“Yes, Jane.” She put a cool hand against her cheek. “Lord Montford is to bring Pearl here.” How calm she sounded while still stunned by what had just occurred.
“Oh, that is good news.” Jane began mopping the floor.
Left alone, Maddie’s fears crowded in. If they married, the trustees and Hart’s solicitors would reach some sort of agreement as to her dowry. Her uncle had explained about her father’s will. Papa left her a dowry of twenty-thousand pounds. The bulk of the estate went to her aunt, whose husband left her in difficult circumstances after he passed away. But she trusted Hart instinctively in this. She knew when someone lied to her as her uncle did. And she would know if Hart lied about a mistress. He was dreadfully appealing, as all rakes were, she imagined. But she didn’t have to marry him. She would be free of her uncle’s control within a month and have no need to sacrifice her hopes of making a love match. And Hart would have little trouble finding a suitable lady to wed.
Would he safely rescue Pearl? What if her uncle’s men attacked him? He’d handle two, but three against one? They might be ready for him, armed with knives and pistols. She shivered, suddenly cold, and went out to fetch more wood.
Chapter Eight
Hart felt alittle bemused as he slowed his horses to negotiate a tricky corner. He had just asked Maddie to marry him. Normally, he’d give a considerable amount of thought to a weighty decision before he acted. And this was the biggest and most important decision he would make in his life. But his uncle’s will had put a time limit on his bachelorhood. To ask Maddie seemed a perfectly reasonable arrangement when he’d broached it. But had he badly erred? Without a declaration of love, what woman would welcome such a proposal?
Nor had he considered the social consequences when surely Vivian, a delightful companion who would move seamlessly into his life in London because she understood society’s expectations, might have been a better choice. He had only ever known such women. There was a clear understanding between them they might take a lover, and many of thetonbehaved in that way, albeit discreetly.
Maddie was young and had seen so little of the world. Would she expect her husband to be faithful? She had not experienced London society, and thetoncould be heartless if they took against someone. She would be a big cat’s prey to be devoured if she put a foot wrong. However, she was intelligent and strong-willed, and when it came down to it, quite brave. He admired those qualities in her, which he supposed was why he’d rushed to help her. And why he felt no regret at having asked her to marry him. Well, he’d proposed, and had only to wait for her decision. Surprising how the anticipation of Maddie’s answer caused a nervous tightening of his stomach. Had he acted subconsciously, without understanding the strength of his feelings for her? Surely not. He was a rational being. Might London life have left him so jaded he didn’t know the real thing when he stumbled upon it? He didn’t yet know the answer. But he suffered an uneasy feeling he’d handled this badly.
He arrived home, sorely tempted to visit Wakeham and find out just what he was up to. But because his men could be there and one of them might recognize him, it wasn’t worth the risk. He’d wait until the evening, then alert Henry to his plan.
The improvements to the estate continued steadily, eating up the money from the bank. Some of the more important modifications, especially the marchioness’ suite, might not be finished in time to satisfy his uncle’s trustees, which added to Hart’s worries. He could sense his relative, Willard Frompton, eagerly waiting for a windfall he had no right to, counting on Hart’s failure.
Later that evening, the moon high in the sky, Hart crossed the acres between his property and Wakeham’s on foot. Hugging the shadows, he approached the stables, above which the coachman and grooms slept. He’d have to think of a way to rouse Henry without waking everyone.
The cool breeze carried the smells of manure, hay, and horses as he crossed the cobbles to the stables. He was in luck. A lighted lantern hung from a beam, illuminating the interior. He crept to the door. Inside, two men attended a sick horse. “Colic,” the veterinarian said, removing a bottle from his bag. “This will help. But I’ll call back tomorrow.”
“I guessed as much,” Henry said.
When Henry left the stall and went to the tack room, Hart stepped out of the dark, a finger to his lips. He beckoned Henry outside.
“Have you come to tell me where Lady Madeline is, milord?” Henry asked, out of the veterinarian’s earshot.
“She is somewhere safe. I’ve come for Pearl.”
Henry stared. “You wish to take her horse?”
“Don’t tell me the mare isn’t here?” Hart asked with a sense of foreboding.
“Mr. Wakeham came this morning. Said he planned to sell her. The horse will be gone tomorrow.”
“He’s in for a surprise in the morning then.”
Henry’s eyes shone in the lantern light. “I am mighty relieved, milord. If you can wait until I finish up with the vet, I’ll saddle her.”
Hart shook his head. “No, I don’t want you implicated. Go to bed. I’ll saddle her.”
“It’s no trouble, milord,” Henry said. “I’ll saddle Pearl and meet you in the stable yard.”
Hart returned to the shadowy wood and waited. Twenty minutes passed. Wakeham was still awake. Loud voices drifted through a window downstairs. While Hart hoped to get away before the men left, right now he wanted to know what they were up to.
He sprinted over the drive to the wall of the house.
Cautiously raising his head, he peered inside the brightly lit room. Four men sat around a table. One was Wakeham. Two others he recognized as those who he’d dealt with earlier, looking a little bruised but no worse for their experience. At first, he thought they played a game of cards, but when a man shifted on his chair, Hart had a clear view and saw how they divvied up money from a stack of notes and gold coins piled in the center of the table.
Voices came from the stables. The veterinarian emerged. Hart slipped back into the trees and watched him climb into his trap. After it disappeared down the drive, Hart ran into the stable courtyard, where Henry led Pearl out by the reins.
“Here is milady’s horse.”
“I fear this will get you into trouble, Henry.” Hart mounted the gray. Unused to a heavy male rider, she danced about until he settled her. “There’s some bad business going on in there.” He nodded to the house. “Should you decide to leave Wakeham’s employ, come and work for me. I’ll leave word with my steward.”
“I planned to seek new employment,” Henry said with a pleased grin. “Wakeham’s a penny-pinching miser with never a good word for anyone. I’ll be there first thing tomorrow.”
