Regency Wagers

by Diane Gaston

  ‘Not as bad as all that, I assure you.’ She patted his hand and resumed walking. ‘When Linette was big enough, I was allowed to take her to the park across the street. But only in the morning, not when other people might be about. And there was a small garden in the back of the house. Sophie and I were allowed to tend it, though I mostly had the task of digging the dirt, because I did not have the least notion how to make the flowers grow. I enjoyed feeling the soil in my hands, though.’

  Such a small space of geography in which to spend more than three years. ‘I wish Farley to the devil.’

  She gave him a look. It struck him as almost the same expression Sophie bestowed on Bart.

  As they stood at the entrance to a shop with an elegant brass nameplate saying ‘Madame Emeraude’, Madeleine shrank back. Devlin had to practically pull her into the establishment. She held her fingers to the hood of her cloak, covering her face.

  A modishly dressed woman emerged from the back. ‘May I be of assistance?’

  Since Madeleine had turned away, Devlin spoke. ‘Good morning. Madame Emeraude, I collect?’

  The woman nodded.

  Devlin gestured to Madeleine. ‘The young lady is in need of some new dresses.’

  ‘Certainly, sir. Shall I show you some fashion plates, or do you have certain styles in mind?’

  It irritated Devlin that the dressmaker addressed him directly instead of Madeleine, as if Madeleine were his fancy piece to dress as he wished, but, he supposed, in this neighbourhood, her clientele were almost exclusively from the demimonde.

  ‘Shall we step into the other room?’ She gestured elegantly.

  He pulled Madeleine along to the private dressing room in the back. ‘The young lady is in somewhat of a fix. You see, she has only the dress she wears and we were hopeful to purchase something already made up.’

  Understanding lit the woman’s eyes. ‘Let me see her.’

  Since Madeleine was acting like a stick, Devlin had no choice but to treat her that way. He turned her toward the dressmaker and removed the cloak that obscured her.

  ‘Oh,’ said the woman in surprise. ‘Miss M, is it not? How delightful to see you again.’

  ‘How do you do, ma’am,’ Madeleine murmured politely, though Devlin did not miss the splotches of red on her cheeks.

  ‘Deuce,’ said Devlin.

  ‘Why, I believe I have a dress ready for you,’ said Madame Emeraude helpfully. ‘Do you recall we fitted it not a fortnight ago? Wait a moment and I shall see—’

  ‘No!’ Madeleine cried.

  Devlin interceded, putting his arm around Madeleine. ‘We do not wish that dress.’

  Madame Emeraude looked from the one of them to the other. ‘I see. It is a new day, is it not? Well, I am pleased for you, miss. That other one was charming, but I shall have no business with him, I tell you, until he pays—’ She caught herself. ‘I beg pardon. I only meant I wish you well, Miss M.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Madeleine said, continuing to look miserable.

  Madame Emeraude smiled and began to consider her, stepping around her. ‘Oh, my,’ she said as she saw the open laces of Madeleine’s dress. ‘This dress does not fit. No, no, no. This will never, never do.’

  ‘You see our predicament.’ Devlin smiled. Madeleine fixed her interest on the floor.

  ‘Let me show you a few things I have on hand.’

  Madame Emeraude signalled an assistant, who carried in one dress after another. Madeleine seemed to regard each garment with horror. They were, Devlin thought, merely dresses. A little fancy, perhaps.

  As Madame conferred with her assistant, Madeleine whispered to him, ‘Devlin, please do not make me wear those dresses. This one I have will do, or Sophie can make me a plain one.’

  ‘What is wrong with them?’

  ‘They are not…respectable.’

  He regarded her, rubbing his chin. ‘I see.’

  When Madame Emeraude came back to them, Devlin took the woman aside and spoke to her. Madeleine watched them, the modiste nodding and looking her way. She dearly wished to leave this place where the proprietress knew her as Miss M.

  Devlin came back to her. ‘Madame Emeraude is ordering a hack. She has given me the direction of another dressmaker where we will go next.’ He held her cloak open for her. ‘I do not wish to. Let us go home, please.’ This short excursion had already been mortifying.

  ‘We will try this other place first. You need clothes, Maddy.’

