Blackthorne's Bride (29 page)

"Oh, no you won't."

But she was already scampering away. "Don't worry!" she called over her shoulder, chestnut ringlets bouncing down her back.

"Bloody hell." Jack downed one glass of champagne and looked for a place to set the other. He couldn't find a spot, so he downed that one, too. He could just see the top of Maddie's head as she reached the far corner of the room and embraced two women—one a tall brunette and one a thin redhead with a crop of curls.

He grabbed a footman, dropped the empty glasses on his tray, and stalked after Maddie. Obviously they needed to have another discussion about how she was not to leave his side. Or rather, he would have to lecture her again.

If he could reach her.

But the path that had cleared for Maddie swallowed him whole. Men and women surrounded him, stepping in his way and trying to engage him in inane conversation. Why the hell did they want to talk to him anyway? He sidestepped and parried but wasn't quick enough. The prince himself, metaphoric rapier raised for combat, stepped into Jack's path.

"Ah, Lord Blackthorne. You have been a naughty boy." The prince winked and his fleshy face jiggled with laughter.

Jack bowed. "Your Royal Highness. How kind of you to extend this invitation to my wife."

Prinny waved the lace handkerchief in his hand. "Castleigh's such an incredible bore. Apparently his daughter takes after another side of the family. Found yourself a wild one, have you?"

Jack clenched his hand, resisting the urge to punch the prince in the nose. "Our meeting was somewhat unconventional, but the lady—"

"Unconventional!" The prince gazed at the lackeys standing near him, and all burst into laughter. "Now, Blackthorne, I have heard stories about carriage chases, duels, and a muck-up at Gretna Green. You simply won't get away without revealing some details. The juicy ones, Blackthorne."

The prince's hand came down hard on Jack's shoulder, his muscles taut with apprehension. Where the devil was Maddie? He ground his teeth, "Your Royal Highness, I would love to regale you, but my wife—"

"Will wait." Prinny snapped his fingers, and the group surrounding him parted, revealing two thronelike chairs. Smiling, the prince squashed his considerable bulk into one and gestured to the other. His expression was resolute.

Jack gave one last fleeting look in the direction Maddie had fled, blew out a breath, and took his seat.

"Now," the prince began, "tell me everything."

* * * * *

"Catie! Josie!" Maddie rushed into her cousins' arms and the three spun around in happiness.

"Where have you been?" Josie cried.

"I was so worried about you!" Catie chided.

"Where's your husband?" Josie asked, looking about on tiptoes.

"And how dare you marry without us?"

Maddie, deluged by their questions, only laughed. It was so good to hear their voices again. It was so good to be wrapped in the flood of their friendship.

"How dare you marry at all," Josie added, giving the laughing Maddie a dubious look. "Poor Ashley will be the only one of our club left."

"Oh, I think it's safe to say that our little club is now quite defunct."

Catie and Josie stared at her. "Then all the rumors are true?" Josie asked. "I don't believe it."

Maddie glanced about her, decided there were too many people milling about, hoping to overhear, and grabbed her cousins' hands. She pulled them through the ornate room, through the French doors, and out onto the deserted balcony. After checking behind a potted plant nearby, she turned to them. "It's true. Ashley's married."

"Who?" Josie asked. "To Lord Nicholas?"

"Oh, Lord, what will Aunt Imogen say?" Catie asked.

Maddie sobered then, thinking about the conversation that afternoon with Ashley's mother. She'd sent a note to Imogen Brittany as soon as she'd arrived home, and this morning, after Jack retired with his man of affairs, Ashley's mother had called.

Understandably, her aunt was distraught over her daughter's absence. And when Maddie informed her of Ashley's marriage, the poor woman had gone pale. Almost as pale as Maddie's own mother, who called an hour later. Maddie had been forced to sit through a long lecture and then promise never to elope again. She was certain Ashley would have to do the same when her mother saw her.

If her mother saw her.

Maddie sighed and began filling her cousins in on the details of the elopement.

At the end of the story, Josie was laughing, but Catie's expression was strained. "The anvil priest really married the wrong couples?"

"Yes, and that was the last I saw of Ashley and Lord Nicholas."

"Oh, Ashley can take care of herself," Josie said confidently.

"I know, but I worry. Lord Blackthorne has hired investigators to locate them. We should have word of their whereabouts any day."

"I simply cannot fathom this," Catie said. "Don't misunderstand, I think the elopement worked out well for you, you obviously love Lord Blackthorne."

"Love Lord Blackthorne!" Maddie took a step back. "What are you talking about? I can barely stand the man."

Josie snorted. "That's a sure sign you love him. I want to kill Stephen almost daily. I'll probably do it one of these days."

Catie rolled her eyes.

"I saw that," Josie protested. "And don't pretend that Lord Valentine is perfect. Just last week you were railing because he hadn't moved from his desk and that stack of work for two days."

"Well, at least neither of your husbands tries to control you," Maddie said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Lord Blackthorne told me this morning that I'm only allowed to be actively involved with one charity." She held up a single finger to illustrate. "One."

Her cousins exchanged looks. "Actually, Maddie," Catie said carefully, "that's not such a bad idea."

"You really were trying to do too much," Josie said.

"Oh I was, was I? And what have you two done? Is that a new gown, Josie? Are those new diamond earrings, Catie? What about all the orphans who could have used that money?"

"You're right," Catie said. "We probably should try to help more."

"We should." Josie was trying hard to look contrite, but Maddie wasn't fooled. Her cousins were always attempting to escape from aiding with charitable endeavors. Josie said it was dull, and Catie could be shy with new people.

"I'm glad to hear you say that," Maddie said.

Catie narrowed her eyes at Maddie. "Why?"

