To Tame a Dangerous Lord (43 page)

Her heart was a leaden weight in her chest—a weight that only increased when she glanced over her shoulder and recognized the barouche bowling down the drive behind her gig.

Apparently the dowager Countess of Haviland had come to call again at Riverwood.

“Wonderful,” Madeline muttered, inwardly wincing. “Her visit will doubtless cap my misery to perfection,
Maman
.”

She drove the gig around the manor to the stables, where she turned the vehicle over to a groom. Then, reluctantly, she entered the house and found Bramsley at the front door, admitting the dowager to the entrance hall.

The elderly noblewoman’s lips pinched when she caught sight of Madeline.

Madeline, however, forced herself to curtsy politely upon reaching her visitor. “My lady, welcome to Riverwood.”

Lady Haviland’s expression only darkened. “I wish to speak to you in private, Miss Ellis.”

Madeline winced again at the mistaken form of address. Evidently Rayne’s grandmother refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of her marriage. “May Bramsley take your bonnet first? Or offer you refreshment?”

“No, he may not. I shan’t be staying. Please conduct me to a parlor at once.”

After shedding her own bonnet and pelisse and turning them over to Bramsley, Madeline obeyed Lady Haviland’s command, all the while gritting her teeth.

As expected, her ladyship refused a seat when it was offered. Instead, she launched into speech as soon as the door was shut behind them.

“I shall come directly to the point, Miss Ellis. What sum would convince you to leave England for good?”

Madeline stared. She had braced herself for some form of attack, but not this utterly unexpected question.

Lady Haviland continued brusquely. “I am prepared to offer you a small fortune if you will relocate to the Continent or any other country outside of Britain.”

“Why would you make me such an offer?” she asked in bewilderment.

“So that my grandson’s unacceptable marriage can be annulled and he can begin anew with a more suitable choice of brides.”

Madeline felt her heart jolt. When she remained speechless with dismay, her visitor expounded.

“Haviland regrets wedding you and wishes to dissolve your union, but he is too honorable to seek an annulment.”

“But you are not?” Madeline retorted reflexively.

The countess’s mouth tightened. “I want what is best for my grandson. He has come to realize his mistake in marrying you, and I have the wherewithal to resolve his problem. I will give you fifty thousand pounds if you agree to disappear from his life, Miss Ellis. After a proper interval, Haviland can have the marriage annulled and find a countess who befits his noble station.”

He has come to realize his mistake in marrying you
. The words tore through Madeline.

Shaken, she moved over to the settee and sank down. Rayne’s grandmother was bribing her to leave his life for good?

Her hand stole to her heart as she stared blindly down at the Aubusson carpet. She only vaguely heard the dowager speaking again.

“I warn you, Miss Ellis,” her ladyship was saying, “if you refuse, Haviland will not see a penny of my fortune, and neither will you.” Receiving no reply, the noblewoman sniffed. “I suppose I cannot blame you for wishing to improve your lot in life by snaring my grandson, but this is your chance to do even better. It should prove little hardship for you to move on to more vulnerable prey, since you only married Haviland for the lure of my wealth.”

Madeline raised her gaze in protest. “I did
not
wed him in anticipation of his inheriting your fortune.”

Lady Haviland gave her a haughty glance. “I beg to
differ. I know your kind, girl. You are nothing but a greedy, social-climbing upstart.”

Stiffening, she shook her head. “You know nothing about me, my lady. I wed Rayne because I came to love him.”

The dowager made a derisive sound. “That is a bald-faced lie if I have ever heard one. You could not possibly fall in love in so short a time.”

But I did
, Madeline thought despairingly.
To my great regret
.

She didn’t want to give Rayne’s grandmother the satisfaction of seeing her pain, however, so aloud she said dismissively, “I will consider your offer, Lady Haviland. Now I will thank you to leave.”

Not accepting so easy a victory, the dowager eyed her with a dubious scowl. “I wish to have your answer now.”

“I am sure you do, but I am not prepared to give it just yet.”

“Fifty thousand pounds is an enormous sum, Miss Ellis.”

“A hundred times that amount would not elicit my decision any sooner.”

