Page 57 of A Deal with her Forbidden Duke
Madeleine cringed, trying not to look as though she could hear them.
Lady Josephine made a snorting noise of nonchalance. “Well, Lady Danielle, she was not proper when she had an affair.”
Both ladies looked at her, then. Even Lady Danielle, who had marginally stood up for her, sneered. “An affair?”
“Madeleine.” Tessa’s voice was a faint beacon amidst the storm of gossip. “Come. You do not have to listen to this.”
“I do,” she whispered, her hands clenched to her stomach. “I must know what people speculate.”
“You did not know the origins of Her Grace’s second marriage?” Lady Josephine continued, mindless of Tessa’s or Madeleine’s presence. “They were having an affair behind Lord Kinsfeld’s back! The poor man.”
“I heard it was Lord Kinsfeld that had the affair.”
“I would not blame him,” Lady Josephine scoffed. “Why wouldn’t he look elsewhere for affection? His wife’s was already taken.”
“Heavens above,” Lady Danielle whispered.
Chest tight with shame and emotion threatening to spill over, Madeleine hardened herself—or attempted to.
“Madeleine, please,” Tessa asked. “Do not endure this.”
But even when Tessa pulled her away from the two ladies, she only found herself with more eyes on her. More whispers—how she and Alexander had plotted to kill Donald, for the sake of being together and taking his fortune—followed her.
Her eyes welled with tears. None of it was true—from an affair to any Kinsfeld fortune.
None of these gossipers know what they are speaking about, she reminded herself, but it did little to calm her down.
She felt watched, criticized, no matter where she turned.
She thought of the soiree, the open gossip, the questions, the snide remarks, and she knew she could not endure this for much longer.
Where was Alexander? She craved his protection, his ability to shut down any gossip and disrespect. She was the Duchess; everybody was ill-minded to not respect her.
“Do you wish to go home?” Tessa inquired. “I can fetch Alexander.”
She shook her head. “No. I imagine that would only make them feel better about themselves. I wish them to think that I do not care and will continue attending events.”
Still, her skin prickled with the stares around her. People scarcely moved for them to walk through to continue their turn around the room.
“Keep your chin up, Madeleine.” Tessa squeezed her hand. “You are stronger than you give yourself credit for. And although your husband will protect you I will always be here for you, too. When you cannot keep your own chin up, let me help you.”
Madeleine’s chest softened. “Thank you.”
Chapter Nineteen
“Did you think more on what we discussed last time?” the Earl of Easthall asked. “I would never pressure you nor Madeleine into having children but I know it would make Tessa ever so happy.”
Alexander was pulled away from his wife by the Earl, a man he was not sure about. Despite his open smile and cheerful banter, there was something persistent about Colin.
It was as though he thought Alexander’s silence was a personal challenge to break.
“I must have mentioned our plans for the nursery. I shall have the cot designed for our future baby,” the earl went on, “Her name carved into the wooden sides. I do not know if she will be a girl, of course, but I am quite positive. Tessa is one of three sisters, and I have two of my own. Then again, I do wish for a boy to pass on my earldom, yet my wife craves a daughter more than anything.”
“I am sure it will be delightful.” His answer was polite, clipped.
“In summer, I shall take her to our countryside estate, and she will love it. I shall have matching horses for her with her siblings. Heavens, see, I get ahead of myself with this planning. Tessa tells me to restrict myself but I am truly overjoyed by the thought of it all. Marriage was… unexpected. To have the possibility for children, a future with my wife?—”
Alexander tried to tune the man out until he heardmarriagefor the second time.
