“Onlybecause of Lady Grace?” he prodded.
Liz’s eyebrows shot up. “You’re very observant. If only Father understood this.”
“Liz,” he warned, not wanting to hear a word of how sorry she felt for him because of their father.
“Fine. Fine. Yes, the queen too. She seems to have a virulent dislike of Lady Madelaine.”
“Is Aunt Helen here?”
Liz smirked at him. “I already thought of her.”
“Really? Then why don’t you know more of Lady Madelaine?”
“Well, I only just thought of Aunt Helen. And she only just returned to Court.”
“Excellent. Seek her out. Alone though. Aunt Helen will know what nettles the queen. She knows all the Court secrets.”
“I’m ahead of you for once. I requested to see Aunt Helen after she refreshes from her travels. I asked Lady Madelaine to meet me later in the hope I could impart some information that might help her or at least enlighten her.”
“You’ve a kind heart, poppet.”
She shook her head. “Not kind enough.” Her voice trembled. “Or I wouldn’t have been too afraid to befriend her. I feel so ashamed I’ve allowed her to be treated cruelly. How lonely she must be, friendless here at Court.”
That would probably make Grey’s intention of getting the lady into his bed easier, but somehow that seemed like little accomplishment to win a woman because she was desperate not to feel alone. Instead of feeling any lust, his blood stirred toward anger. “There’s no shame having been scared, but now you need to learn to be brave. It will serve you better.”
“As it serves you?”
She didn’t say their father’s name, and Grey was grateful for that. “Yes. As it serves me. Let’s go in now, so you can see Aunt Helen. She won’t mind you arriving early.”
“Do you want to come?”
“I have to see the king. But I’ll find you later and demand a full recounting.”
“Perhaps I’ll tell you.”
He grinned at his sister’s unusual show of backbone. “Name your price.”
“You must promise not to hurt Lady Madelaine. She’s been hurt enough by her treatment here at Court already.”
“You wound me, Liz. I swear to you, I have never hurt a single lady I give my attentions to.” He went to great pains to make sure his bed partners understood neither commitment nor love were part of what he offered.
His sister pursed her lips, but said nothing.
“Come on.” Grey tugged on Liz’s hand. “I need to go before I earn the king’s displeasure.”
Five
Madelaine couldn’t afford to be a fool. And if the tales she’d been listening to for the last two hours were true, Lord Grey was a man who wanted a willing wench in his bed and most definitely not a wife—therefore he was a man for fools. None of the ladies embroidering in the circle appeared to see the situation that way, but Madelaine did. The ladies giggled, whispered and placed wagers on who would win Lord Grey’s heart. Madelaine doubted any of them would.
Madelaine glanced at Lady Elizabeth. She was red-faced and tight-lipped, as she had been for the last hour. But she had not denied a single word about her brother. Finally the queen chimed in with a “tsk.” All grew blessedly silent as the queen stood and glanced around her ladies-in-waiting. “Young men have great appetites.”
As if that was an excuse for blatantly using women!
The queen’s gaze rested on Madelaine, and Madelaine forced herself to unclench her hands. “Lord Grey is a man of honor,” the queen said.
Madelaine quickly pretended to study her embroidery in case her thoughts showed on her face. She hardly saw how bedding hordes of women was honorable. Lord Grey sounded more like a depraved rake. Which made it all the more infuriating that she kept picturing his wintery eyes and radiant smile. She needed to forget him—not daydream about him. She already had Lord Thorton trying to lead her to ruin. She certainly didn’t need to add another rake to her troubles.
“Come, Lady Elizabeth. Help me prepare for dinner,” the queen commanded. The moment her bedchamber door shut, the chatter erupted again. Madelaine forced herself to sit through two more stories. That should be long enough no one would comment that she was rushing away the minute the queen departed.
