Lady Wentworth lowered her gaze. “I gather he proposed and you refused.”
Oh, dear. What was she supposed to say? “My lady, I couldn’t accept his proposal. He proposed out of guilt, and I can’t let him feel guilty forever.”
“My guess is he’s trying to emulate Robert and his sense of duty, so I agree with your conclusion.” Lady Wentworth cradled Maddie’s injured hand gently in hers, stroking the bandage. “I want you to know…” Her voice cracked, and she took a deep breath. “We’ll provide for you anyway. You’re bedridden because of Hector’s actions. He didn’t mean to hurt you, but that’s the result, and we will not shy away from our responsibilities.”
That seemed to be a common theme in the Wentworth family. Now Maddie understood where Hector and Robert’s sense of duty came from.
Maddie could easily shun Hector’s offer of money, but refusing the lady was another matter. “Thank you.”
The maid opened the door again. “Miss, madam, Mr. Wentworth is here.”
“Please let him in.” Maddie pulled her quilt up to cover the part of her chest the nightgown left exposed.
Lady Wentworth released Maddie’s hand and angled towards the door, her expression guarded as if she were ready to scold her son.
“Miss Madeline, Mother.” Hector bowed and smiled at his mother.
He didn’t seem surprised to see her there. His mother’s presence had to be a plot to convince Maddie to accept the money.
“We were talking about you, darling,” Lady Wentworth said. Whatever emotion had taken her over a moment ago was gone.
He removed his hat, letting his beautiful golden curls tumble down his jaw. “I hope the conversation was interesting.” He kissed his mother’s cheek tenderly, and for some reason, Maddie’s throat tightened. When had the last time been when she’d kissed her mother? She couldn’t remember.
“Miss Debenham agreed to accept our help.” Lady Wentworth smiled.
Yes, the whole visit was an ambush to make sure Maddie would accept their financial help. Perhaps she’d been too stubborn after all.
“When are you leaving?” Maddie asked and regretted it immediately. His ruse to convince her to accept the money had stung her a little. But since he’d won, surely it meant he was going to sail to South America, right? “You should leave soon, shouldn’t you?”
He toyed with his hat as a smile tugged at a corner of his mouth. “Sir von Humboldt himself asked me to join the expedition, and well…” He shrugged, flushing a deep red. “I’d love to go.”
“Then go.” Maddie meant it. For him. She understood the fierce need to chase one’s dream. “Please do it.” A sob remained trapped in her throat. What was it? Sadness for his imminent departure? She didn’t know. “I’m happy for you. I really am.”
Their gazes locked, and she couldn’t deny the shiver of attraction going through her as she stared at his incredible sapphire eyes. The incident had changed them both, and as absurd as it sounded, she believed for the better. She was stronger, in spirit that is, ready to fight for her dream. The incident had also formed a connection between them, a bad memory, yes, but a connection, nevertheless.
He took her good hand gently and ran his thumb over her knuckles. Another shiver caused her pulse to spike.
“Thank you, Miss Madeline. Your blessing means more to me than I could ever express.” He kissed her hand, and the emotion made her dizzy.
“I will see you when you return,” she whispered.
“I’d be honoured to.” He released her hand when his mother cleared her throat politely. “One year from now, I’ll be a famous scientist and you a famous painter. I might see you at one of your exhibitions at the National Gallery.”
She laughed for the first time in weeks, a weight lifting from her chest. “Mr. Wentworth, I believe we have a deal.”
six
Eight years later
ON THE DECK of theSteamship Empress, Maddie wondered why the sky there, in the middle of the ocean and so close to The Bahamas, had a peculiar azure quality England’s sky lacked.
Even the clouds curled and twisted to form fluffy puffs with the most outrageous shapes. That cloud running overhead had the shape of two lovers entwined together. Their arms and legs were clearly visible, and they kissed in a fashion that made her lips tingle. Or maybe it was her wicked mind to conjure up such debauched images. She blamed the weeks spent in Nassau where everything from the culture, nature, and people vibrated with life and colour.
She had to thank Aunt Anne for the trip. Her aunt had married a Bahamian and invited Maddie, Verity, and her mother to spend a few weeks across the pond. She wouldn’t mind staying with Aunt Anne permanently and walking along the beautiful beaches of Nassau while enjoying its warm sun.
But what she loved most about the trip were the scents. Nassau had smelled of flowers, roasted meat, and fruit. On the ship, fresh, salty air that teased her appetite and restored her spirit, filling her with optimism—something she’d missed dearly in the past years. What she didn’t miss was the stuffy air in her small cabin or London’s fog and the smell of burning coal and of something rotting in the Thames.
The only terrible thing about staying on a ship was there wasn’t much to do aside from taking strolls along the deck—unchaperoned strolls, which was liberating—reading and playing bridge. London might be crowded and smelly at times, but it offered luscious soirées, wonderful nights at the theatres, and an endless series of art exhibitions. Two more weeks before they arrived in England. She might grow less optimistic out of boredom. Besides, what waited for her didn’t thrill her. With her artistic career compromised, she agreed to be the companion of a lady friend of her mother. Who knew? She might enjoy the work.
