“Are we quite there yet?” he asked, his boots crunching on gravel. Then, the path felt softer. He guessed they were heading for the gardens. Were they about to join Malcolm and the children? “I will hold you accountable if I trip on something, Madeline.”
“You will not,” she replied confidently, although her grip had tightened on his hand, pulling him gently. “A few more steps, Kenneth. No peeking!”
“If Alex or Emily throws a piece of food at me, I swear—”
“Oh, we are quite far from them. You can now open your eyes.”
Kenneth squinted at the sudden blast of sunlight. They stood on the top of a secluded hill on the edge of the gardens. Thick willows and high stone walls acted as shields for this spot. On the green grass was a pink wool blanket. A wicker basket sat on top of it while two silver platters and two crystal goblets waited to be filled. They glinted under the sunlight.
Madeline had arranged a picnic for the two of them. Kenneth stared in awe at the scene, suddenly speechless. When he looked down from where they stood, he could spot Malcolm running without a coat, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows as he sprinted with the wind, holding the twine attached to a large green kite. Alexander and Emily ran and jumped, shrieking with happiness. Kenneth had not heard such joyful laughter from them in a long time. Usually, they were just troublesome. EvenMalcolm looked happy. The exercise gave him a natural red flush. He appeared sober, even for a moment.
Something bloomed inside Kenneth’s chest. It suspiciously felt like happiness. He did not know what it felt like anymore, but somehow the guilt over Roberta lifted a little. It was not much, but he still felt lighter.
“You made this happen,” he murmured, still focused on Malcolm’s happiness.
“I merely suggested that they make sure the green dragon flies high,” Madeline replied with a smile. She did not seem to take offense at the fact that he had been avoiding her for the last few days. Did it mean that what happened between them did not matter to her as much? He frowned.
“I do believe that Malcolm will soon get back on his feet. He truly loves his children. It will be difficult, but he needs to forget the past and look to the future for their sake,” she said.
Kenneth turned to look at her. Madeline was a beautiful woman, but she dazzled under the sunlight. It was where she belonged.
“Did your father also play with you and your sisters when you were little?” he asked, suddenly desperate to know more about her. “Did he run with you in the garden or make paper kites?”
Madeline’s smile faded, and her eyes took on a distant look. She tracked the children’s movements.
“No. He did not. He never did. But I do not blame him for it. He is who he is, and his mind was always occupied by… by his struggles.”
Kenneth exhaled, stepping closer to Madeline. “It must have been hard for you, Madeline, growing up with a distant fatherlike him.”
He did not have to mention Harleigh’s drinking and gambling. She knew her father better than he ever could.
“Oh, well. I have loving sisters, and Grandmama and Grandpapa have always been kind. Even Grandmama’s scheming comes from a good place,” she replied, turning her head back to look at him. “I cannot complain since I am still more fortunate than most children who have lost their parents in a different way.”
“Most people in your place would still have every reason to complain, Madeline,” Kenneth said earnestly. He reached out, tucking a stray curl from her cheek. His fingers lingered on her soft skin. “Despite your childhood, you continue to choose happiness. You smile for and at everyone.”
Madeline looked down, as if her slippers had become the most interesting objects nearby.
“I know that my father loves us, despite his drinking, gambling, and absence. His actions have constantly created significant problems for the whole family, especially now that Selina is out in society. A young lady’s first Season can decide what the next few ones will be. It is hard enough without scandal following her everywhere because of our father. My grandmama wanted me to marry to help her, but it seems that our papa keeps getting in trouble.”
“What kind of trouble, Madeline, aside from the obvious one?” Kenneth asked, narrowing his eyes. He did not like the idea of Madeline being plagued by her father’s inadequacies and poor behavior. “Has something new happened that has upset you?”
Madeline chuckled bitterly. She waved a hand as if trying to brush away all her worries.
“Our father owes a horrific amount of money to dangerous men. Because of his inability to pay them, they tossed him directly into the Thames. I know it was a warning.”
“So this had happened because of his debts?” Kenneth asked, clenching his jaw.
“Yes. You may have heard about it, but that was the reason. My sister’s husband, Tristan, had paid off his debts a couple of years ago, but it seems he has managed to grow them again,” Madeline explained. “Well, Cathy already takes care of his ledgers; she cannot keep paying up for his gambling. I... I am so sorry! This afternoon is supposed to be a time for you to choose leisure over work, and I am making it all dreary for you. But do you at least like your surprise? Are you happy about it?”
Kenneth’s eyes wandered to the feast on the blanket and back to the embarrassed flush on her cheeks.
“You are my wife, Madeline. You should not apologize for such things. I want you to know that you can confide in me,” he assured her.
“No, enough about me. Tell me, are you happy about the picnic? Do you want us to eat?”
“I am content, Madeline,” he reassured her, but his voice came out deeper. More dangerous. “Regarding eating, however... There is something I have been meaning to try ever since you covered my eyes in the study.”
Madeline’s eyes widened eagerly. Her breaths sped up, as evidenced by her heaving bosom, momentarily distracting Kenneth. “What is it?”
