Page 6 of The Heir's Fortune
“Why? Because you are outspoken?”
Madeline didn’t comment upon that for she didn’t want to insult Cassandra’s brother, but Gideon was far too staid a man for her to ever spend considerable time with. She would enjoy having some fun with him to see if she could break through that hard exterior, but that was the extent of it.
“Is something the matter?” Madeline asked, sensing there was more to this.
“Why would you ask that?”
Madeline shrugged. “You seem somewhat melancholy, even though you are doing a decently good job hiding it.”
Cassandra laughed softly. “You always know what I’m thinking.” She paused for a moment. “It’s Gideon.”
“His search for the treasure?”
“That is part of it, yes,” she said. “He just holds the weight of all of Castleton on his shoulders. As though everything that happens here – thathashappened to our family – is his fault, and he is willing to go to any lengths to set it right again. This treasure hunt… I have found it exciting, and fun, but what I have enjoyed most is that we have all done this together. He is the only one who is so completely focused on the end that he is not enjoying the journey.”
“He is a serious man.”
“Too serious. I suppose we can only hope that we find this treasure and it is what he has been waiting for.”
“Or else?”
Cassandra sighed as she lifted the baby and held him against her chest, patting his back as she waited for him to burp.
“Or else I could be welcoming a sister-in-law that I’d rather not.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Madeline asked, confused.
“If we do not restore the family fortunes by finding a treasure, then Gideon will marry for a dowry that will allow us to do so.”
“I see,” Madeline said, uncertain why the thought made her so unsettled. It was a common enough occurrence – a dowry in exchange for a title of significance – but it didn’t seem right that Gideon would have to do such a thing due to wrongs that were not his to start with.
Not that this had anything to do with her. She had her own future to worry about.
The next morningdawned bright but chilly as the autumn air began to settle in around Castleton. Madeline knew the staff kept the manor as warm as possible, but there were rooms that they left with empty hearths as they did all they could to save the money in the family’s coffers.
It was admirable, though Madeline thought the Sutcliffes were a bit too fixated on rebuilding the dukedom. Madeline had been raised with a father who was indebted to a great number of men he had never been overly concerned with paying back and he didn’t seem too particularly affected by it.
Cassandra and Devon had agreed to accompany Cassandra’s mother, the duchess, that day as she visited families around their property and Jack was napping under the nanny’s care, leaving Madeline a bit aimless – which, she supposed, was a reflection on her own life at the moment.
She wandered the manor for a time but found she was continually called in one direction – out of doors and toward the stables. It had been a couple of days since she had checked in on Lady, and she missed her.
Madeline told her maid of her plans and changed into her riding habit, and then slipped out before anyone saw her and insisted that she not go out of doors unaccompanied.
She was just leaving through the front entrance, however, when she found someone on her heels – someone unexpected, and much more welcome than any person might be.
“Look at you, little one,” she said, reaching down and picking up the puppy, unable to stop herself from nuzzling his fur. “I am happy to see you have found a home in the house. Have they named you yet? No? Well, we just might have to do something about that.”
She looked around to see if anyone was following them, but the hall behind her appeared to be empty.
“I am going to see my horse. You are more than welcome to come and meet her acquaintance, but you’ll have to stay back in the stables while I ride, for you are too small yet to run beside us. What do you have to say about that?”
The dog cocked its head to the side as though in agreement before trotting along beside her as they meandered through the massive yet unmanicured gardens to the stables. At night, they would be the perfect setting for one of her Gothic novels.
Madeline greeted the one stablehand warmly, knowing how overworked he was. It had always surprised her that the few servants of Castleton were so loyal despite the amount of work required of them. Every time she visited, she recognized the same faces.
“How is Lady doing?” she asked Victor.
“Just fine,” he said. “She has been here often enough that I think she feels right at home. She’s been in the pasture this morning, but I can have her saddled for you shortly. Should I be preparing any other horses?”
