Page 53 of Bound to a Wicked Duke

Cecil sighed and set his book down. “Miss Francis Rosiland Belmont was indeed Percy’s betrothed, but he did not love her,not romantically. She was his father’s choice. When Percy’s father died, he felt that he needed to honor his father’s wishes and wed the lady of the elder duke’s choice. When he proposed, they both understood it for what it was, and they became friends. That is all that was between them.”

“A woman who spends her last moments of life attempting to reach her betrothed’s side sounds like love to me, brother,” Madeleine replied doubtfully.

“Percy does not know why she was attempting to reach his estate. She could have simply sent for him via messenger if she needed to speak with him. She was too ill to walk by herself at that time and should not have been out on the roads. Unfortunately, we will never know the truth. Her carriage driver died along with her.”

Madeleine shook her head doubtfully. “It does not feel as simple as a friendship to me. It is said that after her death, the Duke fled the country.”

“If Francis loved Percy, it was one sided. Believe me on that, sister. Even if you believe nothing else, please know that Percy had nothing to do with her death. He left England because of the weight of guilt and confusion surrounding Francis’s death and the grief he felt over the loss of his father. You must remember how much he had suffered losing his parents as he did.”

“I know,” Madeleine said, suddenly guilty for asking, but she had gone this far, so she thought that she might as well carry through to the end of her inquiry. “I have heard rumors of a curse. Peopleare saying that he is cursed because of these deaths or that his curse caused them.”

Anger flared in Cecil’s eyes at the thought of people speaking ill of his friend in such a manner. “I do not believe that Percy is cursed, but he does believe it. He believes that anyone he loves will die.”

Understanding dawned in Madeleine’s mind. “Is that why you have not been happy about our courtship?”

Percy nodded. “I do not believe in the curse, but you are my sister, and I cannot take any chances with your safety. I love you too much to risk your life.”

Madeleine nodded in understanding. She did not believe in the curse either, but she could understand her brother’s reservations. It meant a lot to her that he loved her so much and had been trying to protect her the best that he could. “Thank you for your honesty.”

Cecil nodded. “It is a relief to finally be able to speak with you on the matter. It has been a strain to keep it all to myself.”

Madeleine nodded. “I understand your desire to protect me, but it sounds as though we need to be offering him our support, not causing him further conflict.”

Cecil met her eyes with pride and respect. “You are wise beyond your years, my dear sister. You put me to shame.”

Madeleine shook her head. “I have not always been kind to him as perhaps I should have been.”

“Then, from this moment forward, let us both endeavor to be better friends,” Cecil proposed with feeling.

“Agreed.” Madeleine nodded. She rose from her chair. “I will go and write him a letter inviting him to accompany us to the ball at the Chesterfield’s.”

“That sounds like a splendid idea,” Cecil agreed with a smile.

Madeleine retired to her room to write her letter in private. She had realized while speaking with Cecil that her ruse may have caused Percy further difficulty in his life, and she wished to free him from their agreement. She prayed that their arrangement had not already caused him too much pain.

When Percy received Madeleine’s letter, he was surprised at how it made him feel. She had released him from their arrangement. He knew that they could not keep up the pretense forever. Eventually, she would have to find a suitable match whether she wished to do so or not.It cannot be Herbert Mowbray. She deserves better than that lack luster sod.Determined to help her as best he could, Percy made himself ready for the Chesterfield’s ball.

Upon arriving at the ball, he immediately went in search of Madeleine. He found her dancing with Hamish MacElroy. Jealousy flared within his heart, but he tamped it down with ferocity. He was here for her highest good, not his own. MacElroy was exactly the sort of man that she should be with, and Percy was determined to tell her as much. She would not wish to hear what he had to say, but he needed to make her listen. He needed to make her see reason.

MacElroy spotted Percy standing on the side of the dance floor and nodded in respect. Once the dance was ended, he brought Madeleine to Percy’s side, bowed, kissed her hand, then left her in Percy’s care. “Your Grace,” Madeleine greeted with less hostility than usual.

“Lady Madeleine, I received your letter.”

“May we speak?” Madeleine asked, her eyes insistent.

“We may,” he nodded his consent. “Outside?”

Madeleine nodded in agreement. “That would be best, I think.”

Percy led the way out onto the veranda. The Chesterfields had outdone themselves in preparation for the ball and had decorated the gardens in a most enchanting display of candles and statuary. Excited chatter and pleasant laughter filtered up from the garden reminding them that they were not truly alone. He turned to her, ready to inform her of his decision, but the words caught in his throat as he viewed her visage in thecandlelight. The gold and silver accents of her dress and hair shimmered all about her in the most angelic aura.

“You are beautiful,” he whispered.

“Do not mock me.” She frowned, turning away from him to look out over the gardens.

Percy took her hand and turned her back to meet his face. “You still do not take what I say as truth,” he murmured. “I had hoped our talk outside of the opera house would have changed that.”

His fingers at her wrist, he was able to feel her pulse quicken.

---