Thankfully, Lady Haviland backed down, albeit grudgingly. “Very well. But I expect to hear from you shortly.” Turning abruptly, she regally whisked herself from the parlor.

The encounter left Madeline reeling. She couldn’t breathe for the crushing weight in her chest. Her world was crashing down around her. Rayne wanted to annul their marriage and was willing to pay her for the chance to do so.

The thought of ending their marriage, of uprooting
her entire life and abandoning all that remained of her dreams, of leaving Rayne so that he could wed some other socially acceptable lady…. Dear God.

She could believe that Rayne regretted marrying her, especially after their clashes during the past few days. But understanding his perspective didn’t make it any less excruciating.

She felt raw inside, stricken with a horrible emptiness.

Oh, why had she ever succumbed to Rayne’s seductive proposals? Enduring a lonely spinster existence would have been far better than this anguish.

She couldn’t bear to leave him. How could she when she was so desperately in love with him? Yet perhaps, Madeline thought bleakly, it would be best for Rayne if she accepted his grandmother’s offer.

Should she give him his freedom? Could she make such a sacrifice for his sake?

Just then Bramsley tapped gingerly on the parlor door. When Madeline looked up blindly, concern wreathed the majordomo’s features. “Are you unwell, my lady?”

Madeline swallowed. Her throat ached from the force of her refusal to give in to weeping, yet she temporarily won the struggle. “No, I am not unwell. What is it, Bramsley?”

“Mr. Lunsford has called and wishes to know if you are at home to him.”

“Pray tell him that Lord Haviland is in London.”

“Mr. Lunsford specifically asked for
you
, my lady.”

Before Madeline could answer, Freddie came sauntering into the parlor. She shut her eyes momentarily, wishing she didn’t have to deal with him just now.

“That will be all for the moment, Bramsley, thank
you,” she said as her latest visitor flung himself into a chair without ceremony.

“I say,” Freddie greeted her, “was that Lady Haviland’s carriage I passed?”

“Yes,” Madeline answered dully, feeling hopelessly dismal.

“What did she want?”

It was just like Freddie to be so ragmannered, but Madeline barely registered the infraction. “It doesn’t matter. Why are you here, Freddie?”

“I’ve come to beg a favor of you.”

She frowned at him. “Are you in another fix? If so, you should apply to Rayne—but he is not here at present. He is in London.”

“Don’t I know it,” Freddie said peevishly. “Some sort of hush-hush spy business, I collect. But no, I am
not
in a fix this time … for once. I learned my lesson with the last debacle. I am keeping well away from scheming widows.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I hoped you might put in a good word for me with a young lady I have my eye on.”

Madeline’s eyebrow rose. “You are interested in a young lady?”

“Yes, but it is all quite proper. Miss Merrywether is the sort of female whom even my stickler father would approve of. And she has the loveliest smile—enough to make a chap go dizzy. But she says her mama would not allow her to further our association, since I have developed a rakish reputation. Me, a rake! It is quite unfair, since I don’t hold a candle to the true rakes of the Beau Monde. Besides, I have become rehabilitated. I’ve given
up any thoughts of debauchery and fun under pain of being disinherited.”

Madeline was growing dizzy herself with Freddie’s meandering commentary. “So how can I help you?”

“You could improve my suit if you would sing my praises to Miss Merrywether and her mama. They will take special note of your opinion, you being a countess and all.”

“But I may not be a countess for much longer,” Madeline said morosely.

His expression arresting, Freddie sat up. “What the devil do you mean?”

Madeline shuddered as she recalled the dark dilemma she was facing. “Never mind. But I am afraid I cannot help you just now.”

“Why not?”

“Freddie, please—just leave me alone.”

“My, you are viperish today.”

Raising a hand to her temple, Madeline grimaced at his complaint, knowing she had no right to take her despairing mood out on him.

“What is it, Madeline?” he pressed. “Do you have the megrims?”

She sighed. “No, it is nothing like that. I beg your pardon, Freddie. I am just poor company today.”

His gaze turned somber. “Why don’t you tell me what has you so blue-deviled?”

“It would not make any difference.”

“How do you know unless you try? I can be a good listener if I truly put my mind to it. And you look as if you could use a friend just now.”

