She wasn't sure she was comfortable with this arrangement at all, but what choice did she have now? She'd traveled all this way and had nowhere to go, even if she could afford to travel back to Providence. At least she knew what to expect.
Chapter 4
The rest of the ride continued in silence. Madeline wasn't sure she wanted to pry anymore, and it seemed Mr. Black was giving her an opportunity to digest the new information he'd shared. He sat forward as they neared a large stretch of land with a house set back from the dusty road. Her gaze followed his out the window and it was all she could do to keep her jaw from dropping open, seeing the enormous, whitewashed house up ahead. The home seemed almost out of place when compared to the homesteads they'd passed on their way; it was at least twice, maybe three times the size of the family's home she'd lived in back in Providence, and the grounds out front were immaculate.
“Welcome to your new home, Miss Swan,” Adam turned to her, his eyes narrowing as if he were trying to read her response. What he found seemed to please him because his lips turned up in a comfortable smile.
“It's beautiful,” she breathed, now close enough to see the intricate detail in every inch of woodwork covering the grand building.
And then his expression changed, irritation flashing across his features as he spotted a carriage up ahead. “Forgive me, Miss Swan. I've been away from my home for the past several days and had expected this particular trouble to have been gone by now,” he told her cryptically.
Madeline's gaze followed his to the carriage in front of the house, trying to figure out how its presence could have darkened his mood so suddenly, but the reason became quite clear a moment later as their driver stopped next to the carriage, coming around to open their door. Adam descended first, hesitantly offering her his hand.
“Brace yourself,” he warned her as she climbed down, turning to see two women walking out of the house and heading toward them.
Both women were attractive, one substantially older than the other. The younger looked similar in age to Madeline, but the way she carried herself made it clear that she was most definitely from the upper class.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Black,” the elder woman greeted Adam, stopping a foot or two in front of them.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Brady,” Adam replied, a tolerant look on his face. “I hadn't expected the continued pleasure of your company.” Though his words were cordial, the undertones of sarcasm were evident.
The woman ignored Madeline altogether at first, but eventually her curiosity got the better of her and her eyes shifted, looking Madeline up and down like she were some odd creature.
“And who is this you've brought with you?” Mrs. Brady inquired.
The woman didn't sound the least bit happy, so much so that Madeline was surprised she had been described as a 'who' rather than a 'what.'
Adam turned to Madeline with a question in his eyes. She had no idea how, but somehow, she knew precisely what question he was asking. While she was not the least bit settled with his particular matrimonial arrangement, she'd come all this way and it seemed to her she had very few other options. She nodded almost imperceptibly, but it was enough to answer Adam's question.
“May I present to you Mrs. Brady, my betrothed, Miss Madeline Swan,” he spoke regally, and Madeline could see the impish light dancing in his crystal blue eyes once again.
Given that Mrs. Brady didn't appear to be a kind or decent person, Madeline couldn't help but smile at the delight Adam was taking in irking the woman. She was silent for a moment, stunned by his announcement, no doubt.
“I see,” she replied, finding her voice a moment later. “Margaret and I were about to have tea in the parlor. Would you care to join us?” she offered cordially while her eyes shot daggers at Madeline.
“I apologize ladies, but you will have to begin without us. Madeline and I have both traveled quite a distance and I would like to give her an opportunity to get settled before...entertaining,” he finished, his last word likely a cover for what would really have taken place in the parlor should Mrs. Brady be let loose on Madeline.
“Good day, Mrs. Brady, Margaret,” he nodded to each of the women and then guided Madeline up the stairs and into the house.
It seemed Madeline hadn't been at her new home five minutes and already she'd managed to make an enemy, but once behind closed doors, she did her best to shake off the uncomfortable encounter outside and instead turn her attention to Adam and her new home. It certainly was magnificent; intricate detail throughout—the finest of furniture and lively colors everywhere she looked—but it was so large, she worried she might get lost in the house should she be left to find her way around alone.
