by Zoë Archer
~~~
“I thought her cold in the beginning,” Emily said as they walked back to Highspot, “but she is not; merely reserved, let us say. Her fire is hidden. I like her.”
“Good. I intend to make her my countess.” He smiled when Emily turned to him in surprise. “What? You said you liked her.”
“I do! But…but isn’t this sudden? You would wed her after an afternoon’s acquaintance?”
He shook his head. “That would be foolish, indeed. No, Em, I’ve wondered about her for six years. Though she was one of many, she stood out from all the other debutantes six years ago. It took me weeks to get up my courage to speak to her. When I did, I asked her for a dance for the next evening’s ball. But it was too late. She was called home and I never saw her again.”
“Oh!” Emily held her hands to her chest. “That is so romantic.”
“Romantic? No, it was foolish of me to waste all those days and weeks.”
“But think, had she remained, you might even now be wed.”
Robert shook his head. “Remember, I was the third son six years ago. She an earl’s daughter. Her family would never have countenanced the alliance.”
“But now,” Emily said with a smile, “now you and she—”
“I have to woo her, Em. She’s no young miss with thoughts only to snare a husband. Six years she’s had the raising of her three nephews and niece, making them a home, and she’s done well. She might not want to wed.”
Emily wrinkled her nose. “Not wed you! Don’t be silly.”
Robert smiled. “You’ll have to help me with this, Em.”
Emily nodded. “Of course I shall help you. If you’re sure. Lady Baylor might assist as well, for she appears fond of Lady Madeline.”
“Then too, there’s that silly law…I’m sure I can use that to my advantage.”
~~~
Madeline grabbed each twin by an ear, ignored their howls of outrage, and walked briskly into the drawing room where she released them and stood with her hands on her hips. “You will explain to me why you entered Highspot. Why you conversed about your father with Baron Whiteleaf. How Lord Spode came to call Sir Basil, Sir Insufferable. If you please.”
~~~
The arrival of more guests postponed Robert’s planned questioning of Lady Baylor. Not wanting to draw attention to Lady Madeline’s name, he hesitated speaking to their hostess unless tête-a-tête. Lady Diana solved his dilemma by speaking of Lady Madeline later that evening. Lady Baylor took exception to Lady Diana’s words and tone, and admiringly defended Lady Madeline to one and all.
Robert was pleased by what he heard. Nothing to disqualify her as his countess.
~~~
“He thought being the third son would exclude him as a suitor?” Madeline looked from Simon to Hunter. “He spoke to you of this?”
The twins looked at one another and back to her. “We were talking,” Simon said, and kicked his shoe against the carpet.
“We talked about many things,” Hunter said. “He said his father didn’t object when one of his brothers went into trade. Well, it was the East India Company.”
“You talked about that?” Madeline sat and fanned her face. “You know not to draw attention to yourselves. You know your father’s family is looking for you.” She put her hands to cool her cheeks. “I despise that silly law. If not for that law and Sir Basil—”
“We didn’t tell him who our father is,” Simon said.
“We’re not dolts,” Hunter said.
Simon put a hand on her shoulder. “He said he could help.”
Hunter put his hand on her other shoulder. “We like him, Aunt Maddy. He talked to us like we were adults.”
“We think you should allow him to help. What could it hurt?”
Madeline closed her eyes and pictured Lord Robert Baideson, Earl of Spode. With her fingers running through his hair. Even worse, she could picture herself on his lap, pulling his head back so she could kiss him. Where did such thoughts come from? Your wild nature, a little voice replied.
“Wild nature to the devil!” she cried as she rose. She looked at her nephews, aware she had spoken aloud. “Ignore what I just said.”
~~~
Lady Baylor told Robert to avail himself of the Baylor carriage when he and his sister visited Ardmoor House, remarking not everyone enjoyed Lady Madeline’s enthusiasm for long walks. Sitting in the carriage, Robert brooded over what his sister had just informed him.
“I can’t think why Lady Diana should say I was set to offer for her. She may have been in the back of my mind—along with many others—but had I any firm thoughts in that direction, her manner of speech to Lady Madeline yesterday clearly showed her in an unfavorable light.”
