Her throat tightened. His voice carried, and his insinuation was embarrassing. For Hart’s sake, as much as hers, she would hate the shoppers walking by to hear it. “I am married, Uncle Arthur.”
He looked incredulous. “Married? Don’t be ridiculous. You are not yet twenty-one and neither have you sought my permission.”
Maddie’s hands trembled. She hated how he could still make her feel like the helpless young girl she’d been when he first appeared in her life. Annoyed with herself, she moved back from his disturbing presence. Pulling off her glove, she held out her hand, displaying her ringed fingers. The large diamond flashed in the sunlight. “Have you not noticed the crest on the carriage door? I am Marchioness Lady Montford.”
Her uncle’s eyes widened as realization dawned. “So, the marquess was behind this. I might have known. He has snatched you up. Looking for a mistress, was he? Your reputation is now in shreds, my girl. You shall come home with me now.” He swung around to Jane. “But not you, Miss Frost. You left my employment without a word and encouraged my ward to do this. I shall make sure you do not find a position as lady’s maid again. You will work on your back in some brothel!”
The tall, well-built footman cleared his throat and took a step closer, causing her uncle to fall back a pace.
“Lord Montford and I were married in Scotland,” Maddie said stiffly.
Her uncle’s laugh grated. “A wedding over an anvil? Hardly legal, my dear Madeline.”
“Should you wish it, my husband will show you the document.”
He scoffed. “No such legal document exists. You are underage and I shall prove he’s taken advantage of you. Foolish girl, he is after the money your father left you, and by doing so has ravished you and ruined your reputation. It is common knowledge his father’s death left his finances in disarray. I am your guardian. If you won’t come with me now, I shall seek the assistance of the law.”
“I wouldn’t advise it, Uncle.” Maddie turned before she mounted the carriage steps, her hand on the footman’s arm. She didn’t want to say it here, but could not resist anger at his betrayal of her trust twisting in her stomach. “That would only draw attention to your attempts to murder me.”
“Murder you? What nonsense. As if I would hurt a member of my family,” he blustered, but the expression in his eyes told her she’d rocked him.
“I know you were behind it, uncle. The man you sent to kidnap me and who later tried to kill me I saw first at your house. He visited you often, and I believe Lord Montford saw him there, too.”
“Lord Montford was prowling about my property?”
“He came to take my mare before you took out your revenge on her.”
“That is theft! I shall have the law on him!”
“He did not steal her, uncle. The horse belongs to me.”
He stared at her, then wordlessly turned on his heel, disappearing into the gathering crowd who, having sensed something interesting afoot, had stopped to watch.
Maddie, on shaky legs but with her chin held high nodded to the footman to assist her into the carriage. Jane, looking shaken, followed. “Uncle Arthur believes I’ve never seen his men,” she gasped, able to breathe again now the carriage door had closed. “He thought it safe to dispose of me without fear of discovery.”
“He can’t hurt you now, milady.” There were tears in Jane’s eyes, and her voice shook.
“Don’t be afraid, Jane,” Maddie said firmly. “His threats were horrid, I grant you, but empty, for he has no hold on you. Hart would never allow him to hurt you. You are in our employ now, not my uncle’s. Nor can he do anything more to me,” Maddie added as the carriage took them back to Montford Court.
As if she found no comfort in Maddie’s assurances, Jane miserably dropped her chin and, clutching her reticule, stared at her trembling fingers.
More shaken than she wished Jane to see, Maddie tried to convince herself that her uncle’s threats were merely bluster. Tomorrow, Hart would accompany her to the solicitor and learn the truth of her father’s will, which she hoped would reveal the reason behind her uncle’s actions. But that wasn’t her biggest fear. Would this urge Hart to deal with her uncle and place himself in danger? Hart had gotten the better of them so far, but next time, who knew what might happen? What those murderous henchmen of her uncle’s might do to Hart gripped her and made her slightly ill.
Chapter Seventeen
Maddie rushed intothe library where Hart sat reading his post. Alarmed at her flustered appearance, he rose to his feet. “What is it, Maddie?”
“My uncle accosted me on the street,” she said in a rush. “People stopped to listen. It was awful. If the footman hadn’t been there, I don’t know what he would have done.”
“Curse that man!”
Hart held her, battling to control his anger while his thoughts turned murderous. “That was most unwise of him,” he said, his jaw tight. “And he will live to regret it.”
“You’ll have the law deal with him, Hart?” she said, leaning back, her eyes questioning his. “Surely, as soon as that villain in jail confesses and tells the truth about him, he will be arrested, won’t he?”
Hart couldn’t be sure of it, but didn’t say so. Maddie had grown in confidence since they married. Now she wilted, hurt and confused, and he hated Wakeham more for that than anything. What he had done to his young ward placed in his protection was unspeakable. And right now, Hart wished for an equally unspeakable ending for him. But he smiled and drew her down onto his lap, moderating his voice. “He can talk all he likes, but can do nothing, Maddie.”
She leaned against him, tears in her eyes. “That document, Hart. Is it legal?”
