Protected by the Major by Anne Herries Page B

what could I do?’ Madeline’s hand trembled she put it to her mouth. ‘Lethbridge will not be pleased with me. I made him give me some of the notes and then I burned them—now I have failed him. Rochdale will never accept that invitation now.’
    ‘If you fear your husband, come away with me now,’ Hallam said. ‘I will hide you from him and find a way to make him release you from the promise you were forced to give.’
    ‘If only I could,’ she said and her eyelashes were wet with tears. ‘I feel so ashamed. That horrible man has been pawing me all night and now...it was all for nothing. But you must not risk your life for me. I am not worth it. I am soiled...not worth your notice.’
    ‘It is not your fault if the man is a rogue,’ Hallam said. ‘Do not tell Lethbridge what happened out here. He need only know that you did as he asked. It is not your fault if the marquis refuses your husband’s invitation.’
    Hallam took his clean white kerchief and wiped her cheeks with it. He smiled down at her, then gave her his hand and helped her to rise.
    ‘Thank you. You are so kind to me and I do not deserve it.’
    ‘You deserve far more, but I am not sure how much I can do—other than to call Lethbridge out.’
    ‘If I had succeeded in getting all my father’s notes, I should have left him,’ she said. ‘He will be so angry when he realises I have not done what he asked.’
    ‘I will do what I can. If I could win the notes back in a card game, would you leave him?’
    ‘He would never stake them. Besides, he is very lucky. He wins far more than he loses.’
    ‘Does he, indeed? Do you think he wanted the marquis to dine at your house so that they might play cards?’
    ‘Lethbridge often has his friends to dine. I am his hostess at dinner—but when they play cards I retire for I am not allowed to gamble more than a few shillings at the loo table.’
    ‘Do you wish to?’
    ‘No, not at all, but neither do I wish to watch others gamble. I believe Lethbridge and his friends play deep at times.’
    Hallam nodded. He had heard that the marquis was wealthy and perhaps that was why Lethbridge hoped to lure him into one of his card games. Perhaps it would be better to watch the count and his friends at play before taking a hand himself.
    ‘May I take you home, Madeline?’
    ‘Thank you, I shall go alone—if you would send for my carriage for me, please?’
    ‘Yes, of course. Go up and put on your cloak. I will make your excuses to your husband...tell him that you felt a little faint and decided to leave.’
    ‘Thank you. He will be angry, but perhaps he will wait until tomorrow before venting his anger on me. And I truly have the headache.’
    Hallam smiled at her, then bent his head to kiss her hand. They parted, he to order her carriage brought round and she to put on her cloak.
    * * *
    When she came downstairs, Hallam escorted her out to her carriage and assisted her inside. He held her hand a moment longer.
    ‘I should like to meet somewhere—do you walk or ride?’
    ‘Sometimes I walk with my maid in Hyde Park on fine afternoons.’
    ‘Can you trust her?’
    ‘Yes, with my life.’
    ‘Then meet me one day this week—perhaps tomorrow.’
    ‘I am not sure. Perhaps the following day?’
    ‘I will visit the park every day between two and three,’ he said. ‘Do not despair, Madeline. I will find a way to free you from Lethbridge.’
    She smiled, but said nothing, sitting back in her carriage. Hallam told the man to drive on and then went back into the house.
    It was time to seek out Lethbridge and discover what kind of a man he was—and why he was so fortunate at the card tables.
    * * *
    Hal had rescued her from the marquis. She trembled as she recalled the way he’d looked at her. At first he’d blamed her for her shocking behaviour, but he’d understood once she’d told him that her husband had forced her to flirt with the marquis. He’d asked her to run away with him...he must still care