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Authors: Jillian Kent
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father.”
“I did not say anything about my father.” Madeline walked away from him.
“You didn’t have to. I understand your anger.” He kept pace with her.
“You, sir, understand nothing about me. Do you fancy yourself a physician of the mind?”
He grabbed her hand. “Stop. I’m sorry that I’ve upset you.”
Madeline faced him. “Why do you persist?”
“I only wanted to help you. As far as being a doctor of the mind, I feel strongly that every physician must do his fair share of ‘maddoctoring,’ as it is called, to take into account a patient’s thoughts as well as the aches and problems of the body. Is not the brain a part of the body?”
“Of course. But I don’t wish to speak of such things. My brain and my thoughts are not for you to understand. Why don’t you visit Ashcroft if you wish to pursue the mad-doctoring trade?”
Ravensmoore looked as though she’d slapped him. Madeline took a step back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. It’s been a difficult day.”
He nodded. “You need rest. I’ll walk you to the house, and then I must be on my way.” He offered her his arm.
Madeline hesitated and then put her arm through his as they continued toward the house. “What do you think of Lord Vale’s impressions of the girl who escaped Ashcroft?”
“Madness is a serious affliction and not to be taken lightly. I feel sorry for the young woman, but she must be found and returned to the asylum.”
“If you discovered her, would you return her to Ashcroft?”
“Yes. It’s the only thing that can be done. I talked to Lord Vale about her after dinner. The keepers at the asylum are hunting for her as we speak. It’s only a matter of time until she is caught, if she can survive the out-of-doors and the dangers of the forest.”
“She’s no better off than the fox on the hunt field. I cannot help but feel pity for her. To be locked away forever. To be hunted like a helpless animal. She has no hope of a life outside the walls of Ashcroft. It breaks my heart.”
“You are most compassionate, Lady Madeline. Few women would concern themselves with such matters. It almost sounds as if you know the girl.”
Madeline lowered her gaze. “Of course I don’t know her.” The lie hurt. She didn’t want to keep the truth hidden, but she felt there was no recourse. If she told Vale or Ravensmoore, then Amanda would be sent back. “But if I did, I would consider helping her.”
“And you would place yourself and perhaps others in peril.”
She’d seen the bruises and the marks from what must have been shackles. Ashcroft didn’t seem to be the place anyone would want to be regardless of the improvements to the kitchens and the food that Vale claimed.
“And what of compassion?” she asked. “You claim to be a compassionate man.”
“What of the law? Even compassion must answer to the courts if it interferes with the law.”
“We’ve talked too long. Countess Gilling and my mother will be concerned.”
They walked out of the maze and back through the paths that led to the house. Madeline opened the French doors to the parlor anxious to rid herself of Ravensmoore and nearly collided with her mother wrapped in Lord Vale’s arms and being thoroughly kissed.
C HAPTER 5
A friend loveth at all time, and a
brother is born for adversity.
—P ROVERBS 17:17
D EVLIN AWOKE BEFORE dawn to the sound of rain splattering against the windows and the scent of Mrs. Hogarth’s cooking drifting through his room. Edna Hogarth always had a tasty breakfast waiting for him. The extra coin he supplied saw to that. Sniffing the air like a hound on the trail of his dinner, Devlin’s stomach growled. He realized he hadn’t eaten much of the delicious meal served at Richfield. He’d found Madeline far more interesting than food.
The chill of the cold floor seeped through his thick stockings. Devlin wiggled his toes to warm them then breathed a sigh of relief; he would not be late
“I did not say anything about my father.” Madeline walked away from him.
“You didn’t have to. I understand your anger.” He kept pace with her.
“You, sir, understand nothing about me. Do you fancy yourself a physician of the mind?”
He grabbed her hand. “Stop. I’m sorry that I’ve upset you.”
Madeline faced him. “Why do you persist?”
“I only wanted to help you. As far as being a doctor of the mind, I feel strongly that every physician must do his fair share of ‘maddoctoring,’ as it is called, to take into account a patient’s thoughts as well as the aches and problems of the body. Is not the brain a part of the body?”
“Of course. But I don’t wish to speak of such things. My brain and my thoughts are not for you to understand. Why don’t you visit Ashcroft if you wish to pursue the mad-doctoring trade?”
Ravensmoore looked as though she’d slapped him. Madeline took a step back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. It’s been a difficult day.”
He nodded. “You need rest. I’ll walk you to the house, and then I must be on my way.” He offered her his arm.
Madeline hesitated and then put her arm through his as they continued toward the house. “What do you think of Lord Vale’s impressions of the girl who escaped Ashcroft?”
“Madness is a serious affliction and not to be taken lightly. I feel sorry for the young woman, but she must be found and returned to the asylum.”
“If you discovered her, would you return her to Ashcroft?”
“Yes. It’s the only thing that can be done. I talked to Lord Vale about her after dinner. The keepers at the asylum are hunting for her as we speak. It’s only a matter of time until she is caught, if she can survive the out-of-doors and the dangers of the forest.”
“She’s no better off than the fox on the hunt field. I cannot help but feel pity for her. To be locked away forever. To be hunted like a helpless animal. She has no hope of a life outside the walls of Ashcroft. It breaks my heart.”
“You are most compassionate, Lady Madeline. Few women would concern themselves with such matters. It almost sounds as if you know the girl.”
Madeline lowered her gaze. “Of course I don’t know her.” The lie hurt. She didn’t want to keep the truth hidden, but she felt there was no recourse. If she told Vale or Ravensmoore, then Amanda would be sent back. “But if I did, I would consider helping her.”
“And you would place yourself and perhaps others in peril.”
She’d seen the bruises and the marks from what must have been shackles. Ashcroft didn’t seem to be the place anyone would want to be regardless of the improvements to the kitchens and the food that Vale claimed.
“And what of compassion?” she asked. “You claim to be a compassionate man.”
“What of the law? Even compassion must answer to the courts if it interferes with the law.”
“We’ve talked too long. Countess Gilling and my mother will be concerned.”
They walked out of the maze and back through the paths that led to the house. Madeline opened the French doors to the parlor anxious to rid herself of Ravensmoore and nearly collided with her mother wrapped in Lord Vale’s arms and being thoroughly kissed.
C HAPTER 5
A friend loveth at all time, and a
brother is born for adversity.
—P ROVERBS 17:17
D EVLIN AWOKE BEFORE dawn to the sound of rain splattering against the windows and the scent of Mrs. Hogarth’s cooking drifting through his room. Edna Hogarth always had a tasty breakfast waiting for him. The extra coin he supplied saw to that. Sniffing the air like a hound on the trail of his dinner, Devlin’s stomach growled. He realized he hadn’t eaten much of the delicious meal served at Richfield. He’d found Madeline far more interesting than food.
The chill of the cold floor seeped through his thick stockings. Devlin wiggled his toes to warm them then breathed a sigh of relief; he would not be late
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