Gordon shook his head. “He’s dead. He was killed.”
Madison looked away. “I’m sorry.”
“No need. It’s why I became an officer. It’s what drives me, my lady. I don’t think those who harm others should get away with their crimes. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Madison lifted her chin so she could see his face. She wondered if he were speaking about Judd or something else. Did he mean Leo? Did she mean anyone else in this house? “I would agree.”
He nodded in approval as though glad she was on his side. “This… Circle… do the others know about it?” He motioned with his chin to the chatty group of women a few feet away.
They definitely knew, but Madison didn’t think he needed to know that. “I haven’t spoken to them about it, and I can hardly guess at what their husbands or brothers have told them. Leo doesn’t even tell me everything.”
“Do you think he’s hiding anything?”
“Who?”
“Lord Leonard.”
She frowned at the audacity. Did the man truly think she’d be as foolish as to turn against her own husband?
Gordon straightened, likely seeing the loathing expression on her face. “Forgive me, my lady. I didn’t mean to offend.”
She wasn’t so sure about that. She was ready to suggest he leave, but then she remembered that she was supposed to be getting answers from him. “It’s all right.” She tried to think of a plausible reason his words would have been ‘all right’ when that was far from the truth. “Leo keeps his work to himself. I suppose most men do. Are you married?”
“No.”
“Fancy anyone?” It was a silly question.
And he clearly thought it silly as well. But he surprised her and said, “Actually, there is a woman I like, but she’s… above my station.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.” Then she smiled and lowered her voice. “Does she feel the same about you?”
Gordon frowned and then shrugged. “Perhaps.”
“Then station won’t matter.” She believed that deeply. “Look at the scandal I fell into. Someone saw past my flaws. Leo loved me in spite of them. Of course, it’s true. People can be cruel, but I’m starting to find that they can be wonderful as well.”
Gordon’s frown deepened before it cleared.
Lady Serveck came over. “Madison, are you going to play another song.” She moved in close and stepped between her and Gordon. She seemed oblivious to the fact as she went on to speak about her favorite songs.
The man moved back to give her more space. Then glared at Lady Serveck’s back before murmuring something and returning to the group of women on the couch.
He likely felt invisible, his station forever being of the lower classes.
“Have you ever seen Clementi perform his own music?” Lady Serveck moved to sit by Madison, forcing her to share the bench. “You’ll enjoy London. I just know it. I can’t wait for…” There was barely a pause before she said, “Does Mr. Gordon make you uncomfortable?”
Madison blinked. The second part of Lady Serveck’s question had been stated quietly and she realized that Lady Serveck had been very aware of what she’d been doing when she got Mr. Gordon to go away.
“He didn’t make me too uncomfortable.”
“Did he threaten you?” The woman’s face gave absolutely nothing about their conversation away. For those who couldn’t hear, one could easily assume they were still speaking about music.
“No, he didn’t threaten me.”
“Did he threaten Leo?” There was a little more bite to her tone.
Madison’s heart raced for some reason. If anyone were making her uncomfortable, it was Lady Serveck. She seemed… off, different. “No, he didn’t, but he was suspicious of him.”
The woman pressed her lips into a firm line. Then she turned her back to the room and let out a breath. “I can’t lose him. Not again.”
“What do you mean?”
“Always running.” She laughed and turned to Madison. “He’s like a little David, always on the run.”
“David?”
“The king in the Bible,” the woman said. “He was always running from King Saul. King Saul wanted him dead.”
“I remember the story.”
“Leo is like that, though I thought he’d stop running when King Saul was killed.”
“David kept running?” Madison was confused.
“No, my dear, Leo kept running.” She grabbed Madison’s hand. “He wouldn’t stay still for more than a day.” She smiled. “I’m so glad you’re here with us. I’m so glad you’ve brought Leo back.”
Madison didn’t have to wonder who the ‘King Saul’ in Leo’s life had been.
His father.
But Leo’s father hadn’t been killed. He fell from the lighthouse. At least, that was what Leo had told her. Realizing she was thinking too deeply into the woman’s analogy, she smiled. “I’m hoping I can get Leo to connect with his family better. That should mean you’d see him more.”
The woman’s eyes watered. “Nothing in the world would make me happier. Oh, Madison, I absolutely adore you and your son! You will allow Edmond to call me grandmother, won’t you?”
Madison laughed and hugged the woman. “Of course, I will.”
Lady Serveck returned the embrace. “Bless you, Madison. I don’t know what we would have done had you not managed to break through Leo’s defenses and make him fall in love with you.” She pulled away and smiled. “What is it about you?” She touched Madison’s cheek as she looked at her in wonder.
Madison blushed and didn’t answer the question. She didn’t think Lady Serveck was actually expecting an answer.
She didn’t know what it was about her that Leo loved so much. She knew why she loved him. He was so brave and wanted her to be brave as well. And for Madison, bravery was not the absence of fear, but instead, it was the ability to overcome that which troubled the heart most.
