and discouraging. But the lady was not one to take such a hint.
“Of course it was!” she exclaimed. “But however did you escape? Was it very dangerous? We are going to a musicale tonight, perhaps you could join us? Oh, possibly not, not attired as you are. But perhaps tomorrow?” She babbled on with her questions. Thankfully, they arrived at their location long before he was obliged to answer any of them.
Maddy breathed a sigh of relief the moment she shut the door on the gentlemen. She had installed them in the housekeeper’s room. The bedroom was tiny, but the bed was large enough for two as it was designed for a husband and wife. Plus, there was a salon out front, one Maddy usually used to balance accounts and plan meals. This would afford them some privacy if they wished to remain apart from the rest of the family. That was safer for all around, for the family if the boy turned violent again, and for them as an escape from Rose’s incessant questions.
Mr. Frazier had handled them well enough. Unlike the boy, he was slow to anger and supremely tolerant. And yet something about him set her belly quivering and her chest tightening. Not quite in fear, and yet not in pleasure either. He was everything that was polite—soft spoken and direct with his words—and yet his eyes seemed to watch her, study her, and see much too clearly into her heart. It bothered her, and yet she was the one who insisted that he come home with them.
“What are they doing?” asked Rose from the door to the salon. She was surrounded by nearly their entire staff come to gape.
“Really,” Maddy snapped at the crowd. “I would think you all have better things to do right now. But if not, I’m sure I can find something for you.”
The threat worked wonders on everyone but Rose. While the family’s three servants disappeared in an instant, Rose simply tried to sidle past Maddy to the bedroom door.
“Are they sleeping? Don’t they want a bath or a valet or something? I really don’t think Father will like this, but if he can pay, then I suppose it would be all right. It is rather romantic though, don’t you think? Mr. Morgan collapsing and all after he saw my beauty. That’s what he said, remember? You are very beautiful.”
“Yes, of course I remember,” Maddy said as she took a firm grip on Rose’s elbow and steered her toward the hallway. “Though I don’t think he collapsed quite because of you, sweeting. I fear he’s suffered a great loss—”
“Yes, yes! And for the older one, imagine being captured by pirates and coming home to realize your fiancée has married another! Poor man! He probably doesn’t even know that his mother and grandmother are dead from that fever two years ago.”
Maddy froze, turning to frown at her cousin. “What do you mean? He said nothing of a fiancée.”
“Oh! Of course, you weren’t living with us then, and I wasn’t even out, but everyone heard the tale. The old one, Mr. Frazier was dead, and who should appear at the funeral but his fiancée, demanding a seat and acting just like one would expect from an actress. Clearly she was there just to find another gull because a month later she’s married to Lord Blackstone. Started increasing within the year.”
“Oh my. Poor man.” She glanced behind her at the closed bedroom door. He had said they needed to rest, but she suspected they wanted privacy more than anything. And food. She needed to send up a tray to them immediately. So she grabbed her cousin’s arm and led her down the hallway. “But what of the younger one?”
“Oh, I don’t think he’s related to anyone at all,” Rose answered dismissively. “But isn’t Mr. Frazier glorious? The way he handled everything!”
Maddy nodded, pleased that Rose now saw Mr. Frazier as a romantic hero rather than a social disaster. “Now help me decide what to say to your father. He’s due back from his club any moment now.”
“Oh,” said Rose airily with a wave, “just mention the money.” Maddy had managed to get them into the hall, but Rose abruptly stopped, her eyes going wide as she looked back into the salon. “Do you think he’s very rich? Gold and gems and the like? He doesn’t look rich, but he has just come back from God knows what hellish place.”
“Rose! You shouldn’t say such things!”
“What?” she said with a vague blink. “Hell? Or that he’s very rich?”
Maddy grimaced. “Both, and well you know it.”
“Of course I know it!” Rose giggled with an impish smile. “I just never thought to hear you criticize my language!”
Maddy smiled fondly at her young cousin, though the expression was slightly strained. Three years ago, Maddy had indeed cursed rather colorfully and frequently. After all, she had spent all her life with just her father, who had been busy with his patients. That left her to run with whomever caught her fancy, including gypsies who had taught her the most colorful words in her vocabulary. After his death, the adjustment to polite society had not come easily. But in the ensuing years, things had changed. Maddy had learned how to go on, what to say and when to stay silent. Rose, on the other hand, never saw the change. The girl delighted in painting herself as Maddy’s older and wiser instructor, even though the girl was eight years younger.
“Come on, Rose, you have to help me—”
“Rose! Madeline! Where are you?” Uncle Frank’s angry voice cut through the house.
“Oh, my,” Maddy whispered, dismayed by the fury she heard in her uncle’s voice.
Rose bit her lip, then winked at Maddy. “We’re back in the salon, Papa!” she cried. “And don’t shout so, I have the headache.”
Maddy shot her cousin a glare. She knew exactly what those words meant, especially since Rose was already adopting a wan pose and placing a limp wrist to her forehead. Sure enough, Uncle Frank wasted no time in heading straight for them while Rose whimpered in pretend pain.
