Page 25 of What A Rogue Wants (Lords Of Deception #1)

Fifteen

Madelaine’s sleep had been far from restful this past week.

Worry over Elizabeth’s worsening condition awoke her as it had all week like clockwork.

She dressed and trudged groggily down the five corridors and two flights of stairs toward the isolated hall where Elizabeth had been moved.

If Grey was in the room, she wouldn’t go in, just as she hadn’t the last three nights.

She had to limit the time she was alone with him.

It wasn’t proper. Not to mention Grey had told her Father had denied his courtship.

Until she could speak with her father and ascertain what his objection was and perhaps persuade him differently, she didn’t want to go against his wishes.

She’d hurt her mother by being so stubborn, and it was too late to make amends, but she was determined never to hurt her father.

She would be a model daughter, even if it killed her.

What if Grey finds someone else? Madelaine clenched her teeth.

She hated the voice of doubt inside her head.

She pushed the thought away. There was no sense worrying over something she felt confident could be changed.

Likely, someone had whispered in her father’s ear of Grey’s reputation as a rake.

She’d simply explain to Father that he was wrong and tell him how Grey was with his sister.

Father would have to change his mind. He’d always been a very reasonable man.

Well, except for when he’d insisted she had to find a husband at Court.

Still, a part of her understood he was only trying to secure the best future for her.

Coming close to Elizabeth’s door, Madelaine took extra care not to make a sound.

She just wanted to reassure herself that Elizabeth was still alive.

She prayed Helen was there and not Grey.

Every time she saw him, she had to fight the compulsion to talk to him, and after the dream she’d just had about him, her need to be close to him was like a consuming hunger.

She cracked open Elizabeth’s door. Her pulse skittered at the sight of Grey by his sister’s side, his head bent and his hands clasped together in front of him.

His deep murmur floated to Madelaine, and her mouth dropped open.

Grey was a praying man? She listened closer, her eyes bugging.

Not only was Grey praying, he was begging God to spare his sister’s life and take him instead.

No, no, no, foolish man! Tears filled her eyes.

She couldn’t live without him. She quickly said a prayer for Elizabeth’s recovery and Grey’s continuing health.

She pulled the door quietly closed and sagged against the wall.

She was a fool to think she’d put up some barrier between herself and Grey.

Seeing him now begging for his sister’s life was like a bucket of cold water thrown on her head.

There were not enough barriers in the world to guard her heart from Grey.

The way he’d helped care for his sister had shown him to be loving and honorable and everything she had ever dreamed of in a man. When had she started to lose her heart to him? She laughed at that. Most likely the moment she’d met him in Golden Square.

She moaned and pressed her hand over her mouth to hush herself.

Even if she’d been sensible enough not to melt like a schoolgirl at his touch, no warm-blooded woman could keep herself fortified against a man who brushed his sister’s hair, patiently gave her sips of water and broth, and threatened bodily harm to the physician that had come to bleed Elizabeth.

Madelaine’s heart pounded in her ears. The wisest thing she could do was avoid him completely until she could speak with her father.

That way she would ensure not losing her senses.

Pressing away from the wall, she straightened and made her way back to her room.

She couldn’t wait a whole month to speak with Grey again. It was more than she could stand.

But what could she do? As she undressed, she considered her prospects.

There was only one thing to bring her father back sooner.

She sat down and dipped her quill in ink.

How should she word her letter to Father?

If she was careful with her words, she’d not be lying and Father would come quickly.

Smiling at her cleverness, she wrote one line.

Come with haste. Something dreadful has happened.

That should do it, and she’d not lied. Elizabeth’s sickness was dreadful.

Hopefully, by the time Father got here, Elizabeth would be well, and Madelaine, Elizabeth and Helen could explain to her father how Grey was truly an honorable man.

Then Grey could court her, and she could fall guiltlessly in love.

Avoiding Grey was much harder than Madelaine imagined.

She was partly thrilled and dismayed that he went to such efforts to see her.

Wherever she seemed to go, she would catch glimpses of him, but she managed to keep her distance.

The hardest times were when she was in Elizabeth’s room, and he would come to care for his sister.

Madelaine always fled, offering some stuttering, flimsy excuse.

