The following day, Hart returned to London. When he walked into the blue salon, he found Maddie on the sofa, poring over fashion magazines with his sister.
“Hart!” Maddie jumped up and came over to him.
“Sweetheart.” Hart kissed her.
His sister greeted him from the sofa. He found her much changed with a lift of her shoulders and interest in her eyes. More as he remembered when Edgar lived. “Diane, I’m glad you could come. I hope you had an unremarkable journey?”
“Tedious, at best, uncomfortable at worst,” Diane said as he bent to kiss her cheek. “You look a little weary, Hart.”
“A hot drink and a bite to eat shall restore me.”
Maddie pulled the bell. “Any news, Hart?”
“A lot has happened.” He sank into the chair opposite the sofa. He sat forward, his hands resting on his knees, and related his experiences of the last few days while Diane expressed her horror and Maddie’s eyes grew wide. When he’d said as much as he was prepared to, filtering out the bloodthirsty bits, they fell silent.
“My uncle is really dead?” Maddie looked stunned.
“He is. Along with his two henchmen.”
“Shot by some lord of the realm? I thought they were good men.”
“Not always, Maddie,” Hart said dryly.
“What is his name?”
“We don’t know that yet.”
“We?” She pounced on the word, and he swore under his breath. Maddie would not want him to have any further involvement in this.
“The magistrate investigating him,” he said calmly.
“I can’t say I’m sorry for the man,” Diane said. “It’s hard to believe he could treat the niece in his care so cruelly.” She turned to Maddie. “I am surprised your father chose him for your guardian.”
“There simply was no one else. And Papa didn’t know what my uncle was capable of,” Maddie said quickly, eager to defend her father. “My Aunt Elizabeth was ill and there was some talk at the time that she might not live.” She smiled. “Thankfully, Aunt Libby has rallied since, and is here in London for her daughter’s debut.”
“The work on the estate is finished.” Hart attempted to lighten the atmosphere after the distressing conversation about Maddie’s uncle. He wanted to move on and put this affair with Wakeham behind them, so that when he carried out the magistrate’s wishes, Maddie would not be involved. “I expect a letter from Uncle William’s solicitors advising me they are to proceed with probate of the estate.”
Maddie came to sit on the arm of his chair. “Oh, that is such good news, Hart. I can’t wait to see the changes to Pembury.”
He searched her face, finding strain in her brown eyes. He wanted to pull her down to him and hold her close when she’d been through so much. To tell her this nightmare was at an end.
Two footmen carried trays in loaded with the tea things and plates of small pies, sandwiches, and cake. While Maddie served the tea, Hart took a pork pie and bit into it, enjoying the crisp pastry and meaty flavor. He nodded his thanks as she placed the teacup before him. He studied his wife, who looked like a breath of spring in a new gown. “Your gowns have arrived?”
“Yes.” She smoothed the frilly sleeve of the muslin gown patterned with spring green leaves. A matching ribbon sat snug beneath her bosom, and another was woven through her red hair. “My gown is to be finished in time for the ball.” She chewed her bottom lip. Something he noticed she did when she was worried. He would ask her what troubled her later.
As the footmen removed the trays, Hart stood. “I will leave you ladies to your discussion.” He gestured to the books stacked on a small occasional table, none of which, he suspected, came from the library.
“I’ll come with you, Hart,” Maddie said. “There is something I must tell you.” She turned back to Diane. “I’ll be only a moment, Diane.”
Diane’s eyes sparkled. She picked up a book. “There’s no rush. But I shall read all the best scenes while you are gone.”
Laughing, Maddie left the room. In the corridor, Hart bent and kissed her. A footman appeared, and he took her hand and walked with her to the library.
As soon as the door closed, he pulled her into his arms. “I’ve missed you.”
She traced her fingers along his jaw. “I missed you, too.”
“Do you enjoy having Diane to stay?”