“I was not aware Lord Pearson needed a new equerry. What happened to Lord Sutton?”
“Lord Sutton has gone missing.”
Madelaine waited with baited breath for the queen to demand further explanation. Instead, she nodded and gazed toward the dairy farm in the distance where the king had earlier gone with Lord Fox. Well, that figured. The one time Madelaine wouldn’t mind the queen’s demanding nature, Her Majesty was preoccupied. Or maybe she simply wasn’t demanding with Lord Grey. After a moment, the queen focused on Lord Grey again. “Then we shall thoroughly enjoy your time here. Perhaps you can even teach Lady Madelaine how to dance.”
“It would be my pleasure.” Warmth infused Madelaine. Lord Grey sounded very much like a man who knew a great deal about his pleasure.
Giggles broke out amongst the ladies which ceased when the queen waved a hand toward Lady Elizabeth who scurried toward her brother.
Lord Grey enfolded her in his arms. “Poppet,” he whispered into Lady Elizabeth’s ear before releasing her and ruffling her hair as if she were a child. The siblings’ likeness in coloring of hair and eyes struck Madelaine. “We’ve much to discuss.”
Madelaine’s heart leapt into her throat. Did Lord Grey mean to tell his sister about Golden Square? Her heartbeat raced as she discarded ridiculous scenarios of how to corner him and plead her case. Whatever was she going to do? Was he really so cruel? She studied him, and he winked at her. He understood! Her breath released with a rush, yet her nerves still tingled. He may appear willing to keep her secret, but at what price? Everyone at this blasted Court had a price.
But those questions would have to wait until she had the opportunity to speak privately with him. His fingers strayed to his jacket, and he touched a piece of parchment. The letter! Lord Grey had been speaking of the letter his sister had written him. Lady Elizabeth clearly saw the letter as well. Her eyes were rounded in surprise. Some of Madelaine’s tension released, slowing her heartbeat. How silly she’d been. Of course the letter would be forefront on his mind and not his distant meeting in Golden Square with her.
An odd sort of jealousy overcame Madelaine. Lady Elizabeth was lucky. Lord Grey seemed a man more than capable of handling a malicious witch like Grace. Fleetingly, Madelaine wished she had a sibling. But that was impossible. She turned and found Grace glaring at her. Did Grace think to cow her? Madelaine wasn’t the least bit intimidated, but she refused to play such ridiculously childish games. She raised her eyebrows at Grace to let her know she was a fool, and then dismissed her.
“The breeze is turning chilly,” the queen said. “You are all young, so you don’t notice it as I do.” Everyone nodded dutifully in agreement. The queen let out a long sigh as if being constantly agreed with was tedious. “I’m off to read.” She pointed at Lady Juliette and Lady Annabelle. “Come keep me company.” To everyone else she waved a negligent hand. “Be inside by the time the sun hits noon, or sooner if Lord Grey and Lord Gravenhurst no longer wish to keep you company.”
Murmurs of agreement scattered amongst the remaining ladies. Once the queen had walked out of earshot, Grace addressed Lord Grey. “Perhaps Lady Madelaine will sing for you.”
“Or play the pianoforte,” Lady Cecelia chimed in a nasty tone that matched Grace’s.
Madelaine lifted her chin and forced a smile as she looked at the two men before her. She wouldn’t let Grace make her appear embarrassed when she certainly wasn’t. The only reason she now wished for a single feminine talent was so the queen might not find fault with her at every turn. “I’m afraid I was a beastly daughter and never paid heed to the things a proper lady is required to know.” Useless as those things were.
“Such as nonsensical conversation and not appearing too educated?” Lord Gravenhurst speared Grace with a slanted-eyed look that dared her to say a word.
Finally, a sensible man. “Exactly,” Madelaine replied, enjoying Grace’s gasp and her splotchy cheeks.
“I’m curious, Lady Madelaine…” Lord Grey said.
“About what?” Her pulse skittered unnaturally in her chest.
“If you didn’t master your lessons of pianoforte, singing and…?”
“Embroidery,” his sister supplied with a small smile tugging at her lips.
“Ah, yes, the all-important skill of embroidery,” he exclaimed. She wanted to laugh at his dramatics, but she somehow managed to hold it in.
“Pray tell,what didyou master?”
She nearly gasped at his question. Was he challenging her to lie? She didn’t want her secret to be revealed but she refused to be ashamed of the things she knew. “Archery, riding, and how to use a dagger.” Her eyebrows lifted in defiance.
“I’m impressed and intrigued. I, too, am interested in archery.” Lord Grey’s friend coughed and sputtered beside him. She glared at him for trying to goad her. He smiled, and her pulse skittered oddly. Whatever was the matter with her to respond to him like all the other silly dimwits at Court probably did. She should ignore him. He proffered his elbow. “Will you walk in the gardens with my sister and me? I confess I’d love to learn if you have any special techniques you use with your bow and arrow.”
Madelaine understood exactly what Grace had meant when she’d said Lord Grey thrilled her to the bone with just one look. His face had haunted her dreams many nights since she had met him, possible preening peacock or not. Court life had been a lonely, cruel surprise and fantasizing that Lord Grey was good and gallant had helped her keep hope she’d meet someone eventually. Her stomach swirled with butterflies. The way he stared at her made her believe there could possibly be something special about her.
She felt charming. The notion was silly. She was an oddity, but hewaslooking at her as if he liked that. Wasn’t he? Maybe she’d been wrong to think there was no one who’d accept her for who she really was. Perhaps shewouldmeet a man who she really did want to marry for love. Maybe, that man could be Lord Grey. How ridiculous she was. She didn’t really know him. He probably bestowed that mesmerizing expression on every new lady he met. Yet she wanted to take a chance. She slipped her arm through his and refused to care one bit that Grace would make her life holy hell if the murderous look on the lady’s face was a good indicator.
As Lord Grey tucked Madelaine’s hand into the crook of his elbow and reached for his sister’s arm, Grace said, “I’ll come too. I’m positively dying to hear what sorts of accomplishments intrigue the notorious Lord Grey.”
“Notorious?” A sense of foreboding weighed down upon Madelaine’s newly light mood.
“But of course,” Grace murmured. “You’re well known for wooing the ladies but never committing to them. Aren’t you, Lord Grey?”
His arm tensed under Madelaine’s light grasp. She fully expected an annoyed denial, instead he looked supremely bored. After a moment, an amused smile played at his lips. “I suppose I am, Lady Grace.”
Madelaine tugged her arm for Lord Grey to release her. Heavens she was a fool for falling so quickly under his spell. Bewitching eyes didn’t mean a man was a good candidate for a husband. A fact she needed to remember. A walk with a scoundrel would do her no good. Avoiding him would be her wisest course, and she fully intended to take it, once she spoke with him about keeping their meeting secret. But now, surrounded by others, was not the time.
