Page 6 of The Curious Story of the Missing Lady
“We already ambushed Foster on his way to the cellar,” said Madeline, relief and joy flooding her soul in equal parts. She felt as though everything in her life had led to this moment. In this mundane relaying of their catching the butler of Aspendale in the midst of his duty, here was the golden moment in her life.
“Well, then, we shall wait,” said Papa.
“Perhaps,” said Lord Oliver, “this would be a good time to have a look at that family coat of arms you told me about.”
“Oh, well, I was thinking perhaps Emily could show it to you. You wouldn’t mind, would you, Emily dear?”
“I would love to show it to you, Lord Oliver,” the girl said, her green eyes gleaming. Her twenty-two years revealed a woman in the prime of youth, and yet there was a certain wiseness in her countenance that made Madeline proud to call her sister. Indeed, Madeline found it hard to fight a touch of envy towards her sister, how the girl at twenty-two could command the attention of men several years her senior as if they were her equal in every way.
“Please,” said Madeline. “I wish to have a word with Papa.”
“Very well,” said Lord Oliver, his arm offered. “I’d be delighted.”
She took his arm, and off they went, Lisbelle close behind, and Madeline watching with gladness in her heart.
“As long as you two are talking,” said Mama, “I am going to check with Mrs Hastings about the dinner arrangements. She winked at her husband and left father and daughter alone.
“What is it, my heart?” said Papa.
She smiled knowingly at him. “Papa, dear ...” She could no longer restrain herself and threw her arms around the man. She felt like a child, as she always did in his arms, feeling the expanse of his warm back, her head against his chest. Tears welled in her eyes and spilled gently down her cheeks.
He must have felt the sob in his arms and so pulled away. “Come now. What is it, my child?”
She brought a white knuckle to the corner of each eye in turn. “Papa, you don’t have to pretend any longer. I can see it breaks your heart.”
“Whatever could you possibly mean?”
“There were quite a few who you had deemed suitable for me, I realise this. I know you must be disappointed that it’s Lord Oliver.”
“He is the son of an Earl,” Papa said reassuringly, turning towards the fireplace.
“Oh, Papa, come. He’s the second son. He’s no more an heir to his father’s title than I am! But, Papa, he is a great man of business. And he will make his name. And ... I love him. Dearly so. I’m sorry, Papa.”
Her father turned back to her, a slight smile on his face. “Do you really think I care about his status?”
“It hasn’t crossed your mind at all? Papa, I know you better than that.”
“Oh, no you do not, child,” he said. “Do you know, once, when you were a baby, we took you to Vauxhall. There was a band playing, and your mother and I stopped to listen. It was a beautiful summer’s evening. Salt in the air and whatnot. And your mother and I, well, we were still quite young. We sat there in the grass, and we lay you down in front of us. Your little legs kicked at the music. And then you did something curious with your arms. They began to grasp at something invisible.”
“You don’t say.”
“At first, we weren’t sure what it was you could see that we couldn’t. And then, it struck me as I looked up at the sky that you were reaching for the stars in heaven. My child ...” Tears welled in the man’s soft eyes, and he turned his head and put a gentle fist to his pursed lips. After a moment, he said, “Excuse me. My child, if I could have reached up there and plucked down every one of those heavenly lights, I would have, at that moment, yes, I would have. And every moment since. You would have them all, my heart. I want nothing but your happiness. Whether you are to find it with a London merchant or the Regent himself, it matters not.”
At this, she truly could not restrain herself. She threw her arms around him once more, nearly knocking the man to the ground.
“Bless me,” he said, a hearty laugh erupting from his chest.
“Papa, you are the finest man who ever walked the Earth.”
“Easy, child. You’ll break my back,” he said, mirth leavening his voice.
“I won’t let you down, Papa. Ever.”
“In that case,” he said. “I lied about the Regent. I’d rather you steered quite clear of him.”
They shared a laugh and embraced once more.
Madeline’s mother returned, and Emily soon thereafter with Oliver. A footman entered with glasses and a tray, with what looked to be a fine emerald-coloured bottle accompanying.
