Page 48 of Bound to a Wicked Duke

“Be careful how you tempt me, Madeleine,” he warned, his voice barely above a growl. “Some offers are too sweet to refuse.”

As he let go and walked away from her, Madeleine wondered if she even wanted him to refuse.

Madeleine did not see Percy for several days after the garden party. She was certain that he was keeping his distance from her. Suitors came and went, but none of them were the man that she was supposedly courting. It did not look loving or attentive, and Madeleine feared that her brother was beginning to suspect something as he had begun to make comments about Percy’s absence.

In an effort to avoid further suspicion, Madeleine sent Percy a missive to meet her at the opera that evening. She had planned to go with Emily and the Viscount, but they had bowed out due to Emily still feeling unwell. Her sister’s life was not in danger. Madeleine had made certain of that by interrogating Dr. Moberly when he had visited after the garden party, but that was all that he would say on the matter.

After sending her missive to Percy, Madeleine went in search of her father to inform him that she planned to attend the opera after all. She found him in the study, poring over his financial books and ledgers. Letters from their steward were scattered across the top of the desk. “Is all well, Father?”

Her father looked up with a smile. “Everything is splendid! Your brother and Mr. Stuart have achieved many things of benefit to our family’s advantage. I am quite pleased.”

Madeleine smiled at seeing his joy. “That is wonderful, Father. I am pleased to hear it.”

“Indeed, indeed,” her father removed his glasses and studied her face. “Does something concern you, my dear?”

Madeleine shook her head. “I have decided to attend the opera with the Duke of Greyhall.”

Her father nodded in approval. “I shall have a missive sent to your mother to inform her of your plans. She has been with your sister, Emily, this morning. I am not certain if she will be returning in time to be your chaperone for the event. Perhaps I shall go with you in her place. I would not mind conversing with the Duke about our mutual success.”

Madeleine did not mind his attendance as it would reinforce her and Percy’s relationship in her father’s mind. “That would be lovely.”

“You know, my darling,” her father went on with a chuckle, “I must say, this was not how I expected your second season to go. With how abhorrent the first had turned out…” he paused, shaking his head as if he were dispelling a bad memory, “well, I am just thankful that Percival returned to us. He has not only elevated your brother’s spirit but obviously yours as well.”

Madeleine stiffened, despite her father’s cordial tone and offer of compliment.

“How so?” she asked, attempting to sound off-handed.

“Well, last year, you seemed to run the young suitors off so quickly,” her father explained. “While I am not sure how you did so, nor do I want to know, it is obvious that your approach to finding a husband has changed since Percy began courting you. Your patience has improved greatly, it seems.

“I do not want to alarm you, my dear, but for a moment, your mother and I feared you were doomed for spinsterhood. We are elated that this is no longer the case.”

Madeleine felt her cheeks bloom with heat, and she suddenly wished for her fan. Sweat pricked at her brow, and her high-necked gown at once felt more like a noose than a collar as she thought of what the end of her and Percy’s little scheme would do to her parents. They would be destroyed by this lie of hers. Utterly and completely.

“Madeleine, my dear, are you sure that you are well?” her father asked, his brow furrowing as he rose from his chair. “You appear flushed. I pray you have not fallen to the same illness as Emily.”

“No, Papa,” Madeleine stammered out quickly, giving him a reassuring smile.

“Then what is it, hm?” he asked, his brow furrowing with concern. “Your brother’s jests of your weight still bother you, is that it? I was told of Emily’s interference the other morning.”

While it was not the current truth she was struggling with, it was a truth that she could respond to, and so she chose to cling to it.

“Yes,” she managed to get out. “It is still… strange… for me to not be the center of mockery. I suppose I am still waiting for the joke to be played on me.”

It was no lie. That fear still clung to her at every call she received, like a ghoul that never ceased to haunt her. She could not allow herself to believe that she was wanted or beautiful, for if she did, she knew what would come next—the shame of being another butt of a joke, Just as she had always been.

“You are no joke, my love,” her father said. The graveness in his tone took Madeleine by surprise, and she genuinely looked up at her father in consternation.

He came around his desk and in a rare show of affection, pulled her into his arms for a hug.

“You are beautiful and witty and a true gift,” he told her.

“Papa,” Madeleine whispered, feeling emotion well up in her throat.

“While I do hope it is Percy you share these talents with,” he went on, “any man worth his own salt would be honored to have a woman like you. You have the freedom of choice now as you had wanted. I only want you to choose what makes you happy.”

Though she tried not to allow it, tears fell trickled onto her cheeks at her father’s love. She had not known… all this time, she had not known that that was how her father saw her. Not as a fat, ugly cow that needed to be sold to the first farmer that would take her, but as a beloved daughter worthy of being loved for who she was.

“There, there, darling, none of that,” her father cajoled, pushing her away to pat her cheek warmly.

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