Innocence in Regency Society. Diane Gaston

her usual wary expression on her face, popped up to gather the dirty dishes. She had a cat’s sense for danger.

      Little had been eaten from Devlin’s plate. ‘Leave the dishes a bit, Sophie. I wish to speak to all of you.’

      Madeleine’s pulse accelerated. No good news could be forthcoming.

      ‘Let us clear the dishes first,’ Madeleine suggested. ‘It will be more comfortable.’ And it would delay the inevitable.

      Devlin released a breath. ‘Very well, remove the dishes, but return promptly, if you please.’

      ‘I will help.’ Madeleine picked up her own plate and Devlin’s.

      ‘I can do it, Maddy,’ Sophie said.

      ‘I want to help,’ Madeleine countered. She was able to clear dishes, at least. No special skill needed for that. Besides, it helped quiet her nerves to be busy.

      Madeleine returned to her seat next to Devlin. He had poured small glasses of port for all of them and his eyes held such a pained expression, the fear rose in her once more.

      What other kind of bad news could there be, except she, Linette and Sophie would have to leave? She clenched her hands together in her lap.

      Devlin toyed with his glass of port. He cleared his throat. ‘I visited my brother to request an advance of the money due me in two months’ time. We have wound up a little short—’

      ‘Because of my dresses.’ Madeleine moaned, misery and guilt swirling inside her.

      He held the glass still. ‘Not only your dresses, Maddy. My mismanagement is primarily the blame.’

      ‘Now, lad…’ Bart began, an uncharacteristic soothing tone in his voice.

      Devlin cleared his throat. ‘You see, I had decided the way out of our difficulties was to make the request of my brother. Unfortunately, I had not counted on the Marquess refusing.’

      ‘The man refused?’ Bart’s thick eyebrows shot up.

      ‘I fear so.’

      ‘No worry, Dev. We shall manage.’ Bart nodded his head as if convincing himself as well as the others. ‘We can practise some economy. We shall do nicely.’

      Devlin gave a dry laugh. ‘You have not yet heard the worst of it, my friend. Not only did my brother refuse an advance, he cut my allowance in half. I do not see how we can go on at all.’

      Bart’s mouth opened. ‘Half?’

      ‘What does it mean, Maddy?’ Sophie leaned over the table to whisper to her.

      ‘It means you and Linette and I must leave.’ Madeleine’s hand went to her throat. She thought her words would strangle there.

      ‘No,’ Devlin protested. ‘It does not mean that.’

      ‘Oh, perhaps not today,’ she went on. ‘We should have a little time to make other arrangements. Nothing hard-hearted about it.’ Her voice trembled now.

      ‘Maddy.’ Devlin grabbed her hand. ‘It does not mean you must leave.’

      She met his gaze. Along with pain, she saw a tenderness that took her breath away.

      ‘I do not know how, Maddy, but I will take care of you.’

      She blinked.

      He turned back to Bart and Sophie. ‘I think I should be able to find you both positions with some member of my family.’

      ‘I will not leave Maddy,’ Sophie cried.

      ‘And I will stay with you, lad. We have endured worse than this.’ Bart lifted his glass in a salute.

      Devlin looked from one to another. ‘We did not have women and a child to care for in those days.’

      ‘We will take care of ourselves.’ Madeleine lifted her chin in a show of bravado she could not feel.

      ‘How, Maddy?’ Devlin said. ‘You have no means of income.’

      Bart stood and held his glass high. ‘We are in this together, do we agree? We solve it together.’ He stared at them until they all lifted their glasses in return.

      ‘I could take in laundry,’ Sophie said in a quiet voice.

      Devlin laughed. ‘I hope it does not come to that, little one. I thought I might speak to some people I know tomorrow. Perhaps someone can find a use for me.’

      ‘If there’s labour to be done I can do it,’ Bart said.

      Madeleine toyed with her glass. ‘There are three or four men who would pay much for time with me.’

      They all stared at her.

      ‘It should not be difficult, I think. I can give you the names and you can find out how to communicate with them.’

      ‘Good God, Maddy.’ Devlin’s face drained of colour.

      Madeleine gave him a surprised look. ‘It would pay handsomely, I am sure.’

      He spoke through clenched teeth. ‘I do not give a deuce how well it would pay, you will not bed other men on my behalf.’

      ‘Not on your behalf, but for us all.’ He could not prevent her from doing her part, not when she was the cause of the problem.

      He slapped his hand on the table. ‘I will hear no more of this.’

      Sophie’s eyes grew wider. With a nervous glance, she slipped off the chair and skittered into the kitchen. His arms crossed against his chest, Bart regarded Madeleine and Devlin with a disapproving expression.

      Madeleine continued. ‘I believe it would bring in a good sum of money.’

      He stood up and leaned over her. ‘No.’ He strode out of the room.

      She followed him. ‘Why not?’

      He wheeled around to face her. ‘You have to ask?’

      ‘Devlin, it would not be difficult for me to do this. It is not as if I have not done it before.’

      His eyes flashed.

      ‘What objection can you have? It is the perfect solution.’

      ‘You will allow me to solve our problems, Maddy. You will not do it by lying on your back.’

      He did not need to speak to her in such a crude manner. ‘It is what I do best, if you recall.’

      ‘Deuce,’ he said. ‘And where shall you perform this lucrative act? In this house? With Linette in the room?’

      ‘Of course not!’ How dare he suggest such a thing. ‘I have always kept Linette out of the way. Sophie would take her.’

      ‘Much more proper,’ he said, the corner of his mouth turning down in contempt.

      ‘I have told you, I am not proper.’

      ‘And where would Bart and I be? Collecting the money at the door?’

      ‘Do not be absurd. I cannot talk to you. You do not see reason.’ She stalked off.

      How could he not see she must resolve the difficulties she had placed him in? She owed him that much. It was not that she wished to bed anyone, except…except… No, he must recognise how much she was indebted to him. He had rescued her from Farley. For that she would do anything for him. Anything.

      She ran up the stairs, but he came right behind. At the top of the stairs, he caught her by the shoulders and spun her around.

      ‘We will finish this, Madeleine. We will not solve our financial woes in this way, do you hear? You will not speak of this again.’ He dug his fingers into her shoulders.

      ‘How is it that you could object, Devlin? You know what I am.’ She lowered her voice.

      He