through her heart at the thought
of him holding and kissing another woman. It was a good thing she
would not be attending the Season this year, or ever again. She
would not be able to stand by, watching him at balls with his
undoubtedly beautiful wife.
Perhaps she should look for Adele and Julia.
It would give her something to do and it was better than sitting
around, waiting and wondering when they would make an appearance.
And, it gave her something to concentrate on besides whether or not
Lachlan had married yet.
Madeline stopped in the foyer and looked
around. She had to get out of this house. There was not one room
she could go into without running into a servant or family member
and each one of them looked at her with sympathy. She hated it. She
did not want to be pitied. She just wanted to move on with her
life.
Rushing up the stairs she grabbed her cloak
and put on her boots. A walk. That is all she needed, and then she
could relax.
This time Madeline watched where she was
going and paid attention to her surroundings. She didn’t want to
end up in a lake again as she probably wouldn’t be as lucky this
time. Right past the bend in the road was a drive and though she
knew she shouldn’t trespass, Madeline walked up it anyway. This was
Brachton Manor. How soon before Lachlan returned with his bride?
Not until after the first of the year at least and possibly not
until spring. Luckily, she would be gone by then but she would have
to make sure to find out if he was in residence before she visited
Matt and Grace again. She didn’t ever want to risk running into
Lachlan. Not seeing him was difficult enough. Coming face to face
with him would surely shatter her heart.
“This is where you have gone off to.”
Madeline whipped around to find Jordan coming
up the drive.
“I just needed to get out and walk.”
“I suspected as much.” He offered his arm and
the two of them walked back toward the road. “You have always
walked when troubled.”
“Not that it does me much good,” she
grumbled.
“Things will eventually look better,
Madeline. On that you have my promise.”
Only if she managed to forget Lachlan.
Lachlan took a deep breath and knocked on the
door of Danby Castle. He had never met the duke and was certain he
had no right to call here, but he wasn’t leaving until he spoke
with Maddie.
A footman opened the door. “May I help
you?”
“I’ve come to call on Lady Madeline
Trent.”
The servant frowned. “There is no one here by
that name.”
Panic surged. Maddie had to be here. “What of
Mr. John Trent and his wife?”
“I will see if they are at home.” The man
stood back so that Lachlan could enter.
Lachlan took a deep breath and tried to gain
control of his impatience. “Would ye please tell them that the
Marquess of Brachton would like to speak with them?”
The man held out his hand.
Lachlan simply stared at it. What did he
want? Blast. “I doona have any cards with me.”
He nodded and walked down the hall, leaving
Lachlan to cool his heels by the door. Voices could be heard coming
from the many rooms off the hall. Hopefully Mr. Trent and his wife
were close.
A moment later, John Trent stepped into the
foyer along with his wife. He smiled broadly. “Brachton, what are
you doing here?”
“I am lookin’ for yer sister,” Lachlan
answered.
“Madeline and her mother decided to remain
with Matt.”
If he left now he still had time. Lachlan
nodded his head. “Thank ye.”
“Why are you looking for Madeline,” John
asked, a half-smile on his face and curiosity in his eyes.
“I promise to explain later.” He started for
the door when an older, gruff voice stopped him.
“Wait just a moment.”
Lachlan didn’t have time for this. Slowly, he
turned and came face to face with who he assumed could only be the
Duke of Danby. Despite how much he wished to leave to reach
Madeline, Lachlan would not insult the duke. He bowed.
“What is your interest in Lady
of him holding and kissing another woman. It was a good thing she
would not be attending the Season this year, or ever again. She
would not be able to stand by, watching him at balls with his
undoubtedly beautiful wife.
Perhaps she should look for Adele and Julia.
It would give her something to do and it was better than sitting
around, waiting and wondering when they would make an appearance.
And, it gave her something to concentrate on besides whether or not
Lachlan had married yet.
Madeline stopped in the foyer and looked
around. She had to get out of this house. There was not one room
she could go into without running into a servant or family member
and each one of them looked at her with sympathy. She hated it. She
did not want to be pitied. She just wanted to move on with her
life.
Rushing up the stairs she grabbed her cloak
and put on her boots. A walk. That is all she needed, and then she
could relax.
This time Madeline watched where she was
going and paid attention to her surroundings. She didn’t want to
end up in a lake again as she probably wouldn’t be as lucky this
time. Right past the bend in the road was a drive and though she
knew she shouldn’t trespass, Madeline walked up it anyway. This was
Brachton Manor. How soon before Lachlan returned with his bride?
Not until after the first of the year at least and possibly not
until spring. Luckily, she would be gone by then but she would have
to make sure to find out if he was in residence before she visited
Matt and Grace again. She didn’t ever want to risk running into
Lachlan. Not seeing him was difficult enough. Coming face to face
with him would surely shatter her heart.
“This is where you have gone off to.”
Madeline whipped around to find Jordan coming
up the drive.
“I just needed to get out and walk.”
“I suspected as much.” He offered his arm and
the two of them walked back toward the road. “You have always
walked when troubled.”
“Not that it does me much good,” she
grumbled.
“Things will eventually look better,
Madeline. On that you have my promise.”
Only if she managed to forget Lachlan.
Lachlan took a deep breath and knocked on the
door of Danby Castle. He had never met the duke and was certain he
had no right to call here, but he wasn’t leaving until he spoke
with Maddie.
A footman opened the door. “May I help
you?”
“I’ve come to call on Lady Madeline
Trent.”
The servant frowned. “There is no one here by
that name.”
Panic surged. Maddie had to be here. “What of
Mr. John Trent and his wife?”
“I will see if they are at home.” The man
stood back so that Lachlan could enter.
Lachlan took a deep breath and tried to gain
control of his impatience. “Would ye please tell them that the
Marquess of Brachton would like to speak with them?”
The man held out his hand.
Lachlan simply stared at it. What did he
want? Blast. “I doona have any cards with me.”
He nodded and walked down the hall, leaving
Lachlan to cool his heels by the door. Voices could be heard coming
from the many rooms off the hall. Hopefully Mr. Trent and his wife
were close.
A moment later, John Trent stepped into the
foyer along with his wife. He smiled broadly. “Brachton, what are
you doing here?”
“I am lookin’ for yer sister,” Lachlan
answered.
“Madeline and her mother decided to remain
with Matt.”
If he left now he still had time. Lachlan
nodded his head. “Thank ye.”
“Why are you looking for Madeline,” John
asked, a half-smile on his face and curiosity in his eyes.
“I promise to explain later.” He started for
the door when an older, gruff voice stopped him.
“Wait just a moment.”
Lachlan didn’t have time for this. Slowly, he
turned and came face to face with who he assumed could only be the
Duke of Danby. Despite how much he wished to leave to reach
Madeline, Lachlan would not insult the duke. He bowed.
“What is your interest in Lady
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