“I'll escort you to your room, Miss Swan,” Adam told her, leading her toward the massive staircase winding up to the second floor of the home.
She nodded, following behind him. She stopped to admire the railing's woodwork; although she didn't know much about the craft, her father had been an enthusiast. While her family never had a great deal of money when she was a child, her father had taken the time to lovingly carve every piece of furniture and every piece of wood that graced their small home. Now seeing the intricacy of the work in this house, she could vividly envision the effort and care clearly.
Adam didn't seem to mind her dawdling, waiting patiently for Madeline to resume her ascent up the stairs. He led her down the long hall to the second door from the end; what she found inside was no less breathtaking than the rest of the house, exquisitely furnished and so large she wondered if the quarters had been meant for an entire family.
“I'll leave you to change and freshen up. Would you join me for tea in, let's say, an hour?” he asked.
Feeling the weight of just how poor she was, Madeline blushed lightly. “I'm afraid I'm as freshened up as I can be, Mr. Black. The clothes you see are the finest I own.” She forced her voice to remain steady, just shy of proud, despite the embarrassment roiling within her.
He was silent for a moment, his eyes searching for something in her expression yet again. And then he nodded as if finalizing some decision. “I will have someone here to fit you for a wardrobe tomorrow. Until then, you'll find my mother's clothing in the closet by the bed. She was about your size. Please feel free to make your selection from there.”
“Oh no, I couldn't possibly,” Madeline began, not the least bit comfortable with taking his mother's clothes or accepting his offer.
“Of course you could. You will soon be my wife and so it is my responsibility to see that you're adequately attired,” he stated matter-of-factly.
“That's not necessary,” Madeline assured him. She wasn't comfortable taking handouts, regardless of what duty compelled the giver. “I'm sure I can find work to support myself, Mr. Black,” she affirmed, fire in her eyes, blazing against the notion of being the recipient of charity or pity.
“I find it unlikely you'll find the type of work to which you're accustomed...nor morally bound to reject,” he replied, though a very different type of fire seemed to be setting his crystal eyes ablaze. And that fiery gaze seemed to be doing strange things to Madeline, making her heart beat faster while an odd warmth spread throughout her body. The sensation was so foreign that Madeline just wanted the exchange to end. She needed time to analyze whatever this strange new feeling was—without Mr. Black's crystal fire muddling her thoughts.
“I will consider your offer. Thank you, Mr. Black,” she spoke suddenly and then waited expectedly for him to leave.
He smiled, a knowing expression on his face, and then bowed curtly before making his exit. Once alone, Madeline wandered around the room, breathing deeply to regain her composure. Trying to be rational, she opened the closet door, peering in at an enormous selection of stunning dresses. There were so many, she wondered if the woman had ever worn the same dress twice! One dress in particular caught Madeline's eye. It wasn't at all the most intricate or expensive garment in the collection, but it was simply beautiful. She ran h
er fingers along the soft, cream-colored fabric and lifted it from the rack.
“It couldn't hurt to try it on,” she reasoned aloud, sliding off her travel-weary attire and slipping into the gown.
She took the time to thoroughly comb through her long tresses—something her previous schedule seldom allowed. She tied her silken hair atop her head in a simple knot and surveyed the results in the gilded mirror resting against the wall. If Madeline had been a beauty in her common clothes with her hair pulled back quickly and sternly, she was absolutely stunning now with red tendrils of hair cascading from the loose knot, gently framing her feminine features and drawing attention to her unusually vivid green eyes.
Checking the clock, she realized she still had some time to spare. She sat down, perched at the edge of the seat and waited. She'd investigated the room and felt too uncomfortable to venture out to explore the house on her own. Her thoughts returned to Adam's expectations for their impending marriage. She had never considered the possibility that she would be wed to a man who had no interest in their marriage whatsoever. Would they remain strangers living in the same home? Maintain separate rooms? Come together only for the purpose of public appearances? And what about children?
