by Wendy Vella
“What thing with his fingers?” Gabe kept his eyes on Madeline as she smiled and played the pretty with the people around her.
“Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed how he snaps his fingers in your face to make a point. Verbrook told me next time Hawkins did it, he would stuff them up his nose—which would solve both annoying habits.”
“Yes, not the easiest person to converse with, I’ll give you that.”
“He just has to walk into a room to annoy me,” Elliot added. “There is also the matter of his belief Miss Spencer is toying with him, but one day will see the error of her ways and marry him.”
“Why do you care who she marries?” Gabe dragged his eyes from Madeline. Strangely, his heart had started to thud harder inside his chest.
Promise you will love no one but me, Gabe. She’d once said those words to him.
“I couldn’t give a fig about that woman, but for some reason my wife does.”
“Where is your Lyndy?”
“Home. She is poorly.”
“Poorly how?” Gabe looked at Elliot. The man was blushing and wore a foolish smile. “She’s with child,” Gabe guessed.
“I never said that!”
“You didn’t have to, the glow and besotted look on your face told me.”
“Well, it is rather exciting.”
“Extremely. Congratulations, my friend, I am happy for you both.”
“Thank you. Lyndy wants you to be its godfather because you are supposedly my only sensible friend.”
Something warm and heavy settled in Gabe’s chest.
“I would be honored. Let’s hope it has her hairline and temperament.”
“A great many women love bald men. And what’s wrong with my temperament?” Elliot glared at him.
“It’s fiery, and that’s me being polite.”
“Well, rather that than sullen. You scare everyone off with your scowl, Gabe, and gruff ways.”
“Gruff ways? Oh, now I do protest.” Madeline was now taking the floor with the sniffing finger-flicking Hawkins. Light from above made her dress shimmer as she walked.
What the hell was she doing in that room looking at that deed?
“You have a fearsome reputation, even if it is not warranted,” Elliot added.
“Harsh.” But true, Gabe added silently. He hadn’t always been that way, but life had changed him, and not always for the better.
“Yes, well, you will never get a wife if you do not learn to smile. Apparently, according to mine, you are something of a catch, but women are terrified of you.”
“What utter rot,” Gabe said, once again looking at Madeline. She was laughing at something Hawkins said. In turn, he was gazing at her adoringly.
“I’ll just say Miss Hindle to strengthen my point.”
“She tripped on her shoe ribbon,” Gabe snapped. “I said nothing to her, but she made the entire event into a production. She did not faint because of my savage scowl.”
“If you insist.”
“I do. Now tell me what you know of Miss Spencer.”
“As in?”
“As in what do you know of her, Elliot. Not a terribly taxing question, even for you.”
“I’m not sure why I put up with you.”
“Because no one else will have you.”
“Why the interest in Miss Divine?”
“Is that what they’re calling her?” She moved with grace. Dainty hands held her skirts as she sank into a curtsey. “And I am merely curious, not interested, Elliot.”
“I thought your families were close and you spent time together as children? Shouldn’t you know more about her than I?”
“Children, Elliot, not adults. We are now strangers.” Gabe watched as she turned and her eyes caught his. She stumbled, which he found an interesting reaction. Madeline was never clumsy.
“I don’t know anything about her, actually, which is strange. I mean, people always talk, and I of course am an excellent listener.”
“You’re a gossip,” Gabe added.
“But there is rarely anything interesting said about Miss Spencer, other than that she is sweet and polite.”
“Sweet?” Gabe scoffed. “The woman’s after the loftiest title and biggest estate she can lay her hands on through marriage.”
“Lyndy gets angry if I speak like that, as she likes Miss Spencer.”
“That seems odd, considering your wife is usually a woman of intelligence. If my memory serves, marrying you was her only lapse in judgement.”
“I don’t actually know,” Elliot said, not taking offence. They’d been tormenting each other with insults since they met one drunken night a few years ago. “She always says things like ‘there’s a lot more to Miss Spencer that people don’t see.’ It’s all very vague, and when I question her further, she won’t add anything.”
Miss Spencer gave her dance partner a blinding smile that had him stumbling.
If I was to compare this moment to a food, it would be jellied eel.
The old Maddie, as he’d once called her, would have said something like that, but not this one… well, he’d not thought she would. Clearly he was wrong.
“Come.” Gabe pushed off the walls. “Let’s leave before people start behaving badly, as they tend to do after too many libations. We’ll visit the club. It’ll probably be our last time before we leave for my estate.”
Elliot and Lyndy had chosen to spend the festive season with Gabe and his family rather than their own.
“Yes, but I cannot be late, as I need to check on Lyndy.”
“You’re not going to fuss around her for the entire nine months, are you?”
“Probably, and it’s only six now.”
Gabe threw a last look at Madeline Spencer. She lifted her head as if sensing him. Their eyes caught and held again, and then she quickly looked away.
Shrugging off the ripple of awareness, he followed Elliot from the room. Whatever had put Madeline in that room had nothing to do with him.
Nothing at all.
Chapter Two
Maddie tapped her spoon against the cup as she thought about that deed of sale she’d found last night in Haswell’s study.
