Page 75 of The Captain Claims His Temptress

“William, tomorrow we ride to see the prince,” Stephen said. “We will—” Before he could finish articulating his plan, Madalene and Georgie squished him in the most wonderful of hugs, and a furry little herder ran circles around them, merrily barking.

Chapter twenty-six

Midnight, October 8th, 1817

Itwasquitelatewhen Millie escorted her to Myrle’s room. Assuming he was asleep, Maddie knocked lightly and entered. He was wide awake, a tray in front of him, his mouth full of meat pie. Diggins sat in a chair across from him, a flask of tipple leaning against his belly.

Diggins leaped from his seat and saluted. “Miss Madalene?” Then he smiled at the petite blonde ladies’ maid. “Well, good eve, miss. Why, ye is a sight for sore eyes.”

Millie shuffled her feet uncomfortably. Maddie often found the little man’s gaze disquieting, but that was before she knew how harmless he was. Still, turning these two into gentlemen would be her new project. That and helping Aunt Henrietta decorate. Oh, and she would make love to Stephen a dozen times a day. Really, she’d be quite busy in the near future.

“Millie, thank you for escorting me. I don’t think I could have found the room.” The castle’s halls and stairways formed an intricate maze. “But now I can find my way to my room on my own after I leave here.”

She’d probably get lost a half dozen times, but she had no intention of returning to her own room. And luckily no one at Hockley Castle seemed to be concerned about propriety.

“Are you sure, Miss Madalene?” Millie asked.

“Yes. They will behave like complete gentlemen while I visit.” Maddie looked both men in the eyes. “Won’t you, boys?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Diggins said.

His pupils unfocused, Myrle smiled at her. Either he was quite tired, which was understandable, or the physician had given him something to take the edge off his pain.

Millie started toward the door, hesitating to glower at the duo, before taking her leave.

Maddie removed a few apple cores from the counterpane, sat on the edge of the bed, and took Myrle’s hand in hers.

“I plan to stay until you are feeling better,” she said.

“Aww. Thank ye.”

“And, for the next few days, we will have etiquette lessons.”

The lessons would take her mind off missing and worrying about Stephen.

“Bloody hell,” Diggins said.

Instead of glaring at him, she smiled. “Cleaning up your language will be our first task. Because you see, the duke and duchess plan to offer you a job and I do not want the duchess to cut off body parts a few hours after she hires you.”

“Jobs?” Diggins’ brow furrowed.

“Then you could have a room this nice every day.” Maddie swung her arm, palm up, indicating the comfortable chambers of the duke’s well-cared for servants.

“Could I have this much food every day?” Myrle asked.

He required an excessive amount of food. However, the Harringtons were exceedingly wealthy and generous.

“Yes,” she declared.

“I’m in,” Myrle said.

“I’m in,” Diggins echoed.

“I will see to the arrangements. We start our lessons tomorrow after breakfast.”

“Miss Madalene, I appreciate you wanna stay and take care of me. But what about the captain?” Myrle asked.

“The duke is traveling with Stephen to see His Royal Highness and they will straighten out this hobble.”