Page 56 of The Captain Claims His Temptress

“Please, Madalene. I truly need—” His gaze focused above Maddie’s shoulder, his eyes widened, and he stepped back.

Maddie turned to see who stood behind her. To her horror, Arabella, hands on hips, glared. The woman had abominable timing.

“Humph,” Arabella snorted. Although she threw her shoulders back indignantly, her lip quivered as if she might cry at any moment.

Benjamin stepped toward her, his gaze soft and filled with affection. “Miss Arabella, you look lovely.”

“I do?” The girl sniffled as a tear trickled down her cheek.

Maddie moaned. Arabella must believe she and Benjamin were huddled close together whispering because they were engaged in a clandestine rendezvous. She did not have time for such foolish notions. Horse feathers, she was bad at lying but what if it was a harmless sweet untruth?

“Miss Arabella, Benjamin was just asking me if I knew your favorite flower.”

Arabella swiped at her tear. “He was?”

“Uh, um. Yes?” he said.

Arabella clasped her hands together. “Pink roses.”

“Pink roses.” Calhoun tapped his forehead and grinned.

Egads! Arabella Beaumont was quite lovely when she smiled. She stepped closer to Benjamin.

If Maddie couldn’t seek her aunt’s assistance, she needed fresh air. “Please excuse me.” She flew past the couple as they awkwardly smiled at each other.

“Madalene?” Benjamin called.

She waved over her shoulder at him, continuing as fast as she dared toward the garden.

Feeling utterly useless, Maddie plopped onto a bench and dropped her forehead into her palms.

“Psst.”

She lifted her head and searched the gardens.

“Psst,” someone said again.

“Who is there?” she asked.

“Us, me lady.” Still dressed in fake livery, the small bald man stepped out from behind a tree.

Maddie gasped and stood.

The funny-looking giant leaped beside him. How he’d kept his elephantine body hidden hitherto was a miracle. “We don’t mean ye harm.”

Since she didn’t believe them, she crossed her arms over her bosom in a protective gesture and backed away.

The little man lunged toward her. She squealed, turned her back to them, and ran toward the castle. A strong hand gripped her arm that still stung from Hugo’s rough handling.

“Now, listen here, we are just tryin’ to help yer lover boy.”

Since she had no idea how to save Stephen, she stopped wiggling to hear them out.

“That dandy, Dupont….” Diggins pranced around on his tiptoes, while Myrle slapped his thighs and chortled.

Maddie scowled. “Make your point.”

Diggins rolled his eyes and sighed. “He freed us but is plannin’ to make it look like lover boy done it.”