“You will desist at once, Madeline. That sound should not be heard at the breakfast table... or any table, for that matter.”
“Sorry, Verity.” She lowered her spoon as her sister scowled at her.
“You are even more preoccupied than normal this morning.”
Maddie muttered something and continued to stare into her cup of tea.
She’d needed that document but had not been able to reach it under the desk after it had fallen from her hands. That fiend Lord Snotty had stopped her from retrieving it. How dared he looked down his nose at her.
Once she’d hung on every word he uttered. Once, Maddie had believed he would be the man she’d marry. Of course, at twelve years old she hadn’t really known what she wanted, but still, Gabriel had been her hero.
“You sighed, Madeline. If you are not going to share with us why, then desist that also.”
“Sorry, Verity.”
He’d approached her at the beginning of the season when she’d been attending her first ball, so handsome and assured. Maddie’s shock at seeing the changes in her old friend had tied her tongue into knots. He was no longer the thin, shy boy she’d known.
Once she’d loved this man, or at least the boy he’d been, to the depths of her innocent heart. Now he was a cold, aloof stranger with piercing blue eyes that seemed to look right through her.
He’d tried to talk to her. Maddie had replied with foolish giggles and a few silly comments she managed to get out of her dry mouth. He’d then bowed and walked away from her after a few minutes of strained silence. They’d not spoken again.
She’d spent plenty of time observing the earl when he wasn’t looking, during the nights they frequented the same society gatherings.
Maddie often wanted to gnash her teeth at the young ladies of her acquaintance
as they constantly sighed or twittered about him. “He’s so handsome.” “His eyes are like the sky on a cloudless summer day.” “He sits a horse like no other.” On and on it went. She found it nauseating and disturbing at the same time. The latter because somewhere deep inside her she still felt slightly proprietorial about Gabriel. Foolish, she knew, but nonetheless it was there. He’d once been very important in her life, and she’d never been able to shake that.
Handsome seemed too simple a word for what Gabe had grown into. Thick brown hair, piercing blue eyes, and a large, solid body that he clothed elegantly.
“Must you stare vacantly into your cup, Maddie? It makes you appear simple. But perhaps you are thinking about someone you met last night? Which gentleman has captured your interest? Lord Silvers, perhaps? I believe he is quite enamored with you. Or Lord Lockhart. You and he once believed you would marry. Has the time come to renew your acquaintance with him?”
Maddie didn’t like her eldest sister very much. Love her, yes, but like… definitely not. Engaged to an earl who was equally as pompous as she, Verity rarely let an opportunity pass to annoy Maddie with her lofty opinions.
Maddie watched as Verity lifted her teacup and sipped a mouthful, her movements dainty, as proper young ladies should be. Verity never did anything that wasn’t proper.
“I’m tired, Verity, nothing more. And I have no wish to marry either of those men.”
Especially not the last one.
“Yes, well, not everyone has the stamina for an evening in society. I, of course, was something of an incomparable before I became engaged to Stephen. ’Tis a shame you will not follow in my footsteps.”
“Verity.” The caution came from her mother, who had been silent until that moment, reading her newspaper.
Verity thought reading the newspaper unbecoming for a lady, but she was not brave enough to challenge their mother.
“I’m just talking, Mama.”
Verity wore a thick shawl around her shoulders to ward off the bitter chill that hung in the air. Golden haired, brown eyed, she was beautiful like their mother. Maddie had often heard men talking about her, and it was always flattering and nauseating. Maddie would rather be known for her wit or intelligence than the style of her hair.
“No. You are deliberately baiting your sister. I wish you to stop at once, Verity.”
“I was merely pointing out that she—”
“Do you ever tire of that?” Maddie cut her sister off.
“Maddie.” She ignored the caution in her mother’s tone.
“Tire of what?” Verity flicked a curl over her shoulder, then nibbled on a corner of toast.
“Being a sharp-tongued shrew.”
Their mother’s groan did not deter Maddie.
“How dare you speak to me in such a way!” Verity’s mouth formed a thin, angry line. “Mama, I insist you discipline her!”
“How dare I?” Maddie got to her feet. “You’re always insulting someone. One hopes you show your fiancé your true colors before you marry, so he can run for the hills! You have the airs and graces of a princess... which I assure you, you definitely are not. What you are is a rude, spoiled, self-indulgent brat.”
“Is it too much to ask for peace at the breakfast table?” Lady Spencer closed her paper with a crisp snap. “Stop this at once if you please, girls.”
Maddie was too far into this to heed her mother’s words. She’d had enough of Verity’s pointed barbs.
“How dare you!” Verity’s face was puce with rage now.
“Girls.” Lady Spencer was out of her seat now. “That will do.”
“You’ve said that already, Verity.” Maddie was not to be deterred. Her sister had been poking at her for weeks, and she was done with it. “Quite frankly, I’ve had enough of your sanctimonious ways.”
“Mama, you must deal with her at once!” Verity threw her toast at Maddie. She caught it and took a large bite, chewing slowly while looking at her sister.
“Desist!” Lady Spencer demanded. “Both of you will be quiet. You are giving me indigestion.”
