Secrets of the Heart (7 page)

Arms linked, Madeline and Hally entered the brilliantly lit dining room. Madeline grinned when her friend’s stomach growled. Beeswax candles flickered above from two crystal chandeliers, casting a crystalline dance of light upon the walls. An array of candelabra illuminated the room, barring dark shadows from entry.

The smell of fresh bread and roasted chicken permeated the cool evening air, but Madeline could not find her appetite.

“There you are, my darlings.” Her mother smiled pleasantly and greeted each of them with a kiss on the cheek. “Lady Hally, I am so glad you are staying with us for a while. Madeline’s mood is much improved with you about. You are like one of my own.”

“Thank you, Countess. You are most gracious to invite me. You know how I love to spend time here at Richfield with you and Maddie. This has always been my second home, and Maddie is like a sister to me as well as the dearest of friends.”

A flicker of sadness drifted through Madeline as she thought about the two sisters and only brother she’d lost. She looked across the room for their guest and shook off a gloomy feeling of despair.

Vale stood by the window. His thick blond hair and brilliant blue eyes shining in the candlelight produced an angelic glow that caused an intake of breath. For the first time she saw what her mother saw, and it frightened her.

He quickly crossed the room to greet them. “Lady Madeline, a pleasure to see you again.” He bowed low. In their previous meetings he had always been most sedate, almost boring. But tonight he seemed to crackle with some invisible energy. His presence sent a shiver of apprehension through her, and she glanced quickly at Hally. To her annoyance Hally appeared quite taken by the man.

“You must introduce me to your friend.” Vale turned to Hally with a gracious smile.

“Countess, may I introduce Lord Vale, an acquaintance of my father. Lord Vale, my dear friend, the Countess of Gilling.”

“It’s an honor to meet such a close friend of the family, Lady Gilling.” He bestowed a kiss on Hally’s gloved hand. “I am most fortunate to be in such lovely company this evening.”

Vale guided her mother to her seat as a footman seated Madeline and Hally. Madeline couldn’t help but notice how his hand lingered on her mother’s shoulder and his index finger just barely caressed the back of her neck before he moved away. Madeline also noticed a hint of a smile on her mother’s face.

When Vale sat down at the opposite end of the table, Madeline realized he occupied her father’s chair, a seat that had remained empty. Blood surged through her veins, and she jumped to her feet. “No! You must not sit there.”

“What?” Vale jumped up and looked about as though the ghost of Lord Richfield had materialized in the chair.

“That’s my father’s place.”

“I am so sorry.” Vale stood hastily and hovered behind the chair, abashed.

“How can you be so rude, Madeline?” her mother demanded. “Apologize this instant.”

Madeline looked to her mother for support, barely able to hold back the angry words she wanted to use. Her mother ignored the silent plea and turned her attention to their guest, her face flushed pink with embarrassment. “I am very sorry, Lord Vale.”

Madeline opened her mouth to speak. Her mother raised the palm of her hand, demanding silence. “I know this situation is difficult for you, Madeline, but you must accept it. There is nothing else to do.”

“Maddie,” Hally whispered and placed a comforting hand over hers.

When Madeline turned to her friend, she imagined an invisible flag of truce in the meaningful look that passed between them. She fought for composure.

Her mother rose from her seat and went directly to her guest. “Lord Vale. As you can see, this is distressing for my daughter. May I suggest that you sit near me?”

“Certainly.” Vale smiled apologetically. “I would enjoy that very much.” Vale moved to a seat near her mother. “I imagine it is quite difficult for a young lady to lose her father. I never knew my own father. He died when I was very young.”

Realizing the vehemence of her reaction, Madeline took her seat and lowered her eyes.
Why is this so hard, Lord? I’m acting as if my father still lives.

“I understand you took a rather nasty fall from your horse at Lord Selby’s hunt, Lady Madeline,” Vale said as he shook out his napkin, “and that Ravensmoore came to your aid. Does the injury bother you overmuch?”

“I find the pain increasing this evening.” She struggled to make polite conversation. “But the sling that Lord Ravensmoore fashioned for me is very helpful.”

“I’m glad to hear it. I was acquainted with Ravensmoore’s father and met his elder brother once. It must have been difficult when they died. No bodies to bury when a ship goes down.”

“How sad.” Madeline hadn’t considered this. He couldn’t visit the graves of his loved ones as she did. “A watery grave.”

“Forgive me, ladies,” Vale said. “That was insensitive to bring up in gentle company, and at dinner no less.”

Grace nodded. Madeline’s senses sharpened. “You are acquainted with Ravensmoore?”

“No. But I am quite certain his father would not have approved of his continued training as a physician after receiving the title. The entire
ton
snubs him. Think of it. A nobleman working at a trade. It’s preposterous.”

“I wouldn’t be so certain of that,” Hally said, after taking a sip of cider. “Lord Selby saw fit to invite him to the hunt. Not
all
of the
ton
has disapproved. I believe what he’s doing is quite honorable. Unusual, but honorable. Imagine what someone of his stature might accomplish.”

Madeline grappled with her thoughts, not wanting to agree with anything Vale might have to say, yet not wanting to come to Ravensmoore’s defense either. One emotion after the other followed her thoughts. “I think his choice is… is intriguing.”

“You do?” Hally asked, obviously surprised. “But… I thought you—”

Madeline kicked Hally under the table. “Yes. I think more noblemen might consider the pursuit of an honorable trade,” she said, looking directly at Vale. “What trade would you choose, Lord Vale?”

