Chapter 16

Colin was frustrated and angry at his mother’s interference, which brought a new barrier between himself and Maddy over the next few days. Before the incident, he had felt like he was gaining some headway with her. She certainly didn’t turn away from him in the bed. Most of the time, she opened her arms to welcome him, and she seemed to be as consumed by passion for him as he was for her.

He’d dared hope it was a promising sign for the future, but whatever his mother had said seemed to have had a dampening effect on her softening toward him. She was still physically responsive, but she wasn’t eager like she had been, and she seemed to endure his presence rather than welcome it when they weren’t engaged in physical pleasures.

He was sad and incensed about that, and he considered striking out at his mother in retaliation by rescinding her privileges, but he realized that was a juvenile reaction to his hurt and anger. From his inquiries with Mrs. Harris and the rest of the staff, it seemed his mother was cured of whatever malady had plagued her when he was younger.

If she wasn’t cured, she was at least under control, and though he would never allow her to return to London, he saw little reason to curtail her freedom—at least until she tried to meddle with his forming relationship with Maddy. He could not tolerate that, and he was planning to confront her when he had more control.

He was allowing a couple more days for that to occur, so he was surprised when the library door opened that evening, once again revealing his mother. “I am not in a frame of mind to speak with you.”

“That is too bad, for I am your mother. You might wish to pretend I am not, but I will have my say, even if it costs me my freedom due to your petulance.”

He glared at her as she crossed the room with a new sense of purpose. Normally, her shoulders were slumped forward, and she looked crushed, but tonight, there was fresh confidence infusing her, and her shoulders were back. She met his gaze in a challenging fashion when she said, “If you do not allow her to choose, you will lose her. There is a chance she could still love you despite what you have done, but you cannot continue to force her.”

“It is not your business.”

“It is my business when I see how unhappy my son is making someone else. I do not wish for you to become a duplicate of your father, Colin. Please. There must be some decency remaining in you.”

He scowled at her. “How dare you speak that way about my father?” It was instinctive to defend him, but Colin realized he didn’t actually know his father that well. Ostensibly, he had grown up with him, but he had been raised by governesses before being sent to Eton and then later to Oxford.

He had basically been an adult when they’d interacted much at all, and that had been at their shared club in London. Even then, the senior Colin had seemed to regard Colin as an extension of him rather than his own person.

“You might not want to hear it, but it is the truth. I was forced to marry your father though I did not love him. When I could not love him despite every attempt he made to force it, he punished me by taking you away and locking me here. I do not wish to see you destroy an innocent woman as I was destroyed. She must be allowed to choose you, or free not to choose you. That is the only way you can be certain of her love anyway, my son.”

He stiffened at the words. “There is only the most tenuous biological connection between us, madam. I shall take your words under advisement, but please return to your room. I am not in a mood for socializing this evening.” He hid behind cold politeness, not wanting her to see any of her words might have spurred thoughts he didn’t want to contemplate.

Once again, she looked defeated as she stood up, shaking her head. “I suppose I know a lost cause when I see one. I am certain you heard my comment about wishing I had killed myself when I learned I was pregnant with you.”

He stiffened, shocked she was mentioning it now. “Of course, I heard it. I heard the sincerity as well.”

“It is true I contemplated it, and there are times I have regretted that I did not do it, mostly for my own sake. The reason I couldn’t was because I held out hope that you might make life bearable. I had imagined that maybe I could influence you to be a good person, and that it would help me survive your father’s brutality to have some hope to cling to. I had not yet realized he would use you as a weapon against me, allowing us to bond for the first year before ripping you from my arms so that it hurt all the worse. Hope is almost worse than no hope, especially when it is dashed completely. I had hoped to spare the woman you wish to own the same kind of pain.”

“I do not wish to own her. I love her.” He made the admission grudgingly, expecting her to understand. Of course, he had no intention of confessing such feelings to Maddy until she softened toward him and showed signs of loving him in return.

“The sad thing is, once upon a time, your father loved me too, or at least his version of it. Yet he still was able to destroy me. I have no doubt, as his son, you shall manage the same for poor Miss Carew as well.” Without another word, she turned and left the library, and he was relieved for the silence.

Though he hated how the silence allowed his thoughts to flow. His mother’s allegations against his father were troubling, and if he had a better sense of Colin Nash III, he would’ve been able to determine if there was any veracity to them. It was obvious she seemed to believe it, but she could just be manipulating him as well. She was mad after all, so she couldn’t be trusted.

He was spared having to wallow in the thoughts she’d tried to put in his head by a knock at the door. Mrs. Harris opened it a moment later, looking fretful when she said, “You have a visitor who insists on seeing you, Lord Kressley.”

He frowned. “Who is it?” To his knowledge, no one knew he was here. He hadn’t even told Lord Stratford he was leaving London for the country seat. He had mentioned in a letter posted to Nicholas last week that he would be traveling for a time, but he hadn’t shared more with his friend.

“He says his name is Stefan Hearthstone. He declares he is Miss Carew’s brother.”

His blood ran cold at that, but he stiffened his shoulders. “Show him into the sitting room off the main salon, and I shall be there shortly. Send for Maddy as well.” He was certain her brother would be unsatisfied without seeing her, and he would refuse to leave until he did.

Since he was technically her guardian, Colin would have to cooperate to a point. He was certain as soon as Maddy revealed her unhappiness, Stefan would try to spirit her away. He refused to allow that to happen. He could not part from her regardless of the cost.

He felt surprisingly calm as he stood up and left the library, walking down the hall and through the salon into the small sitting room where he had instructed Mrs. Harris to leave his guest. He wasn’t certain what he’d been expecting, but Stefan bore no resemblance to his sister.

Surely, he must be the stepbrother with his darker complexion, stick-straight black hair that looked like it was prone to grease, and dark eyes. He had thick lips drawn into a petulant moue, and he was clearly angry, though perhaps he had enough sense not to reveal that too blatantly, since he was several inches shorter and many pounds lighter than Colin.

“I want my sister.” He said the words firmly, still standing. He hadn’t even bothered to remove his hat or surrender his coat. “I shall be collecting her presently, and we will leave.”

“She shall be down in a moment to speak with you. How did you learn she was here, Mr. Hearthstone?”

“It was the banns. I have had my people looking for sign of her for years, and they know better than to relent or grow lazy. When you used her name, it came to my attention. I have investigated the matter further and learned for whatever reason, the marriage did not take place. I assure you: I will not give my permission for it to do so either. Maddy belongs to…with me, and I will be taking her home.”

Colin was about to challenge him on that when he heard a startled cry from the doorway. He turned to see Maddy clinging to the doorjamb as though she might fall at any moment. Her stricken gaze wasn’t on him, but rather on her stepbrother. She started to tremble, and her fear was obvious.

Instinctively, Colin moved between them, partially blocking her view as he rushed to her side. She didn’t resist at all when he pulled her into his arms, offering comfort. “Are you all right?” he asked softly.

“Do not let him take me. Please. I shall do anything you want, but do not send me with him.”