The door opened and Leo came in, followed by the other husbands and brothers.
Madison smiled… until she saw his closed expression. He was upset. His eyes weren’t even on Gordon. They were on her.
She got up immediately and ignored the rest of the room. Leo met her halfway.
“How are you?” he asked.
“I’m well. What’s wrong?”
His eyes flashed wide. “How do you know anything is wrong with me?”
She stared at him and tried to figure it out herself. Her mind blanked as she got lost in his eyes. The black lashes that framed the blue almost softened the sharpness of his features.
He lifted a brow. “Madison?”
She blinked. “I...”
He stroked his chin. He seemed distracted. “Is there something about my face that is giving it away?” A man like him would want to make sure is enemies couldn’t read him.
She tilted her head. “Maybe, or maybe I can feel the tension inside you.” She could sense it just as easily as if it were a walking breathing thing. They were connected. “What happened? Did Wess get hurt during the hunt?”
He shook his head. “Wess is fine. It’s…”
“My lord, I wanted to speak to you,” Gordon said. “I’ve been waiting patiently for your return.”
Madison pinched her lips and took a breath. Gordon had been patient. Hours had passed since his arrival.
“Let’s go to another room.” Leo led him away.
He didn’t even say goodbye to Madison or smile at her. She told herself she was being silly. He clearly had other things on his mind.
She’d wait to speak to him later.
∫ ∫ ∫
5 9
* * *
Madison found him a few hours later. “You didn’t come back to the room.”
Leo was outside on the edge of the road about a foot into the woods.
She was bundled in her blue woolen coat. The color matched her eyes perfectly. It was lined with gray fur, which matched the gray of her hat. Edmond, who was wrapped in blac
k wool, rested in her arms.
There was something about the way the sun shone behind her. It cast a portion of her form into a lovely silhouette. The ray sculpted and dipped with her features. Her face was like nothing he’d ever seen in a painting. Strong, the sort of femininity that likely intimidated most men.
And with a child in her arms…
A child she’d held within her womb…
A child she’d fought for…
Leo wasn’t sure what came over him, but a stillness slipped into his mind. E
verything went quiet. He could suddenly hear the forest like never before. He felt the cold battle with the warmth of the setting sun.
He saw Madison and could feel nothing more than peace.
The sight of the boy made Leo smile. He walked over to them and picked him up.
He smiled up at Edmond and a powerful sensation exploded in Leo’s chest. It didn’t even matter if Edmond meant to or not. His contentment felt like a sign of goodwill.
He made certain the boy was secure in his hold, but it was Leo who felt a sense of safety while holding the infant. A sense of destiny and clarity.
Madison’s hand settled on his arm and she moved in close. “Do you want to tell me why you’re wandering on the road?”
“I wasn’t thinking to leave, if that’s what you believe.”
She shook her head. “I know you won’t.” She rested her head on his arm and they were quiet for a moment, both staring at Edmond.
“Did Wess have a good day?”
“Yes.” Wess had had a wonderful time and a few of the other lords had let their younger boys hold their weapons as well—at least, the ones who were mature enough for the act. It seemed Leo had influenced them, which was something he was not used to. He’d never seen himself as an example for anyone, much less a group of titles lords.
It had given Leo a feeling of rightness.
He kept waiting for Wess to act out, but he hadn’t so far and more and more Leo was starting to think he wouldn’t.
Maybe the boy did have everything he wanted. Maybe he felt just as right as Leo did.
“Leo?” Madison called in a voice that said she’d been calling him for some time. She’d leaned away and was looking at him.
“Oliver is being strange with me,” he said.
“How so?”
Leo shook his head. “I don’t know. He’s not ignoring me, but I do feel as though he would avoid me if he could.” Last evening, Oliver had said he wanted to speak to Leo, but this morning when Leo approached him, he’d changed his mind.
During the hunt, Leo had tried to speak to his brother again, but the marquess put the conversation off and then walked away.
Madison’s brows pinched. “Why do you think he would want to avoid you?”
“Judd’s confession, I think. I didn’t tell him of its existence and the evidence that The Circle was truly and really alive. He’d thought our father mad for years, fearing circles all his life, but now he knows something had haunted him, maybe even hunted him at one point.”
“That doesn’t accuse what he did to you,” Madison said.
“I agree.” Leo pulled Edmond closer. “I’d never do that to our children.”
She smiled. “I know.” She looked down and touched Edmond’s cheek before lifting her eyes back to Leo. “Have you given any thought to having more?”
He laughed at the question, which was something he’d never thought he’d do. He recalled his fear when he and Madison had first discussed marriage. Now, he thought his old self a fool. He should have gotten down on his knees and thanked her for accepting him.
When he thought about this woman, his brilliant ten-year-old, and the little boy Madison had given him to raise… he was nearly jealous of himself.
“You want more children? Now? Madison, you just had Edmond.”