“I told Lady Baylor I thought Lady Diana was speaking more from hope; that you had never indicated your affections were with her.” Emily smiled. “I did say I thought you hoped to renew your acquaintance with Lady Madeline. And if your affections were to be engaged, one should look in that direction. Lady Baylor was pleased.”
“Good.” Robert smiled. “You will look for my signal?”
Emily frowned. “Yes. I’ll count to five hundred, but that’s all the time alone you will have! I cannot in good conscience leave you alone any longer.”
~~~
Madeline thought the grey of her gown washed out any color from her complexion. It was also baggy. She tied the white cap under her chin and looked at herself. Perfectly horrid.
What would it hurt to keep off the cap? Wear a pretty gown? He wants to help you, not ravish you. Madeline sighed. The trouble was, she thought her wild nature might want him to ravish her. Well, not ravish—she wasn’t clear on what that was exactly, but knew it must be avoided. Certainly she wanted him to kiss her. And her kiss him. She could feel her wild nature rising up and embracing all those thoughts of kissing. What would it hurt to have him look at her in admiration? She removed her cap and studied her head. Her braids were coiled neatly at her nape. There, that would do. She hated the cap, after all.
~~~
Simon and Hunter were on their knees before Joy, their ten-year old sister. “Just don’t mention Aunt Maddy’s wild side. Anyone’s wild side. Please?” Simon asked.
“We want him to marry her, Joy. Don’t you want Aunt Maddy to marry?”
“No. I don’t like the Spodes,” Joy said. “I don’t want to move away. I want to stay here.”
“But if Aunt Maddy married Lord Spode, they might take you to London,” Simon said. “Think of all you’ll see. The animals at the Tower Zoo, the shops.” He looked at Hunter.
“They have everything in London,” Hunter said. “Dolls! They have about a thousand doll shops in London.” Hunter grinned at Simon.
Joy looked at her brothers with narrowed eyes. “They do not.”
“We’re begging you, Joy,” Simon said. “Don’t say anything to scare Lord Spode away, or Aunt Maddy might have to marry Sir Insufferable. Then Father’s family might take us away. But if Aunt Maddy marries Lord Spode, he’s powerful enough to protect us until Father returns home.”
Joy stuck out her lower lip. “Why can’t Papa come home and stay?”
~~~
Robert shifted unobtrusively in his chair—again—and steered the conversation from polite small talk to the problem at hand. Anything to keep Lady Madeline’s eyes off of him, since he had the oddest notion she was mentally ravishing him. Not that he minded, but since they weren’t alone, nor betrothed, he couldn’t do anything about it, could he? Most disconcerting.
“I can introduce legislation to have the law changed.” His eyes followed the movement of her bottom lip as she brought it between her teeth. “Or I could ask Lord Baylor to urge the vicar to do his duty.” More biting. He shifted yet again. “I could speak to Sir Insufferable and declare his suit is unwanted.” Her lips opened and her tongue made a brief, wet appearance. He groaned, imagining where on his body he would like those lips and tongue. “Or you could marry me.”
Zounds! Had he just blurted out his proposal of marriage?
Lady Madeline stared at him, her eyes wide, her mouth open in surprise. He hoped it was surprise and not distaste.
“Oh, that would be lovely!” Emily cried, hopping twice in her chair. “Do say yes! Ignore my brother’s impetuous, ignominious proposal and say yes!”
Lady Madeline blinked. “I wouldn’t say it was an ignominious proposal.”
Emily laughed and clasped her hands together. “You do say yes?”
Lady Madeline shook her head and looked between him and his sister. “I can’t…the children…I gave my word.”
Robert arched a brow. Well. She appeared to have some reservations about becoming his countess. “I apologize for blurting out in public what should have been done privately.” He frowned. “If you would accompany—”
“Robert,” Emily broke in. “Shouldn’t you first speak to Ardmoor? I’m aware Lady Madeline is of age, but there are proprieties to observe.”
Robert wondered what his sister was about. By her expression, he could see she wanted him out of the room. No doubt to exchange words female to female. And he’d be a fool to object. “Indeed, Em, you have the right of it. Lady Madeline? If I may speak to Ardmoor?”
