Chapter Thirty-Two

Maddy lagged behind in the doorway of Lord Fitzhugh’s enormous ballroom, the site of the final event of the Season in Bath, a lavish supper to be followed by lots of dancing and merriment, and everyone who was anyone in Bath was packed into the room, drinks in hand and laughter tinkling gaily on top of the musicians’ tunes playing in the corner.

Maddy watched as Fitz walked into the room in front of her, head held high, with Rose on his arm, their bodies close together, signaling to anyone watching that they were indeed a new couple. They greeted Lord and Lady Fitzhugh, and then made their way into the room, both smiling broadly, though mostly at each other.
At least they had a happy ending, she thought darkly, an image of Jamie brushing against her consciousness.

Maddy knew she couldn’t lurk in the doorway all night, despite her desire to, so she walked in as though she didn’t have a care in the world and greeted Lord and Lady Fitzhugh with a curtsy. She immediately walked to the other side of the room, saying hello to acquaintances as she passed but not stopping, and gave Lord Blakely a small wave from across the room, where he was surrounded by several adoring ladies, which made her smile. He winked at her, and raised his glass in salutation, and she suddenly knew that things were fine between them, despite her gentle rejection of his marriage proposal.

Maddy suddenly froze in place when her worst fear was realized: Jamie had just walked in through the doorway, Lady Drake hot on his heels, her hand clenching his arm possessively.

Seeing them together caused her physical pain, and before she could think, she had darted out of the doorway she stood near and into the dimly lit hallway beyond. She nearly ran down the hallway, pushing open the door of a room not being used for the party, and sucked in gulps of air, begging for the pain in her heart to go away.

She gasped in surprise and shock when the door blew open behind her, then struggled for breath anew when she realized Jamie had followed her into the room, slamming the door shut behind him, his eyes dark and searching.

Before she could speak, he pressed her against the wall wantonly, his lips capturing hers with great force, bruising her lips and cutting off her air. She pummeled his chest with her hands, squeaking for him to stop, even as he pressed his entire length against him, pinning her to the wall at her back.

After a long, soul searing kiss, his stepped back and looked at her with a wide grin. “God, I’ve been waiting for days and days to do that. Did you want to be chased? Why did you run away like that?”

Maddy looked at him in shock, her mouth agape. After a long moment, she regained her steely resolve and straightened her shoulders. “Perhaps so I wouldn’t get in the way of your new paramour, my lord,” she said icily, and Jamie stepped back as though she had physically struck him.

“My new what?” He roared, his eyes locked on hers in confusion. “What are you talking about, woman?”

Maddy swallowed thickly. “I understand you and Lady Drake have been having quite a time together in London. I didn’t want to get in the way of your dancing and carousing, my lord.”

“What…” Jamie stood stock still, absorbing the coolness of her words, her address. “We’re suddenly back to ‘my lord’?” He asked in disbelief. “And what the bloody hell are you talking about?”

“You and Lady Drake, my lord,” she said, putting emphasis on his title. “She’s quite the perfect match for you. I’m sure you’ll be very happy together.”

“This is madness,” Jamie hissed after a long moment. “I’m not with Lady Drake, not in the least. She needed an escort back to Bath, so I left early, skipping meetings that I  really should be attending, just so I could come back and see you. I can’t breathe in London, and I can’t breathe without you.”

Maddy slumped against the wall at her back slightly, taken aback by his words. “Wh- what?”

“I came back for you,” Jamie said evenly. “You know I did.”

“I know nothing of the sort,” Maddy said tartly. “Only that you and Lady Drake have been attached at the hip since leaving Rotherham House.”

“Because she won’t leave me alone!” Jamie said, running a frustrated hand through his hair. “But I’m here for you, no one else. Didn’t you get my letter?”

“What letter?” Maddy asked, confused, and Jamie groaned in frustration.

“When I sent Fitz a letter, I also sent one for you. Telling you all the deliciously wicked things I want to do to you when we saw each other again, and to explain that Lady Drake is being a true pest and nuisance, but I didn’t want to risk damaging her reputation by slighting her in public. I’ve been putting on a false face of propriety, when all I’ve wanted for days was to avoid her and get back to you. You… you really didn’t get my letter?”

“I really didn’t,” Maddy whispered, suddenly ashamed by her previous words.

“So when I walked in with her, you thought… you thought…”

“I did,” Maddy said, nodding her head. “I thought what was between us was… was nothing more than a passing fancy. That you were with her now.”

“I only want you, Maddy,” Jamie said tenderly, reaching out to caress her cheek, and she couldn’t resist turning her face into his loving touch.

“But I’m wrong for you, Jamie,” she said softly. “You must know that. My position in society, my lack of wealth compared to yours…”

“I don’t care,” Jamie said shortly.

“Lady Drake would make a fine match for you. Truly,” Maddy said, though it pained her to do so.

“I don’t love her. I love you,” Jamie said evenly, and Maddy’s heart clenched at his words – the words she had been dying to hear again.

“She the best match for you,” Maddy whispered, though he voice suddenly lost all its previous resolve.

Jamie took a step forward, closing the distance between them, until his body was mere inches from hers, and Maddy longed to press the length of her body against the length of his, to feel his strong arms wrapping her up against him and holding her close. “She is,” she repeated wanly.

“I’ve never done what’s best for me, Maddy. The best thing I’ve ever done was serve my country, and then come home to fall in love with the best lady I know. And that’s you, Maddy, no one else. You are my heart.”
Instead of replying, she flung herself into his arms, and he staggered back with a small laugh as he caught her in his arms, pulling her firmly against him, pressing his lips to her temple. “You are my heart,” he whispered again, and whatever ice was still around her heart melted entirely. “I love you.”

“I love you,” she echoed simply, tilting her face up to meet his gaze, then to accept his kiss – the sweetest, most tender kiss she could imagine.

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