by Rose Gordon
The estate and surrounding duchy boasted over one thousand farmable acres. There were close to fifty tenants and nearly every service was available in the village he controlled. He had a stable full of thoroughbreds and some of the finest stable hands money could afford. He also had a conservatory and extensive gardens that he didn’t give a fig about.
It seemed Glenbrook had the finest of everything, and now it would have the finest mistress: Madison.
His heart leapt. She was his wife and he was bringing her to his home. To her home. To their home.
She was asleep with her bare feet stuffed in between the cushions. She hadn’t let him touch her all day and he was aching to. Even if it was only her feet. He reached over and grabbed her ankle, carefully sliding her toes from where they’d been resting, then placed her foot on his thigh. He ran his hands along the delicate bones, tracing her arch with his fingers all the way down to her toes. He frowned. Her foot was rather cold. Freezing even. There hadn’t been a warm spot on her foot, not even her toes which had been tightly nestled between two cushions. He gently grabbed her other foot and brought it to his leg. This one was just as cold.
Earlier he’d given her a small lap blanket to cover with and she’d used it to cover the top of her. He stripped off his coat and laid it over her feet and legs. Then put his hands together and blew on his palms before chafing them together in an effort to warm them up before grabbing her feet again. He wished she’d have said something if she was cold. He would have given her his coat or bought a hot brick the last time they stopped. Nothing for it now. He’d just keep her warm this way. He rather liked doing it anyway.
Around midnight the carriage came to a halt at Glenbrook and Benjamin was filled with bittersweet feelings. He was glad to be home and to bring Madison to the home they’d grow together and share for the rest of their lives. But at the same time, the intimacy they’d been allowed during the past few weeks would be lost due to all the intruding servants and responsibilities. Too bad he hadn’t made better progress in his attempt to win her affections during that time, he thought glumly.
He climbed from the carriage and did his best to carry her into the house in a more dignified manner by using two arms. His right arm still hurt, and it was dreadfully difficult to move it a lot, but for the most part the infection was clearing and he was able to move it just enough to support her legs as he carried her.
At the top of the main staircase was one of the doors that led to the master suites. He kicked open the door and carried her through to darkened sitting room to his bed. With all the care he could muster, he untied the laces of her gown and peeled it off her deadweight body.
With a groan, he pulled the counterpane up to cover her and lit a candle that was by his bureau. Opening the drawers, he rummaged through the contents until he found what he was looking for: a night shirt.
He didn’t trust himself not to wear something and have some sort of a barrier between them. A nightshirt would have to do. And so would sleeping on top of the covers.
But that didn’t help. He was able to resist acting out his primal urges. However, he was not able to resist thinking them.
As soon as the first rays of sunshine stole through the window, he jumped up, pulled on clothes and went downstairs to bark out orders to his staff in hopes of keeping himself distracted.
After he was certain Madison would be taken care of when she woke, he arranged for a meeting with his most trusted staff. He explained the situation regarding Robbie and informed them of his speculation that Robbie had an accomplice. They were given explicit instructions on what should happen if they happen to spot him.
Jamison, his burly head footman, was charged with the great responsibility of trailing Madison. She was not to leave Jamison’s sight unless she was with Benjamin. Though he didn’t believe Robbie had intentions of harming her, he might stoop to abducting her. Shame washed over him and he felt guilty for a brief minute. He’d abducted her to keep her safe, he argued with himself. If Robbie were to abduct her it would be for a different reason altogether.
Jamison left to go about his task and Benjamin dashed off a few notes. He sent for Mrs. Cowley, the local seamstress. He asked that she come right away and he’d pay thrice the going rate for the gowns Madison ordered. Then he wrote one to the staffing agency to have Lottie sent back to help Madison.
He sat back in his chair and debated on if he should send one to Andrew. He didn’t want Andrew to get involved in his relationship with Madison and wasn’t sure if sending a letter would help or hurt his chances of keeping Andrew out of his business.
With a sigh, he scribbled out the beginnings of a vague note explaining Madison was safely living at her rightful home, Glenbrook.
“We need to speak a moment,” Madison said tersely, barging into his study.
He nodded a dismissal to Jamison. “Yes?”
“I’m not going to be followed around by that behemoth!” she said sharply, her eyes alight with fiery rage.
Benjamin folded his hands and closed his eyes for an extended blink. “I’m sorry to inform you this, but yes, you are.”
“No. I’m not,” she snapped, looking all out of sorts. “It’s bad enough you dragged me here against my wishes. But I will not have my personal privacy invaded by him.”
He shook his head and picked an imaginary piece of lint from his pant leg. “Personal privacy?” he echoed with a smile.
“You know what I meant,” she returned hotly, undeniably upset.
“I do,” he conceded. “You don’t like him following you. I understand that. But it’s not going to change.”
She let out a sound of frustration. “Why not?” she burst out. “I don’t intend to be mean about him, but he sets my teeth on edge.”
He shrugged. “You’ll get used to it.”
“I don’t want to get used to it,” she said through clenched teeth. “I want him to leave me alone.”
