Historical Romance – The Best Of The Year. Кэрол Мортимер

for your further orders.’

      ‘They took their orders from Thomas?’

      ‘Yes, for they believed he had your authority.’

      ‘How clever he was. I am grateful to him.’

      Madeline stared at her, hardly believing that it had been so simple for Thomas to bring her all these clothes. Seeing a small trunk standing on an oak hutch, she went to investigate further and discovered it was the strongbox in which her husband had kept her jewels and a quantity of gold.

      ‘The key is in the top drawer of the dressing table,’ Sally told her. ‘I put it away when Thomas gave it to me, but did not open the chest for I thought you would wish to do that, my lady.’

      ‘How could he have brought this? My husband never allowed me to touch it.’ Madeline fetched the key from the drawer and approached the trunk with some trepidation. She would never have dared to ask for something of such value and felt almost guilty as she inserted the key. Opening the lid, she saw row after row of jewel cases and a metal box. She lifted out the box and opened the lid, catching her breath as she saw the gold coins inside. ‘There must be five hundred...perhaps a thousand sovereigns here.’

      Sally came to look over her shoulder. ‘I should think more,’ she said. ‘Thomas said the trunk was heavy.’

      ‘I’m not sure he ought to have brought this.’

      ‘It belongs to you, my lady,’ Sally said. ‘You were denied your rights—now you have them.’

      ‘Yes, I think I do,’ Madeline breathed as she began to open the jewel cases one by one. All the trinkets and sets of diamonds, pearls, rubies, sapphires and emeralds that her husband had given her to wear when she was going out were there. ‘Yet are they mine? Are some of them not heirlooms that should go to the next heir?’

      ‘Who should have them if not you?’ Sally asked. ‘Most of the jewels were given to you, though your husband kept them under lock and key—besides, the entail is broken for there is no male heir.’

      ‘None that carry the Lethbridge name, I know,’ Madeline said. ‘But I believe there may be some distant cousin on his mother’s side, who might have a claim to the estate, though not the title.’

      ‘And why should some distant cousin have what belongs to you?’

      Madeline shook her head. ‘I do not know...I am not sure.’ She took out a string of pearls and placed it on the dressing table, then removed a diamond pendant that had been her mother’s as a girl. ‘These pearls were a gift for my wedding and the pendant is my own—and I shall take the gold, for I am entitled to my settlement, but the other things must be kept safe in case they are not mine.’

      ‘But who else should they belong to?’ Sally said. ‘No one knows Thomas brought the box for he was given access to your rooms—and he hid it with your clothes. He thought you were entitled to it, my lady.’

      ‘It was good and loyal of him,’ Madeline said, but felt doubtful. She was not yet certain if she was her husband’s heir and would not feel justified in disposing of heirlooms if there was another—though there was enough here to keep her in modest comfort for the rest of her life.

      ‘You should keep the box,’ Sally said. ‘Your husband was a rich man and even if there is a distant cousin to inherit his estate, you are entitled to this much.’

      ‘Perhaps,’ Madeline agreed. ‘Thomas has been thoughtful and loyal—and I wish to give you both a present to thank you. He has done nothing wrong, Sally, for he thought only to serve me.’ She would give them a hundred sovereigns each for it would secure their future when they left her and she owed them more than she could ever repay.

      ‘The contents of that trunk make you independent, my lady,’ Sally said. ‘You should keep it safe and tell no one—it is owed to you for all you suffered.’

       Chapter Nine

      ‘I understand that Thomas was able to bring you some of your clothes,’ Hal said when Madeline went down to tea a little later that afternoon. ‘You will be more comfortable now, I think.’

      ‘Yes, it is more comfortable,’ Madeline said. ‘Jenny was kind to lend me her gowns, but it is better to have my own—though there are some I do not care for. They were very costly, Hal. I should like to sell a few of them for I shall never wear them again. They were my husband’s choice and I hate them.’

      ‘Then I dare say it could be arranged,’ he said and nodded. ‘Some of them are unsuitable for life in the country, I imagine—and you might wish to use the money to purchase something simpler.’

      Madeline’s reason for not wanting to wear some of the gowns her husband had forced on her was very different, but she merely smiled and agreed.

      ‘Perhaps they could be taken to a merchant in town?’

      ‘Adam was speaking of sending in a wagon for supplies the day after tomorrow. Your maid and Thomas could take them in and dispose of them—if you are sure you no longer require them?’

      ‘I am quite sure,’ Madeline said and smiled. ‘My life will be spent mostly in the country in future. I shall not need the more extravagant ballgowns.’

      ‘No, perhaps not,’ he said, ‘though you may wish to visit friends sometimes in town.’

      ‘Even so I would prefer something simpler. Lethbridge liked me to wear gowns that...I find immodest.’

      ‘Ah, I see.’ Hal nodded, looking at her gravely. ‘I do understand that you wish for no reminders of your past life, Madeline—but I hate to think you will be deprived of pretty things.’

      ‘I shall have all that I need,’ she told him and reached for his hand. She wondered whether to tell him of the jewels, but was prevented by Jenny coming up to her.

      ‘I am giving a small dance next week,’ she said. ‘You are in official mourning, I know, Maddie—but shall you feel able to attend?’

      ‘To attend, yes,’ Madeline said. ‘Of course I shall not dance, but to sit quietly and watch can harm no one.’

      ‘I had business with Adam today,’ Hal said. ‘Tomorrow I am at your disposal. If you would like to ride out, I am sure a horse could be found for you.’

      ‘You will come with me?’ Madeline found the prospect delightful. In town she’d ridden sometimes with a groom or her husband in attendance, but to take a horse out and gallop across green fields was something she’d not been able to enjoy since her marriage. ‘I think I should like that above anything, Hal.’

      ‘Then I will order the horses for eight-thirty if that is not too early for you.’

      ‘It is best to ride early in the morning,’ she agreed and smiled at him. ‘I can be ready by eight if it is not too early for you.’

      Hal laughed, amused and pleased by her enthusiasm. Her eyes had lit in a way he’d not seen since before they parted that never-to-be-forgotten day when she’d broken his heart.

      ‘Then the horses shall be brought at eight sharp,’ he replied. He reached for her hand, taking it in his own and kissing it. ‘My whole desire is to care for you and make you happy, Madeline. You must tell me what pleases you and what doesn’t—and do not fear to displease me. I am not Lethbridge and I vow I shall never willingly hurt you.’

      Madeline’s hand trembled in his. She gazed up into his eyes in a way that made Hal wonder what lay behind the sadness he could sense inside her. She laughed and made conversation with her host and hostess, and she was always willing to listen to whatever Hal had to say, but he could not help feeling that a part of her was held in reserve—as if she could not quite give her whole self.

      She had suffered far more than he could know.

      He