I’d swept it myself earlier this morning—one camera, two audio devices.
The rest of the house was anyone’s guess.
“How can I be of assistance, sir?” Elijah asked in his usual cold professionalism. “Does the lady need clothes before she returns whence she came?”
Madison hunched her shoulders and shifted to stand slightly behind me.
I hated to admit it but at some point, I was going to have to give her access to clothes, as much as it suited my purposes to have her walking around in only my robe. At first, it was just to make sure she didn’t sneak away. Now it was for far more pleasurable reasons.
I pressed my hand against her lower back and drew her forward. I wouldn’t allow the future Mrs. Worthington to be cowed by a servant, especially this one.
Keeping my arm securely around her, I said, “Madison and I are getting married. The wedding needs to happen in two days.”
“Sir, that is not wise,” he said between clenched teeth.
“We also need to have an engagement party. That will have to be tomorrow night. It needs to be an elegant affair, even if it is rushed.”
I kept playing the part of an eager fiancé, grinning down at her, my arm around her waist, snaking down to grab her cute ass like I couldn’t get enough of her. That, I didn’t have to fake.
“And Madison will need a dress.”
“Oh, wait,” Madison said, gripping my arm and pressing onto her tiptoes. “What if we tell everyone they are coming to our engagement party and we surprise them with the wedding? We can do it all right here; this house is so big and lovely.”
“I can’t remember the last time we used the ballroom,” I agreed. “Elijah, I expect you to see to the details. My lovely bride will be…busy.”
I kissed Madison’s neck.
“But, sir, this is not proper.” His arms were stretched rigid at his sides as he closed his hands into fists.
“See that it is done,” I said, swinging Madison up and around like a fool in love. “I am going to marry this woman, and I want the whole town here as witnesses. What flowers do you want, love? What colors?”
Madison laughed and squealed in my arms like a woman excited to be getting married, and goddamn if I didn’t love that sound. Right at that moment, I became determined to make her laugh more often. I owed her that much and so much more.
“Whatever they have, we won’t have time to order anything else.”
“You underestimate Elijah.” I turned back to stare straight at him. “I’veneverunderestimated him.”
He lowered his gaze.
Tilting my chin up, I continued. “Spare no expense; we will welcome her into the family with all the pomp and circumstance the next Mrs. Worthington deserves.”
Several times, he glanced at the phone on his desk. “Sir, what about giving time for the lawyers to draw up a prenuptial agreement.”
I waved him off. “We don’t need that.”
“Sir! I must protest. This is not the behavior of a Worthington. You dishonor your family’s legacy.” Elijah slammed his hands on the table.
I set Madison down, then after placing another kiss on her forehead, I turned to face the butler.
“You forget yourself, Elijah. Your place is to serve, not to judge. My parents are, as you stated, in their graves. As is my brother. Unless you know something I don’t?”
I watched his response carefully.
His lips thinned but he didn’t respond.
“Madison is beautiful, intelligent, and every bit as worthy as anyone else. You will do as I say, or you will find yourself unemployed.”
Elijah opened his mouth, then closed it, the wrinkles around his lips twisting with disappointment. “Right away, sir.”
