Page 46 of Bound to a Wicked Duke

“I took a sudden turn,” Emily groaned, holding her abdomen. “All is well; I am sure of it. Something I ate did not agree with me, but it is passing now.”

Madeleine eyed her carefully. She was pale, and trembling from the severity of her retching but did not seem ill otherwise.

“I will get you some water,” she offered. “Stay there.”

Getting off of her knees, Madeleine hurried over to a pitcher on a side table and poured her sister a glass of water.

Emily whispered her thanks as she took it quickly and washed her mouth out.

“My apologies,” she sighed then drew in a deep breath before she closed her eyes to the nausea.

“You have no need to apologize to me, pet,” Madeleine soothed, taking the empty glass away.

She then noticed that beads of perspiration had started to form along Emily’s hairline, so she went to the washstand, picked up a cloth, dunked and rang it, and pressed it to her sister’s forehead.

Emily let out a whimper of gratitude as the cool cloth soothed her burning head, and Madeleine took on her sister’s weight as she leaned toward her. She was not sure what was wrong with her dear older sister, but Madeleine did not like it one bit.

“Do not worry about the party or your guests; you have been a most gracious host to one and all,” she continued with her comforting words. “Do not give it another thought. Rest and recover for the night. Mama and I will tend to everything.”

“You are an angel,” Emily sighed, taking Madeleine’s outstretched hands.

She helped Emily off of the floor and over to the bed. Once she had her seated, Madeleine pulled a clean, white linen gown from her closet and came back to help her change. Once Emily was settled back against the pillows, she went to go find their mother, but Emily called out to her.

“Wait, sister. You wished to speak to me, yes?” Emily asked. “That is why you came searching for me?”

For a moment, Madeleine contemplated lying, but instead, she shook her head and admitted, “I was avoiding Percy.”

“Why?” Emily’s face showed confusion. “I thought that you were courting. Have you changed your mind about him?”

Madeleine shook her head. “No. My conversation with Cecil yesterday reminded me that I have not fully forgiven Percy. He still calls me by the nickname that he gave me when we were children.”

“Bacon Face?” Emily questioned. “I thought Cecil gave you that name?”

Madeleine shook her head. “No, not Bacon Face. Percy calls me Monkey.”

Emily looked at her with a confused look on her face. “Monkeys areadorablecreatures. Why would that bother you? It sounds like a loving endearment to me.”

Madeleine sighed. “Monkey in Cant is a large amount of money, five hundred pounds to be exact. A large number of pounds…” Madeleine let her explanation hang in the air between them, gesturing towards her own body.

Emily’s brow furrowed. “Surely that is not his meaning,” she argued in disagreement. “Have you asked him about it? Have you told him how it makes you feel?”

“I have not,” Madeleine admitted. “I thought that I could move on from it, but he still calls me by that name. He just did so but a few moments ago. Sometimes he uses it in public, as he did today, where others can hear him. It is humiliating.”

“I think that you should speak with him, Madeleine. It is clear to all with eyes that he cares for you. He would not wish to offend you intentionally. I believe that if you share your feelings with him, he will respect that you did so.”

Emily looked as if she wanted to say something more, and when she didn’t, Madeleine gave her an expectant look.

“I… do not mean to negate your feelings, sister. But I do not believe that the name Monkey, in relation to you, means what you think it does.”

Madeleine sat for a moment thinking about Emily’s suggestion. She had never considered it from the perspective of a loving endearment. In the childhood context by which she had gained the name, it most certainly had felt as if it were referring to her weight at the time. If he had meant it another way, in anendearing way, then she had held anger in her heart for years without cause. The notion was daunting. If she were to let go of her anger toward him, she feared that it would open the flood gates, drowning her in all of the desire that she had been feeling for him. Her anger was her only shield against him. She could not release it without damning herself.

“Are you well?” Emily asked, her face showing concern. “You have gone quite pale.”

She then grimaced as she leaned further back into her pillows.

“Oh, dear, I hope I have not given you whatever it is that has befallen me.”

Madeleine let out a weak laugh, shaking her head.

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