Page 191

M ADDIE HELD THE sharp, shiny pair of scissors in her bad hand, wondering if she should have Verity cut Hector’s hair.

He’d survived eight years alone on a wild island.

She didn’t want to be the one who killed him with scissors on a ship on his return trip to civilisation.

Her mother and Verity didn’t help. Mother, grey from the seasickness, couldn’t stop staring at Hector as if he were a circus freak, and Verity seemed scared to death of him.

But Maddie wished to be alone with Hector. Her mother and sister were intruding into a private moment, as absurd as it sounded.

He sat stiffly on the chair, chin up and eyes scanning the cabin. His long hair almost reached his waist and fell in golden curls over his back. He must have washed it that morning because it smelled of verbena and shone with a glossy hue.

“I’ll start now,” she said, trying the scissors.

He didn’t say anything.

But she needed to hear him. “Hector, I?—”

“Just cut it, Madeline.” Her mother waved a dismissive hand. “Stop this fuss.”

“It’s not a fuss. I want to be sure he knows what’s about to happen.”

Mother’s gaze travelled skywards. Verity gave Maddie an encouraging nod.

“You may cut,” Hector said.

“All right.” Maddie cut the first lock, needing to apply more strength than she imagined. The severed curl dropped to the floor in a glitter of gold and copper.

Mother raised her eyebrows. “Good gracious, Lord Wentworth. Why don’t you wear something appropriate?”

Hector didn’t reply, closing his fists on his thighs.

Maddie kept cutting his hair, careful not to graze his skin.

The more she cut, the more his strong neck became visible.

She appreciated the hard tendons and roped muscles twitching under the skin.

Her fingers itched to draw them. Would she be able to capture the life pulsating in his thick veins?

She doubted it, but blazes if the challenge didn’t tickle her.

“It’s rude not to answer one’s question.” Mother folded her hands in her lap.

“Leave him be, Mother,” Verity said, peering at Hector’s half-naked chest with an interest her betrothed wouldn’t like.

Mother huffed. “His manners are barbaric.”

“Mother!” Maddie and Verity chorused.

Mother pressed her lips together but thankfully didn’t say anything.

Maddie cut through the thick mane until his hair was at a fashionable length right below his strong jaw. Perhaps the curls needed to be straightened here and there, but overall, they looked more decent. He watched his hair fall around him but again didn’t show any interest.

“Done.” She brushed a few curls from his shoulder, holding back a gasp when she inadvertently slipped her hand inside his shirt.

It wasn’t her fault if he kept his shirt half-unbuttoned and the fabric became loose around his neck.

Her fingers skimmed over hard muscles and smooth skin.

For s split moment, she wished she could explore more, but she was lucky that Mother was distracted by Verity when the incident occurred.

She slid her hand out of his shirt, but Hector turned towards her, his chest rising with his deep inhalation, and his pupils dilating again.

“Apologies,” she whispered.

Was he flushing? She couldn’t tell. Between his tanned skin and the beard, it was difficult to see his face, but the visible skin had blushed red for a moment. Heavens, she behaved wantonly with him, touching him when he didn’t expect it.

“Don’t apologise,” he whispered back before staring ahead.

She took her time preparing the bowl of warm water. Shaving him would be trickier than cutting his hair, and she would need to stand quite close to him, which wasn’t an explanation for her suddenly fast heartbeat.

“I’ll cut the beard now,” she said, standing in front of him. “After I shorten it, it’s probably better if you ask Dr. Landon to use the razor.” She let out a nervous laugh for no reason, but Hector didn’t even smile. Oh, well. “I once cut my father’s beard when he broke two fingers.”

Verity nodded. “A client at the bank got furious and closed Father’s fingers in a drawer, smashing them. How horrible for him. Although Father admitted the man had a good reason to be angry since the bank refused?—”

“Verity, shush!” Mother chided her.

Maddie stroked the beard, finding it surprisingly soft, and cut a big chunk.

The curls fell over his shirt, and she fought the urge to brush them off.

Lord, she was becoming a degenerate, and the fact he kept his trusting gaze on her didn’t help.

Gentlemen didn’t stare at ladies with his intensity. Such a shame.

