Page 20 of The Marquess’s Stolen Bride (Dukes Gone Dirty #3)

Hayden’s sweet wife might have only asked for a child, but he meant to give her that and so much more.

Namely, vengeance.

Nearly a fortnight had passed since that ill-fated duel, and Hayden’s nerves were on edge with impatience.

Or perhaps that was the musicians preparing for tonight’s ball. Their constant starting and stopping as they rehearsed in the ballroom was enough to drive a man mad. The news that Malcolm had just delivered had him on edge as well. It wasn’t bad news, not in the least, but it had him rethinking what he thought he knew of his wife’s brother and how this would play into his plans.

“She’s here,” Madeline said from the doorway of his study.

He turned to face her, his gorgeous wife with the kindest smile he’d ever known. “I’m coming with you,” he said.

“It’s not necessary, you know. The countess can’t hurt me any longer.”

He gave a little huff. He couldn’t deny that. He and his friends had acted swiftly to ensure Madeline’s mother, father, and those bloody arses who’d taken part in her mother’s scheme were brought to justice.

Their first act had been to send Foley into exile. Raff and Benedict had happily taken the lead on that front as both had reasons to despise the cowardly knave. His father hadn’t tried to defend him, nor his elder brother. The family seemed to know as well as anyone that the man was weak of character and evil of spirit. And so, no one had given Foley a penny before sending him off to America.

Hayden would be surprised if he lasted a day let alone years on his own in a foreign country.

But he was gone now, and Hayden had taken pleasure in tracking down Percer and the other men Foley had ratted out. All the men who’d been there that night had been ruined, financially and within society.

The only one left to punish was Madeline’s mother. Adopted mother, she now liked to point out. He’d wanted to haul that woman into a deep lake with boulders tied to her ankles, but Madeline had asked to be the one to deal with her.

And so, he knew that he had to let her. Frustrating as that might be. But he didn’t just trust his wife, he believed in her. Every day he saw just how strong she was. For it took more strength than he could imagine to not only survive all the cruelty she’d lived through but to still hold onto her kindness as well.

It was that which worried him now. “Just promise me that you won’t go easy on her,” he said. “Even if she cries.”

Madeline laughed softly. “I promise you I will not undo all your work in making her powerless, no matter how much she cries.” She made a face. “Though frankly, I cannot imagine her shedding a tear.”

He gave her a lopsided grin as he strode toward her. “Let’s find out then, shall we?”

She arched a brow, and he held his hands up in surrender. “I’ll stay quiet, I promise. She is all yours to deal with.”

Madeline smiled and turned to lead the way.

They found the countess waiting in his study. She was standing, her features pinched and her eyes filled with malice. She ignored her daughter and looked to him. “What is the meaning of this? One does not summon a countess?—”

“Silence, Mother,” Madeline spoke calmly. Almost…sweetly. And Hayden ignored the older woman to watch his exquisite wife.

Placidly, she placed her hands in front of her, clasping them together. Her white knuckles were the only sign that she wasn’t quite as calm as she seemed.

“What is the meaning of?—”

“You will listen to me for once,” Madeline interjected, cutting the countess off succinctly. “My husband and his friends know, Mother. They know everything.”

The countess’s mouth opened and shut, indignation in her expression but the start of panic in her eyes.

Good. Hayden crossed his arms with satisfaction. Very good.

“They know all what you have done to me. They know everything about Father’s health, mental and physical. They know that you had planned to sell me off to the highest bidder.”

“I never!” she started, the countess’s gaze flying to Hayden as if he might believe her.

“I said silence, Mother,” Madeline said, her voice stern even though the countess was still looking to him pleadingly.

He arched his brows, his smile broadening. “I’d do what she says if I were you, Lady Ashburn. My wife holds all the power here, you know. Most definitely over you.” He turned his smile on his wife. “And I’m not ashamed to admit over me, as well. She’s really quite persuasive, you know.”

Madeline’s lips twitched with amusement at his teasing. But then she turned back to the countess. “The men have been dealt with,” she said. “There is no money to be found there. You are finished, Mother. You and Father will be sent to the north to live in one of father’s dilapidated old estates alone. If you should try to come back to London, you will be imprisoned for your crimes. If you should start any rumors or try in any way to hurt me, my husband, Albert, or my friends, you will be punished accordingly.”