“Oh, but my brother…” Lady Madeline stopped and Robert saw her brows rise. “Yes. Yes, see him, ‘tis about time Ardmoor took note of what is transpiring about in the world.”
~~~
Madeline didn’t mind Lady Emily holding her hands. Nor did she object to the pleasant prospect Lady Emily made on her becoming the Countess of Spode. She appreciated Lady Emily’s honesty when speaking of her brother, for although she spoke glowingly of him, she admitted he had faults and spoke of them. Madeline didn’t consider being short-tempered in the morning much of a fault.
When Lady Emily spoke of how marriage to her brother would alleviate any concern over her nephews having to abide by that silly law, Madeline did admit to being tempted. In fact, she knew if she hadn’t promised to keep her sister’s children safe from their in-laws, she might be inclined to say yes. Madeline thought something of her thoughts must be showing in her eyes, for Lady Emily leaned closer, her smile wide, her grip almost painful.
“Do say yes! Make my brother the most happiest of men!”
~~~
Robert stood outside Ardmoor’s chamber door, where Watkins, Ardmoor’s valet—although Robert would wager a year’s rents it was Ardmoor’s former batman—had bid him wait whilst he ascertained whether or not the earl was receiving. From where Robert stood, apparently the earl of Ardmoor was awake and bloody didn’t want to bloody see any bloody, bleeding, friggin’ sonofabitch he’d never heard of.
It was a tricky situation. Ardmoor a potential brother-in-law. The man obviously didn’t want to see him. He couldn’t barge in and demand an audience. Yet how could he return to the drawing room and admit defeat? He needed all the help he could get to win his future bride’s favor. Watkins opened the door and said the earl was feeling better and would see him.
Robert entered and stated his business. That the man was still abed, his room dark and reeking of alcohol and unwashed—something he did not want to dwell upon, was Ardmoor’s concern. The man was a hero. Missing a leg, but still a hero. And now an earl.
“You want to marry Maddy?” Ardmoor lifted his arm off his face and looked at Robert. “Who are you?”
Robert repeated his name. He explained again the problem Lady Madeline was having with the silly law concerning longbow practice and Sir Insufferable. He stated his desire to wed Lady Madeline, and started to give his worth, but Ardmoor waved him off.
“She want you?”
Robert hesitated. Did she?
“She doesn’t want you?”
“Possibly. I am not sure.” Zounds, could he sound more pathetic?
Ardmoor cursed. And took his time about it before calling for Watkins. “I expect this is a sign,” he said with a loud sigh. “A sign for me to move my arse from bed.”
Robert waited. Was that a yes? A no? What did the man mean? “I have your permission to court your sister?”
“Court her, marry her, as long as Maddy is happy.” He looked up at Robert. “She tell you about the children?”
Robert knew this an important question. What was the correct answer? “She mentioned a promise.”
Ardmoor grunted. “Wickerdun.”
Robert smiled as relief filled his chest. Finally, a point of reference they could agree upon. “Wickerdun is a particular friend of mine.” Robert’s stomach clenched at Ardmoor’s expression.
“Bloody hell. Bloody, friggin’ hell. Sorry. Can’t have Maddy.”
“But—”
“Promises to be kept. No. My last word on the subject.”
~~~
“Who is Wickerdun to you?”
Lady Madeline’s welcoming smile faded, her face whitened. “Where did you hear that name?”
“Your brother.” He made so bold as to grab her arm when she attempted to flee. He cast a look at his sister. “You will remain here whilst Lady Madeline and I peruse the gardens.”
~~~
Well, Lord Spode certainly knew how to kiss. Madeline drew back and studied his face with single-minded attention until she knew each bit of him. She wanted to kiss it all. And use her tongue. Lord Spode had shown her what exquisite delights could be had with using one’s tongue to good advantage. She moved to kiss him again, but he held her back. Drat! He was talking again. How did he expect her to concentrate when her wild nature was running amuck?
“Just say yes, Maddy.”
Maddy? When had they gone from Lady Madeline to Madeline to Maddy? “Yes?” She stepped back. “Yes to what?”
