Page 26 of A Deal with her Forbidden Duke
“Yes, yes,” Madeleine said, “show her in.”
Moments later, the soft face of her friend appeared in the doorway. “Madeleine!” she greeted happily, embracing her. “Ihave missed you. I did not see you leave at Lady Morgan’s ball the other night.”
“Ah, I took ill,” Madeleine lied, pulling her friend to sit while tea was prepared and served for them.
She had also made sure her friend’s favorite pink macarons were served. They were all presented before Tessa spoke again.
“You took ill at the Inglebury soiree, too,” she said. “A headache, you said.”
“Yes.” She nodded. “That is true.”
Tessa paused, biting into a macaron. “As delicious as these are, do not think they will distract me from asking again what is wrong with you, Madeleine. Even Colin is noticing. And Heavens knows when that man notices anything, it is important.”
Madeleine slumped, knowing she could not keep it all from her friend any longer.
“I must confess it all, then,” she said miserably. “My head is heavy with everything, Tessa, and I hope that if I tell you it all, I will feel lighter.”
“Then confide in me, friend.”
Tessa took her hand, smiling.
“You know the rumors of Lord Kinsfeld,” Madeleine began. “Well, it is true. At present, he has been missing for nine days. Today is the tenth. There have been sightings of him with women, in gambling halls, in pubs in the lowest parts of London, and even at the dock with another woman. So many women I do not know if I can stand the shame.”
Tessa sighed and gently rubbed her hand.
“I do not love him, Tessa,” Madeleine continued, “I am angry that he is forcing me to endure this. That he is acowardand running from a marriage. Neither of us are—were—happy but I have stayed. I haveremained here,doing my duty, and he has been a coward and?—”
She broke off, her throat tight.
“And I have been searching for him with the Duke of Silverton. We have been investigating together. That is the truth of why I left Lady Morgan’s ball.”
The shame of lying spread through her but Tessa only looked at her with empathy.
“Madeleine,” she sighed. “You do not have to keep such things from me. I am always here for you, to support you, and help in any way. Colin, too. I understand it is hard. You have been a loyal wife, and I wish he had not caused you such distress.” She shook her head, her mouth tightening. “I am sorry, my friend.”
“I am only sorry that I have to endure this humiliation of thetonin his absence. The least he could do is weather it with me. He has debts higher than London Tower, Tessa. It is not only the disappearance, and the women. That was how I met His Grace, for he came calling for my husband to pay the debts.”
Tessa’s brow creased. “Madeleine, I cannot stop you from doing this, for searching for him. But you are taking part in a very dangerous hunt. Not only that, but you could be involving yourself in some dark parts of this city. Debts, money lending, gambling… It is not safe for women like us to be around that.”
“I know. I have His Grace’s protection if anything should go wrong.”
“That worries me also. He is reputed to be just as dangerous as the thugs you speak of. Not to mention that it is dangerous for you to be seen with him. After all, he is a bachelor. You have enough problems to think of, Madeleine.”
“I know,” she said. “But we have done our best to remain unseen. So far, that has worked.”
Madeleine thought back to his hands gripping the desk, the slamming of his fists into the door, the carriage, yet he had touched her hand so gently.
“I am safe,” she assured Tessa again. “I am being careful.”
“Good,” Tessa said, squeezing her hands. “I want you to find comfort and peace by concluding this situation. Still, that cannot come at the cost of your wellbeing.”
Madeleine laughed sadly. “My wellbeing, Tessa… Ah, it has been hard not knowing where Donald is, realizing he has truly dishonored me by abandoning me.”
“Whatever you may need, Madeleine, do not hesitate to ask.”
With tears in her eyes, Madeleine nodded. Tessa reached out, toying with the length of her hair, twirling it around her finger as she thought.
“Now, you must tell me how this batch of macarons are,” Madeleine said, eager to change the topic. “My cook said they did not have the same raspberry flavoring she often buys, so she bought a similar thing.”
