Madelina let her hands fall from her lopsided coif. She wanted William to be right. She desperately wanted Mister Mclintock to be good, but only he could have told Miss White that Madelina was Little Hook. Even if he cared for Madelina, he’d already betrayed her. Whether he believed her about Miss White or not, he’d no business telling the secrets of the woman he professed to love to his mistress. How could she long so deeply for such a man? How could she revel in the memory of his lips?
Mister Mclintock had seemed so sincere in his denial, which made him either a great fool or an expert liar. He didn’t strike Madelina as either. Frustration at how reason ran in circles when it came to Mister Mclintock threatened to overtake her. She resisted the urge to bang her forehead into the wall.
Quiet footsteps sounded in the hall, followed by a light knock at her door. Madelina crossed and tugged it open. One of the maids stood without.
“My lady.” The young woman dipped a curtsy. “I didn’t think you’d be awake.”
“Yet, I am. You are looking for me?”
The girl offered a nod. “There’s a carriage without, my lady, and the driver told me he’s to wait for you to go with him or to tell him to his face that you won’t.” She proffered a folded page. “I didn’t know if I should wake you. I tapped on Miss Saint Lawrence’s door, but she didn’t answer. It’s awful early, and you know how grouchy she is, so I came to you.”
Madelina nodded, unsurprised at the girl’s reluctance to wake her aunt. Aunt Aubrey had the staff well cowered. Wondering at the driver’s strange request, she tugged the page from the girl’s fingers, which clenched it tight. “Thank you,” she said and unfolded the paper to find a strong script.
Please give me one more opportunity to prove myself to you. I cannot live without you. We must speak – J
Madelina read the lines again. Excitement bubbled through her, but she tamped it down. She should not be excited to see a man who had shared her secret with his mistress. Her hands trembled as she folded the note. “The driver said I’m to go with him?”
“Or tell him that you will not, my lady.” The girl wrung her hands. “You cannot get in that carriage. Not without your aunt or…or, at least, bring me.”
No, she could not. “I won’t. I’ll go down and tell him as much.” Jasper must be in the carriage. Why else insist she come out? Before she sent him away, should she tell him she knew what he’d done? That he’d shared her secret?
“Shall I come out with you, my lady?”
“That will not be necessary,” she said as she hurried to her wardrobe to pull free a cloak, gloves, and bonnet.
“But, my lady, your reputation.”
“Will not suffer from standing in the street speaking to a coachman.” Nor even from stepping up to the window to reprimand Mister Mclintock. Madelina tied on her bonnet. At least it covered the mess she’d made of her hair. She flung the cloak over her shoulders and turned back to the girl, gloves in hand.
The maid’s cheeks flamed. “Begging your pardon, my lady, but it’s not only a coachman waiting out there for you.”
“You read the note.” Madelina didn’t feel surprised so much as annoyed. She shoved the folded page into her gown.
“It weren’t sealed,” the maid said, cocking her chin in the air despite her red cheeks.
“No, I suppose not.” Madelina crossed to the door. She made a sweeping gesture, for the maid stood in her way. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“I don’t think Miss Saint Lawrence would like you to go without talking with her first.”
Madelina looked down at the maid, a good foot shorter. She could easily overpower the girl, but that would be very poor behavior, and likely make a ruckus. She couldn’t risk waking Aunt Aubrey. The girl was right. Aunt Aubrey would wish to discuss the idea. Like as not, she wouldn’t permit Madelina to go out to Mclintock’s carriage but would rather insist he come in. What Madelina had to say to him, she didn’t want overheard by anyone.
Madelina let her shoulders slump. “You’re correct, of course. I don’t know what I was thinking.” She tugged out the note and proffered it. “You take this. Burn it or something.” For good measure, she started to untie her bonnet.
“So, you won’t go?” The maid twisted the paper in her hands.
Madelina shook her head. “It would be foolish to do so. It’s hardly dawn. What honest reason could a gentleman have for appearing at such an odd hour to see me, and for not coming to the door? No, I’ll stay here and wait for my aunt to wake. If the carriage must remain until I go down, let it remain.”
“I think that’s the right thing to do, my lady.”
Madelina offered a wry smile. “I’m glad you agree. Now, would you mind readying some tea and toast? I may as well eat something while I wait.”
“Not at all, my lady. I’ll be back in a jiff.” The girl hurried away.
Madelina watched her go before closing her bedroom door. She re-secured the ties on her bonnet and crossed to the window. At that early hour, the street below stood empty. There would be no one to see her climb out, or back in. She simply had to inform Mister Mclintock that she knew what he’d done, so he’d see why she couldn’t trust him with her heart.
The climb proved more difficult in slippers and a dress than when she clad herself as Little Hook, but she made quick work of her descent. Fortunately, the kitchen windows were on the back of the townhouse. She doubted anyone would be in the front parlor. If someone was, they’d be sweeping out the fireplace, their back to the windows.
Still, it wouldn’t do to get caught, so Madelina bundled her cloak close and hurried to the waiting carriage, door embossed with The Black Aspen’s symbol. There wasn’t a tiger or footman in sight. The driver, facing front, didn’t seem to notice Madelina as she reached the door. Not wanting anyone to glance out and witness her speaking through the carriage window, she grabbed the handle and yanked.