“I know, but…” She sighed wistfully. “I don’t wish to have a baby today, but I do want there to be an option.”
“So long as you and I are the way we are, it will always be an option.” Their passion burned hotter than fire.
Her cheeks turned red. “Well, you’re always so careful…”
He nodded. He was very careful even when it was the last thing he wanted to be. “It’s an option.” He didn’t fear the idea so much anymore.
Madison wrapped her arms around him and closed in on their son. Her expression was soft. “I don’t know what is going on with your brother, but I know it will pass.”
“And if it doesn’t? What if he’s finally done with me?” He was still of the opinion that the whole lot of them would be better off without him.
“Then this is your family,” she said. “Me, Edmond, and Wess, but it won’t come to that. I spoke to your grandmother today and she left me with a firm impression that all of us belong together.” She frowned and thought. “You said you saw your father’s fall, right?”
He nodded and knew where Madison was going.
He didn’t stop her.
“Who else saw the fall? Was Lady Serveck there?”
Leo nodded. “It was just me and Grandmother. Oliver and Nick were at the house.”
Madison wanted to ask another question, but then she shook her head and scoffed. After a sigh, she said, “I should take Edmond back inside, though I think he likes it out here. He’s very calm.”
“My brothers and I tend to enjoy the outdoors most. Nick is more civilized than Oliver and me, but…”
She smiled. “That must be it. Perhaps he can sense how much you love it and it calms him. Perhaps he’ll grow to love it just as much as you do.”
“Perhaps…” Then he said, “And you’ll be fine with him calling me father?”
“Of course.” Then after a moment, she said, “Has Wess…”
He shook his head. “No, not yet.”
“I think he’s waiting for an invitation.”
Leo lifted a brow. “An invitation?”
“Like the one Lady Serveck extended to him? The one he told you about yesterday?”
Leo thought and then grunted. “You believe his message had a hidden meaning?”
“You said he was clever. I’m trying to think what a clever boy would do.” She laughed. “It helps that I’m married to a clever man.”
“I don’t know why he simply wouldn’t come right out and ask.”
She lifted a brow. “You mean, in the same manner you came right out and told him you were his father?”
His face stung and he laughed. He’d lied for ten years. Was it fair for him to expect Wess to be so direct? Perhaps Wess also shared much of Leo’s fears.
Movement in the distance caught his eye. The front door to the house opened and Wess stepped out.
Leo lifted a hand and waved him over. Wess came running. Smiling.
Madison caught him and wrapped an arm around him.
Their embrace seemed so natural, as though they’d always been this close.
“Wess.”
“Yes, my lord?” the boy said.
“Don’t call me that.” The words came out harder than he’d intended.
Wess stiffened. “W-what should I call you?”
“Father will do just fine.”
Wess smiled. “Y-yes, Father.”
It was strange hearing someone address him that way, but it felt good. He touched Wess’ head.
“And what would you like to call me?” Madison asked.
Wess shrugged and lowered his gaze. “Mother?”
“I’d be honored.”
He looked up and smiled at her.
“I’m going to go talk with Oliver and get to the bottom of this,” Leo said.
Madison looked surprised. “Good. I’m glad.”
There was a great amount of confidence flowing through him. If his brother rejected him, it would hurt, but not as much as it might have before this moment.
He wasn’t sure what had changed him. Perhaps it was because Madison was continuously showing she had no intention of givi
ng up on him and would fight for his happiness.
So, the least he could do was put some effort into his own happiness.
∫ ∫ ∫
6 0
* * *
Leo walked Madison and Wess inside and then handed her the baby in the foyer.
“I’ll go ready for dinner,” she said.
He stopped her before she could step away.
He said nothing, but as their eyes held, he thought she understood what his soul was trying to say.
Her eyes watered, and she smiled. “I feel the same way about you.”
He let her go and stopped Wess. “You’re going back to school in a few days.”
Wess frowned and nodded.
“Would you like me and Madison to take you?” Leo asked.
The boy was surprised. “And Edmond?”
“Of course,” Leo said. “We wouldn’t leave your brother behind.” Most families still sent their children away until the age of two or so, but that was slowly starting to change.
The way Society brought up their children, in general, was starting to change and one of those changes was spending more time together.
“Madison would like to see your school,” Leo went on.
“Yes, please.”
Leo nodded. “All right, go get ready for dinner.”
“Thank you… Father.” Wess grinned and dashed away, cutting through the men and women who were gathering for the evening meal.
Leo was trying to make more space in his chest for his sudden burst of happiness when Nick approached.
“Oliver wants us to meet him at the lighthouse.” Nick wore his usual smile, the one crowds enjoyed seeing, but Leo knew he was hiding something.
And he knew better than to ask with the present company around.
He followed Nick outside. The sun was nearly gone.
“What’s going on?” Leo asked.
“I don’t know. We’ll find out once we get there.”
Leo’s suspicions climbed. If they were going to the lighthouse then it meant Oliver didn’t wish anyone to hear what was going on.
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