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

“You mustn’t blame yourself,” Mrs. Foster said, reassuringly. “Sometimes people hide their pain from others, and they won’t let anyone in.”

Shifting to face her companion, Madalene replied, “She was paying off her mother’s debts and trying to start a new life. Why would she do those things if she had planned to kill herself?”

Mrs. Foster offered her a sad smile. “I’m afraid I can’t answer that.”

“I would like to be the first to offer my condolences, Miss Dowding,” Mr. Walker said. “I hope I did the right thing by telling you.”

“You did,” Madalene rushed to assure him, “and I thank you for coming to see me.”

“You are welcome,” Mr. Walker replied. “I shall see myself out, then.”

Madalene rose from the settee. “Before you go, will you inform Miss Hardy’s mother that I would like to pay for the funeral costs?”

Mr. Walker visibly stiffened. “That is most kind of you. However, Miss Hardy will not be allowed to be buried in a parish cemetery due to the nature of her death. She will most likely be buried at a crossroad with her head downwards.”

“Then I wish to give Mrs. Hardy one hundred pounds for all the costs associated with her daughter’s death. With any luck, she can start anew with the money.”

“That is more than generous, Miss Dowding,” Mr. Walker acknowledged. “I shall see to securing the funds and informing Mrs. Hardy of your decision.”

“Thank you, Mr. Walker,” Madalene said. “I do appreciate your help with this delicate situation.”

Mr. Walker tipped his head. “My job is but to serve you, Miss.”

After her solicitor left the room, Madalene returned to the settee, retreating into her own thoughts. She couldn’t seem to process what she had been told. There was no way that Edith had killed herself. No. It was ludicrous to even think that she would.

“Madalene,” Mrs. Foster spoke softly, “how are you faring?”

Madalene brought her gaze back up. “Edith wouldn’t have killed herself.”

Mrs. Foster sighed. “Madalene—”

“I know her!” Madalene exclaimed, cutting her off. “She wouldn’t have left her mother and sister without a fight.”

“We don’t know what drives someone to end their life, but—”

Madalene jumped up from the settee, causing Mrs. Foster to stop speaking. “No! Nothing you say will convince me otherwise,” she asserted as she rushed out of the drawing room.

She didn’t stop running until she arrived at the gardens, finally giving herself permission to cry. It felt good to let the tears fall, to express her emotions so freely. There has to be a way to appeal the coroner’s decision, she thought. There must be! She refused to let her friend be buried head downwards.

What if anyone discovered my mother’s shame, she wondered. Would she be removed from her plot at the parish and buried at a crossroad, head down? Madalene felt the tremble of a sob as tears poured down her cheeks. No. She would never allow that to happen. She would fight to preserve her mother’s legacy, and Edith’s, as well.

A calm and collected voice broke through her thoughts. “Miss Dowding.”

Madalene turned around and saw Lord Hawthorne watching her from a short distance away, a concerned look on his face. Without thinking of the repercussions of her actions, she closed the distance between them and threw her arms around him.

To her great relief, he encompassed her in his arms and held her without saying a word. She laid her head on his chest and listened to the calming sound of his heartbeat beneath his blue jacket. She felt protected in his arms, making her feel as if she had found a new home.

After a long moment, and with great reluctance, Madalene stepped back and dropped her arms. “I apologize for my display of emotions, Lord Hawthorne,” she said, averting her gaze.

Lord Hawthorne took his finger and placed it under her chin, forcing her to look at him. “You have nothing to apologize for, Miss Dowding.”

“But I do,” she said. “I accosted you nearly the moment you said my name.”

He smiled, a charming smile that caused her to grow weak at the knees. “You are welcome to accost me anytime you see fit.”

Madalene felt her cheeks grow warm as he dropped his finger. “Well, I thank you for your kindness.”

“Perhaps you will tell me what has you so upset.”

With a sigh, she revealed, “Edith was found dead in the River Thames this morning.”

Lord Hawthorne grew solemn. “I am sorry to hear that. How are you faring?”

“Not well,” she admitted. “The coroner ruled her death as a suicide since there was no evidence of foul play, despite her room being ransacked prior to her disappearance.”

His brow knitted together in a frown. “Suicide, you say?”

She nodded. “But there is no way Edith would have killed herself,” she asserted. “I know her, and that is not something she was capable of doing.”

Placing his hands on her shoulders, Lord Hawthorne leaned in and said, “I believe you.”

“You do?”

“I do,” he replied. “I will go speak to the coroner, and I will see if we can sort this mess out.”

Tears formed in her eyes. “You would do that for me?”

A smile came to his lips. “I would, most assuredly.”

“Why?” she found herself asking.

His smile grew. “Typically, when someone agrees to do you a favor, you just reply with a thank you.”

“Thank you,” she murmured.

Lord Hawthorne dropped his arms but remained close. “If you don’t believe it was suicide, then how do you believe that Miss Hardy died?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted, “but I believe the people who abducted her must have killed her.”

“People are killed in the rookeries all the time, and the coroners can’t handle the workflow,” Lord Hawthorne said. “Most likely, the coroner didn’t give her autopsy the time it deserved.”

“I am sure that was the case.”

Lord Hawthorne glanced up at the sky. “Unfortunately, I have business I need to attend to this evening, but I will go speak to the coroner first thing tomorrow.”

“Thank you,” she responded, hoping her words conveyed her sincere gratitude. “This means more to