Page 66 of Bound to a Wicked Duke

“Can you mend it?”

“Not in a timely manner, My Lord.”

Mowbray looked at Madeleine, sighed, then stepped out of the carriage onto the road. “Remain here. I will return,” he instructed, his tone firm. He disappeared from her view, and she could hear him conversing with the driver but could not make out the words that they spoke.

When he returned, he stood in the open doorway, his form outlined by the moon, the carriage shadowing his face. “The driver is unable to fix the wheel in time for us to make it to Gretna Green before the light of dawn crests the horizon. Ouronly recourse is to take the horses and continue on horseback to the nearest inn.”

“As I said before, I can ride,” she reassured him.

“We do not have saddles,” he pointed out, his tone held great doubt in her ability to do what was needed.

He had a point in that the dress that Madeleine was wearing was not at all suited to riding bareback. As accomplished a rider as she was, she had no notion as to how she was going to manage it. For her family’s sake, she knew she would have to find a way. “Do you have any clothes with you?”

“I packed a valise. Why?” His tone held confusion.

Madeleine nodded, pleased with his answer. “I am going to need to borrow your clothes.”

“You intend to wear men’s breeches?” His voice clearly stated his shock and disapproval.

“I do,” Madeleine answered in the affirmative. “I cannot ride without a saddle in this dress. There is no other option.”

She saw the darkened outline of his head move back and forth in rejection of her idea. “I cannot allow you to bring further detriment to your reputation and your dignity.”

Sighing, Madeleine attempted to be patient with him. “If I do not do this, my family’s reputation will be destroyed. Wearing men’s breeches will not rob me of my dignity.”

“I must protest.” His voice held doubt, but she could tell by his tone that he was wavering in his refusal.

She gritted her teeth in determination. She could not believe that she found herself in the position that she was in, but once she had set out on a course to save her family, nothing and no one would stop her. “Your protest has been noted, but it is of little import given our situation. If you would be so kind as to bring me your valise, I will change clothes within the privacy of the carriage.”

Mowbray sighed in disapproval but did as she asked. He recovered his valise from the wreckage, handing it to her through the carriage window. “I do not approve of this, Lady Madeleine.”

“I suspect that there will be a great many things about me of which you will not approve in the years to come,” she retorted with almost equal amounts of irritation and amusement. She almost felt sorry for him. It was clear that he had no idea what he was getting himself into in choosing to marry her. A docile lady she was not. “It is best that you know now the woman to whom you will be married. Are you certain that you wish to wed me in order to save my family?”

“I have great respect for your father. I would never wish to see his destruction. I have even greater affection for you and wouldnot wish you to be brought to ruin, even if I do find your behavior at times to be foolish. It does not change how I feel about you. For better or for worse, my heart is yours.”

Madeleine felt pity for him. To love someone and not have that love returned was an emotional state with which she was all too familiar. She would not wish such pain on her worst enemy. In spite of her sympathy for him, she needed to make their relationship clear to him. “As flattering as your confession of affection is, you do understand that this is a marriage in name only. I do not love you, nor shall I ever. Of this, you should be absolutely clear.”

“I know,” he admitted, “but it is my hope that someday you will feel differently.” Not wishing to continue with the topic conversation, he moved away from the carriage door to give her some privacy.

As she changed her clothes, Madeleine could hear the driver unharnessing the team of horses. She had never ridden without a saddle before. It was not allowed for young ladies of her rank and family. This was going to be an uncomfortable ride. She prayed that she would be able to stay mounted long enough to get to Gretna Green. For all of her bluster, she was actually quite frightened.

I do not care what other people think of me, but I cannot allow my family to be destroyed because of my actions. That being said, I would not change the time that I had with Percy for anything. If all I ever have are the memories of his hands andmouth upon me, if that is all that will ever remain of us, then I cannot regret it.

She felt guilty for her selfish thoughts, but she could not help herself. Percy had become a part of her. He had changed her. Affected her in ways that she never knew were possible. He had awakened her to passion. He had lit a light in her that would never be extinguished, even if she never felt his hands upon her body again.

The thought of it made marrying a man so ill-suited to her, such as Herbert Mowbray, even more difficult. He would never be able to bring out the things in her that Percy had. She was certain that somewhere out there was a woman for Mowbray, but Madeleine knew, without a doubt, that it was not she. She felt a moment of pity for him that he would never get to experience the kind of passion that she had felt with Percy. Instead, he would be wed to a woman that would never be able to love him.

She changed her clothes in the dark, shoved her dress inside Mowbray’s valise, then stepped out of the carriage onto the road. She was sure that she made quite the sight, a woman of her form and figure in oversized men’s clothing. Her hair was still done up in the intricate Grecian style that Lucy had created with silver ribbon vines running through it.

Mowbray looked at her in the moon’s dim light and frowned. “It is not respectable.” His tone held reproach.

Madeleine stood her ground, her shoulders held back steady and firm. “It will have to do.”

The driver approached them with two horses. “There is an inn along this road, My Lord. If you continue on without deviating from the road, you should reach it in a brief time. They will be able to provide you with what you need.”

Mowbray nodded. “I will have them send someone to help you with the carriage.”

The driver bobbed his head in respect. “As you say, My Lord. Thank you, My Lord. Are you certain that the Lady should be traveling with you in such a manner?” The driver sounded concerned more than passing any form of judgement. “There can be brigands on the road.”

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