“No,” he said firmly, shaking his head.
“Then I’ll fire him,” she said with all the dignity of the fairest duchess in the land.
“You can’t,” he countered evenly, watching as her chest heaved in anger beneath the horribly wrinkled bodice of her gown.
She inclined her chin a notch. “Yes, I can. I am a duchess and the mistress of this house. Therefore, he is in my employ and he will be out of a job immediately.”
Benjamin shook his head and chuckled. “No,” he corrected gently. “He is in my employ. As duke and master of this house, I am above the duchess, just slightly, but enough. Therefore, he is in my employ and only I can terminate his employment.”
She closed her eyes and swallowed. “And it continues,” she whispered, shaking her head in disbelief.
“What continues?”
“Being treated as if I don’t matter,” she said quietly, sweeping the room in what would have been a grand exit if her gown wasn’t wrinkled from two straight weeks of wear and her feet had some sort of covering.
Benjamin raked a hand through his hair. She did matter. That’s why he’d stationed Jamison to guard her with his life. If only she could understand that.
An hour later Mrs. Cowley arrived and Madison spent the afternoon behind locked doors being fitted for gowns.
Fortunately Mrs. Cowley had a few already made up that needed only minor alterations that could be ready on the morrow.
After dinner, Benjamin steeled himself to go into their room. He had no idea what kind of a mood she’d be in. He’d always thought her to be Mild-Mannered Madison, but as of recently, he was seeing his assumption was wrong. Not that he didn’t like her having starch. He did. He just wished she’d direct some of her fire at someone besides him.
“Are you ready for bed?” he asked, opening the door.
“No.” Her voice was as hard and cold as a chunk of ice. She was sitting on the edge of the bed wearing all the clothes she currently possessed, her arms crossed defiantly across her chest.
He closed the door. “
Why not?”
She gave a terse nod in the direction of across the room where an agitated Jamison stood with his arms crossed. It would appear as if the two were having a showdown.
“Jamison,” he said evenly, “you’re dismissed.”
“Thankee, Yer Grace,” Jamison said, walking from his spot.
“Are you ready for bed now?” Benjamin asked.
“No,” she repeated, staring at him in a way that made him feel unwelcome.
He cleared his throat. “Can I help you with your gown?” he offered, ignoring her stare.
“No,” she said, still piercing him with her icy stare.
“It will help you get ready for bed,” he said inanely.
“I’m not going to bed,” she said flatly.
He crossed his arms. “And why not?”
She nodded in his direction.
“Because I’m in here?” he asked with a hint of agitation.
She nodded.
“Too bad,” he said flatly.
She pursed her lips. “I want to be alone.”
“No.”
“Why not?” she demanded.
“Because you’re not to be alone, that’s why,” he explained in a sharp tone. “So, either you’ll sleep with me in the room or I’ll go get Jamison and bring him back in here. Which will it be?” He knew his voice sounded hard and menacing. He also knew she didn’t deserve to be treated that way. But she needed his protection, and this was the only way he could see to offer it. There was no other way.
“Get out,” she yelled, her face turning pink with rage.
“I’m sorry, but no,” he said gently, starting to undress.
“Then I’ll leave,” she said, running to the door.
He wrapped his arm around her waist and brought her back to the bed. “No,” he whispered. “You can’t leave. I know you don’t want to stay, but you have no choice.”
“Yes, I do,” she said, struggling. “I’m a person, Benjamin. You cannot treat me this way.”
“I wish I didn’t have to,” he said hoarsely, holding her in place.
He held her firmly against him while she struggled for what seemed like forever. “It won’t always be this way, Madison,” he whispered in her ear. “After Robbie’s been caught and transported, you’ll be given free reign of things. You’ll be able to do exactly as you wish.”
She didn’t respond and he realized she’d spent so much energy struggling to get free, she'd fallen asleep in his arms.
To his dismay, the entire next week was much the same. She kept her distance during the day and fought with him before going to bed at night. The only difference was he’d gotten her to agree to his presence in the room without yelling, fighting or struggling as long as he slept in the chair. He didn’t much care for the arrangement, but it would have to do. He just hoped Robbie struck again soon or he’d have to change tactics.
He didn’t like living with a mad wife while waiting for a madman to strike. It was just damned uncomfortable. Almost as uncomfortable as his trousers at present.
He groaned and tore his eyes away from his wife’s sleeping form. Soon enough, he told himself. After this business with Robbie was over, he’d pick up where he left off at Rockhurst and not stop wooing her until she was won. By him.
Chapter 25
Madison’s dreamless state came to an abrupt end when she heard masculine grunting and sounds of struggle. Popping her eyes open, she scanned the room. It was fairly dark with no candles burning and only a dim fire in the hearth. Tentatively, she put her feet on the floor and lit a candle.
The noises were too distinct to be coming from another room. So whatever was going on was going on right here. An uneasy skitter ran down her spine. Where was Jamison when she needed him, she thought wryly. She still didn’t like being followed by the man, but at a time like this she would have gladly accepted his presence.
