Page 13 of The Marquess’s Stolen Bride (Dukes Gone Dirty #3)

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W illiam was holding her hands. “Yes, but are you sure you’re up for it?”

She smiled. “You said so yourself. At some point I must interact with high society.”

“Yes, but…a ball?”

He looked so horrified that all of his friends broke out laughing.

“It won’t be so bad, Hayden,” Philippa said.

Benedict’s arched brow as he looked to his wife said that he begged to differ. “It’s a ball, Philippa. By its very nature, it must be bad.”

“Tedious and dull, perhaps,” Raff said. “But not so very dreadful.”

“Mmm.” Evangeline looked as though she was considering the matter. “I’m with Hayden. I still do not enjoy these large balls.”

Raff wrapped his arms around his wife. As it was just the six of them at the picnic, all rules of society had broken down entirely, with displays of affection going utterly unchecked. Not that Madeline minded. She’d been enjoying this day immensely. And the fact that the outing had been William’s plan and meant for her…

She squeezed his hand as she stole a glance at the man who’d stolen her heart. She’d felt closer than ever with him this last week. She’d not seen nor heard from that vile Foley again, and when surrounded by her doting husband and her newfound, powerful friends…

It was almost too easy to forget about his threats. After all, none of her new acquaintances liked the man, and her mother had long since distanced herself from society.

She tilted her head back so she could soak in the spring sunshine on this gorgeous day.

If only she knew where her brother was at this moment. If she could only get word to him, she’d say her life was perfect.

“Happy, love?” William’s voice was low next to her ear.

She turned her smile in his direction. “Very. And you?”

“Perfect.” He leaned in closer until his lips grazed her ear. “I had an idea for what we might do later, once we are alone.”

She couldn’t squelch the giggle before it escaped.

He pulled back with a look of fake admonishment. “My goodness, where did your mind go?” He tsked. “Naughty girl.”

She laughed harder. “Was that not what you meant?”

He dropped his voice lower, his gaze filled with promise. “That is always on my agenda.”

She fell against him as she laughed, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders as he continued, his voice filled with amusement. “But, at this particular moment, I was actually referring to something else.”

She pulled back to look at him. “What is it?”

“Well, I thought…” He shifted, looking adorably hesitant. “I thought perhaps I might begin teaching you how to read and write.” He cleared his throat when she continued to gape at him in silence. “If you would like.”

A wave of emotion had her throwing her arms around him and squeezing him tight, heedless of the others who were busy talking and laughing amongst themselves.

He ran a hand over her back. “Is that a yes?”

She nodded, her throat too choked to speak. “Yes. Definitely yes.”

“Good, because…” He met her gaze when she drew back. “I would not like for you to feel beholden to me or anyone else. If you wish to send letters to your brother or learn about a topic on your own…” His brows drew down. “I want you to have your freedom. You know that, don’t you?”

She nodded quickly. “I do know that.” She touched his cheek. “And I love that about you. About…us.”

He smiled and captured her hand to kiss it. “Good. Then tonight, yes?”

“Tonight,” she agreed with a nod. “Yes.”

But when they returned back to their townhome, their plans were altered thanks to a visitor.

“Lady Ashburn is here to see you, my lady,” the butler informed her.

Madeline froze as William hovered beside her. “Your mother? What does she want?”

Her pulse sounded too loud as her blood rushed past her ears. The countess rarely left their estate, so why now? Why here?

William started toward the drawing room, but Madeline stopped him. “No. Please. She’s here to see me. Let me speak with her.”

He stared at her with questions in his eyes.

What did she want?

There was only one way to find out.

Squaring her shoulders, she took a deep breath, only then realizing she was squeezing William’s hand much too hard.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Yes. Just…surprised, that’s all.”

“Let me come with you,” he said.

She shook her head, fears were spiking left and right. She didn’t know what her mother might say or do, but she was quite certain that she didn’t want William to be any part of it.

“This is my home now,” she said with a smile she didn’t truly feel. “She cannot hurt me here.”

He considered her carefully. “If you’re certain…”

She nodded. “I am.”

“I’ll be close,” he said. “Just say the word, and I will be there.”

