Historical Romance – The Best Of The Year. Кэрол Мортимер

the other night—anyone will tell you so. Anyone could have marked those cards. Why should it be me?’

      ‘Why did you have the jack hidden in your cuff?’

      ‘Damn you and him!’ Lethbridge said, his neck and face brick red. He’d been exposed as a cheat in public and knew that his days of winning large pots at the tables of his society friends was over, because the news would spread like wildfire, but was determined to bluster it out. ‘I know not where that card came from. It was probably planted on me—’

      ‘For shame, sir,’ came a new voice. ‘I wondered why you were so damned lucky at the tables and now I know.’ Lord Sawston stood up. ‘I, too, refuse to play with a cheat.’ The other gentlemen followed his suit, saying that they would never play with Lethbridge again.

      ‘You will meet me for this, Ravenscar!’ the count cried. ‘Name your weapon, sir.’

      ‘I choose pistols,’ Hallam said. ‘Mainwaring, Sawston—you will stand up with me?’

      ‘Aye, I will,’ Lord Sawston said. ‘Though the fellow is finished and does not deserve that you should honour him in duel.’

      ‘Name your seconds, sir,’ Hallam said. ‘Perhaps they would wait on me at my lodgings later.’ He looked at the gathering, a faint smile on his lips. ‘Will you bear me company, Jack? I think I shall go down to supper. And then perhaps we might make up another table?’ He nodded to the gentlemen with whom he’d been playing earlier.

      ‘You’d best go home and get some sleep,’ one of the gentlemen advised.

      ‘You think so?’ Hallam said and sent a deliberate and insulting look at the count. ‘I hardly think I need bother. I believe I shall make a night of it and go to the meeting place from here. You may inform your seconds they will find me at the tables rather than my lodgings, sir.’

      Lethbridge cursed and turned on his heel, walking from the rooms. Men who had hailed him when he entered turned their backs on him. Their message could not be clearer. Hallam was believed for the thought that Lethbridge might have cheated had crossed a few minds before that night, though none had been sure enough to accuse him.

      ‘He’s a damned good shot,’ Sawston said when he accompanied Hallam and Jack down to the supper room. ‘Are you certain you wish to continue playing cards? He’s killed his man before now.’

      ‘So have I on the field of battle,’ Hallam said. ‘We didn’t get much rest then and if he is a good shot I’m better. Never missed my man in battle.’

      ‘I can vouch for that,’ Jack Mainwaring said and laughed, clearly delighted with the night’s outcome. ‘Well, he’s ruined now, Hal—it’s what I hoped for. And if you kill him, I’ll bear witness that he called you out.’

      ‘We all will,’ Lord Sawston said. ‘Lord, I’m hungry. I hope they have a decent supper tonight.’

      Hallam laughed. He could hardly believe that Lethbridge had been so easily brought to a duel. If Hal’s aim were true, Maddie would soon be free of her cruel husband.

      * * *

      ‘Did you take the letter?’ Madeline asked, as the footman Thomas entered the small private parlour of the riverside inn to which he had taken them. The inn belonged to his brother and he had assured her that she would be safe there until she decided where to go next. ‘Was he there?’

      ‘No, my lady. His landlady said that he was out, but promised to give the letter to him as soon as he returned.’

      ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘I think I shall go up to my room now, for I am very tired. Sally, you may stay and talk to Thomas if you wish. I can manage my gown if I try.’

      ‘I shall come and assist you as always, my lady,’ Sally said. ‘Thomas has things to do and I shall sleep with you on a truckle bed, for there is but the one room.’

      ‘Very well.’ Madeline left the parlour and walked swiftly past the taproom, from which came the sound of hearty laughter. It was a busy inn and not truly a good place to hide, for she was almost certain to be seen before many days had passed. However, she was grateful to be away from her husband’s house and the hateful attentions of the marquis.

      ‘It is not fitting for you, my lady,’ Sally said, glancing around the bedchamber they had been given. It was furnished with the essentials, but not pretty or comfortable enough for a lady of quality. ‘We did not have much time to plan, but we must find somewhere more suitable as soon as we can.’

      ‘I do not object to the room for it is clean and adequate,’ Madeline replied with a little smile. ‘If the bed is comfortable, I shall sleep well enough. Yet I fear that I shall be seen sooner or later and my husband will discover where I am. I must find somewhere else to stay—somewhere quiet where I can remain hidden.’

      ‘You will not return to your father’s house?’

      ‘I shall send word that I have left my husband,’ Madeline said.

      She would tell her father that his notes were burned and that he was free of the debts that had shamed him, but he was in general an honourable man and she feared that he might feel it his duty to tell Lethbridge where she was staying. She might be forced to return to him under the law. She was, after all, still his wife and some might say as much his property as his horse or dog—and therefore in his gift if he chose. It was barbaric that a woman should be obedient to a husband who treated her ill, but the law was too often on his side. Madeline could not prove that he had been planning to sell her to another man. Society would be shocked if they believed her, but he would deny it and the scandal would be unbearable either way. No, she must simply hide until she could find somewhere she might live in safety—perhaps abroad?

      ‘I have a little jewellery. Perhaps Thomas could sell some of it for me? It might pay our way until I can find work of some kind.’

      ‘You cannot work, my lady. Who would employ you?’ Sally frowned. ‘We must take a rented cottage somewhere and Thomas and I will work to keep us all.’

      ‘I could not ask so much of you,’ Madeline said. ‘If Major Ravenscar gets my message, it may not be necessary. He promised to help me if I left my husband.’

      ‘Then I am sure he will come as soon as he has your letter,’ Sally said. ‘Now let me unlace you, my lady, for I think you must be tired. You will not mind my sleeping in your room? I do not snore—at least, I do not think so...’

      ‘Of course I do not mind,’ Madeline said and laughed softly. ‘I am no longer a grand lady, Sally. I must learn to live by my own means somehow.’

      She stood patiently while Sally helped her to disrobe and put on the nightgown her thoughtful maid had packed for her. Sally had smuggled her things downstairs to Thomas, who had carried them away from the house, to the carriage, which had brought them to his brother’s inn. Madeline had observed that the young footman was devoted to her maid and knew that she was his reason for risking so much for her sake. He’d given up a good position and would not find it easy to find another in society without a reference, but Sally had asked and he’d agreed because he loved her.

      ‘You know that I will give you a reference, Thomas, but my word will not carry against that of my husband.’ Madeline had told him when he helped her from the carriage on their arrival at the inn. ‘I can never tell you how grateful I am.’

      ‘It’s time I stood on my own feet, milady,’ the young footman said and grinned. ‘I’ve been saving my money and I’ll be buying an inn myself soon enough. The truth is, I should have left your husband’s employ long ago if Sally would’ve come with me—but she refuses to leave you.’

      ‘She is very loyal, but I would not wish to stand in the way of her happiness if she loves you, Thomas.’

      ‘She’ll come round when she sees you happily settled, milady. And I can wait.’

      Madeline had thanked them both again. Now, as she lay in the bed,