Fourteen
Madelene dropped her knife with a clatter. Pain and fear knotted in her stomach, threatening to cast up the scone she’d been eating. But then, as he’d taught her to do, she veiled her emotions. Showing her pain would only make him feel guilty. She sat up a little straighter and picked up her knife and dipped it into the pot of jam. This was always the plan, after all. Staying with him forever had never been an option.
“Really? That is good news, indeed.” She forced herself to smile before taking another bite.
“Mrs. Appleridge was a friend of your mother’s. She has a comfortable country home in Scotland. I’m sure it’s beautiful. She’ll be here in a few hours to meet you, and she is thrilled at the prospect of your companionship.”
Scotland? No.
She would never see Simon again.
She should be happy. Should be grateful for the time and effort Simon had put into finding her a place to go and delighted that someone was kind enough to take her in and give her a home.
“A few hours?” She looked down at her plate. She wasn’t ready.
Simon reached across the table. “I know starting a new life is daunting. I looked into her background in every way I could, and she appears to be a good person. If that changes when we meet her, if you don’t like her, I won’t make you go with her.”
Madelene nodded, afraid if she opened her mouth to speak, a sob might break through instead.
A few hours later, they stood together at the station, waiting for Mrs. Appleridge’s train to arrive. Dread filled her stomach as the train approached. Why couldn’t she just be grateful for what Simon had provided her?
This life was never meant to be hers, and she was lucky to have lived it for the short time she had. It would have to suffice.
Breathing in deeply, she straightened her spine. She smiled up at Simon. “Thank you,” she said, squeezing his hand.
“Don’t thank me yet. She could still be an evil hag.” He winked at her, a teasing grin turning up his lips. Even in that moment, he was doing his utmost to make her comfortable.
Madelene searched the crowds as people disembarked. How was she going to know which one was Mrs. Appleridge? But then a woman stepped down and when her eyes found Madelene, a wide smile grew on her face. She was beautiful. Her grey hair was styled fashionably, but she wore all black. Was she in mourning? She walked straight for them.
“You must be Madelene.”
Madelene nodded, unsure if she should speak or not.
Simon stepped forward. “Thank you for coming, Mrs. Appleridge. I’m Simon Allister.”
“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Allister. I was overjoyed to receive your telegram.”
She turned back to Madelene and raised a gloved hand to her cheek. “You look so like your mother. I could almost believe you were her.”
Did she? This woman had known her mother.
Did she know Madelene was the reason she was dead?
She looked down at her hands, wishing she could just hide, but she couldn’t. Simon and Mrs. Appleridge had both gone to a lot of trouble for her. It was time to stop feeling sorry for herself.
Gathering her courage, she stood up straight and pushed up the corners of her lips before finally meeting the woman’s gaze. “It’s lovely to meet you Mrs. Appleridge.”
“Please, call me Selma.”
A man approached, carrying what must be her luggage. “This is my manservant, Lamsley.”
But the smile she gave him as she turned, suggested he was more than just a manservant. At the very least, he was her friend.
“Will you take our luggage to the hotel? I imagine Mr. Allister will see me safely delivered this evening.”
“I most certainly will,” Simon assured her.
Lamsley gave her a nod and strode from the platform.
