I’ve come here to marry you.
Maddie blamed her upbringing. Every gentleman’s daughter was raised to believe that those words—-when spoken by a reasonably attractive, well--intentioned gentleman—-were her key to bliss. Marriage, she’d been taught over the course of a thousand dollhouse tea parties, should be her desire, her goal . . . her very reason for existing.
So ingrained was this lesson that Maddie had actually felt a foolish zing of exhilaration when he’d declared this preposterous intent. A little voice inside her had kept standing up to cheer. You’ve finally made the grade! At last, a man wants to marry you.
Sit down, she’d told it. And be still.
She refused to define her personal worth on the basis of a marriage proposal. Much less this one. Which was not a true proposal but a threat—-delivered by a man who was not a gentleman, not well intentioned, and attractive to an unreasonable degree.
“I never dreamed that this was possible.” Maddie circled her spoon in the bowl again and again. “I can’t imagine how it occurred.”
“To be sure, I’m stunned as well. The back--from--the--dead part is quite a shock, of course. Even more than that . . .” Her aunt propped her chin on the back of her hand and stared out the window looking onto the courtyard. “Just look at that man.”
Maddie followed her aunt’s gaze.
Captain MacKenzie stood in the center of the grassy space, giving directions to the small band of soldiers in his command. His men had brought their horses inside the castle walls to be fed and watered and stabled for the night. After that, they’d expressed an intent to make camp.
They were practically taking up residence.
Dear heaven. How had this happened?
The same way all of it had happened, Maddie told herself.
It was her fault.
She’d made one mistake years ago, in much the same way a child made a snowball. It had been a small, manageable, innocent--looking thing at first. It had fit in the palm of her hand.
Then the snowball had rolled away from her and taken a wild bounce down a hill. From there, everything escaped her control. The lies built on themselves, growing ever larger and gaining furious speed. And no matter how long and hard she chased after it, she never quite managed to get the snowball back.
“To think that my little Madling—-at the tender age of sixteen—-snagged that glorious specimen. And here I thought you only collected seashells.” Aunt Thea toyed with her cuff bracelet. “I know you told us a great deal of your captain, but I assumed you were overstating his qualities. It would seem you were being humble instead. Were I thirty years younger, I’d—-”
“Aunt Thea, please.”
“Now I understand why you resisted marrying elsewhere all this time. A man like that will ruin a woman for all others. I know it well. It was just the same between me and the Comte de Montclair. Ah, to relive that springtime at Versailles.” She looked over at Maddie again. “You haven’t touched your posset.”
Maddie peered at the lumpy, aromatic mess before her. “It smells . . . adventurous.”
“It’s just the usual. Hot milk, curdled with ale. A bit of sugar, anise, clove.”
“Are you certain that’s all?” Maddie gathered a spoonful. “No special ingredients?”
“Oh, yes. I did add a dram of Dr. Hargreaves’ Elixir. And a pinch of pickling spice to clear the phlegm.” She nodded at the bowl. “Go on. Be a good girl and eat it up. We’ve hours yet before dinner. I told your captain to bring his men in for the evening meal once they’ve settled.”
“We’re going to feed them?” Everyone knew that once you fed a pack of wandering beasts, they’d never leave. “Cook will quit in protest.”
“They’re soldiers. They’ll only want simple fare. Bread, beef, puddings. No need for a lavish menu.” Aunt Thea raised a silver brow. “Unless you’re offering up a pair of lobsters?”
Maddie looked up, horrified. “Fluffy and Rex? How could you even suggest it?”
“What I’m suggesting, my dear, is that your time as a shellfish voyeur may be drawing to a close.”
“But I’ve been commissioned by Mr. Orkney to draw a series illustrating the lobster’s life cycle. Mating is only one part of it. They can live for decades.”
The lobsters were only one of a few small projects she had underway. With a bit of luck—-and Lord Varleigh’s assistance—-she hoped to have larger undertakings soon.
“You have a life cycle of your own to get on with.” Aunt Thea placed her hands atop Maddie’s. “Now that the captain has returned, you can be married soon. That is, assuming you still want to marry him. Do you not?”
Maddie met her aunt’s gaze.