It was far too much for Madeline to sort through at the moment, and so she pushed the thoughts away. She'd give herself an opportunity to become acquainted with her new home and her new life before worrying about the rest.
Chapter 5
Five minutes later, there was a knock at the door. She stood, fiddling with the dress she wasn't entirely certain she should be wearing, and called for the knocker to enter. Adam opened the door and moved to enter, his gaze searching for her in the enormous room. He stopped abruptly, his eyes finding her, and he was speechless. He stared at her for a moment and Madeline grew uncomfortable under his gaze.
“I'm sorry, Mr. Black. I had only meant to take a look; I hadn't intended to take you up on your offer. All of the dresses were exquisite, of course, but when I saw this one in particular, well, I couldn't resist,” she stumbled through an explanation.
“It's quite alright, Madeline.” Her eyes flew up when he addressed her by her first name. “You just caught me off-guard, that's all. You look beautiful, to say the least. The most beautiful woman I've ever seen, in fact.”
“Oh, thank you,” she acknowledged uncomfortably, while the strange warmth coursed through her body anew in response to his heated gaze.
He offered his arm and she accepted, her arm tingling where it made contact with his skin. They descended the stairs and Adam led them to the parlor and Madeline held her breath, hoping desperately that the two women she'd met earlier had vacated the room already. She breathed a sigh of relief, finding the room empty, and sat down in one of the cozy chairs situated next to an enormous hearth.
Adam told her about the area as she sipped on her tea, and she could so easily read his emotion in his expression. By the time he was finished, she knew precisely what excited him about this distant land—the unknown, the adventure.
She told him more about her life in Providence, finding him a strangely easy conversation partner. She'd never conversed so easily with anyone in her life. As she came to the tragedy that had forever changed the course of her life, Madeline swallowed hard against the emotion caught in her throat and tears welling in her eyes.
“I'm sorry. As you can see, I haven't yet fully recovered,” she apologized for her emotional display.
Adam reached across the distance between them to place his hand on her knee, earnest sympathy in his eyes. But it was at that exact moment that Mrs. Brady and her daughter Margaret chose to make their entrance into the parlor.
“It seems you and your young bride are in need of a chaperone, Mr. Black.” The words were spoken lightly enough, but the undertones in her voice conveyed her displeasure at the scene adequately.
“I believe I have long outgrown the need of a chaperone, Mrs. Brady—and, frankly, I don't believe it is your place to dictate such things in my home.”
Seeing no way to persist in her original course, Mrs. Brady changed the subject, directing attention elsewhere. “Isn't that your mother's favorite dress? The poor woman would turn over in her grave to find you doling out her prized possessions.”
Madeline paled. By the way Adam had spoken about his mother's clothes, she'd just assumed that she was back home with his father in the east. Her eyes flew to Adam, and she was about to apologize profusely when he spoke up instead.
“Quite the opposite, I'm sure. I am certain that my mother would be delighted to find her beautiful daughter-in-law is keeping her favorite items from wasting away in her closet.”
That seemed to silence Mrs. Brady temporarily, but it wasn't long before she started along a new line of questioning.
“Tell me, how exactly did you and Miss Swan meet? It seems that just a month ago, you were set in your bachelor ways, and suddenly, you've decided to take a bride. This young thing isn't with child, is she?”
Adam's eyes flared with anger and he removed his hand from Madeline's knee. She watched his hands curl into fists as he gritted his teeth, obviously working to keep himself in check. He stood slowly, turning to address the brash woman. Mrs. Brady seemed to recognize the error of her ways immediately, a look of distress on her face.
“Miss Swan has already proven herself far more civilized than you, biting her tongue as you seek to make her uncomfortable in her own home,” he uttered seethingly. “I, on the other hand, have had my fill of your rudeness this afternoon. I believe it is time for you and your daughter to make your return home. And you can inform my father that he has no more need to send desperate young ladies and their mothers to the west in pursuit of my vast fortune.”
