A Dangerous Pursuit (Regency Spies & Secrets Book 1), Laura Beers [romantic books to read TXT] 📗

concern evident in her voice. “He keeps promising to find Edith, but what can a marquess truly do?”

Graham stepped back into the room. “The coach is waiting for you out front, Miss,” he announced, then approached the door and opened it.

Mrs. Foster placed a hand on her shoulder. “Just think about what I have said.”

“You know I always do,” Madalene replied before heading out the door.

After she was situated in the coach, Madalene rubbed her reddened wrists. They still continued to hurt, despite the lotion that she put on them when the powder had failed to help.

Her thoughts strayed back to earlier in the day when Lord Hawthorne had come to call. She recalled the hurt that was on his face when she flinched. She hadn’t thought he was going to hit her, but she had simply reacted. Frankly, she wasn’t entirely sure what Lord Hawthorne was capable of. All she knew was that he was so much more than he let on.

What concerned her the most was that he was associating with the miscreants of Society. Why was a marquess even associated with men who were abducting women? She was missing something, and it was driving her mad!

Which one is the real Lord Hawthorne, she wondered. The one who was starting to occupy her thoughts during the day, or the cold, unfeeling man from the pub who haunted her dreams at night? She wanted to believe the best of him, but she refused to be fooled.

The coach came to a stop in front of Hawthorne House, and the coach dipped as the footman stepped off his perch. He put the step down and then assisted Madalene out of the coach.

She approached the door and knocked. A moment later, it was opened by the butler, who had a kind smile on his lips. “Good afternoon, Miss Dowding,” he greeted, opening the door wide. “Lady Jane has been expecting you and is in the drawing room.”

As Madalene stepped into the entry hall, she asked, “Is Lord Hawthorne home?”

“He is not.”

She let out a sigh of relief. “That is wonderful news.”

The butler lifted his brow. “Miss?”

Realizing her blunder, Madalene turned and headed towards the drawing room. She stepped into the room, then closed the door behind her.

Jane gave her a curious look as she sat at the writing desk. “Is everything all right?”

“No,” Madalene replied honestly.

Placing the quill down, Jane shifted in her chair to face Madalene. “Then you must tell me what is going on.”

Madalene started pacing the small room. “Your brother is…” Her voice trailed off.

“Vexing!” Jane exclaimed. “Irritating!”

“Yes, to both of those things, but he is also…” Her voice stopped. Why couldn’t she think of the right word to describe Lord Hawthorne?

“Bothersome?” Jane attempted.

“Yes, that, too. But I am thinking of a specific word.”

Jane smiled mischievously. “I like this game,” she said. “What about devil’s spawn?”

“No, nothing that harsh.”

“I know,” Jane declared, her voice rising in excitement. “My brother is a nincompoop!”

Madalene giggled, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth. “You are terrible, but that is a good way to describe him.”

“It feels good to call him names,” Jane said, rising.

“I must admit that it does.”

Jane walked over to the settee and sat down. She patted the seat next to her and asked, “Now, will you tell me what is going on with you and my brother?”

“Nothing is going on between us,” Madalene replied.

“Heavens, you don’t truly expect me to believe that, do you?”

“It is not what you are thinking.”

“Good,” Jane replied. “Why don’t you start with why my brother called on you a few days ago?”

Madalene walked over and sat down on the seat next to her friend. “He had a lead on some missing girls, and he thought one of them might be Edith. Furthermore, he needed to ask a favor of me.”

“Which was?”

“He needed to abduct me,” she replied, holding her breath, “and use me as bait.”

Jane jumped up from her seat. “And you allowed him to do this—willingly?”

“I did,” Madalene said. “He took me to where the other missing girls were being held and a man tied my wrists together. Then, we were to wait for Bow Street Runners to rescue us.”

“And?”

“The Bow Street Runners didn’t raid the pub until much later, but they did rescue five girls that were about to be sold into slavery,” she admitted.

“Was Edith among the missing girls?”

“Sadly, she was not.”

Jane placed a hand on her hip. “And where was my brother during all of this?”

“He went to have a drink with the man who tied my hands together,” Madalene revealed.

“Didn’t he at least see you home?”

Madalene shook her head. “Lord Oliver saw to that,” she said. “He arrived with a coach and ensured I returned home safely.”

“What were you thinking, Madalene?” Jane asked. “You put your life in the hands of my brother. That was rather a stupid thing to do.”

“I just wanted to find Edith.”

“As do I, but not at the expense of losing you, as well,” Jane said as she returned to her seat.

Madalene pressed her lips together before admitting, “I worry that your brother might be in danger.”

“Why do you say that?”

“He is associating with disreputable people, and I couldn’t help but see his demeanor change in front of my captor.”

“In what way?”

“It was as if he became another person,” Madalene muttered. “I know that sounds foolish, but it is true.”

“That doesn’t surprise me in the least,” Jane said with a shake of her head, “especially since I don’t recognize the man who came home.”

Madalene shifted in her seat. “We must help him.”

“How?”

“Will you talk to him?”

Jane huffed. “My brother and I aren’t exactly on speaking terms right now.”

“Why is that?”

“I’m afraid it is fairly complicated,” Jane remarked dismissively.

Madalene blew out a puff of air. “I see.”

“But,” Jane hesitated, “I will see what I can do.”

“Thank you,” Madalene said. “You are the best…”

Her voice trailed off when the door to the drawing room opened and Lord Hawthorne stepped into the room. His eyes widened when