"Because I've finally decided on my charity."

"What's that?" Josie stepped back and craned her neck, peering through the French doors. "I think Lord Westman needs me."

"Well, then he'll have to get in line behind His Royal Highness's Society for Invalid Veterans of Overseas Conflicts."

"Maddie, is that even a real organization?" Catie asked.

Maddie nodded. "Their founder sent me a heartbreaking note a week ago, and my mother brought it with the rest of my mail today. They need help with their annual fund-raiser and auction. I agreed to chair the event, and I need two co-chairs. You two have just been appointed."

* * * * *

While the prince laughed at one of his own jokes, Jack slipped behind an earl and a baron. Finally free, he glanced about for his wife. Every moment he was away from her, his chest grew tighter and his shoulders felt like they were being drawn together by a large fishhook.

He arrowed straight for the last place he'd seen Maddie, shooting a menacing look at anyone who stepped in his way.

"Damn," he swore when he reached the spot where he'd seen her standing and it was empty. The prince's ball was turning into a bloody inconvenient crush. He would never find her in the throng of bodies.

"Looking for someone?" The high-pitched voice came from behind him.

Whipping around, Jack found himself eye-to-eye with the Duke of Bleven.

"I know
I
am." The handsome man smiled, though no warmth penetrated his cold eyes.

Automatically, Jack allowed a mask of indifference to settle over his features. "If you're asking about my brother, I last saw him in Scotland several days ago. He could be anywhere by now."

"Ah, yes, Lord Nicholas," Bleven said, stroking the cleft in his chin. "I suppose I will have to deal with him later. But, of course, you know the person I was speaking of is your lovely wife. She and I have some unfinished business."

Jack clenched his jaw and forced himself to speak quietly. "If you have any business with my wife, you can take that up with me. I'll be more than happy to oblige you."

"Oh, but that wouldn't be any fun," Bleven said. His face twisted into an expression of exaggerated solicitousness. "I'd much rather spend my time with the lovely Madeleine."

Jack couldn't stop his rage from boiling over. He grabbed Bleven by the collar and hauled him up against the wall. The crowd surrounding them took a united step back, and Jack heard the hissing speculation.

"Blackthorne has Bleven by the neck."

"The duke will kill him."

"My money's on Blackthorne."

Bleven's eyes bulged out and his cheeks were red with indignation. Jack's face was inches from Bleven's, his voice little more than a whisper. "If you so much as touch her, you sadistic bastard, I'll kill you."

"Like you killed those men who had their fun with your mother?" Bleven's hoarse voice carried past Jack. There was a gasp from the crowd behind them, which made Bleven smile. He lowered his voice, speaking only to Jack. "They were my men, Blackthorne. Like you, I stood in the shadows and watched. I'd waited a long time for my revenge. I plotted and planned, and in the end it was sweet. So sweet."

Jack felt the bile rise in his throat, and his fist itched to smash into Bleven's face. "I'm going to kill you for what you did," he spat.

"Oh, promises, promises. Now allow me to make you one. You and your brother have insulted me for the last time, and you will pay. And I know just the currency—that pretty new marchioness."

Jack slammed the duke back hard against the wall again. "Goddamn it, Bleven. Stay away from my wife."

Bleven sneered. "Keep looking over your shoulder, Blackthorne, if it makes you feel better. But when I come for her, you won't be able to stop me.

"Step outside with me," Jack said between clenched teeth. "I'll stop you."

"How? Are you going to cry again, little coward boy?"

Jack knew what Bleven was doing, knew the other man was trying to goad him into making a scene or—worse—make him so angry that he forgot what was truly important: Maddie.

Exercising all of his willpower, Jack unclenched his fists from around Bleven's collar and lowered the duke to the floor. "I will protect what's mine," he hissed. "I'll come for you, Bleven. Don't ever doubt that."

He stepped back and swung toward the crowd, scanning it for Maddie. Instead, he felt a hundred eyes on him.

"That's it, then!" A tall, dark-haired man stepped out from the sea of faces. "Nothing to see here. I think I heard his Royal Highness announce dinner was being served in the Circular Room. Right through there."

The crowd reluctantly began to disperse, and the man, who looked somewhat familiar, held his hand out to Jack. "Quint Childers, the Earl of Valentine."

Jack took his hand absently, still looking for Maddie. He had to find her. "John Martingale, Marquess—"

"I know who you are, my lord. And I suppose I have the advantage because I also know where your wife is."

Jack gripped Valentine's hand hard. "Where is she? Is she safe?"

"She's fine. She's with her cousins on the balcony."

Jack nodded, starting in that direction. "And how do you know this?"

"I'm married to Lady Madeleine's cousin—excuse me, she's Lady Blackthorne's cousin now. I'm married to Catherine, Lady Valentine."

"I see."

"You don't have to rush. Lord Westman is keeping an eye on them."

"Westman?" Jack gave Valentine a skeptical look.

"He's married to your wife's other cousin, Josephine. When Castleigh told us you'd rubbed Bleven the wrong way, we decided we'd better keep an eye on all the girls. You never know when or how the Black Duke will attack."

They'd reached the French doors, and through the glass Jack could see Maddie laughing with the two women from before. He felt the pinch in his shoulders lessen and the constriction around his chest give way. He turned back to Valentine. "It sounds like you've dealt with Bleven before."

"Only in Parliament. But I've heard what he's capable of."

Jack reached for the French doors, but Valentine's hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"Blackthorne, just in case you need it spelled out, we love Maddie, too. You don't have to protect her alone."

Jack nodded his assent, but he knew, in the end, saving her would fall to him.

And this time he wouldn't fail.

"Jack," Maddie said, smiling. "I have to get out of bed. My cousins will be here soon."