Page 20 of Bound to a Wicked Duke

“Greyhall, Cecil.” The Earl motioned for Percy and Cecil to join him, and all three men left the ladies so they could discuss business.

Panicked that her mother might resume her questioning, Madeleine took a quick look around and nearly sighed aloud when she spotted her older sister, Emily, standing close by with a group of other ladies cloistered by her father’s associates.

“Oh, Mama, look!” she said excitedly. “There is Emily. Let us go say hello, yes?”

Madeleine’s mother spotted Emily, the elder of the Gillett daughters, in a group of ladies, mostly the wives of the Earl’s business associates. The Countess smiled as she agreed, and she and Madeleine ventured over to join them. Madeleine recognized most of the women in the group, and they all exchanged warm pleasantries, but there was one blonde haired, blue eyed young woman that she did not know.

“Miss Madeleine Gillett, daughter to the Earl of Stonefield, is it not?” the young woman asked approaching her with a kind smile.

“I am indeed,” Madeleine agreed with surprise. It was not often she was recognized by strangers. “Though I am afraid you have me at a disadvantage,” she continued, returning the woman’s smile.

“Lady Laura Knight, daughter of the Earl of Barglens.” Lady Laura and Madeleine exchanged curtsies. “I thought since we were both the daughters of earls that we ought to get to know one another. I am honestly surprised that we have not met before now.”

“As am I, but it is a splendid idea all the same,” Madeleine agreed. “My family and I spend most of our time at our country estate in Oxfordshire. It is entirely possible that we have never had the opportunity to meet before last season.”

Laura nodded, as if that was surely the reason.

“I am considering purchasing some iced cream to soothe this dreadful heat from that vendor over there,” Laura explained, pointing to the small cart just on the other side of the nearby canal bridge. “Would you join me? It would be my treat.”

Liking the woman already, Madeleine’s smile grew brighter, and she nodded.

“I would be delighted,” she replied then whispered quickly to her mother to explain.

A moment later, the two women fell in step beside one another as they walked away from their group. As they walked along the edge of the canal, Madeleine took the opportunity to study her new friend’s face. She was beautiful. Almost breathtaking so with her spun gold hair and nearly turquoise eyes. She then glanced down at Laura’s left hand, feeling surprised once again that she did not see a ring on her finger. How was someone so elegantly beautiful still unmarried?

“Did I see you earlier with the Duke of Greyhall?” Lady Laura asked.

Her question broke through their pleasant silence, the subject and suddenness of it startling Madeleine almost to the point that she nearly jumped.

“Indeed,” Madeleine replied, quickly recovering. “It is… new, but we have begun courting.”

Now was as good as time as any to start spreading the rumor herself, and if she was in luck, her new friend would take the morsel of gossip and spread it around with vehemence.

“Do you know him?” she asked, hoping to further the conversation.

Thought it fled as quickly as it came, Madeleine caught the look of sadness in Laura’s eyes.

“Our fathers were friends,” Lady Laura explained. “I was saddened to hear of the elder duke’s passing.”

Madeleine patted the young woman’s hand in sympathy, now understanding the brief look.

“The current Duke of Greyhall has lost much,” she agreed solemnly. “I pray you have not been as equally unlucky as him. Your father is still with us, I hope?”

“My father, yes,” was her only reply.

It seemed as if Laura was not finished with what she was trying to say, but Madeleine saw movement out of the corner of her eye and turned to see Percy walking towards them. She smiled and turned back to speak with Lady Laura to alert her of theirincoming company, only to find that the young woman had left her side and had doubled back to the group of ladies.

“Monkey,” Percy greeted, his brow creased with concern. “I thought I saw you walking with Lady Laura Knight, the Earl of Barglens’ daughter. Do you know her?”

Madeleine shook her head then turned her gaze to where Laura now stood.

“We only just met. She was just saying how sad she was to hear of your father’s passing, and then she was gone. Most peculiar behavior to simply walk away without bidding me farewell. I only turned away for but a moment.”

“She is a peculiar woman,” Percy stated, his tone tense.

“Peculiar or not, she raised my hopes for an iced cream only to dash them,” she muttered in displeasure. “I was looking forward to that.”

At this, Percy let out a loud laugh then made a motion to her brother and father, as if signaling his intentions.

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