“It’ll be such a shock for you to return home.” Mother’s smile didn’t hold any kindness.

Hector didn’t acknowledge her, but Maddie shot her a warning glare, which her mother promptly ignored.

“It’ll take some time,” Verity said. “But I’m sure Lord Wentworth will be all right once he’s reunited with his...ahem, friends and peers.”

Maddie cut another chunk, hoping Hector didn’t ask Verity questions about his family. Clumsy of her to mention it.

Mother turned on her chair to glance at Verity. “What are you talking about, silly girl? His whole family is dead.”

Verity gasped, clamping her hands over her mouth.

“Mother!” Maddie lowered the scissors and stomped a foot on the floor.

Hector whipped his head up. “Dead? How?” His expectant face radiated too much trust.

“Lord Wentworth, we didn’t tell you, but it happened—” Maddie couldn’t finish the sentence. Her mother cut her off.

“For God’s sake. Your brother died of a fever, and your mother killed herself. She isn’t even buried in holy ground.”

Hector’s mouth dropped open as his breath seemed to get stuck in his rising chest. He didn’t even blink.

“Mother, enough!” Maddie’s voice thundered in the cabin.

She shook so hard the scissors slipped out of her hand. How could her mother be so cruel? Controlling her daughters was one thing, but destroying a man’s hope was quite another.

Mother straightened as if she were the one who had been attacked. “It’s true and someone ought to tell him. It’s his right to know the truth.” She dabbed her forehead with her handkerchief. “Would you have let him believe that he would see his family once in London?” She tsked. “Now, that’s cruel.”

Maddie folded her arms over her chest. “I would have told him in a kinder fashion.”

“So, is it true?” He shivered, and goosebumps pebbled his skin.

She drew in a breath. “I’m so sorry.”

Hector’s fists clenched so tightly she worried he might punch her mother. “Get out,” he gritted out.

“Your manners—” Mother started.

As he shoved himself up to his feet, the stool was knocked backwards. The cut strands of hair fell softly to the floor. “Get out!” he roared. “All of you.”

Maddie grabbed her mother’s elbow and dragged her out as Verity held the door open for them.

“Oh, my goodness.” Verity shut the door behind them once they were in the passageway.

“Let me go.” Mother shrugged herself free from Maddie’s grip. “What is the matter with you?”

“With me?” Maddie’s voice shook with anger. “How could you be so cruel to that poor man? There was no reason, none, to hurt him the way you did. He’s barely recovered from the shock of having been rescued, and you overwhelmed him with horrible news.”

Verity shook her head. “Mother, honestly.”

Mother didn’t flinch. She tugged at the shawl around her shoulders and lifted her chin. “He’s a barbarian. A creature.” She pointed a finger at Hector’s cabin. “Didn’t you see how he behaves? He has no courtesy, no decency, and his mind is probably irreversibly damaged.”

“Since when are you an expert physician?” Maddie said. Although she wondered if Hector’s mind would remain troubled forever. “You should apologise.”

“To him?” Mother huffed. “I’d rather feel sick for another month.” She turned around and hurried away.

Angry tears burned Maddie’s eyes as she stifled the instinct of yelling at her mother and making a scene. “How could she have done that? Blathering out about Hector’s family with no respect for him.”

Verity wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Sometimes, I do wonder how she produced us.”

“She destroyed him as if he hadn’t been through enough already.” She’d become accustomed to her mother’s mean behaviour, but watching her cruelty hurt someone as vulnerable as Hector was at the moment cut her deeply. “I must apologise.” She put a hand on the knob, but Verity stopped her.

“Listen, let’s wait a while. Then you’ll visit Lord Wentworth again and see how he’s doing. He needs a moment of peace. I think we should give it to him. He’s probably less interested in our apology than in dealing with his pain.”

Maddie stooped her shoulders. “Very wise words. And I’m the older one.”

Verity smiled. “Let’s have a cup of tea.” She started leading Maddie away. “No, forget tea. I want one of those hot cocoa cups with whipped cream and cinnamon on top.”

Maddie rested her head on her sister’s shoulder. “You also have the best ideas.”

She started down the passageway when the noise of broken furniture came from the cabin.