  In the hack she continued trying to persuade him. ‘I believe Sophie could teach me to sew, Devlin. A piece of cloth would be enough.’

  He would not listen. He did not understand. Though it was exciting to be out among the carriages and shops, it was frightening, as well. She would always be face to face with what she was.

  Madeleine peeked out at the passing scenery, the bustle of London with the pedestrians so intent on their destinations and the tradesmen so occupied with peddling wares. She could not hide forever. How could she rear Linette if she hid? Her daughter would have to go out into that world, too. She was determined that Linette’s life be respectable, though nothing could ever change what Madeleine was inside.

  If Devlin Steele was determined she should have clothes, she was determined they be respectable ones.

  ‘Are you taking me to Bond Street?’ she asked, meaning to sound merely curious, but her voice shook.

  He smiled at her. ‘Not to Bond Street. We are directed to a modiste who dresses the worthy daughters of our bankers and merchants.’

  ‘Very well.’ Not the fashionable part of town. No chance of encountering members of the ton.

  They discovered a goldmine. The wealthy daughter of an East India merchant had abandoned her trousseau for one made at a fashionable address. The young woman was of Madeleine’s size, and the dresses were exquisitely tasteful attempts by the modiste to expand her clientele.

  Madeleine quarrelled with Devlin over the number of dresses he would purchase, wanting no more than two or three. She adamantly refused to let him include even one evening dress and would not even discuss the riding habit. His easy acquiescence in these last two matters made her momentarily suspicious, but he whisked her off to the milliner next door and a new set of arguments became necessary.

  As he made arrangements for the delivery of his final purchase of several bonnets for Madeleine and one very plain one for Sophie, Madeleine gazed in the mirror.

  She wore a pale lilac muslin walking dress adorned only by vertical tucks in the bodice edged by a plain purple ribbon. A blue spencer, lilac gloves, and a modest straw bonnet, simply adorned with a blue bow, completed the ensemble. She even carried a reticule.

  Studying herself in the glass was like gazing into the distant past.

  Devlin’s image appeared behind her. ‘You look very well, Maddy.’

  She swallowed the surge of emotion that had risen in her throat. ‘It seems like too much…’

  He held up his hand. ‘No more of that. We still need to stop by the shoemaker.’

  She opened her mouth to protest, but as he took her hand and tucked it in his arm, he quickly added, ‘Do you suppose we could convince Sophie to be measured for new shoes?’

  For all his generosity to herself, his thinking of Sophie most touched her heart. She cast him a smile. ‘Perhaps we should charge Bart with such a task.’

  He laughed as he escorted her out the door to the street. ‘Very wise idea.’

  Madeleine had an illusion of being transported to the town of her childhood. The pavement was more crowded, indeed, and the shops more varied and numerous, but it was a most respectable street, and her dress indistinguishable from other young ladies shopping. Or so she thought. She still received many curious looks.

  ‘Devlin, are you sure my appearance is acceptable?’

  Devlin had noticed the admiring glances of the men and appraising looks of the women. He could not help but be proud to be Madeleine’s escort. Beautiful even in her own ill-fitting frock, she q
uite took his breath away in her new walking dress.

  ‘You look lovely,’ he whispered back.

  This news did not appear to cheer her. She furrowed her brow. Too bad some choice piece of horseflesh did not come into view to distract her.

  Devlin caught sight of a shop window. ‘We must go in here.’ He pulled her into the shop. ‘Must not forget our girl.’

  They entered a toy store with shelf after shelf of dolls, toy soldiers, and miniature coaches and wagons. An exquisite wax doll with real hair as dark and curly as Linette’s caught Devlin’s eye. He vowed he must purchase it for Linette. Madeleine adamantly refused, saying the child was too young to care for such a treasure. He settled instead for a porcelain-faced baby doll, a ball and blocks. As he finished giving the direction for the toys to be delivered that afternoon, he spied a carved wooden horse and, thinking perhaps the little girl might be horse-mad like her mother, added it to his purchases.

  Back on the street, a handsome carriage drawn by a set of matching bays approached in their direction. Devlin frowned as he spied the crest. The carriage stopped next to them. As Madeleine shrank back, Devlin stepped forward to greet its passenger.

