“You saved his life, my lady. Surely he won’t leave you to ruin after that. If he’s any kind of gentleman at all, he’ll extend you an offer of marriage.”
“An offer of marriage? I don’t want tomarryhim, Horatia.”
“But that would solve everything.” Horatia was clearly puzzled. “You wouldn’t have to worry about being ruined. You would be provided for. And as he’s the gentleman who compromised your reputation in the first place, heshouldhelp you now. Especially since you saved his life. This is how he should repay you for rendering him that service.”
“He doesn’t owe me a debt for saving his life,” Madeleine said. “That isn’t why I did it.”
“Well, no, of course that wasn’t your reason. But even so…hedoesowe you his gratitude, my lady. What would you say if you heard of another lady in your situation? If you heard that the gentleman whose life she had saved was refusing to marry her?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Madeleine said. “I meant what I told you. I don’t want to marry him.”
“But why on Earth not? It could save you from this situation, my lady.”
“And what would it do to him?” She sighed and shook her head. “I didn’t save his life just to see it ruined.”
“You don’t really think that a marriage to you would ruin his life, do you?”
“Not the marriage, no. But the curse…”
“Now, you listen to me,” Horatia said firmly. “You mustn’t let people make you believe in that nonsense, my lady. There is no curse. You arenotcursed. I’ve been with you since you were a child. Don’t you think I would know if that were so?”
“I don’t know,” Madeleine said. “I can’t forget what happened. You know I still have nightmares about that fire.”
“I know you do,” Horatia said gently.
“Well, what if the curse is real and something were to happen again? What if a marriage to me cost the Duke his life?”
“That wouldn’t happen. I know you’re afraid, but the things you hear people say about you—that you’re wicked and responsible for those deaths—none of that is true. And if the Duke has any sense at all, he’ll see that, and he’ll understand just how lucky he is to have the opportunity to marry such a kind, beautiful young lady. He should be thanking his lucky stars that your paths crossed—especially given that you saved his life!”
“He should stay far away from me,” Madeleine said gloomily. “That’s what he should do. I’ll only ruin things for him.”
“You won’t ruin anything. Stop talking that way and listen to me,” Horatia said. “The Duke is a public figure and a gentleman, and knowing what you’ve done for him, I’m certain he’s going to make you an offer of marriage.”
“Well, I hope he doesn’t,” Madeleine said.
“If he does, I think you ought to accept. He knows of your reputation ascursed, surely? If he offers, it will be in spite of that. It will show that it doesn’t matter to him, that he’s wise enough to know that the curse isn’t real.”
“I can’t accept.” But Madeleine sighed. “I don’t think I’ll have a choice, truly. Uncle Joseph will accept any proposal made on my behalf without even asking me.”
“Perhaps he should if you don’t have the sense to see that this is the best thing for you. To tell you the truth, I’m glad your uncle is in charge, my lady. I don’t want to see you sabotage your own chances at happiness. You’ve always worried more for others than you do for yourself. I think it’s something your family’s deaths instilled in you. But it’s important for you to care for your own needs too, and if you won’t do it, your uncle should do it for you.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. I feel sure he will. But I’ll hope that the Duke won’t come at all.”
“I think he’ll come. After all, didn’t he try to intervene when he saw those ladies being unkind to you?”
“Yes. He does think it’s his job to save me.”
“Did he know it was you? I mean, did he know you were the one who had saved him all those years ago?”
“I don’t know. I thought I saw something in his eyes when he learned my name, but I couldn’t be sure.”
“If he knows it was you, he’lldefinitelycome to ask for your hand in marriage.”
“Then perhaps it’s better if he doesn’t know.”
Horatia sighed. “My lady…it’s all right to want things for yourself, you know. It’s all right to concern yourself with what’s best for you. You don’t have to worry solely about what you think is right for other people. Let others worry about themselves.”
Madeleine buried her face in Sally’s fur and said nothing. Whatever her lady’s maid might think, she didn’t agree. It would be beyond selfish to risk a marriage, to allow the Duke to risk his life…
