Glancing at the blood-stained fabric, Madeline shrugged, “I cut myself when I climbed in the window. It’s not serious.” Then she turned to see Mrs. Dunning wrap her arms around her daughter, tears streaming down her face. “We should return to Huntington House to see to the family.”
“We can take care of them,” Mr. Thompson offered as he leaned closer so she would hear him, his eyes kind as he looked at her. “You’ve done enough for one night. Mr. Brewer will take ye home.” He glanced at Sean.
“You’re very kind, Mr. Thompson,” Madeline replied, touched by the support among their tenants, “and I thank you for your help in coming out in this storm. But I’m certain my husband would insist on it as must I. I promise they will be well-looked after at Huntington House.” Madeline hoped that Mr. Thompson would not resist further as she did not want to point out that despite everything Huntington House still had more means to take in a family of three. Their tenants were already forced to make due with very little, and yet, they were still willing to share it. Madeline did not wish to insult their generosity.
After a long moment, Mr. Thompson nodded, approval and respect in his eyes as he looked at her. “As ye wish, my lady.” Then he gestured to another man. “Will, help me carry Mrs. Dunning.”
With Erin still in Sean’s arms and Mr. Thompson as well as Mr. Tanner carrying Mrs. Dunning, the group slowly made their way back up the slope toward the manor. Leaning forward against the wind, Madeline swallowed, wondering what having Mrs. Dunning under the same roof would mean for her marriage.
And yet, she could not walk away. The family deserved their help.
Madeline could only hope that it would not end in a disaster.
Chapter Thirty-Four ? Two Women
Never in his life had time passed so excruciatingly slowly.
Gritting his teeth, Derek glanced out the window as the wind howled and rain splattered against the house. The world seemed to be falling apart, and here he was, safe and sound in bed, while his wife was out there, braving the elements to save Meagan and her daughter.
Derek knew it should be him, not her.
And yet, she had insisted.
And he had complied.
I cannot lose you, he had said to her, and he had meant it, hoping to show her how much she meant to him.
A frown came to his face as he remembered her reply. Me? Or her?
Did she doubt him? He wondered. Did she suspect?? Remembering Tristan’s words, he flinched. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you gave her a reason to be jealous. Had he?
Inhaling a calm breath, Derek felt his hands clench and unclench as his thoughts ran rampant.
Then voices as well as footsteps drifted to his ears.
A lot of footsteps.
Unable to remain in bed any longer?to hell with his wife’s instructions! ?Derek pulled away the blanket and got to his feet. Swaying slightly, he held up his arms to find his balance and then took careful steps toward the door. Once he had it open, the sounds grew louder, and he could make out the voices of his family as well as some of his tenants.
But not Meagan’s.
And not his wife’s.
His heart beat painfully in his chest as he hastened down the stairs as fast as he could. However, as he approached the kitchen, he realised that the commotion was not born out of tension and fear, but rather out of relief and accomplishment. Instantly, the rapid beating of his heart calmed.
Stepping inside the kitchen, Derek found that his entrance had gone unnoticed as everyone was turned to Meagan and her daughter. Sitting on a chair, she held the sleeping child in her arms, rocking her gently.
“Do not worry, dear,” Derek’s mother said, brushing a comforting hand over the little girl’s forehead. “She simply seems to be sleeping it off.” Then she knelt and took a hold of Meagan’s right foot. A frown drew down her brows as she examined it. “Ah, ye’ll have to stay off it for a while, but it should be fine. I don’t think anything’s broken.”
Derek exhaled in relief.
“Did I not tell you to stay in bed?”
Closing his eyes, Derek drew in a deep breath at the slightly hostile tone in his wife’s voice. Then he turned around to face her, noting the amused grins on his tenants’ faces. “I see you have returned,” he said by way of greeting, his eyes travelling over her beautiful face, her eyes narrowed as she regarded him with displeasure. Then he took note of the blood-stained handkerchief wrapped around her arm.
Immediately, he shot forward, pulling her against him. “You’re hurt,” he whispered, his gaze searching hers.
Seeing the concern on his face, her frown lessened. “It is nothing.”
He swallowed, wishing they were alone and not the centre of everyone’s attention.
As moments passed, Madeline’s gaze narrowed once more. “Go upstairs and lie down,” she instructed once again. Then she stepped back and turned to Sean. “Make sure he’ll stay there.”
Unable to hide the grin that came to his face, Derek chuckled, noting with satisfaction the good-natured laughter around him. Whatever his wife had done tonight, it had earned her the respect of their tenants. “I shall go,” Derek conceded, “as long as you allow my mother to treat your wound.”
“Fine,” she snapped, then pointed to the door.
With one last look over his shoulder, Derek allowed Sean to guide him out of the kitchen. “What happened?” he asked when they were no longer within earshot.
“The roof had caved in,” Sean explained as they climbed up the stairs step by step. “Mrs. Dunning was stuck and her daughter unconscious. Your wife climbed in through the window and was about to climb back out with the girl in her arms when we arrived.” He shook his head, admiration shining in his eyes. “She went in there all by herself. She didn’t wait for us.”
Derek drew in a deep breath. “How did she hurt herself?”
“She cut herself on the broken window,” Sean explained as he opened the door to Derek’s bedchamber, chuckling. “She didn’t fuss about it at all.” Turning his head, he met Derek’s gaze. “She’s come a long way. She fits in here nicely, don’t you think?”
Smiling, Derek nodded. “She only needed to find her way. Now that she has, she’ll be unstoppable.” Chuckling, he sank back down onto the bed, feeling his limbs tremble from the exertion of walking up and down the stairs. “I suppose we won’t have a moment of peace from now on.”
Sean laughed, “Did we ever before?”
As his brother-in-law returned downstairs to help see the family comfortably settled, Derek forced himself to relax. Although he preferred to handle everything himself, he knew that he could trust his family. They were capable and did whatever necessary with a devoted heart and a competent mind.
As was his wife.
But then again, he had always known that.
Only now, she seemed to have come to realise it as well.
***
It was long past midnight when the house had finally settled down.
“Go on up, dear,” Bessy told her, cleaning away the last remnants of tonight’s emergency. “Ye deserve a good night’s sleep or whatever’s left of it.” Chuckling, her mother-in-law squeezed her hand. Then her eyes became serious, and she nodded her head in acknowledgement. “I’m proud of ye, Madeline. My son truly knew what he did when he chose ye for his wife.”
Inhaling deeply, Madeline stared at her mother-in-law, too stunned to respond. Tears filled her eyes at the kind words because she knew it was not merely a platitude but heartfelt and honest. “Thank you,” was all she could manage as her throat closed.
Looking at her daughter-in-law, Bessy smiled, gently placing a hand to Madeline’s cheek. “Go to sleep, dear. Tomorrow will be a new day.”
Nodding, Madeline stepped away and headed upstairs, her heart filled with the many kind words she had received tonight. And yet, she knew it was not merely what she had done tonight that had changed the way their tenants saw her, but how she had come to feel.
Without knowing when it had happened, Madeline realised that she felt at home at Huntington House and with its people, and the thought of leaving seemed far-fetched and unrealistic as though she had never truly contemplated it.
The world seemed suddenly different.
Brighter.