Read Online Protected by the Major by Anne Herries - Free Book Online

for her a little, if only sufficiently to protect her from her husband’s spite.
    If only she dared to run away. And yet could she ever find happiness after the pain Lethbridge had inflicted on her? There were times when she thought she had been scarred too deeply. He had done such things to her...things that shamed her and made her feel unworthy of a good man’s love.
    Madeline lay in bed for some time, wondering whether her husband would come to her in a rage, and, when in the early hours of the morning, she heard him enter the house, she tensed to receive the onslaught. However, he did not enter her room and after half an hour or so she fell into a deep sleep.
    * * *
    It was morning when her maid drew back the curtains and presented her with a tray of hot chocolate and sweet rolls.
    ‘Did you sleep well, my lady?’ Sally asked.
    ‘Yes, I did eventually.’ Madeline sat up and smiled at her. ‘Has my husband asked for me?’
    ‘No, I do not think so, ma’am.’
    ‘Very well. I shall get up when I’ve eaten my breakfast. Is it a nice day?’
    ‘A little wet this morning,’ Sally replied, ‘but Cook says it will clear this afternoon.’
    ‘We might go walking this afternoon,’ Madeline said. ‘I shall decide later.’
    Sally nodded and left her to the enjoyment of her hot chocolate. She was just finishing her rolls and honey when the door to the dressing room opened and Lethbridge entered her room. Madeline put her tray to one side and waited, expecting the tirade to begin. She was surprised when her husband looked at her with a wry smile.
    ‘It seems that you have charmed Rochdale, madam,’ he said. ‘I invited him to a card evening next week and he accepted. He does not yet know that he is to be my only guest. You must have intrigued him for he told me to give you his best wishes and tell you that he looked forward to seeing you soon.’
    ‘Oh...’ Madeline was surprised for she had quite expected the marquis to refuse after the scene in the garden. ‘May I have the rest of Papa’s notes now?’
    ‘Later,’ he said and glared at her. ‘I do not see why you want them. I shall not ruin my wife’s father. Unless...’ His eyes narrowed. ‘Do you think to get them and then leave me?’
    ‘No, of course not,’ she said, but her cheeks were warm.
    ‘You are ungrateful, Madeline. Why I bother with you I do not know. I could find a dozen willing women to fill your place—and I’ll warrant they would give me a child in return for what you have.’
    She raised her head. ‘Yes, I dare say they might. Yet I have never refused you, sir.’
    ‘I’ve paid for you and I intend to get my money’s worth out of you yet. If I can’t get a son from you, I’ll bring the boy my mistress bore me here. She’s a whore, but worth two of a sourpuss like you. If she were a lady, I would marry her. I dare say her son would make me a better heir than any you could give me. At least he would have some spirit in him.’
    Madeline felt the colour drain from her cheeks in shock. How could he say such cruel things to her?
    ‘Why do you not divorce me?’ she asked, her throat tight with misery. ‘You could marry again and get yourself a legitimate heir.’
    ‘Maybe I shall,’ Lethbridge said. ‘God knows, I am sick of your pale face and your complaints. Yet I may need you again to persuade Rochdale to my way of thinking. Behave yourself and do as I tell you and I may give you your father’s notes and your freedom.’
    Madeline watched as he walked from the bedchamber. What did he want of her now? She had cheapened herself by flirting with the marquis and she knew that Rochdale would not be denied a second time. She’d imagined he would be angry and refuse her husband’s invitation to dine, but he had accepted and sent her a message. Was it some kind of a veiled threat?
    Was he imagining that he could seduce her under her husband’s nose—perhaps with Lethbridge’s permission?
    What did her husband want from