  ‘Devlin, it has been too long,’ the fair-haired lady at the carriage window exclaimed.

  ‘How are you, Serena?’ His sister-in-law was a good creature, well intentioned, eminently correct, with classical looks and very little in common with Devlin except a connection to his brother.

  ‘I am well, as usual,’ she responded in her soft voice. ‘And you, brother? We do worry when you do not call.’

  ‘I have been shockingly remiss, but I’m fit, I assure you.’

  His sister-in-law gazed curiously at Madeleine. It had never entered his mind that he’d be required to introduce Madeleine to anyone, least of all his sister-in-law, the Marchioness.

  He pulled Madeleine forward, needing to exert a little physical effort to do so. ‘Serena, may I present Miss England. Miss England, the Marchioness of Heronvale, my sister-in-law.’

  Madeleine executed a very correct curtsy.

  ‘Have we met before, Miss England? I do not recall.’

  Madeleine, with her eyes downcast replied, ‘No, madam.’

  ‘Well, perhaps I may convey you both to your destination? I would be pleased to do so.’

  Devlin suspected Serena would be very pleased for an opportunity to find out who her brother-in-law escorted unchaperoned through this shopping district. He felt Madeleine painfully squeeze his arm.

  ‘I believe Miss England has one or two more shops to visit, but that was kind of you, Serena.’

  ‘Are the shops worthwhile, Miss England? I confess I have never visited the ones on this street.’

  ‘They suit me very well, madam,’ responded Madeleine in a quiet voice.

  ‘Perhaps you could recommend one to me,’ the Marchioness persisted. Devlin knew her inquiry to be meant in a friendly way, but he also knew his brother’s wife was nearly as fixed on him securing his future as was his brother. She wanted nothing more than to see him happily married; the Marquess wanted merely to keep his brother’s fortune secure.

  ‘I would not presume to.’ Madeleine looked miserable. Only his firm hold on her arm kept her from bolting, he suspected.

  A hackney coach came from behind, its driver shouting for the carriage to move on.

  ‘Oh, dear,’ said Serena. ‘We had better go.’

  ‘Indeed,’ replied Devlin.

  ‘Please call soon, Devlin. My pleasure, Miss England.’ The carriage moved forward and these last words faded with distance.

  ‘Devlin, may we please go home now?’ Madeleine raised a shaking hand to her bonnet.

  ‘No,’ he said mildly, determined for her not to be made uncomfortable by her encounter with Serena. ‘We need to have you measured for shoes and I must not return without cloth for Sophie.’

  ‘Oh, yes, I quite forgot Sophie’s cloth,’ she murmured. A racing phaeton whizzed by. She did not even notice.

  ‘Maddy, were you made uncomfortable by my sister-in-law?’

  They walked a few steps before she answered. ‘It was very improper to introduce me to her.’

  ‘I disagree. It would have been ill-mannered not to introduce you. An insult to you.’

  He glanced at her, seeing her brows knitted together and her bottom lip trembling slightly. ‘A fine lady like the Marchioness should not be made to converse with one such as me.’

  ‘Maddy, I refuse to allow you to speak so. You have studied your appearance. You could not be more presentable.’ He did not yet know the story, but he would wager she’d not chosen her life with Farley. But who would choose such a life? Only a woman with no other choice.

  ‘My appearance does not alter the fact that you should not have introduced a marchioness to…to Haymarket-ware.’

  ‘I refuse for you to speak so,’ he said.

  She did not look at him. ‘I will endeavour to obey you, my lord.’

  He yanked open the door to the shoemaker.

  After he’d ordered various pairs of shoes for her, he seemed relaxed again. By the time they’d selected several pieces of material at the cloth merchant’s shop, they were back in temper with each other.

  Devlin hailed a hack. As he negotiated with the driver, Madeleine noticed a gentleman across the street looking at her.

  Farley.

  He saw her look in his direction and tipped his hat to her. Her heart pounded wildly, and she feared she might vomit. She felt Farley’s eyes on her the entire time it took for Devlin to lift her into the hack.