Vale smoothed his carefully knotted cravat. “Why, banking, to be sure,” he declared. “There my experience in investments could be put to the best use. I cannot imagine anything more gruesome or grisly than the medical field. Ravensmoore must be mad to pursue such a course.”

“Perhaps I am.” At that moment Ravensmoore himself appeared next to the grim-faced Phineas at the entryway to the dining room. The earl wore a black tailcoat and matching breeches, spotless Hessians, a knotted silk neck cloth, and a charming smile. “But it is a most fulfilling madness.”

Madeline’s jaw dropped, her heart skipped a beat, and she felt her face flush crimson. She groaned silently, thinking the evening could not get much worse. Ravensmoore didn’t look anything like a physician, or what she thought a physician should look like. He looked… exceptional.

Phineas stepped in front of their newly arrived guest and addressed her mother. “Lord Ravensmoore is calling to inquire about Lady Madeline’s injury. Should I have him wait in the parlor, madam?”

“Heavens no. What an unexpected and pleasant surprise. You must join us for dinner, Lord Ravensmoore.”

“I do not wish to impose, Countess Richfield.”

“Nonsense. Cook makes enough food to feed a village. Phineas, seat Lord Ravensmoore next to Madeline.”

Ravensmoore dropped smoothly into the seat next to Madeline, sending goose bumps up her spine and heat into her cheeks.

“I’m relieved to see your color coming back,” he said. “A healthy sign.”

Grace smiled. “I am most pleased that you have come to inquire of my daughter’s health. I worry about her.”

“I will do my best to relieve your fears, madam.” He caught Madeline’s eye again and smiled.

Madeline swallowed hard. Hally nudged her and cast a quick grin across the table. Ravensmoore’s proximity made it difficult to think… to breathe. He smelled of leather and spice that she could almost taste. Masculinity laced with risk and possibilities. It made her wonder what it would be like to …

Her thoughts hurtled toward disaster.

She could not be attracted to him. She simply couldn’t.

C
HAPTER 4

For he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

—P
SALM 44:21

D
EVLIN COULD NOT
take his eyes off Madeline, and the smell of her perfume, that mesmerizing scent of jasmine, nearly obliterated all else from his mind. He forced an ear to listen politely as the countess introduced him to Lord Vale.

“I heard you mention my father, sir. How is it that you knew him?”

“Primarily business dealings. I met your brother too.” Vale cut into the piece of venison on the Wedgwood plate.

Devlin’s gut reaction to Vale was one of mild annoyance. There was something pretentious about him. “And in what business dealings were you involved?”

Vale swallowed a bite of food, concentrating on his plate instead of maintaining eye contact with Ravensmoore. “Investments.”

“Ah, yes. Which investments?” Devlin probed, curious about this man and his relationship with his father.

“The East Indies.”

“I don’t recall any investments regarding the East Indies. Perhaps you are mistaken.”

“I am rarely mistaken in matters of business.”

Her mother interrupted. “Gentlemen, you must save this talk of business for after dinner. I believe we were discussing the idea of noblemen working at a trade. Lord Ravensmoore, why have you chosen to pursue a life in medicine?”

“Do tell,” Hally encouraged him.

“As the second son, I had already begun the study of medicine when my father and elder brother, Edward, died in a shipwreck. I simply chose to continue my studies along with my obligations as the heir.”

“There is nothing
simple
about that, sir. Your work is most honorable,” Hally said. “I’ve never heard of any gentleman doing such a thing. Have you, Lady Madeline?”

“No. Never.” Madeline fidgeted with her fork, picked up the utensil briefly, put it back on the table, and looked everywhere but at the man next to her.

“Indeed,” Vale said dryly. “What is the purpose of such an act?”

Devlin considered Vale’s attitude, an attitude he’d become all too familiar with since he’d come into the title. “To help those less fortunate than myself, sir.”

“A noble gesture, but quite unnecessary.” Vale reached for a piece of bread and knocked over his glass. “So sorry.” He tried to keep the spreading river flowing toward him from spilling over the edge of the table and ruining his clothes. A footman scrambled to clean up the mess.

Devlin caught the smile that Madeline could not contain.
She doesn’t find Vale agreeable either. I wonder why?
Vale appeared to be a real dandy and possibly a skilled liar as well. Devlin knew his father never had holdings or investments in the East Indies. Yet Vale claimed otherwise. Perhaps he wished to impress Countess Richfield.

“I find that easing the pain of those who suffer is an absolute necessity,” Devlin said pointedly. “If God has placed it upon my heart to become a physician, I would be unwise not to follow that path.”

Madeline turned to look at him. Her piercing hazel eyes seemed to swim in a storm of emotion. “But you are of a higher social rank. It is not done, Lord Ravensmoore.”

“That does not mean it shouldn’t be done.” Devlin searched her face expecting to see disapproval there, but instead saw only curiosity and perhaps respect.

She quickly composed herself. Her emotions vanished from her face like a turtle that suddenly disappears into its shell when danger approaches.

“I think it is wonderful,” Hally said. “Bravo, Lord Ravensmoore. May God bless you and your pursuits.”

Looking directly at Madeline, Devlin said, “I believe He already has.”

Vale cleared his throat. “There are many ways to help those less fortunate than ourselves, Ravensmoore. For instance, it came to my attention through a business associate that the Ashcroft Lunatic Asylum was in need of financial assistance. I visited the wretched place and improved the conditions of the kitchen and the food they were providing those unfortunate souls.” He shook his head. “Since this estate is near the asylum, I should alert you that one of the young women escaped from the asylum two days ago.”