Page 84 of A Deal with her Forbidden Duke
“What sort of rumors?”
“That he is involved in some unsavory businesses. That he… well, that he has a secret identity that he keeps concealed so he may continue his businesses without confessing.”
Madeleine shook her head. “I am sure it is nothing but a rumor. After all, if everybody believed the rumors about me, I would be a murderer and an adulteress.”
The words pierced her chest, hurting to even think of them in regard to herself.
Tessa nodded, despite not looking convinced. “You are correct. If you are happy, Madeleine, then I am happy for you.”
“I am happy,” she insisted. “I am happier than I have quite possibly ever been. His Grace understands me.”
Over Tessa’s shoulder, she looked at Alexander, who looked up as if he felt her gaze on him. Across the art gallery, their eyes met.
In the center of the room was a statue of an old goddess of love and adoration, and Madeleine had the strangest desire to approach the statue, with Alexander approaching from the other side.
They would meet in the middle and she would feel as though she was in a theater play, caught under the spell of the man she was falling for, while the rest of the world faded away.
“Ah, if it isn’t the Duchess of Silverton.”
A high, shrill voice cut through her silly daydream, and Madeleine whirled around, her eyes narrowing on a woman who approached their group.
Her stomach fell. It was Lady Bastian, her mouth pinched and her nasty, beady eyes set on Madeleine.
“It has been some time since I had the pleasure of speaking with you. How are you?” the lady asked.
“I am well, Lady Bastian,” Madeleine told her, lifting her chin. “How are you?”
“Verywell,” the other woman answered. “I am surprised you are here alone, however. Where is your second husband?”
Second husband. The unnecessary clarification struck Madeleine even though she refused to show it.
“My husband is speaking with an artist,” she answered tightly.
“Ah. For a moment, I thought he had met the same fate as the former Lord Kinsfeld.” Lady Bastian giggled.
Colin stepped forward, a scowl on his face and his lips parted to argue, but she stopped him with a shake of her head.
“Youdoknow what everybody says, do you not?” Lady Bastian continued, “They say it is only a matter of time before another man catches your eye, and the Duke of Silverton will meet his end so you have a free path, just as you did this time.”
“Lady Bastian,” Madeleine began, “You cannot honestly believe this gossip to be true? Do you think me capable of killing my late husband?”
For a moment, Lady Bastian looked doubtful, but she easily plastered on a fake smile.
“Who knows? His Grace certainly could be. I imagine he has killed before. Surely you heard the rumors about his fight at the Raven’s Den some time ago? Many say the fight was rather brutal, and it was His Grace that was right in the middle.”
“How dare you—” Tessa began to protest but Madeleine squeezed her friend’s hand.
Now wasn’t the time for a scene.
“My, my, Duchess, two husbands by the age of twenty, and neither of them very reputable men at all,” Lady Bastian continued, “Will you acquire a third when you realize the true nature of the Duke of Silverton? Perhaps it is not too questionable if you do what people speculate of you.”
Madeleine gritted her teeth, her jaw clenching for a moment as she steeled herself.
She thought of the night Alexander had come home bloodied and allowed her to get close enough to dress his wounds. He had not explained, and perhaps she should have pressed further that night.
She should have found out why, exactly, he had been in a fight. He had referenced the incident as rendering him no better than a thug, and he’d been displeased, a twisted snarl on his face as he’d avoided the topic.
Giving herself a smile that was as false as Lady Bastian’s, Madeleine stepped closer to the lady.
