“CATIE! JOSIE!” MADDIE rushed into her cousins’ arms and the three spun around in happiness.
“Where have you been?” Josie cried.
“I was so worried about you!” Catie chided. “Where’s your husband?” Josie asked, looking about on tiptoes.
“And how dare you marry without us?” Maddie, deluged by their questions, only laughed. It was so good to hear their voices again. It was so good to be wrapped in the flood of their friendship.
“How dare you marry at all,” Josie added, giving the laughing Maddie a dubious look. “Poor Ashley will be the only one of our club left.”
“Oh, I think it’s safe to say that our little club is now quite defunct.”
Catie and Josie stared at her. “Then all the rumors are true?” Josie asked. “I don’t believe it.”
Maddie glanced about her, decided there were too many people milling about, hoping to overhear, and grabbed her cousins’ hands. She pulled them through the ornate room, through the French doors, and out onto the deserted balcony. After checking behind a potted plant nearby, she turned to them. “It’s true. Ashley’s married.”
“Who?” Josie asked. “To Lord Nicholas?”
“Oh, Lord, what will Aunt Imogen say?” Catie asked.
Maddie sobered then, thinking about the conversation that afternoon with Ashley’s mother. She’d sent a note to Imogen Brittany as soon as she’d arrived home, and this morning, after Jack retired with his man of affairs, Ashley’s mother had called.
Understandably, her aunt was distraught over her daughter’s absence. And when Maddie informed her of Ashley’s marriage, the poor woman had gone pale. Almost as pale as Maddie’s own mother, who called an hour later. Maddie had been forced to sit through a long lecture and then promise never to elope again. She was certain Ashley would have to do the same when her mother saw her.
If her mother saw her.
Maddie sighed and began filling her cousins in on the details of the elopement. At the end of the story, Josie was laughing, but Catie’s expression was strained. “The anvil priest really married the wrong couples?”
“Yes, and that was the last I saw of Ashley and Lord Nicholas.”
“Oh, Ashley can take care of herself,” Josie said confidently.
“I know, but I worry. Lord Blackthorne has hired investigators to locate them. We should have word of their whereabouts any day.”
“I simply cannot fathom this,” Catie said. “Don’t misunderstand, I think the elopement worked out well for you, you obviously love Lord Blackthorne.”
“Love Lord Blackthorne!” Maddie took a step back. “What are you talking about? I can barely stand the man.”
Josie snorted. “That’s a sure sign you love him. I want to kill Stephen almost daily. I’ll probably do it one of these days.”
Catie rolled her eyes.
“I saw that,” Josie protested. “And don’t pretend that Lord Valentine is perfect. Just last week you were railing because he hadn’t moved from his desk and that stack of work for two days.”
“Well, at least neither of your husbands tries to control you,” Maddie said, crossing her arms over her chest. “Lord Blackthorne told me this morning that I’m only allowed to be actively involved with one charity.” She held up a single finger to illustrate. “One.”
Her cousins exchanged looks. “Actually, Maddie,” Catie said carefully, “that’s not such a bad idea.”
“You really were trying to do too much,” Josie said.
“Oh I was, was I? And what have you two done? Is that a new gown, Josie? Are those new diamond earrings, Catie? What about all the orphans who could have used that money?”
“You’re right,” Catie said. “We probably should try to help more.”
“We should.” Josie was trying hard to look contrite, but Maddie wasn’t fooled. Her cousins were always attempting to escape from aiding with charitable endeavors. Josie said it was dull, and Catie could be shy with new people.
“I’m glad to hear you say that,” Maddie said.
Catie narrowed her eyes at Maddie. “Why?”