The countess blanched, and Hayden’s chest swelled with pride.

Not so much as a quiver in his wife’s voice. His wife was strong, and she was only just beginning to realize how much so.

Madeline started to turn, dismissing her adopted mother without so much as a farewell.

“You cannot do this, you little ingrate.”

“She can,” he said simply. “And she has. In fact, it’s already been done.”

Madeline looked to him with a question in her eyes, and he directed the next part to her, since he hadn’t yet had a chance to tell her of what Malcolm had just informed him.

“We’ve been working to track down Madeline’s brother,” he said. “And we found him.”

Madeline’s eyes lit with pleasure. “You found Albert?”

“It took a while because we’d been looking in the wrong places.” He turned to the countess. The vengeful part of him wanted to see her reaction. “You see, while you’d been sending your son off to try and restore the funds to your failing earldom, your son had been doing his best to save Madeline from you and her father.”

Madeline gasped. “What do you mean?”

He turned to her with a smile. “Yes, my love. It seems you were right, and I was wrong to ever doubt him. He does love you and was trying his best to save you. I just got to you first.”

“My son would never betray me or his father,” the countess started.

“Wouldn’t he?” Madeline said, her voice cold as ice. “And why not? Neither of you ever showed him love, and much as you tried to keep us apart, we only ever had each other. So why do you think his loyalty would be to you?”

“Excellent point she makes, isn’t it?” he murmured.

The countess sneered at him, but both he and Madeline ignored her.

“Where has he been?” she asked.

“It seems he’s been trying to petition for guardianship, but he had to go about it carefully so word would not get back to your parents.”

Madeline’s eyes gleamed with pride. “I knew he hadn’t abandoned me.”

Hayden smiled. “I look forward to meeting him when he arrives.”

“He’s coming here?”

“Of course. Once Malcolm discovered his whereabouts, he sent for him. He gave him the message that you are out of danger and that…” Here he spared another glance at the countess. “And that we have petitioned the crown to give him full control of the estate and its funds considering your father’s failing health.”

“You cannot—” the countess started.

“We can and we have,” Madeline said. “Now, if you please, Mother. We’re hosting a ball tonight and you are very much not welcome.”

Hayden signaled to a footman who’d been waiting by the door.

“Thomas here will see you out,” Hayden said. “And he has orders to use force if you resist.”

“You cannot do this!” The countess was still shouting as his wife took his proffered arm and they left her behind, the door shutting with a click that muffled her shouts.

“How do you feel, love?” he asked.

She grinned up at him. “Like I am the luckiest lady in the land.”

He leaned down to kiss her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I cannot believe the nightmare is over.”

He scowled teasingly at the ballroom, where music played loudly. “And just in time for the next nightmare to begin.”

“Oh stop,” she laughed. “I know you do not enjoy balls, but at least we’ll get to dance together.”

“Mmph. That’s the only part I’m looking forward to.” He drew her back into his arms. “Well, that and seeing all the looks of admiration and envy on our guests’ faces when they see my wonderful wife in all her glory.”

She laughed, slapping his shoulder lightly. “You tease.”

“I don’t. You will be the envy of them all.”

She laughed harder, and she opened her mouth to protest but was cut off by the butler who turned the corner. “Ah, my lady. Forgive me for the interruption but your visitors have begun to arrive.”

Madeline’s face split with a grin. “That must be our friends. Philippa, Evangeline, and Vivian all insisted on arriving early to ensure I had all the moral support I could endure for my first hostessing event.”

“You don’t need their support,” he said.

“I know that, but don’t tell them,” she shot back with a wink. “They like to feel useful.”

His head fell back with a laugh. “Very well. In that case, let us go greet our friends and prepare for your big night.”

He wrapped an arm around her waist. “I’m proud of you, love.”

She leaned into him with a sigh. “Thank you, William.” She glanced up with a grin. “Now come along. We need to toast with our friends.”

“And what are we toasting to?”

She glanced back at where they’d left the countess. “To the end of one chapter…”

He kissed the top of her head as he finished, “And to all the new beginnings.”

* * *

Thank you for reading! Be sure to check out the spin-off series Rogues Gone Dirty starting with The Beast's Ruined Bride .