Page 107 of The Curious Story of the Missing Lady
“Whether I put it eloquently or not, it is a preposterous idea!”
“Why?” said Madeline, her eyes still on Oliver. “If a person has chosen a particular course of action, and she was sure in that decision, surely it is doubt itself that is her greatest enemy. She ought to continue her course onfaith.”
“And faith,” said Roger, “for all its virtues, is the willingness to believe without questioning. One can argue the virtue of this in itself, but I believe that it can only do one good when one employs it—whether it be a lovely niece of mine or Mother England herself.”
“Well,” said Papa, “I for one am grateful to have daughters with clear heads that commit without doubt and never falter in their course.” Here he lifted his glass and stood. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to propose a toast. To my daughter Madeline and her betrothed, Lord Oliver Hartwell. And of course, to Lord Peter Lytton for returning her safely to us.”
“Hear, hear,” the room echoed.
“It must have been a shocking adventure,” said the marquess’s wife. “I myself cannot fathom how I would have fared were I in your shoes, Lady Madeline.”
“It was positively harrowing,” said Madeline. “If it wasn’t for Lord Peter, I would most likely still be there. That is something that chills my heart even to think about.”
“Oh,” said the marquess’s wife, putting a hand to her heart. “I most certainly believe it.”
“It was a daring rescue nonetheless,” said Papa. “Lord Peter led the charge and was most admirable in his execution of the plan. And I’m sure Lord Oliver, had he not taken ill at the time, would have been right at his side. But let’s not dredge up those terrible memories. The future is ours. Let us celebrate it.”
“Hear, hear,” said Uncle Roger, who was by now returning to his earlier state of intoxication.
“And it will be a wonderful wedding,” said Mama. “We’re pulling out all the stops.”
Madeline eyed Emily. Why was it that her sister was so adamant in her assertion that it was folly to follow a decision without questioning it? She herself was sure of her decision to leave Oliver. Yes, in order to carry it thus far, she’d had to be deceitful. But she would atone for it. And she would come clean as soon as was possible. And all in all, she was certain.
If only Oliver didn’t look so forlorn ...
Chapter 75
The rest of her stay at Uncle Roger’s estate was not in the slightest bit comfortable. Ever since that awful night, when she, Oliver, and Peter found themselves cast by cruel fate into each other’s company, she had not been able to sleep but for unsettled dreams about hurting those she loved.
She did love Lord Oliver, just not enough. She could finally admit that to herself. If only there was a way to boost his own happiness in light of the circumstance.
Lisbelle laid out her wedding dress on the bed.
“Thought it best we drag this dress out of the wardrobe and see how it fits. It’s been a while since, well, you know, and we have to make sure.”
“The wedding is not for another two weeks, Lisbelle.”
“My dear, two weeks is but a cat’s wink when it comes to weddings. You must believe me.” She looked at the dress and smoothed out a wrinkle. “Dear me, you will look like the angels themselves lost one of their rank for a day.”
“If only I was an angel,” said Madeline. “Perhaps then I would be able to perform some sort of miracle and make everything right for everyone.”
“What do you mean, M’Lady?” She put her hand to her mouth. “You don’t mean to say that this dress is cursed, do you? Oh dear, I hadn’t thought of that. I suppose it’s not too late to change. Oh, but it was perfect, wasn’t it?”
“Lizzy, it’s nothing like that. To be quite honest, that fateful day when I was taken from the altar against my will is such a distant memory that I’m not so sure it wasn’t all a terrible dream.”
“Oh, I can assure you it was not, M’Lady.”
“I know this, Lizzy, but ... Lizzy, can I entrust you with a secret?”
Lisbelle looked behind her, noticed the door to Madeline’s bedroom was ajar, then padded over and quietly closed it.
“Of course,” she said. “You know I’m not one to go and talk—that is, I do talk, yes, it’s true. But if you tell me, ‘Lisbelle, you are to keep this secret under pain of eternal abandonment,’ you’d better believe I’d agree to keep my gob stopped.”
Madeline took a deep breath. “There is another reason I broke off my engagement to Oliver, one I hadn’t shared with you. It was because ... I am in love with someone else.”
Lisbelle stood and stared for a moment, then staggered backwards towards a chair, falling into it like a marionette with a broken string.
“No,” she said. She struggled with speech for a moment. “Oh, M’Lady ... it is most ...improper...”