Madeline debated a long moment before deciding that
Freddie was right. She badly needed a friend, given her current emotional state—her mind spinning with turmoil, her chest aching with grief and anger.

“Very well, I will tell you,” she murmured before spilling out the truth in a rush. “Lady Haviland offered me fifty thousand pounds if I would leave England and disappear from Rayne’s life so he could secure an annulment and marry someone more suitable. And I don’t know what to do,” she finished miserably.

Freddie’s eyes widened with shock.
“Fifty thousand pounds?
Why, that is a king’s ransom.”

“I know,” Madeline agreed.

“But of course you will not accept.”

“No? Why should I not? Lady Haviland said that Rayne now realizes his mistake in marrying me. I don’t want to remain his wife if he doesn’t want me.”

Freddie’s brow furrowed in thought. “And you trust that old bat’s word? Maybe Rayne does
not
want you, but I can’t credit that he would send his grandmama to do his dirty deeds for him and buy you off with a bribe. It was likely Lady Haviland’s idea entirely.”

“Even so, perhaps it is best if I accept her offer.”

Shaking his head, Freddie rose and began pacing the floor. “You should not be so hasty, Madeline. You are not nearly as unsuitable as Lady Haviland claims.”

She appreciated his indignation on her behalf, but Freddie was hardly a good judge of the ton’s standards.

He didn’t allow her time to reply, however. “
I
think you make Rayne an admirable countess. I have thought so from the first. In fact, I was the one who encouraged him to propose to you.”

“You were?”

“Yes, indeed. I knew he needed a wife in order to sire
an heir, and you seemed a good choice. Even if you are no beauty, a man can be comfortable with you.” Freddie paused in his pacing to eye her. “Although you
do
seem to have improved in looks of late.”

Madeline flinched at his backhanded compliment. “I hoped Rayne would come to love me someday,” she said in a small voice.

He made a dismissive sound. “I don’t know if that is possible, considering the way his heart was broken.”

She stilled. “What do you mean, his heart was broken?”

Freddie halted altogether to look at her. “I do not really know the details. I only heard that Rayne had a tragic love affair with a Frenchwoman many years ago. Much more tragic than anything
I
ever suffered. But if the rumors of a shattered affair are true, you cannot expect Rayne to recover quickly.”

“You said it happened years ago.”

“So I heard, but I could be mistaken. Besides, love is not all it is cracked up to be, Madeline.
I
know. I have been in love countless times—and I am almost ready to give it up altogether.”

She couldn’t help a shaky laugh. “I cannot imagine you giving up on love, Freddie.”

He grinned at her. “No, I don’t suppose I could, either.” Then he sobered. “You should not make any hasty decisions,” he repeated, “particularly when you are feeling so low. If you ask me, you should give Rayne a chance to fall in love with you if he can.”

“I have tried,” Madeline admitted. “But my efforts have had no effect. On the contrary, they seem to have made matters between us even worse.”

“Perhaps you just need to give him more time.”

“How much more time?”

“How should I know? I am obviously no expert on love. But I cannot believe you would be vanquished so easily. Do you mean to give in to Lady Haviland without a fight? Honestly, I thought better of you, Madeline.”

Freddie had a point, she realized, straightening her spine. She at least needed to drum up the courage to confront Rayne, even though she wasn’t sure what good it would do her. If he truly wanted to dissolve their marriage, there was likely nothing she could say to change his mind.

Feeling that hollow, crushing ache flood her again, Madeline pressed a hand to her stomach. She hadn’t known she was capable of feeling such emptiness.

Still…. Despite what his disdainful grandmother thought of her, she was indeed worthy of him, and of being his countess.

Squaring her shoulders, Madeline set her jaw. If Rayne wanted their union annulled, he would have to tell her so to her face.

She stood abruptly.

“What do you mean to do?” Freddie asked.

“I am going to London to speak to Rayne.”

“You cannot. He is hip-deep in spy matters, remember?”

Madeline sank back down, frustration and despair warring inside her. Again Freddie was right. At this very moment Rayne was probably attempting to stop the assassination of England’s Prince Regent. She at least needed to wait to confront him until he concluded his mission. The future of her marriage might be of vital import
to
her
, but it did not quite trump the fate of the country or the Regent’s very life.