Page 5 of The Heir's Fortune
CHAPTER 2
“Well, little love, you don’t mind me so much after all, do you now?” Madeline asked as she walked around the room with a soft bounce in her step, cradling the baby in her arms. The nanny had come a few times, offering to take him, but she had waved her away.
Madeline would never admit to anyone, not even Cassandra, how much she enjoyed having the warm bundle in her arms close against her, especially as he slept. She knew she should probably put him down in his cradle, but when he was snuggled up against her like this, his bottom high in the air, a peace settled into her soul that she had no intention of losing any time soon.
“He loves you.”
Madeline looked up to find Cassandra standing in the doorway with a soft smile on her face as she whispered the words. Jack stirred at his mother’s voice, and Madeline reluctantly passed him over.
He settled into Cassandra’s arms but was soon bopping his head against her chest until Cassandra took a seat in the rocking chair and began to nurse him.
Madeline had been surprised when Cassandra had announced her intention to feed her baby herself instead ofhiring a wet nurse, but then, Cassandra never did anything that was expected of her.
“Thank you for spending time with us here at Castleton,” Cassandra said softly as she stroked the baby’s back. “I do appreciate having you here as we settle into life with Jack.”
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Madeline said with a smile, taking a seat in the other chair in front of the warm glow of the fire.
“What will you do after this?”
“After spending time with you here?”
“Yes,” Cassandra said. “Eventually, I assume we will find the treasure – or find that it is not where it is supposed to be – and we will return home. Will you return to London for the Season?”
Madeline was silent for a moment. She had been trying not to think that far ahead.
“I am not sure of the point of returning to London,” she said. “I have been out long enough that I have been introduced to every eligible young gentleman there is and none of them have any interest in me, my peculiar father, and my outspoken ways. Now that all of you are married… well, what would I do there? I’m not about to make friends with the young debutantes.”
“You could.”
Madeline snorted, covering her mouth with her hand when she saw Jack stir.
“I could, but you know how that would go.”
“You would not put up with them.”
“No, I wouldn’t,” Madeline admitted, shaking her head. “I am sure my father will insist on attempting again, however. He will be in London himself and I cannot stay alone in our country home. He has been optimistic that I will marry for five years now, and I think he actually still holds hope.”
“Well, he should,” Cassandra said. “I cannot understand why any man wouldnotwant to marry you.”
“That’s because you love me.”
“I do.”
“But you do not care how well off my family is, and as it happens, I have nearly as small of a dowry as one could imagine. Add that to my candid nature, and no gentlemen are knocking at my door for my hand.”
“Not the right one,” Cassandra said. “You know, it’s funny… I was just having a conversation with Gideon about marriage.”
Madeline heard the slight suggestion in her tone and lifted a brow at Cassandra.
“What are you trying to say?”
“Nothing at all. I was just noting the coincidence.”
Madeline smirked. “If you are suggesting that Gideon and I should marry, then you should think again. Just because we are the only two left unmarried in our merry little bands does not mean that we belong together. I am the last woman who should ever be a duchess.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Your family doesn’t need any more scandal, and I would certainly bring some.”
