Malcolm looked wretched. His eyes were bloodshot and swollen, but alert. His waistcoat was not properly buttoned. He no longer looked proud and angry as he had when he stormed out of the dining hall with his wife. He gripped the balustrade for support, his hands shaking. His eyes were focused on his older brother.
Kenneth stiffened next to Madeline, his body instinctively positioned in front of her. She was not afraid of Malcolm, but she supposed her husband was prepared for any kind of outburst.
“Malcolm,” Kenneth said, his voice carrying a warning, as he watched his brother stumble toward them. “Why are you here?”
“I... I do not know why I am here,” his younger brother admitted. “A part of me wanted to collect the children and bring them over to their mother, but—”
Madeline gasped at that. She knew how bad an idea that was. Roberta was not a mother to her children. She did not care for them. She had prioritized her own desires over her responsibilities.
“Mrs. Gaines found me, and she told me what she had witnessed two years ago. She saw Roberta wearing only her nightgown, headed for your private chambers. She heard how she threw herself at you.”
Malcolm approached his brother with his back hunched and his body still trembling.
“Kenneth, I did not believe her at first. I did not want anyone to say anything terrible about Roberta. I did not want anyone destroying my illusions about my wife.But I know that I have been a blind fool. The moment Roberta heard of Mrs. Gaines’ arrival, she all but darted through the door. She even took all of my coin with her.”
“You loved her, Malcolm,” Kenneth said. “There is no shame in believing the woman you loved. I know you desperately wanted to believe her, and I never blamed you for it. I only blamed myself for letting you love a lie for so long. I should have told you everything from the start.”
“No, I am sorry. I accused you of the most monstrous perversion. My own brother! One whom I have known all my life. Despite what I said, I know you have always done your best to protect me.”
Before Kenneth could even speak, his brother closed the gap between them and threw his arms around his neck. Malcolm buried his face into his shoulder, weeping openly. There was no shame in the display. He sounded like a man who had been drowning and was only able to reach the shore.
Madeline blinked back the tears that had threatened to fall. Her heart felt the full extent of Malcolm’s despair, and she wondered if Kenneth would give in. His father had made him into thisemotionless stone.
Then, she saw him let go of the past as he wrapped his powerful arms around Malcolm. He had always been protective of his younger brother. A tear escaped down her cheek as she saw how the two men grappled with emotions that they had been pushing away.
“Hush, Malcolm,” Kenneth murmured. “I have you, brother.”
“I... I ruined everything. I let her destroy my family. My children... I could have spent more time on them than drowning in spirits over a woman who...”
“Forget that. Listen, Malcolm. I should be the one begging for your forgiveness. I failed you. I should have told you what happened. You could have been angry at me, then, and we could have settled things earlier before everything else happened.”
“No. I learned my lesson from the last two years. My dear Alex and Emily need me. I am done pining for that woman. I am done letting her come between us. She does not even care about her children.”
“Still, I am sorry for making you feel as if you cannot handle the truth. You are stronger than you think you are.”
“We are absolute fools. Our father has made us so,” Malcolm said, a bitter chuckle escaping his lips.
“Oh, undoubtedly,” Kenneth agreed, pulling away and squeezing Malcolm’s shoulders. “What you should do right now is wash yourself and change your clothes. Spend more time with Emily and Alexander. They are growing up so fast. You do not want to miss all these exciting years to come.”
“Thank you, Kenneth. Thank you, Madeline, for standing by his side. You gave him the trust that I should have given him.”
“He is my husband,” Madeline replied, not quite believing the love and pride that overflowed from her heart as she said those words. It was not long ago that she thought she would simply be a wife by name and title. “I will always stand by him.”
With a grateful nod, Malcolm turned to walk up the grand staircase. His steps were lighter and more confident. Hope bloomed in Madeline’s heart. Perhaps they could all leave the pain and bitterness behind.
Hours later, husband and wife were in their bedchambers. Madeline already lay entangled in the soft silk sheets. She had missed this. But she knew that something was different about tonight.
She could not help the smile that curved her lips. She had set out months ago to prove that the Duke of Huntington was not the unfeeling statue everyone believed him to be. She had wagered her own heart on it, against every reason to give up. And she had won. She had made him feel.
He loves me.
Her skin flushed in the dim light. Kenneth hovered above her. He was large and muscular, but there was nothing about him that elicited fear. Even at the beginning, Madeline trusted him with her body and with her life. It was her heart that she was afraid of, and now, even that was safe.
“Madeline,” he murmured, as he trailed kisses from her temples to her jaw to her neck.
There, he paused for a moment, nibbling at the tender flesh. She whimpered at the sensation of his bare skin against hers. Her toes curled in anticipation.
This was not like their previous frantic encounters. What they had now was slower, each touch and kiss savored. She could not help but feel the way his lips worshipped her skin. The almost chaste worship turned more carnal as he let the tip of his tongue trace the space between her collarbones to the valley of her breasts.