Mrs. Brady's entire face had turned crimson with embarrassment. Madeline couldn't help but to feel a little sorry for the woman, so determined to marry off her daughter into money that she'd make a fool of herself to do so. Mother and daughter were speechless as they left the parlor, and Adam took a seat moment later, looking fully composed already.
“Why did you choose me?”
The question slipped out of Madeline's mouth unbidden. She hadn't intended to broach the subject until she'd had the opportunity to sort through her own feelings about their present arrangement.
“In truth, it was quite simple. You wanted to get away from Providence quickly; you weren't interested in learning about what type of life I could provide or whether I would elevate your status in society. Whatever your reasons, they could not be so devious in nature,” he responded easily. “And why, may I ask, did you respond to my advertisement in particular?”
“All of the others wanted a pretty, young thing with no wits about them,” she replied simply. “There was no potential for a relationship to develop there. With you, I had thought—”
“That we would meet and fall madly in love?” he asked gently. “I have seen it once or twice, Madeline, but in truth, most love is a fairy tale made up by young children. If ever it exists, it inevitably ends in hatred or heartache. This is far better, this amicable arrangement we’ve made.”
She nodded, seeing no point in pursuing an argument over this matter. It was obvious Adam's mind was most certainly made up. And so she rose, pleading tiredness after her lengthy trip.
“Please, don't trouble yourself. Surely, I can find my way back,” she told him as he moved to escort her there. Adam nodded curtly and Madeline headed upstairs to her rooms. She'd made up the excuse that she was tired from her travels, but as she sprawled out on the bed, exhaustion overtook her quickly. Before she could object to her first mid-day nap since childhood, her heavy eyes closed and she was fast asleep.
Chapter 6
She awoke sometime later, an image of Adam Black at the forefront of her mind, having carried it forward from the dream that had occupied her mind while she slept. She couldn't recall the particulars, but his blue eyes stood out to her, blazing with crystal fire in the same way they had when he'd loo
ked at her earlier that day. And then she noticed light shining in through the window; that was the morning sun, she was sure of it. She'd slept fully through the rest of the day and the night without awaking once. While she worried the household would now believe her to be a lazy sloth, it amazed her that she'd slept so long. She hadn't gotten a good night's sleep since the day she'd returned to Providence, and here she was now, more than fully rested. Although their arrangement was not what she had expected, it may have truly been a good choice.
And with that knowledge, Madeline decided it was time to begin her new life here. She readied herself and rushed down the stairs, hoping she wasn't too late for breakfast. She moved so quickly that she nearly knocked Adam over, running into him in the foyer at the bottom of the stairs. Her hands made contact with his broad chest to steady herself, stunned briefly by their unexpected collision. She looked up at him and in that moment, she wanted to kiss him, to feel the gentle touch of his lips pressed against hers. Madeline! she chided herself sternly, flabbergasted by the improper thought. She pulled her hands away quickly, apologizing for her haste.
“It's alright. I get quite excited over breakfast, too,” he teased. “But I promise the cook will keep it warm for us.”
“Well then, I suppose I can take my time,” she recanted good-naturedly, happy that he'd lightened the mood so easily.
They continued to the dining room together and Madeline was relieved to discover there were no unfriendly guests joining them this morning.
“I'm afraid Mrs. Brady and her daughter had to be on their way home,” he'd told her with that impish light in his eyes again. She'd just nodded, trying to resist a smile.
Breakfast was scrumptious and the conversation was pleasant. Madeline was still surprised by how easily she could talk to Adam and just how at ease he seemed to be when conversing with her. It was like they were old souls, already well-acquainted somehow. The following weeks progressed in a similar manner, sharing meals together, touring the grounds surrounding the house, and even making the occasional trip into town.
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