“Papa, I know you’re angry,” Rose said before anyone else could get a word in. “But try to understand that Maddy doesn’t know any better. They don’t teach polite things in the country. And now, I fear my head hurts abominably. I’m going to lie down for a bit.”
Uncle Frank’s eyes narrowed on his daughter. To his credit, he wasn’t in the least bit fooled by her display. “How could you bring a violent man to this house?” he snapped. “What were you thinking?”
Rose’s hand trembled against her forehead. “Papa, my head. Please—”
“Let her go, Uncle Frank,” Maddy said softly. “She counseled against it, but I was determined.”
Uncle Frank’s eyes narrowed as he glared at her. Then, with a snap of his wrist, he gestured his daughter away. Rose took the chance and fled immediately, which left Maddy, Uncle Frank, and once again their three servants in the hallway.
“They’re not violent, Uncle Frank,” Maddy urged with a glance at the servants. “You’ll see after they’re rested. He’s the earl’s cousin, and the younger one is ill.” Her uncle moved into the salon, his set face showing his every intention to barge in on the men without so much as a knock.
“Uncle!” she cried, rushing to get in front of him. “I think it best if we let them rest. Even the older one has hurt his leg. Can barely walk. And the younger is just a boy.”
Uncle Frank shot her an irritated look. “Doing it a bit too brown, don’t you think?” he drawled. “Didn’t they break five of the earl’s ribs?”
As many as that? Maddy wondered. “I’m sure it was an exaggeration,” she said.
“And who’s to pay for their food?”
“They have money. Mr. Frazier has already offered to pay.” She didn’t add that i
t would be some time before he could get English coins.
“Humph. My home is not a hostelry for every wayward—”
“I know, Uncle. Perhaps we could discuss this somewhere else. Let them rest. Truly, I think everything will be fine once they get their bearings.”
Uncle Frank peered once again at the closed door, but then reluctantly nodded. He was not a man to give in easily, but she was the daughter of a surgeon. He often deferred to her medical knowledge. So they stepped away from the bedroom door, but not even as far as the hallway. Instead, her uncle plopped himself down on the couch in the salon.
“Uncle?”
“I’ll not leave them without a guard. Not until I know it’s safe.”
“I assure you—”
“They attacked an earl. I’ll not be murdered in my bed by savages back from Africa.”
She swallowed, seeing that he had decided. So she nodded demurely and took the seat opposite her uncle. She could tell he wanted to talk, and as her uncle’s talks could go on quite some time, she found the most comfortable seat she could. But rather than have him start on a lecture, she tried to distract him.
“How did you hear about him?”
“Was all over the club. Kit Frazier, back from the dead and insane. Attacked the earl like a savage—”
“No—”
“Had some mongrel boy with him. Had to be held back by seven men—”
“That’s not—”
“And then he up and goes home with my daughter. Some say abducted.”
“Ridiculous!”
Uncle Frank folded his arms across his chest. “Really? They’re here, aren’t they?”
Maddy huffed in disgust. “They can hardly abduct anyone to their own home, now can they? And the boy simply became confused. And then he collapsed.”
“On top of you.”
She blinked. The way he said those four words made it sound like she’d been ravished on the earl’s floor. “No,” she stated firmly. “Mr. Frazier had him.”
“Hmmm,” he returned, his expression unreadable.
“Uncle, I can tell you exactly what happened . . .” she began, but he shook his head.
“Not just now, Madeline. I have something else I wish to discuss with you.”
She frowned. Her mind scrambled to figure out what he could possibly want. The accounts were up to date, and she had even managed to economize a bit. The servants were generally up to snuff, not like when she’s first arrived. She’d even managed to moderate some of Rose’s wilder ideas.
“You’ve been with us three years now, haven’t you? And I know you regard Rose as something of a sister, but really, you’re more like a mother to her, don’t you think?”
Maddy nodded, not sure whether he wanted her to voice her agreement or not. Apparently not, because he stroked his cheek and rumbled on.
“What do you think of her chances this Season? Think she’ll catch a husband?”
Perhaps, Maddy thought, if the man is equally young and has a tolerance for spoiled beauties. But she didn’t say that aloud. This was Rose’s father, after all. “She’s a beautiful girl and sure to take this Season. She will have offers.”
“That’s what I thought too,” he said. “So she’ll be married within the year—”
“Uncle, I’m not so sure that’s wise,” Maddy said. “Rose is very young.”
“She’s marriageable,” he huffed. “And I can’t afford to outfit her for another Season.”
Maddy frowned. She knew money was a constant worry for her uncle, but surely it wasn’t as bad as all that. “Truly, Uncle, I have pared down the household expenses. I should think that with a little economy . . .”
“Nonsense. She’s having her second Season. Two should be more than enough for such a beautiful gel.”
Maddy held her tongue, refusing to fight a battle that had yet to appear. She would do better to wait and see the gentlemen who really did offer for Rose. Perhaps one of them would be perfect.
“Which brings me to the question of you,” Uncle Frank abruptly said.