  As they pulled away, he saluted her once more.

  Lord Edwin Farley watched the hack start off down the street. He had taken to frequenting a tobacconist on this row, one of the deplorable economies he was forced to make in his constrained financial circumstances. At first he’d noticed the young lady in the lilac and blue with a connoisseur’s appreciation, but when he saw it was Madeleine, he froze. All that beauty, and he’d let her fall into the hands of Devlin Steele. It irritated him beyond belief.

  He’d hoped to recoup from his recent bad luck by playing until Steele owed him a bundle. The Marquess of Heronvale would have redeemed his little brother’s vowels, even if the sum had been large. Everyone knew the older brother doted on the younger one. But Farley had lost instead. If that were not bad enough, he’d impulsively used Madeleine to settle his debt. Damned Steele.

  The hack turned the corner and disappeared from his sight. He resumed his stroll down the pavement. Madeleine had looked quite fetching in that lavender confection. His body stirred merely thinking about her.

  He’d have her back, he vowed. He’d unpeel those layers of clothing from her and bed her like she’d never been bedded before. He’d make her beg for him, make her pant with wanting him. She’d been easy to seduce as a girl. He’d only had to say a few pretty words to her, and she’d been his. He laughed, remembering how easy it had been to entice her to his room that night, her father bursting in at the perfect moment—when she’d been naked on top of him.

  Yes, he’d get her back, he vowed. This time without the child she was stupid enough not to prevent. Perhaps he could make some money on the child. He knew men whose tastes went to ones as young as that. A little beauty like her mother, she would likely sell at a good price.

  What revenge ought he to exact upon Steele? It would give him added pleasure to give that matter some thought.

  Humming and jauntily swinging his walking stick, Farley continued on his way.

  Chapter Six

  The packages from their shopping expedition arrived that afternoon amid much excitement. The wide eyes of little Linette as she opened hers made all the extravagance worthwhile. Sophie, whom Devlin did not expect to break out in raptures, reverently fingered the cloth they had purchased.

  ‘Thank you, my lord,’ Sophie whispered, though she did not meet his eye while saying it.

  ‘You did tolerably well, Dev,’ Bart said, watching S
ophie’s every movement.

  ‘Indeed?’ He laughed. ‘I am unused to such high praise from you.’

  ‘The lass is happy. Mind you do not tease her, now.’ Bart shook his finger in warning.

  Devlin tried to stifle his grin. ‘I shall endeavour not to.’

  Madeleine was unusually quiet. She excused herself, saying she wished to unpack her dresses. Thinking of it, Devlin realised she had been just as solemn on the ride back home.

  Linette held the horse up to Devlin, pulling on his trousers as she did so. ‘Horse! Horse!’ she said excitedly. It was inevitable. The horse captured the little girl’s attention and the expensive doll was ignored. Devlin sat down on the floor.

  ‘Shall we build a stable for your horse, Lady Lin?’ He gathered the blocks together and started building.

  ‘Wady Win,’ Linette parroted.

  ‘How much did all this cost, might I ask?’ Bart’s voice was deceptively casual.

  ‘I think you had better not ask,’ Devlin said ruefully. ‘I thought I might pay a visit to my brother tomorrow.’

  Madeleine walked back into the room. ‘You will visit your brother?’

  She did not need to know he intended to ask his brother for a small advance. ‘I promised my sister-in-law, as you recall.’

  ‘Oh.’ She sat on the settee and watched Devlin and Linette build the promised stable with the blocks.

  ‘Would you like me to make tea, Maddy?’ Sophie asked, dropping her fabric back into its box.

  Madeleine popped up. ‘I will do it.’

  ‘You, Maddy?’ Sophie said. ‘It is not necessary.’

  ‘I want to. It is not so difficult, is it?’

  ‘Neigh! Neigh!’ Linette galloped her wooden horse, trying to make it jump over the blocks. The blocks tumbled.

  ‘Now, I was building that.’ Devlin ruffled the girl’s hair, making her giggle. He kept an eye on the mother.

  ‘I will do it, Maddy. Do not trouble yourself.’ Sophie started for the kitchen.

  Madeleine insisted. ‘No, I will do it.’