Page 12 of A Deal with her Forbidden Duke
He released him, and heard the scrabble of the man’s boots on the cobbles, and heard the gratitude of Mr. Santon having been released..
Alexander headed in the other direction. He had bigger things to deal with than another low-life. The Golden Hand wasn’t far from his own gambling hall, another well-known one, perhaps second or third to the Raven’s Den.
If he had more answers to find, they would be there.
Chapter Five
More days passed, and Madeleine woke up for a sixth day without her husband present. She bit her lip, aware of the stares of the staff as they served her breakfast.
While Lucy prepared her for the day, Madeleine formed a plan in her head.
After the Duke of Silverton had visited, he had not returned personally for a second time, despite his threats, but the collector he had sent had left another letter of threat towards Lord Kinsfeld.
I wonder what his own investigations have turned up, she pondered, gritting her teeth as Lucy tied her stays.
Madeleine had once been surrounded by riches, jewels, and beautiful gowns but now… now that had dwindled, and everytime she thought about it too hard, a cold, steel anger wrapped around her heart.
For a while now, she had secretly had her maids cover her lack of new wardrobe. They had resewn dresses, and reused fabrics, so she might feel—more importantly, look—as though she wore something new. But deep down, Madeleine knew.
She knew she was growing more and more desperate with the lack of what Donald had left her.
She was much too angry to be worried. If anything had happened to him she would have been notified.
A lord didn’t disappear without notice, not truly.
“Somewhere, someone knows something,” she said with a bite to her words, not quite meaning to say it out loud.
Lucy blinked. “Pardon, my lady? Do you require anything?”
“Nothing,” she answered quickly. “Do I have any engagements today?”
“None today, my lady. However, there is Lady Morgan’s ball tomorrow.”
“My day is free, then,” Madeleine considered to herself.
“Yes, my lady.”
“Very well. You are dismissed, Lucy,” Madeleine told her, as soon as she was dressed.
Her hair was hardly finished, but she was dressed, and that was all she cared about. As soon as Lucy left, Madeleine left her chambers moments later and sought out her housekeeper.
The older woman was in the empty drawing room, stood at the window. Behind her, two maids were dusting the fireplace.
“Mrs. Raleigh,” Madeleine said, “I wish to know the whereabouts of Lord Kinsfeld. I presume you know where he is. As the housekeeper, you oversee everything, do you not? You will know when the master of the house leaves and returns.”
Mrs. Raleigh turned up her nose, averting her gaze. “I know nothing, Lady Kinsfeld.”
Her gaze returned to Madeleine, taking in her appearance, and a small curl of her lip graced her mouth. Madeleine did not feel anything beneath the woman’s judgment, only the knowledge that she knew her place.
“I think you do, Mrs. Raleigh.”
The housekeeper only smoothed her plain dress. “I must get on with my duties, Lady Kinsfeld.”
Before the woman could leave, Madeleine got in her way, aware of the sneaking looks from her maids. “What you must do is tell me what you know.”
“Lady Kinsfeld?—”
“I will remind you that I am the mistress of the house,” Madeleine said, steeling her voice. “I control who is hired, and who is fired. I would not wish to see you replaced due to a… misunderstanding.”