Yesterday’s had been especially bad. Grey had raised one eyebrow, and she’d known he didn’t believe her.

She’d entertained the idea of telling him the truth.

Yet the thought of sitting before him and explaining that she was staying away because when she was near him she didn’t trust herself not to go against her father’s wishes, made her stomach pitch precariously.

With that in mind, she rose early. She had to visit Elizabeth before Grey even considered coming.

If he kept to the same routine of the last two weeks, he would tend to his equerry duties first and then come to his sister’s room around noon.

When Madelaine finished translating a letter for the queen, she begged to be excused to go check on Elizabeth.

The queen was surprisingly kind and gracious.

No doubt the kindness had everything to do with her good feelings toward Elizabeth and Grey and nothing to do with Madelaine personally, but whatever the reason, she welcomed the reprieve from the scolding and glares.

When she reached Elizabeth’s apartment around ten, she took several deep breaths before entering. All her composure left her and she squealed as she ran into the room.

“You’re awake!”

Elizabeth was propped against a mound of pillows.

Her cheeks looked rosy, but with the light glow of health and not the burn of fever.

Her blue eyes sparkled without the glassiness that had worried Madelaine so this past week.

Dark smudges still lay under her eyes, and her face had a new hollowness around the cheekbones, but she looked vastly improved. “You look wonderful!”

Elizabeth smiled wanly. “Liar.”

“Oh, no.” Madelaine shook her head as she and Helen exchanged smiles of greeting. “I stammer when I lie, so rest assured I’m telling the truth.”

“Come.” Elizabeth chuckled and patted the bed. “Sit by me and tell me of you and Grey. I’m not sure how much longer I can stay awake.”

Madelaine pulled up the chair, but the last thing she wanted to do was talk about her and Grey. “Does your brother know you’re better?”

“He knows,” Helen answered, coming to sit by Elizabeth on the bed. “He was here last night when her fever broke, and he was here this morning when the doctor saw her. I’ve never seen a man as close to crying with relief as Grey was.”

“Aunt,” Elizabeth scolded. “Grey wouldn’t like you saying such things.”

“Pish-posh. As if I give a fig what Grey or any man likes. Except the king.” She winked. “The freedom to be outrageously blunt comes with having buried my husband.” She smiled wickedly. “And being wealthier than most helps.”

Elizabeth shook her head then glanced at Madelaine. “Ignore her.”

Secretly, Madelaine hoped she would someday be as confident as Helen was. “What did the doctor say?”

“That I’ve made a miraculous recovery.” Elizabeth promptly yawned.

“And that she doesn’t need to tire herself,” Helen added. “She’s to rest, which is precisely what I’ve been trying to get her to do.”

“I don’t want to rest,” Elizabeth protested, but she yawned again.

“If you don’t rest you won’t get better and then who will be on my side against Grace?”

“Has she been awful? Tell me what she’s done.”

“I will, but only if you lay down and close your eyes.”

“This is splendid,” Elizabeth said. “It’s like being put to sleep with my own special fairy tale. My nanny used to tell the best stories.”

“Sit up,” Madelaine commanded. She quickly rearranged Elizabeth’s pillows and then gently helped her to lie down. “Now close your eyes and listen.”

She spent the next hour regaling Elizabeth with tales of Grace’s wicked ways. When she was finished, Helen sang Elizabeth a song, until her eyes drifted shut, her breathing became even and her chest rose and fell with deep sleep.

Helen clucked her tongue as she looked at the clock. “I’ve got to go,” she said in a whisper. “But Grey will be here soon.”

“I need to go too.” Madelaine pushed back her chair to stand.

“Madelaine, are you still angry with Grey because of the night he didn’t show up to my apartments?

” Her voice had risen. Madelaine darted a glance at Elizabeth.

Still sleeping. Good. Helen took Madelaine by the elbow and led her closer to the door.

“If you’re still angry, I think it’s quite unforgiving, given what you’ve seen of his character these past two weeks. ”

“I’m not still angry.” Madelaine flushed with embarrassment. How could she explain to Helen that she was afraid to be alone with Grey because she was fearful of breaking her promise to herself?

“Then why not stay and sit with him? I know he wants you to. And Louisa can stay here. I’ll be fine without her, and she’s hard of hearing so you may speak freely to Grey.”