Despite her aching heart, a genuine laugh escaped her lips. “No, Grandpapa. I do not need one, but I was asking if you were quite well.”
“Ah! Yes, I am well. But you, my dear child, are not. I can see that you are sad,” he said softly, startling her with his serious tone. “We are overjoyed to see you, but is there something wrong? Did something happen at Huntington House?”
“Nothing has happened, Grandpapa, at least nothing out of the ordinary. His Grace is the same man as before. I have done all that I can to reach him, but his heart seems to be locked away. I feel foolish for ever thinking I could make a difference in his life.”
“Madeline,” her grandfather murmured, his trumpet in his ear at the ready, as if he could not bear to miss any word she would say. Her heart clenched at the sight. “Keep your heart open. Do not lose hope, for nothing in this world is what it seems on the surface.”
“How else do I see it, then?” she asked. “He does not love me. He cannot even pretend.”
“Sometimes love is not demonstrated through grand declarations or theatrical romantic gestures,” Lord Marlow explained, smiling at her reassuringly. “Men like Huntington have been trained from birth to suppress their emotions. To tame their words. However, they may show you their true feelings through small acts of care. Look at the small things. That is where the truth hides.”
“I cannot be certain anymore, Grandpapa. I feel like I am floundering in search of water in the desert.”
Footsteps approached them. It was her Grandmama with a silver tray and port. She set it on the table, her sharp eyes shifting between her husband and her granddaughter. Then, she nodded as if she understood everything perfectly. She took a seat across from Lord Marlow and watched Madeline.
“Listen to your Grandpapa, dear girl,” she said. “If his advice is not enough for you, listen to me. I can assure you with absolute certainty that your husband, no matter how stoic he is, cares for you.”
“How can you know that, Grandmama?” Madeline sighed. “You have not seen how he behaves. You have not heard the words from his mouth, and seen the distance—”
“I may not have, Madeline, but I know what matters. He cares enough about you to pay off all your father’s debts. All of them. And I imagine he did it quietly without even telling anyone.”
“W-what?”
The words took some time to register. Suddenly, the crackling of the fire sounded miles away.
“He did what?” she repeated, choking out the words.
“Your husband, the Duke of Huntington, paid for every single penny that worthless Harleigh owed,” Lady Marlow repeated, smiling softly. “Harleigh told me himself that his creditors are now content and will not do anything else to harm any member of the family. His Grace has warned them, too.”
Madeline could not speak. Her cheeks felt flushed, and a roaring sound came to her ears.
Why would he do something like that? Could he truly care for me?
Chapter 23
“Where is my wife?” Kenneth demanded. He did not raise his voice, but he was obviously unhappy.
Mr. Langdon stood perfectly straight, his silver tray resting on his forearm. He remained calm, but his eyes darted nervously to the door.
“Her Grace departed about two hours ago. She brought with her a small trunk and asked to be taken to her family’s estate. She did not leave further instructions.”
Kenneth clenched his jaw so tightly he suspected he would completely destroy his molars.Two hours?He had spent the time trying to understand the blurry documents in front of his eyes. Again, he was trying to avoid her. He would take a few steps forward and then a few steps back. He had encouraged her to show her feelings, but he kept repressing his own.
When the quiet had become too consuming, he stood up and walked around his study. The pacing was not enough for him. So, he looked for Madeline in the drawing room. Then, he went to the gardens, hoping that she was playing with Malcolm andthe children. Finally, he entered her chambers, not something that he would do without being certain she wanted him there. But where else would she be?
When he did enter the room, he was startled to realize that it barely had traces of Madeline’s scent. It was as if she had not been there for a while. It was what had him rushing downstairs to ask Langdon about his wife.
“Kenneth?”
Malcolm stepped into the foyer, finding Kenneth still standing there. He was holding an apple, peeling it, while Emily stood behind him. It looked like the little girl was waiting for a task she had given him.
“Yes?”
“You look awful,” Malcolm commented, handing the apple to his daughter, who immediately ran off. “What happened?”
“She is gone,” Kenneth replied, his voice sounding raw and hollow. He was shocked to hear how he sounded. Then again, why would he still hold on to the restraint that he was known for? Had it done him any good? At the moment, he did not even care if the staff could hear him like this.
“Is this why you look so forlorn?”