Picking up the candelabra with shaky hands, she held it in front of her face as she did a slow turn of the room. Every second she turned added to her nervous excitement until she thought she might have a fit of panic.
Her eyes did a slow and thorough sweep the large room. There were several large pieces of furniture that offered excellent hiding places. She wanted to make sure she missed nothing from where she sat perched on the bed, looking from a far. A nervous laugh almost escaped her. Here she was sitting on the bed, waving a little candle around, trying to see shadows of people fighting. What did she think she was going to do if she saw two people fighting? Brain them with the candlestick holder? Actually, that was a good idea. However, it would work better if she got up and was actually closer to the fight.
She slid off the bed and immediately knew where the sounds were coming from: the door. It had been hard to distinguish that while sitting on the bed in the far corner of the room. But now, standing in the middle of the room, it was easy to tell where they were coming from. “I’m such a nodcock,” she muttered to herself as she blew out the candle and tossed it on the night stand.
Holding the candleless candelabra above her head, she walked toward the door. That’s where Benjamin had been sleeping in his chair, she thought as she crept over there. It made perfect sense that was where the struggle was taking place.
She tiptoed on the carpet until she was only three feet away from the noise and froze. The moonlight was shining through the window just enough she could see Benjamin’s face. His skin looked pale and his movements jerky as he struggled with himself. Madison had to fight the excited burble of laughter that built in her throat as she thought of the situation. She stood with a candelabra over her head and was about to knock an intruder unconscious and Benjamin was having a nightmare!
Dropping the candelabra to the floor, she grabbed Benjamin’s arm. “Benjamin,” she whispered, giving him a shake.
He didn’t answer.
“Benjamin,” she repeated.
He mumbled something she assumed was meant for whoever was invading his slumber.
“Benjamin,” she said a little louder, shaking him again.
He tried to jerk his arm away from her grasp.
“Ben,” she said in a voice louder than normal. “Ben, wake up. It’s just a nightmare.”
His eyes snapped open and he blinked at her. “Sorry,” he murmured, running a hand down his sleepy face.
“It’s all right,” she assured him quietly. “And here I thought you were a light sleeper.”
“I usually am,” he admitted. “But occasionally, if I drift deep enough, I’ll have a nightmare.” He shifted in his seat and cocked his head to see her better. “I must have been dreadfully loud if I woke you,” he teased.
“You were,” she told him.
He chuckled and reached his hand forward go grab hers. She allowed him to pull her onto his lap. “Thank you for waking me,” he murmured against her hair.
“You’re welcome. Would you like to talk about it?”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s nothing really. Just a recurring dream about the night of the fire.”
“You mean the night your man-maid caught on fire?”
He nodded.
“Is that why you don’t like to have a fire without a screen and insist every candle is snuffed before bedtime?” she asked, running her fingers through his light blond hair.
He nodded again and gave a sharp bark of laughter. “What would people say if they knew the Dangerous Duke was scared of fire?” he asked with a self-depreciating smile.
“Or had nightmares?” she added cheekily.
“Or that,” he agreed, brushing a quick kiss on her cheek.
“Hmm, it seems to me there is more to you than most know,” she mused, snuggling closer to his chest.
“There’s more to me than you know, too,” he whispered in her ear.
She nodded. “I know. And I am having a rather good time finding out your secrets.”
“You are?” His voice seemed surprised.
She twirled her fingers into
the mass of hair on his head. “With the exception of being twice abducted and followed around by Jamison, I’ve enjoyed our time together.”
He squeezed her. “You have no idea how glad I am to hear you say that.”
“You have no idea how glad I’ll be when this is all over,” she retorted. “That man won’t leave me alone for nothing.”
“That’s his job,” Benjamin said, feathering kisses on her shoulder.
She scowled. “Apparently he takes it very seriously. Normally servants can be bribed. But not him.”
Benjamin’s chest rumbled with laughter. “I shall have to give the man a bonus,” he murmured in between kisses. He brought his fingers up and grabbed the strap of her lacy nightrail. Pulling it down off her shoulder, he followed its path with kisses.
She laughed. “There’s no need to give him a bonus, he’s already gotten one.”
“Been keeping your coins, has he?” His hands came around her waist and repositioned her to sit on his lap with her back facing his chest.
“No,” she said tartly as he lowered the other strap and placed feather light kisses on the top of her back. “His bonus came in the form of him sneaking peeks at me in the bath.”
His head shot up. “What?” he exclaimed, his body tensing. “Even I don’t get to do that,” he muttered before she answered.
She shrugged. “As I said, he leaves me alone for nothing.” She leaned back and wiggled her shoulders in an attempt to catch his attention so he’d kiss her again. “What are you doing?” she asked, when she felt his hands close around her waist and he was none too gently trying to push her from his lap.
“Firing Jamison,” he said tersely, setting her on the ground. “You wanted him gone. He’s gone. He has no business watching you bathe. That was not in the orders I gave him.”
“Benjamin, calm down,” she said, placing her hands on his chest. “He doesn’t watch me bathe.”