“I know,” she whispered.

With one last squeeze of his hand, she left him. Her mother was standing, and in this different setting, Madeline was certain she looked…smaller. Frailer.

But when the older woman turned to face her, Madeline knew she was no less terrifying.

There was no spark of humanity in her eyes as she smiled her greeting. “Ah, at last. You know I don’t like to be kept waiting.”

“I did not know you were here?—”

“No matter. You’re here now, so let us get the business done so I might be on my way.” Her lips curled in a sneer. “I have no desire to exchange pleasantries with a weak little bastard child.”

“Then what are you doing here?” Madeline took some pride in the fact that her voice was smooth and even, no hint of her fear seeping through.

“I’m here for the money, of course.” Her smile was nasty as she moved closer. “I’m sure Foley spoke to you on my behalf. But he tells me he was unable to give you the details of our new arrangement.”

“What new arrangement?” she snapped. “We have no arrangement.”

“Don’t we?” The countess’s smile fell. “You cheated me out of my fortune, you little brat. First your father squandered the estate and then you robbed me of my one chance to have a tidy sum of my own.”

“I didn’t?—”

“You think I don’t want to escape that hell, too?”

Madeline stumbled back a step. The older woman’s eyes were wide and…crazed.

Good Lord, was there something in the water at their estate? Or had her father been drawn to someone similar to himself?

Madeline shook her head. This was not the time to sort it out. “I owe you nothing. You were going to sell me?—”

“Yes, and instead, I got a third of what I could have made from Mr. Percer. How did you manage it, child? Hmm?”

“I didn’t rob or cheat,” Madeline protested. “I was never yours to sell.”

“Hush, you little whore,” her mother said. “I have plenty of witnesses who will swear to the fact that we locked you away to keep you from harming yourself with your loose morals and your salacious ways.”

“No one will believe that.”

“Won’t they?” The countess’s brows arched. “What about your husband? You don’t think he’ll look at you differently if he were to learn that he’d been tricked into marrying a slattern?”

“That’s not true.”

The countess shocked her with a laugh. “Oh, stupid little child. Still so naive. It doesn’t matter what’s true, only what one believes.”

“He won’t believe you,” she said. As she said it, she heard his voice. The pained look when he’d told her he’d never forgive her if she were with another.

He’d believe her side of the story…wouldn’t he?

But even if he did, would he look at her differently? Would this newfound love be tainted?

The countess chuckled. “You witless cow. Still so very easy to read, you know that, yes? You don’t trust that he’ll believe you, and you shouldn’t. Men are so easy to sway. Just prey on their weakness and probe their fears…” She waved a hand. “So very easy to manipulate.”

“What do you want?”

The countess smiled. “The money you owe me, of course.”

“I don’t have money?—”

“But your husband does.” She moved closer. “One thousand pounds?—”

Madeline gasped at the outrageous amount.

“Oh, not all at once. You can pay me over time, if you so choose.”

“But I don’t…I can’t…”

“You can. It’s simple, dear. You ask for a little pin money here, an additional allowance for a new gown there. It couldn’t be simpler.”

“But I?—”

“Foley will be at the ball tomorrow night. I heard you will be making your grand entrance.” Her smile was pure bitterness. “How lovely for you. It would be such a shame if your big night were to be ruined by a row. Or worse, rampant rumors about your shameful acts.”

“You wouldn’t?—”

“I would, and you know it,” the countess cut in with a voice so sharp it made Madeline flinch. “I despise you and I always have. Having to raise some poor country lass’s babe. Let everyone think you were mine? The indignity, child. You have no idea.”

Madeline gaped. Her mother had always been cold. Cruel and sometimes violent. But she’d never heard this rage from her. Like a lifetime of anger was trying to climb out of her.

“The only use you were to me was as a means to a fortune. Truth be told, I was looking forward to watching you break. To see you reduced to a life as some man’s whore. And in return, I’d have made a fortune.” She shook her head with a tsk. “But you couldn’t even do that right.” She headed toward the door. “So no, Madeline. Do not doubt that I would ruin your new life. And happily.” She paused to look back. “Just give me a reason, child. Any reason will do.”