Maddy blinked. Her mind had been spinning about the perfect husband for Rose. She had not been focused on her own future. At least she hadn’t at that particular moment. Other times it felt like that was all she thought about. What would she do when Rose married and left the home? Maddy could hardly stay here, an unmarried woman with her widower uncle. But she hadn’t the funds to go elsewhere.
“I, um, hadn’t realized I was such a burden to you,” she said softly, her mind already scrambling to form arguments for her value to the household.
“A burden?” her uncle huffed. “You’re not a burden at all! Oh bother, I’m making a muddle of this, aren’t I?”
She had no idea what to say to that, so she pressed her lips together. What was he about?
“We’ve rubbed along together well, haven’t we? You manage the house to a tee, and Rose has never been happier. Less wild too, I should think, though she still has the most bizarre ideas sometimes.”
“She is maturing into a fine young woman,” Maddy said sincerely.
“Exactly. Fact is, nothing’s been better since my sweet Susan passed five years ago. Should have mentioned it months ago, but I only just now realized what with Rose about to marry and all, how pleasant it’s been with you here.”
“Um, well, thank you, Uncle. I like it here too.”
“Excellent. Excellent. Glad to hear it. You know we’re not related by birth, don’t you? Your father was Susan’s brother, and a right good man too.”
“Yes, Uncle, I know.” She suppressed the pang she always felt when she thought of her father. As much as she might appreciate her life now, everything had been so much better with him. She had been loved wholly and completely then, and not because she could manage a household or knew when to spare the coal and where to find cheaper candles.
“Well, then, Maddy,” her uncle continued. “You see, I have an idea, so to speak, an offer I’d like you to consider.”
Maddy nodded, forcibly pulling her thoughts away from her childhood. “Yes?”
“You don’t find me objectionable, do you? I mean, I’m not repulsive, am I?”
“Of course not.” Her uncle had kept himself in relatively good condition for a man his age. His body was the thick sort that held one or five stones extra weight without notice. His lungs were clear, his frame still strong. And if his skin was beginning to soften with fat, that was only to be expected. Many considered him a fine figure of a man.
“Excellent, excellent. So, uh, I was wondering if you’d like to stay on. After Rose is married, that is. With me.”
Maddy tilted her head. She could tell that her uncle was trying to ask her something important, but for the life of her she couldn’t fathom what. Finally, after looking at his earnest expression for much too long, she simply shrugged. “I’m sorry, Uncle, I just don’t understand. You know it won’t be proper for me to remain. Especially since, as you say, we’re not related by blood.”
“Well, yes, as to that, proper is a rather difficult term, don’t you think? Forgive me, dear, but you do realize that you’re not likely to get a husband, don’t you? You’re much too old and you simply don’t dress to magnify your assets.”
She frowned, her pride hurt despite her uncle’s apologetic tone. “I dress as I do because I am forced to wear Rose’s cast-off gowns. We are not at all the same size.”
“But that’s exactly the point, don’t you see? You’re impoverished. A pauper. Without a groat to your name. No one wants to marry a gel too old and poor to boot.”
Maddy looked away, tears stinging her eyes. It didn’t matter that everything he said was true, that she’d stayed awake nights worrying about just that. It was still cruel of him to say it so openly.
“Oh, here now, don’t cry. I know it’s hard, but I wanted to put your mind at ease, not worry it further.” With a heavy sigh, her uncle shifted to the edge of the couch such that he sat directly beside her though she was
in a chair. “I’m not a man of pretty words. I thought since your father was the same, you wouldn’t need the poetry.”
“I don’t,” she said, though in her heart she knew she lied. She missed having her father call her beautiful as he chucked her under the chin.
“Well, then, just listen. You’re used to nice things and good food. You manage a house better than my Susan. And with Rose gone, I might see my way to some money for your gowns and such.”
“Well, that would be lovely, Uncle, but—”
“You must call me Frank.”
Maddy stopped, her breath suspended. Why would he want her to call him . . . A thought crossed her mind, a horrible thought but one she could not shake. “You’re my uncle,” she said a little too tartly. “My uncle Frank.”
“But only through marriage. Not by blood.”
She stared at him. And as she looked, he reached out a hand that trembled slightly. It was an odd sight to see because as far as she could remember, he never wavered in anything he did. Unless, of course, he was remembering something especially tender about Aunt Susan. And yet his hand trembled now as he stroked a finger across her cheek.
“You’re beautiful in your own way, you know that?” he said. “And I want you to stay on after Rose leaves. With me.” He swallowed, his finger slowly outlining her mouth. “Will you, Maddy? Stay with me?”
She pulled back, horror sickening her stomach. “Uncle, we can’t marry. By law, we’re already related.”
He flushed, his hand dropped down as he looked anywhere but at her face. “Well, as to that, of course you’re right. Legally, there’s nothing I can do for you.”
Except dower her appropriately so she would be more appealing to someone else. That, of course, had been her secret hope. That Uncle Frank would become so fond of her that he would set her up properly. But what was happening now was . . . bizarre.
“Uncle Frank, are you asking me to be your mistress?”
“Don’t answer right away, Maddy,” he said. “Just think about the life I give you here, and what you would have out on the street.”
