Page 56 of The Curious Story of the Missing Lady
“My Lord,” said Peter, “I must insist that you remain here while I fetch Lady Madeline. It may come as a shock to you to behold your daughter in her current surroundings. In your state, I cannot think what a father’s love for his daughter may give way to when augured by such a scene.”
Lord Ambrose, having finally regained his composure, nodded to the young man, then turned and walked towards the door for a breath of fresh air.
He turned once to see Lord Peter grab a lit candle from off the table and bound up the staircase located in the corner of the room.
Chapter 41
What hideous commotion!
Lady Madeline was awakened in the midst of dreamless sleep. What time was it? After midnight?
Yes, it was after midnight.
The memory of her conversation with Lord Peter, having only ended near dawn the previous morning, came back to her like a tide of joyous excitement.
He had said he would returntomorrow, and here it was after midnight!
Screaming from downstairs. It frightened her. Someone was howling like a struck beast. It sounded like ...
Papa?
It couldn’t be. Papa wasn’t capable of such a noise. This was some animal Lord Peter had brought with him. Some great and horrible dog that had tasted blood once and demanded more this very instant.
Someone was bounding up the stairs. The deadbolt slid and the door flew open.
Lord Peter stood there, the candle in his hand licking his face with shadows.
Oh, how she had to fight the urge to throw herself at him and smother his fine face with kisses.
“Lady Madeline,” he said, “I would like to request that you join us in our return to Aspendale.”
She did throw herself at him, if only for a moment. A sound like something she’d never made escaped from her throat. She pulled away from him, creating a respectable distance. The tears, so hot and copious, flowed down her cheeks. There was no sob to catch her voice, just unrestrained joy leaking out of her as if from a breached dam.
“May I lead you downstairs to your father?” he said, offering his arm.
Her heart nearly burst with rapture. “Papa is here?”
With this, she bounded past him and flew down the stairs as if she were not anchored by earthly forces.
When she saw him, her knees gave way. The Lytton cousins rushed to steady her, but all she wanted was Papa – dear, sweet Papa.
He lifted her up and held her like his child.Hischild and his alone.
She wept into his collar. He smelled like her Papa, with the tinge of smoke and forest mingled in him. She would not let him go for all the world’s riches. She could not.
“My child,” he whispered through racking tears of his own. “My sweet, wonderful child. Forgive me.”
“Forgive you? But why, Papa?”
“For allowing this horrible fate to befall you. I once promised you the stars. I could not abide the thought of you in perpetual darkness.”
She squeezed him even tighter as if that were possible. “Oh, Papa, I love you more than anything!”
He pulled away and announced to the room, “Gentlemen, my daughter is back from the dead. Tonight, I rejoice, and it is all due to you five, brave men.”
She smiled and watched his face through her tears. She couldn’t believe he was here.
His face changed. He was looking beyond the five men he had just congratulated.
