Page 53 of Wedded to the Deviant Duke

That left Thalia to bear the brunt of conversation, though she hardly minded, given how much of a mystery Madeline still was to her.

“So, your father runs a boarding school out in the countryside?” Thalia inquired. “I must say, that would entirely explain your taste in decor.”

Madeline nodded, having grown far more at-ease as time passed. She hardly stumbled over her words, and her once soft, mousy tone had grown slightly bolder.

“He had little opportunity to advance in society h-himself as a child. He never told me exactly how it happened, but one day, he received an amazing schooling opportunity and worked very hard to gain the r-respect of the upper class.” A dreamy look crossed her eyes, as if recalling a fond memory. “That’s where he met my mother, and… w-well, I simply wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

Thalia mindlessly slipped her needle through the fabric, operating on instinct as her attention went to Madeline. “Gracious, but that truly is serendipity at its finest.”

“It is,” Madeline agreed. “And he wanted nothing more than to pass that good fortune on to others in need of a little extra luck.”

“Thus his choice in location,” Thalia said, letting out a longing sigh as she finished another stitch. “Gracious, but he’s done exactly what I hope to accomplish someday. It–” she hesitated for a moment, needle wavering in her hand. “I had the brief fortune to learn of estates left from my family’s maternal side.”

“I didn’t know that,” Charlotte piped up, fully present once more in their conversation.

“Gabriel never mentioned it?” Thalia asked. “It’s… partly how we met. He’s helping me obtain the deeds—I’m not entirely sure how he’s going to do it, though, given how my cousin burned them.”

Charlotte gasped sharply, Madeline offering a sympathetic frown. ‘Oh, Th-Thalia… that’s terrible.”

Thalia nodded, lining up the next pairs of fabric before making the first, quick stitch. “For a brief moment, the vision was so clear; a collection of boarding schools, accessible for children in similarly bleak situations.” She paused, adding hastily, “This must stay between us, though. The last thing I need is Giles learning of my gossip.”

“Hardly gossip if it’s true,” Madeline offered gently. “B-but, I’ll keep it to myself.”

Charlotte groaned, her tone sour and expression even more so. “Well, I’m glad Gabriel invited you to stay with us. Gracious, but could you imagine if you were still in Whitechapel? After what I witnessed yesterday, I tremble to think what that witless cousin of yours would try.”

“I’m very grateful for your brother’s intervention,” Thalia admitted. “By all accounts, he’s doing it simply because he can. I can hardly see how he benefits, and he refuses to tell me otherwise.”

“That certainly sounds like him. Always keeping his cards close to his–” Charlotte suddenly froze, her eyes locked onto Thalia. “Wait… what did you say?”

Thalia blinked, uncertain as to what the young woman could mean.

“Why would Gabriel expect anything from you?” Charlotte asked. “If anything, he should do it purely out of courtship. I mean, he’s your suitor, for goodness sake, and I would hardly think he’d expect something from someone he…” her sentence trailed off, realization settling across her face.

“Charlotte, w-wait–” Thalia let out a pained hiss, having jabbed her needle into her finger absentmindedly. A drop of blood pooled against her pointer finger, and she watched as crimson blots stained the gown she’d been working on.

“Oh, g-gracious—let me get you a linen, Lady Thalia!” Madeline halfway towards the door, clearly desperate for any excuse to leave. The room fell silent afterwards, anxiety tying knots in Thalia’s stomach as Charlotte’s rage visibly built.

“Charlotte,” Thalia began.

“My brother isn’t actually courting you,” Charlotte hissed. “Is he?”

Thalia couldn’t find the words to reply.

CHAPTER24

Their visit was cut short, Madeline apologizing profusely while Thalia insisted she wasn’t at fault. Soon after, she found herself on the worst carriage ride she’d ever endured, the tension thicker than a knife could possibly cut through.

She hardly knew where to look, gaze flickering between the window, the floor, her hands tightly wrung against her lap. Their poor chaperone looked as if she were trying to sink into the chair itself, and Thalia could hardly blame her. Every so often, she’d lift to catch Charlotte’s eye, only to turn away from her smoldering gaze.

“Charlotte, I’m so sorry,” she began. “I shouldn’t have kept this a secret from you. I’m not even sure why I did.”

“Because it’s horribly demeaning, that’s why!” Charlotte hissed between her teeth, slouching back into her seat while her arms crossed tightly.

It was horribly unladylike, but Thalia hardly thought the proper time to point that out. She watched her friend fume for another moment or two before a frustrated snarl escaped Charlotte’s lips.

“I just—I can’t believe him! I mean, I absolutely can—I knew it was suspicious when he brought you home without any prior warning.”

Thalia nodded half-heartedly, uncertain still as to what she could say to make the situation any better.

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