Page 49 of Bound to a Wicked Duke

Lips pressed together in a smile, Madeleine nodded as he let her go and walked back around the desk.

“Now, go on upstairs and get ready,” he told her. “The opera house deserves the best from all of us.”

“Yes, Papa, of course,” she replied readily.

Pleased with his world, her father went back to work, and Madeleine left him to it. Ascending the stairs, she went toinform Lucy that she would be in need of a bath and her best opera dress. As usual, Lucy did not fail her. The moment that Madeleine told her of her plans, Lucy disappeared into an adjoining room and reemerged with the most exquisite dress of a pale blue-green and gold brocade. The effect was oceanic.

Madeleine smiled broadly. “That will do.”

Lucy grinned and set to work preparing Madeleine for the opera.

When the carriage pulled up in front of the opera house, Percy was standing on the steps waiting for them. He was as dashing as ever. When the carriage came to a stop, Percy did not wait for the footman but opened the door himself. He extended his hand to aid Madeleine out of the carriage. As she moved into the lantern’s light, Percy’s eyes widened in awe at her appearance. The moment did not last as he shuttered his thoughts quickly and dropped her hand without kissing it as he once might have. Something had shifted between them. Madeleine could feel it.

As he turned his attention toward her Father, Percy caught the look of concern in Madeleine’s eyes. Her gaze immediately called for him to give her the attention she deserved—the attention he wanted to give her—but he steeled himself further and gave his attention to the patriarch.

“Greyhall,” Madeleine’s father emerged from the carriage and greeted Percy.

“Stonefield,” Percy returned the greeting. He stepped aside to make room for the Earl between them then accepted the familial but quick pat on the back.

For a moment, the Earl looked at him expectantly, as if waiting for him to take Madeleine’s arm and escort her in. When he did not, the Earl asked, “Are you well, Greyhall? It seems everyone is not quite themselves this evening. Even Madeleine here appeared a bit disoriented today.”

“Perfectly well,” Percy forced himself to say then waved a hand toward the grand steps of the opera house, “though I did hear of Emily’s condition. I pray for a swift recovery.”

The Earl studied him a moment longer as if not believing him, but Percy doubled down on his lie and offered a charming smile.

“We do appreciate that,” the Earl replied after a fashion, giving him a nod. He then offered his arm to his daughter as Percy should have done which made a knot form in Percy’s stomach. “Shall we?”

“Indeed,” Madeleine answered with a wide smile, taking her father’s arm. Percy followed close behind.

The smile was fake; Percy knew it right away, but he was so relieved to be moving forward that he did not dwell on it, even if it did make every nerve in his body protest the distance between them.

They entered the opera house to the din of the English ton excitedly chattering in anticipation for the evening’s entertainment. The performance was to be an Italian work by Gioachino Rossini entitledLa Cambiale di Matrimonio,a comic opera that had been released the year before.

“Stonefield!” a voice boomed just as they were about to walk into Percy’s box.

The three of them turned, and the Earl’s face filled with joy as he looked on to the fellow that had called his name.

“Howard? Good god, man, it’s been an age!”

The Earl quickly turned back to Percy and Madeleine, offering them an apologetic smile.

“You two go on; I shall join shortly. Allow me a few moments with this rouser.”

Percy stiffened as the Earl then walked to the gentleman who had called him over, leaving Percy alone with his greatest temptation.

“He may be a moment,” Madeleine said at his side, her voice immediately sending pleasure running from his ears to his groin. “Perhaps we should go ahead and take our seats?”

“Indeed,” Percy choked out. He forced himself to look down at her and was once again left breathless by how beautiful shelooked. With effort, he took her arm, ignoring the pleasure that scattered throughout his veins as they made contact, and escorted her to their seats.

The dim lights of the theatre, and the separation of the Duke’s private box from the throng of humanity, allowed for a brief moment of privacy. Madeleine leaned over and whispered into Percy’s ear. He had been stiff from the moment that she had stepped out of the carriage, and she wished to know why. It was not good for the effectiveness of their ruse, and he knew it.

“What is wrong?” she whispered. “You are acting as though you do not wish to be here with me.”

He shook his head. “All is well. You are imagining things.”

This only served to irritate Madeleine more. As her father was present, she chose not to argue with him. It was not as if they were actually courting, so in truth, it did not matter how he felt about her. She should have been relieved that he was not taking their passionate encounter too seriously, but instead, she was disappointed.

A loud sound filled the theatre, startling Madeleine. In reflex, she reached out and grabbed Percy’s hand for reassurance. After his behavior outside, she had expected him to shake her off, but instead, Percy turned her hand over in his and rubbed the inside of her wrist with his thumb in an effort to calm her. He leanedover and whispered in her ear, “It was naught but a piece of the scenery falling over. Fear not, my dear Madeleine.”

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