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She stepped out of the drawing room and swiftly walked across the entry hall, hoping to create more distance between her and Lord Hawthorne.
A deep, baritone voice came from behind her. “A word, Miss Dowding.”
Madalene stopped and closed her eyes in dread. The last thing she wanted to do right now was converse with him.
Slowly, she turned around and watched as he approached her. “Yes, Lord Hawthorne,” she said, hoping her words were cordial enough.
He stopped in front of her, leaving more than enough distance to be considered proper. “I would like to apologize for my harsh words earlier this morning.”
An apology? She had not been expecting that.
“Thank you for that, my lord,” she replied, and started to turn away, but his next words stopped her.
“I hope we can remain friends.”
“Friends?” she repeated back incredulously.
Lord Hawthorne was watching her with an intensity that she could not discern. “Am I being too presumptuous in assuming that we are friends?” he asked.
“No, you are not,” she rushed to say. “I would be honored to call you my friend.”
A smile came to his lips, making him devilishly handsome. Now where had that thought come from, she wondered.
He took a step closer to her and said, “I am happy to hear that, especially after everything we have been through.”
“I agree,” she responded, returning his smile.
They both remained rooted in their spots, smiling at one another, when Jane’s voice came from behind her brother.
“You must not delay Madalene’s departure any longer, Brother,” Jane remarked tersely.
Lord Hawthorne blinked, and the smile dropped from his lips. “Of course,” he replied. “My apologies… again.”
Madalene shifted her gaze towards Jane. “I shall see you tomorrow, Jane,” she said before turning to leave.
Once she had stepped onto the cobblestone courtyard, Madalene found her smile returning. Why did the thought of being Lord Hawthorne’s friend have to be so intriguing? And how was it possible that she was this fickle about him? Hadn’t she just been afraid of him?
Good heavens, she thought. She didn’t know what to think about Lord Hawthorne anymore.