“Yes, you will marry me. Yes, you will trust me. Yes, you believe I will protect you and respect whatever promise you made concerning your nephews and niece. Yes, you will tell me why the name Wickerdun puts you in a panic.”
She would have returned to the house, but he kissed her again. Only the sound of Joy’s giggles reminded her where she was, and helped pull her from Lord Spode’s lascivious embrace.
“Robert!” Lady Emily’s voice trilled from beyond the roses.
Madeline and Lord Spode were a respectable two feet apart when his sister and her niece came into view. Madeline had to refrain from touching her lips, smoothing her hair, and straightening the bodice of her gown. Her eyes widened. The bodice of her gown?
“Robert, you must speak with my new little friend. Her name is Joy.”
Madeline could see Lord Spode had about as much interest in talking to her niece as he had in ripping out his fingernails. But he smiled and bowed and said as how his sister had such fine taste in friends, he was delighted to meet Miss Joy. At the sight of Joy’s delighted smile, Madeline’s heart turned over. He really was a fine man.
~~~
After hearing from Ardmoor that Lord Spode was a particular friend of the Earl of Wickerdun, Madeline was all for packing up the family and heading for a distant Ardmoor estate. Ardmoor’s declaration that he’d use his saber to cleave a head or two should any dare intrude upon his family’s solitude made Madeline anxious to begin the journey. Then Ardmoor would decide to try the wooden leg Watkins had procured. And Ardmoor would insist on negotiating the stairs with his new peg leg. Madeline knew if she survived this day she would survive anything. Never did she expect Lord Spode to appear the next day with a man claiming to be Wickerdun.
Just as well Ardmoor decided the gardens were a more comfortable place to accustom himself to his new peg. Although his inventive curses were heard in the drawing room, his saber was stashed safely away in his locker.
Madeline narrowed her eyes at Lord Spode. The man had offered marriage only the day before. Kissed and licked her senseless. Now he appeared with the family nemesis.
“Lady Madeline, may I make known to you, William, Will to his friends, DeBohun, the Earl of Wickerdun. Will, this is Lady Madeline Wilde. The woman I hope to wed.”
“It is good to meet you,” Wickerdun said as she raised her eyes. “Can’t wait to meet the nevy’s and niece. Bad ton, bad ton, for m’father to cut off old Geoff. Never could see Geoff as a curate. Never understood what difference if m’brother captain’s his own ship rather than join the navy. Seems to me he made the better choice. Mean to tell him that, but the man is elusive. Well,” he said with a large smile, “it is good to finally meet you.”
~~~
“I am forgiven?” Robert asked after he had kissed Maddy. “Are you curious as to how I came to arrive with Wickerdun?”
“You are forgiven, and yes, I am curious.”
Robert grinned. “I am a clever man, as you’ll come to appreciate once we’re wed.” He gave her a quick kiss. “Wickerdun, as I’d told your brother, is a particular friend of mine. He was one of Lord Baylor’s guests, and arrived yesterday afternoon. When I asked what he knew of the Earl of Ardmoor, he relayed the sad story of his father’s casting out his younger son because he chose to captain his own ship. And the subsequent scandalous marriage—scandalous because they traveled to Gretna Green to marry—of the eldest daughter of the Ardmoor house to his brother. And his father’s determination to raise his son’s children as befitted the grandsons of an earl. So I, being the clever man that I am, deduced that your hiding here in Cornwall was rooted in the fear someone might recognize your nephews and take them from you. Wickerdun has no inclination to take on his brother’s children. But I would be happy to share your duty. Now, you have no reason to refuse my offer of marriage.”
He thought Madeline looked tempted. “My sister once warned me,” she whispered, and he leaned close. “She said be careful whom I favored, for there is a wildness in our blood, a wildness not often matched in those we favor. It can prove disastrous when our…wildness is not returned.”
“Your niece bemoaned something about the Wilde wild nature. Apparently she hopes to inveigle Emily into wedding your brother-in law.”
He saw Madeline’s eyes widen and her lips part. He didn’t want her to think about that, so he nuzzled her ear before whispering to her. “Tell me more of the Wilde wild nature. Wild as in sharing the blood of…Shenti? Dennene? Pelldari?”