He dipped his head to her and walked out the door. When the door shut, her shoulders sagged. She wanted to run after him and assure him she’d wait for him, but how would she explain herself to his sister? She glanced at Elizabeth. Elizabeth stared back with a small smile. “If you go quickly down the garden path by Frogmore, you’ll catch him at the edge of the woods. He must go that way to get to our home. No one would see you there. But mind you, if you’re not back in fifteen minutes, I’ll wake Louisa and send her after you.”
Madelaine’s heart soared. “Thank you, Elizabeth! I vow I’ll pay you back this kindness.”
Elizabeth laughed. “You’ve no need to pay me back for anything. You’ve sat as nursemaid to me for weeks and helped bring me back from the dead. Grey told me he wants to court you, and he told me of your father’s refusal. Take heart, Madelaine. I’ve never known Grey not to get what he wants. I don’t know how he’ll do it, but I’ve no doubt he’ll bring your father around. Go now and wear my cloak, in case someone should see you.”
Madelaine threw on Elizabeth’s cloak and pulled the hood around her face. “I’ll return soon.” She raced out of the castle, taking care to avoid being seen by anyone. The brisk morning air burned her lungs. Ignoring the burn, she ran down the garden path, past Frogmore and toward the edge of the woods. Her slippers pounded against the hard dirt. She had to catch Grey before he was too far out of her reach. As she rounded the bend in the trail, she gasped as Grey disappeared into the thick woods.
“Grey!” she shouted, hoping if anyone happened to be near they would think it was his sister running after him. He whipped around in the saddle, a smile spreading across his face. Flying down the slope of the trail, the toe of her slipper hit a gnarled root that rose above the dirt. She almost tripped, but Grey was before her and pulled her into his strong embrace and into the cover of the woods.
“Madelaine.” His husky voice slid over her and made a deep ache bloom in the pit of her belly. He pushed her hood off her head. “It was foolish of you to come after me.
“Do you want me to go back?”
“The devil you say. I’m supremely glad you’re foolish.” He delved one gloved hand into her hair, twining around the strands and bringing her head close to his. Her heavy breathing filled her ears as he pulled off his other glove with his teeth and spit it to the ground. He slid his bare hand reverently over her cheek, sending sparks of desire through her entire body.
“I’m sorry.” He trailed his fingers gently down the exposed skin of her neck, then back up to her lips, her cheeks, her eyelids. He placed a kiss on each lid before his warm lips found hers and plundered her mouth. She was going to die from wanting him.
She slid her hands up his arms and trailed her fingers over the swell of muscle not even his heavy overcoat could disguise before resting her hand on the curve of his broad shoulder. She wanted to feel more of him. As their tongues met and receded, she ran her hands over the stubble of his beard and into his thick hair.
After a moment, he pulled back and stared at her. “I’m sorry I broke my vow.”
The fact that he didn’t look a bit sorry made her grin. “I’m not.”
He brushed a kiss across her lips before pulling her against his chest. Her head rested under his chin, the strong beat of his heart echoing in her ear. “I had made up my mind to demand you kiss me today.”
“Really?” He tipped her chin back, so she had to meet his eyes.
She nodded shyly.
“Thank God. I’ve ached to touch you. Damned stupid of me to promise not to.”
She grinned. “I wish one of us would have bent a little sooner.”
“What of your father?” Worry creased Grey’s brow.
Madelaine sighed. That was an excellent question. Guilt prickled at her. “He wrote me this morning and refused to come back to Court until the prince returns from abroad or if I’m in danger.”
Grey frowned, a look of consternation making the crease on his brow deepen. “It’s odd that he speaks of danger and waits to come back when Prinny does.”
Madelaine shrugged. It was odd. Father had done many strange things lately, but she had no answers, and he wasn’t forthcoming. Yet odd as it was, some of his actions did follow with his personality. “Father has always been overly concerned with my safety. It’s one of the reasons he taught me how to defend myself. He wanted to teach Mother as well, but she refused to learn. Besides that, who knows my father’s mind? Perhaps the king commands he speak with the prince on a sensitive matter.”
Grey’s frown deepened. “Perhaps. Is your father’s letter what changed your mind about my vow to you?”
She held his searching gaze. There had to be nothing but truth between them. She’d have none of the secrets her mother had always claimed her father kept from her. “His letter, my desire.” Her honest words brought a hot blush to her cheeks. Grey bent his head to kiss her again, but she stopped him. “And coming to know you better. You are honorable. He will have to see that and relent.” She expected her words to wipe away the creases of worry on his face, but if anything, his body grew rigid. “What is it?” she asked, her heartbeat skipping.
“What if he won’t grant me permission to wed you? What then? Would you elope with me?” Grey’s tone vibrated with worry.
A hiss of breath escaped her. Forget the worry. He’d just said wed her. Did he know he wanted to marry her? Could she disobey her father and elope with Grey? The scandal and heartbreak would hurt him terribly, and she’d already caused him so much pain by driving a wedge between him and Mother. Yet she was falling in love with Grey. She couldn’t imagine marrying anyone else. She had to be honest with him. “Grey, I—”
He pressed his fingers to her lips. “Don’t answer. I see what you intend to say in your sad eyes, and I admire you for your loyalty. It won’t come to a choice for you. I vow it. Your father will grant his blessing, one way or another.” Grey grasped her face in his hands and gave her a long, lingering kiss. “I’ll be back for you. I swear it.”
Her heart beat furiously as she let him go. She prayed her loyalty to her father didn’t cause her to lose Grey. He knew she was odd, and he didn’t care. In fact, he liked it. It seemed like a miracle. She couldn’t speak for fear that she’d beg him to come back soon. Be loyal. Not forget her. She had to be dignified. Didn’t she?
After he mounted his horse, he turned and waved. She watched him ride away, feeling as if he took a part of her with him. When he was out of sight, she forced herself to hurry back to the castle so Elizabeth wouldn’t come looking for her. Had he really said he’d come back for her and ask her if she would elope with him, if it came to that? His words made her smile, but something niggled at her. She went through their conversation again, analyzing their exchange. What on earth had Grey meant when he said her father would grant his blessing one way or the other? She’d have to ask him about his words next time she saw him.
Seventeen
Grey was exhausted, so when he rode up to his family home, he blinked with confusion. Why was black material hanging in every window? Surely that wasn’t mourning cloth. A terrible premonition twisted his gut. He’d lied to Liz and Madelaine when he’d said he wasn’t worried about his brother summoning him home. He’d been concerned. But his unease had been because he didn’t want to leave for France until he had things settled with Madelaine and her father.
