Historical Romance – The Best Of The Year. Кэрол Мортимер

He doubted she could bring herself to confide the depths of the wickedness that Lethbridge had perpetrated on her, even to another woman.

      Sometimes, when he touched her, he felt a slight withdrawal in her, even though she struggled to control it. She did not pull away, but he’d felt her stiffen when he kissed her hand, only slightly, but enough for him to know that she was not yet ready to accept his lovemaking.

      When he saw the deep hurt in her eyes, Hal wished Lethbridge were alive so that he could strangle him with his bare hands. He could not bear to think of what she might have suffered and knew that if it took years—or the rest of their lives—he would wait until she was ready to accept his love.

      Hal would marry her as soon as it was acceptable in the eyes of the world, but he would not force Maddie to accept him in her bed—and when he thought the time was right, he would assure her that her happiness was his only concern.

      He knew that there would be times when he desperately wanted to hold her and touch her, but he sensed that somewhere inside Madeline was a wounded creature that must be coaxed and taught to trust again—like a puppy that has been kicked and beaten. That made him want to weep for her, but she would not wish him to pity her. She was still proud despite all that her evil husband had done to her.

      All he wanted was to make her happy and banish that look of sadness from her beautiful eyes.

      * * *

      Once again, an evening spent playing cards, some music and relaxed conversation proved so enjoyable that Madeline had been able to sleep well in her comfortable bed. It was a new experience for her to wake and be able to decide for herself which clothes she should wear, for Lethbridge had often sent her to change if her attire did not please his eye.

      She chose a dark-blue riding habit, which she had purchased, but never yet worn, knowing that its sober hue would not please her husband. Her hat was in the military style with a dark-blue curling feather pinned with a small diamond brooch. Her father had given the trinket to her in the days before he had gambled his fortune away and was a favourite, though Lethbridge had scorned it as being unworthy of his wife.

      She was ready well before the appointed time and went downstairs, pulling on her black leather gloves. As she approached the last stair, the sound of voices reached her and then Hal and Adam came from the front salon into the hall.

      ‘Perhaps you ought to tell h—’ Adam was saying, ceasing abruptly as he saw her standing there. ‘Good morning, Madeline. You are an early riser today.’

      ‘We are going riding together,’ Hal said and his eyes were admiring as they went over her. ‘You look charming, Maddie. I like the style of your gown. It is extremely elegant and the colour becomes you.’

      ‘Thank you,’ she said, feeling the warmth in her cheeks. ‘I have not worn it before and I am pleased you approve.’

      ‘You need no one’s approval, but I think it very elegant.’

      ‘My maid has packed a trunk with clothes I shall never wear,’ Madeline said, turning to her host. ‘She and Thomas will be glad of a place in your wagon, Adam—if there is room?’

      ‘Plenty of room,’ he assured her. ‘I’ve left word that they are to be given any assistance they require.’ He glanced at Hal. ‘Think about what I was saying, Cousin. I wish you both a pleasant ride.’

      ‘I am sure it will be,’ Hal replied. ‘I shall give your ideas some consideration—and thank you.’

      ‘You are welcome.’ Adam turned away, walking in the direction of the library.

      ‘Shall we go?’ Hal said. ‘I believe the groom has brought our horses round.’

      ‘Are you certain you have finished your business with Adam?’

      ‘Yes, of course. Adam put a suggestion to me that I think very generous of him, but I am not sure I can accept.’

      ‘You are good friends, I think?’

      ‘Yes, the best. We have been through a great deal together—during the war and when Mark was murdered.’

      ‘That must have forged a bond between you.’ Madeline arched one delicate eyebrow. ‘Was it another proposal of business?’

      ‘In a manner of speaking,’ Hal said. ‘If I cared for it, he has a place for an estate manager. I do not know if you are aware of it, but Jenny was a considerable heiress and Adam has a lot of property to manage. If I accepted his offer, he would make a house on one of the estates available to me. It is larger than my own in Cambridgeshire...more suitable for a family, perhaps.’

      ‘Oh.’ Madeline frowned. ‘Do you wish for such a position?’

      ‘It would be a solution to my problems,’ he said. ‘But I am not sure...it might depend on several things. Adam’s present agent retires in six months so there is time to think it over.’

      ‘Yes, of course,’ she said.

      Hal was clearly undecided how he felt about his cousin’s offer. Adam had made it in a spirit of generosity and it was not unknown for such a position to go to a trusted relative, but she was not sure how she felt about the idea. Jenny and Adam were such generous people and she was already fond of them, but Madeline had thought Hal meant to settle near her friend Hattie in Cambridgeshire.

      However, she could have no opinion on a matter that was for Hal to decide. Yet it crossed her mind that if she were to sell most of the jewels in her late husband’s box, Hal would have no reason to consider the offer. She imagined the jewels might bring sufficient to pay off his father’s debts and allow him to retain his family’s estate as well as his own.

      Yet how could she offer them to him when he had not yet formally asked her to be his wife—and would he accept if she did?

      Madeline still felt a little guilty over the way the box had come into her possession. If there were a claimant to Lethbridge’s estate she would be morally obliged to hand back a substantial part of her late husband’s wealth. But she shut out these anxieties, determined that nothing should spoil her outing with Hal.

      She smiled at him as he handed her up. The mare she’d been given was spirited with a sweet mouth that responded to the merest touch of the reins. It tossed its head, as though to challenge her, but she held the reins in a manner that showed she was in command and the mare responded, quieting at the sound of her soothing voice.

      As they trotted out of the courtyard and the horses felt the springy turf beneath their hooves, Madeline let her mount have its head. The sensation of speed as they flew over the ground, the mare hardly seeming to touch it with her hooves, was exhilarating and everything but the joy of the morning was swept from her mind.

      Hal’s horse was on its mettle to keep up with Madeline and the spirited mare, though he seemed content to race at her side and she thought he would not have left her behind if he could. She turned her head to smile at him and saw the gleam in his eyes that told her he had as much pleasure from their ride as she.

      They were well matched and rode for some time, then, as the horses began to show signs of having worked off their restive energy, they slowed to a walk and finally brought them to a halt by a shallow stream. Dismounting, they led the horses to a spot where they could drink and stood admiring the view of green fields as far as the eye could see, dotted here and there with ancient trees that must have stood here for at least two hundred years.

      ‘We are still on the Ravenscar estate?’ Madeline asked.

      ‘Yes, these fields are used for pasture at certain times of the year. I dare say my uncle has three thousand acres or more, including the farms he lets to tenants.’

      ‘It is a large estate—and must be a burden for the earl.’

      ‘It would be had he no agents and no son.’

      ‘You said his surviving son was in Italy. Why does he not come home to lift the worry from his father’s shoulders?’

      ‘He