Maddie glared at her sister one last time and then threw the toast back harder. It hit her sister in the forehead. Luckily, it was coated in strawberry preserve.
She then walked from the room.
Stomping back to her bedroom, Maddie prepared for her outing. She then made her way down to the front door.
“Verity is different from you, Madeline.”
Searching for her mother, she found her under the stairs, looking at the paintings of her father’s ancestors.
“How did you know I was leaving the house?”
“Because when you’re angry you want to get away from Verity in case you do her bodily harm.”
“I would never physically harm her, Mama.”
“I know, darling. Sometimes I look at you both and wonder how you can be sisters. You are strong and always challenging something or someone. Verity is quite content to simply be a young woman in society. She does not want more and is happy marrying Stephen, knowing he will care for her.”
“She’s nasty.” Maddie moved closer, and her mother wrapped an arm around her waist.
“No, she’s not; you provoke her into being nasty. Verity is unsure how to communicate with you, as she feels there is no common ground between you. You should try harder with her.”
Maddie thought about that as she looked up at the painting.
“Why are we looking at him?”
“He’s an austere-looking chap, but it was his mustache I was looking at. Your father had one of those when I first met him. I made him remove it.”
“You miss him very much, don’t you?”
“Very much,” Lady Spencer said quietly. “But he shall be home soon, and finally we can leave for the estate.”
Ian, Lord Spencer was a wonderful father; however, he spent a great deal of time helping run the country. She could not fault him in his duty, even if sometimes she wished he’d be selfish and spend more time with them.
“Now, where are you off to today?” Her mother motioned her back to the front door, where a maid stood. “And don’t lie to me, I’ll know.”
“I wouldn’t lie to you!” Maddie tried to look outraged.
“Yes, you would if it suited your purpose.”
“You know me too well.”
“Because you are just like me.”
“I had thought to get some small gifts to give the staff before we leave London.”
“That’s very kind of you, sweetheart, but where else are you going?” Her mother leveled her with the look that said she wasn’t moving until she had the truth.
“I thought to visit Margaret and then go to the bookstore.” It was a lie, but it was better her mother was not aware of her youngest daughter’s actual intended location.
“You will take James.”
“Penny will be with me. I do not need anyone else—”
“James!” Her mother walked to the stairs and yelled in a very unladylike manner. Seconds later a large footman appeared.
“Mother, really, there is—”
“You called, my lady?”
“I want you to accompany my daughter... this one.” She pointed to Maddie, who was not amused. “You will stay at her side at all times.”
James hurried down the stairs. Big and burly, he had been with the Spencer household for five years now. Maddie and he had an understanding of sorts. He didn’t give away her secrets, and she paid him handsomely for that. Usually in treats like candy or pies. James liked food.
“I do not need to take James away from his work, Mama,” Maddie protested. “I will hardly get into trouble in a bookstore.”
James cleared his throat, knowing very well there would be no bookstore visited today.
“Then you will not go.” Her mother’s smile told her she had lost.
“Oh, very well.”
“That’s my grateful daughter. Now, James, should my daughter get into trouble and refuse to follow
your direction, you have my permission to throw her over your shoulder.”
“Very well, my lady.” The footman’s eyes didn’t betray what he was thinking.
“Very amusing,” Maddie said.
“Yes, well, you’ll forgive me if I don’t have complete faith in your ability to stay out of trouble,” Lady Spencer said. “There was that incident with the pony—”
“I was ten.”
“And the man on the street who was mistreating the horse.”
“Yes, well, that happened only a few weeks ago. But he was being unkind and needed that pointed out to him.”
Lady Spencer laughed. “I think he understood your meaning, dear.”
Maddie kissed her mother’s cheek.
“I need you to think about what I said, Maddie. You and Verity are different, but you are sisters. You’re strong and determined; she is equally so, but in other ways. This household will run in a far more harmonious fashion were you to at least attempt to find a common ground with her.”
“Are you having this talk with her also?”
“Of course.”
Maddie sighed. “I am the epitome of a well-behaved woman every evening, Mama. Surely you cannot expect me to be that way in the day as well.”
“The perfect miss, do you mean?”
Maddie nodded.
“It is quite amazing how you can be two different people. Your father thinks some man is going to get quite a shock one day when he realizes the woman he has married is actually a mouthy little baggage full of purpose and determination.”
“I don’t think I want to marry, Mama.” Maddie pushed the vision of Gabe aside. He was not the boy she’d once loved.
“One day you will find the right man, but for now simply enjoy being young. Now go and enjoy your outing but behave yourself. Remember, the reason I do not stop you from leaving the house is because I know you need to have things to occupy you, but if you break my trust that will stop.”
Guilt settled heavily around her shoulders as Maddie left the house.
Chapter Three
The day was bleak. A flurry of snow was in the air, and it made the streets icy, so the carriage trip was a slow one. London in December was never a pleasant time, as the streets were often turned to sludge by the rain and ice. The Spencer women were awaiting Lord Spencer’s return from his government business so they could leave for Chasten, their estate, before Christmas Eve. Maddie couldn’t wait to start the celebrations, beginning with decorating the house and lighting the yule candle.