Page 13 of Entwined By Error (Madcaps of Mayfair #1)
Miss Astley gasped, her unshackled hand covering her gaping mouth. When she recovered, she breathlessly whispered, “Unworthy? Lord Southwood is the kindest, most loving man I have ever known.”
“I serve merely as a mouthpiece for the spirits who weave your future thread by thread.”
Daniel growled. “A scam, to be sure. How much must we pay for your insightful pronouncements?”
“Quiet, Mr. Northcott,” Miss Astley instructed. “You shall offend the spirits.”
“There are no spirits here. Only us and this foolish old woman.”
The mystic released her hold on their hands, her mystical pretense instantly evaporating with a harumph as she pulled a key out of a drawer. She placed it into the lock of their shackles and turned it, but the metal didn’t click as the key had not grabbed hold.
“Is there a problem?” Daniel asked.
“The spirits are angered by your disbelief. They have chosen not to allow your separation, at least not until you admit you believe in their powers.” The mystic held up the key, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Daniel leaned forward and took the key with his left hand.
“Allow me, madam.” He placed it in the lock, but knew before he tried to turn it that the key was obviously a bad fit.
Throwing it to the table, he took a moment to compose himself.
After counting to ten, in both English and French, he looked up at the woman. “Where is the correct key?”
“You cannot rush the spirits. Mayhap they have something further to share with you.” She pulled the glass ball forward, waving her hands above it. “I see children in your future.”
“I am not in humor for your games. Where is the key to unlock the shackles?”
Miss Astley leaned forward. “How many children? Are they all blond? Lord Southwood has beautiful blond hair, and I am convinced our children, if we are to wed, shall all be fair-haired.”
Standing, Daniel took hold of the painting he’d placed beside the table. “We are leaving, Miss Astley. A blacksmith will have to break the chain.”
“Sit down, Mr. Northcott. The chains shall release once the entirety of our future has been revealed.”
Daniel narrowed his eyes at the mystic. “Where is the key? Produce it now, and I shall consider leaving the bazaar without turning you in to the local constable.”
“There is a key somewhere in these drawers.” The mystic quickly abandoned her chair and went about searching through the table drawer once more.
Unwilling to sit and wait, Daniel tried to walk to the nearest chest of drawers, only to remember he was shackled, and Miss Astley would have to accompany him. “Miss, will you please help me search for the key?”
“Patience, Mr. Northcott. I want to hear more about my children.”
“There will not be any children with Southwood if we do not find the key, ma’am.”
With that, Miss Astley jumped to her feet and followed him to the chest of drawers. “You do not have to be so foul-tempered. I only wanted to hear more about my future.”
“A waste of time. She has only told you what every young lady of marriageable age wishes to hear.”
Miss Astley leaned against the chest of drawers, a silly smile crossing her face as she was caught up in reverie. “I wonder how many children I will bear. Every man wishes for an heir.”
“You cannot be serious, Miss Astley.” He tried not to laugh as he looked at her. “Please tell me you do not believe this charlatan has the ability to divine your future.”
Her eyes lit up with glee. “Mr. Northcott, it does not hurt to enjoy oneself at a bazaar.”
Daniel pushed the trinkets about, searching for a key. “I suppose not.”
“But I do think it is time to remove these shackles. We must find the key.” She set about looking through drawers and pushing papers aside, helping him with the search.
* * *
Daniel entered the drawing room, Miss Astley beside him, her arm heavy as it rested upon his. He dropped the painting on the floor as he looked to his father, pleading with his eyes, until he saw a movement to his left.
“I had begun to worry that you had fallen for her charms and stolen Miss Astley away.” Southwood crossed the room, his long strides bringing him close enough to notice the shackles around their wrists. “What is this?”
Lifting his right arm, Daniel held it high enough for everyone to see the mess they were in.
He tried to make his voice light, as though this was a lark, but it was anything but a light-hearted moment.
They’d been bound together far too long for his comfort.
“The fortune teller in the village cannot find the key.”
Southwood burst into laughter, a sign that he had won big at the races. “Can we not get the local blacksmith to release you?”
Miss Astley sniffed, her tears falling rapidly down her cheeks as she tried to move away.
Unfortunately, the chain tethering them was far too short for her to take more than a step before she was thrown off balance.
Daniel reached out to steady her, unwilling to allow any harm to come to her while she was connected to him.
Her words were shaky as she shared the terrible news.
“The blacksmith was not available. His wife said she had not seen him for most of the day.”
“We shall find the blacksmith, Miss Astley. I will free you from my brother’s grip.” Southwood placed his hand under her chin, lifting it as she pouted. “Do not spend another moment worrying over the matter.”
Daniel was aware his brother’s affections were insincere; when he looked into Miss Astley’s eyes, the sparkles and desire emanating from him were in anticipation of a pile of bank notes resembling eighty thousand pounds.
Turning away from the sickening display of deceit, Daniel looked to his father for advice.
“If the blacksmith cannot be found, is there any other way out of this conundrum?”
The earl crossed the room, poured a drink at the sideboard, and carried it over to Daniel. “You will need this.”
He did wish for it. His mouth watered at the sight and smell of ginger, but he knew all too well what it would mean if he chose to drink; he would soon have to use the necessary.
He couldn’t possibly do that with Miss Astley attached to his right side.
“Thank you, but I will refrain for now. At least until we are separated.”
His father pressed the glass into his left hand. “Come now, Daniel. For your nerves.”
With his father’s urging, Daniel accepted the glass. He drank and then settled on the sofa with Miss Astley beside him. She too accepted a drink, a glass of lemonade, both famished from the day’s activities.
He held tightly to the promise his father had made.
It wouldn’t be long before he would be rid of Miss Astley, the warmth of her presence making his hand and arm tingle each time her ungloved fingers brushed his.
He couldn’t shake the feeling away, and he found that even though he squirmed under his brother’s watchful gaze, the sensation Miss Astley perpetrated in his chest was not wholly unpleasant.
In an attempt at gentlemanly behavior, Daniel became acutely aware of his every movement—the number of times he moved his right arm to scratch an itch or cover a yawn, little movements that would pull on Miss Astley’s hand, dragging her with him as he scratched his nose.
“Stop fidgeting,” Miss Astley said as she pulled her hand back to rest on the sofa between them. She yanked him extra hard and then flicked her wrist, sending his hand back into his own face.
“I do not fidget, ma’am.”
Miss Astley turned on him, her eyes blazing.
The intoxicating woman he’d met in the ballroom, the one whose very presence made him warm all over, was completely gone, and in her place was a young lady who wanted to be rid of him.
“Please,” she said, calming her tone a little as she rested her hand on the cushion once more, “use your other hand if you must flail about.”
“Flail?” Daniel huffed out an impatient breath. “I do not flail, ma’am.”
“You most certainly do, sir,” Miss Astley said, her voice rising in pitch.
Daniel rested his hand on his knee. “Let us settle upon a compromise. Can we not agree to use our unconnected hands for everything until we are free of this chain?”
Miss Astley dipped her head slightly, turning toward him. She was graceful, equal to that of a duchess, as her eyes warned him to keep to this bargain. “I too would like that from you, Mr. Northcott. For I have been a most amiable companion, considering your needs above my own.”
He exchanged an exasperated glance with Southwood, noting his brother’s watchful gaze.
“Very well.” With the agreement made, Daniel rested his head against the back of the sofa and closed his eyes.
It had been a taxing afternoon, and a bit of rest before supper was exactly what he needed to combat the frustration of his current predicament.