Page 68 of Maid for the Marquess

“Mr. Leigh, I believe. Your reputation precedes you,” I stated dryly.

He bowed. “How kind, my lord.”

I barked out a laugh. “That was not meant as a compliment to you, sir. Your reputation is even darker than that of Fine’s.”

His thin mouth became a line of displeasure, and he stepped back, saying something to Barnett. Behind me, I heard a wagon arriving and knew Lydia was there. From the quick glance over my shoulder, I noticed Geraldine had accompanied her, and I was grateful Lydia had thought of that.

Edward stepped away, hurrying toward the wagon, and I again glanced behind me, seeing him assist Lydia down, with Geraldine remaining in the back. I noticed how he walked beside Lydia, his hand on the small of her back. His gaze was focused on Barnett and his motley crew, but his stance was directed toward her. Protective. Assertive. Ready to defend.

Interesting.

I saw Lydia stumble, then pause, saying something to Edward, who turned back in my direction and hurried to my side.

“I have Lydia and Geraldine who will both swear my word is true,” I announced.

“Servants,” he spat.

“As is yours.”

“Mine is trustworthy. That girl—” he pointed to Lydia “—disappeared from my household without a trace. Several items went missing at the same time. She is a thief and a liar.”

“I am not a thief! I took nothing!” she protested.

Edward hushed her, his words low. “We are aware of that, Liddy. Calm yourself.”

She huffed an angry sigh but remained quiet.

“And the old woman is mad!” he continued. “Not to be trusted!” Then, in a total turnaround, he shouted again. “I demand her return as well!”

I was weary of his gesturing. His ugly words and his outrageous demands. He was giving me a headache, and I was worried about Maddie. She couldn’t hear what was being said, but she would be upset nonetheless by his presence.

“Leave my estate. You are not welcome here.”

“I demand to see Madeleine. She will speak the truth once I am allowed to see her.”

I stepped forward, furious and wanting to kill him. “You demand? You demand? You forget your place. Do you really believe I would allow you to see her? Are you of sound mind? You truly think that I would leave you with my wife so you can beat her again? Make her pick the reeds and the rose to bleed on so you can strike her for your own sick pleasure? Threaten her so often and scare her so she does as you say?”

He paled and stepped back, and I kept going.

“Allow you to take her and lock her away? Work as a servant in her own home? Listen to your berating and insults?” I shook my head in anger.

“You will never see her again. You will never be allowed to touch her, hurt, or frighten her again. I will see you dead first.”

“Is that a threat?”

“I will do whatever it takes to protect my wife. You, Barnett, have forgotten your place. You no longer have authority over her. I am her husband, and she stays with me.”

“Which is exactly where I want to be.” Maddie spoke from behind me.

Spinning on my heel, I saw her approaching, clutching Geraldine’s hand. I had neglected to look past Geraldine in the wagon, and Maddie must have been beside her, hidden by Geraldine’s larger frame. Maddie was pale, and I could see her trembling even from where I stood. But her head was high, and although I could hear the tremor in her pitch, I doubted anyone else could.

“I will not leave my husband or the life I have here. I have no wish to speak with you, nor be alone in a room where you are.”

She stopped next to me, and I slipped my arm around her, holding her tightly to my side. I knew I should be angry with her for disobeying my order to stay in the house. For risking herself by being close to that awful excuse for a father. But I also felt a grudging admiration that she was standing up for herself—against the man who caused her so much pain and torment.

I squeezed her hip, letting her know I wasn’t angry.

She lifted her head higher. “You are not welcome here. Lord Wheaton speaks the truth. I was in the room that night, and I am neither a servant nor an old woman. You gave me away. Treated me like an animal after my mother died. My life was nothing but toil and pain. There is nary a thing you could say or do that would persuade me to leave my husband’s side.”