LONDON

LONDON


Michael’s POV
I can’t stop pacing.
Madison said she won’t be long but it’s been over an hour since she left the house for the police station.
She went to see Savanah and even when I had objected because Savannah had wronged her gravely and didn’t deserve to be graced by her presence, Madison still wanted to see her.
I stopped pacing after heaving a sigh for the umpteenth time. I know Savannah was behind bars and can’t hurt Madison but that manipulative bitch can’t be trusted. She might say something that might plunge Madison into some form of emotional turmoil.
Suddenly, I heard the car revving and I immediately dashed outside. I watched Ferdinand pull the car to a halt in front of the building and immediately after Madison stepped out of the vehicle, I rushed toward her.
I took her hand, turned around, and then led her back to the living room. “I was worried sick. How did it go?”
Madison turned to me with a bright smile. “It went well,”
I raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”
Madison moved closer to me and hugged me tightly. “Yes, my love. It went well,”
I sighed in relief. “If you say so,” I hugged her back.  
“I’ll go pack,” she broke off the embrace.
“Pack to where?”
We both turned around and saw Richard standing by the door. Then there was Carissa, standing right beside him, their hands laced up together.
Seems like they were done with their little activity. After seeing their proximity, Madison turned to me with a blank expression.
I cleared my throat loudly and also displayed a blank expression. They charged toward us, hand in hand with Carissa acting a bit uptight.  
Richard cleared his throat loudly and turned to Carissa with a smile. “Took us long to figure out but we’re in love,”
Carissa melted with a smile I’ve never seen on her face before.
Love! It could tame the strongest. Looking at her right now, she doesn’t seem like that bossy young woman who had a compelling aura. She was a hopeless young woman who seemed to be overwhelmed by Richard.
“What?” Madison was stunned.
Richard sighed. “Love happened,”
Carissa broke into a laugh. “Wish I could explain,”
Madison turned to me with a smile. “Yeah. I totally figured it out,” then she walked up to them and embraced both of them in a hug. “I’m so happy for you guys,”
Madison and Carissa moved away to the side, giggling like high school girls.
Richard faced me with his arms folded across his chest. “You don’t seem surprised,”
After seeing them on that couch? Why should I be surprised? I cleared my throat loudly. “I’m surprised. In fact, I’m too stunned that I’m wondering when and how you too got together,”
“I’ll tell you at the Men’s club later. You know at first, I thought what we had was just infatuation that’s why I didn’t confide in you. Also,” he turned to steal a glance at Madison and Carissa who were whispering in excitement. “But now I’m very sure,”
I walked up to Richard and slapped him playfully on the back. “Don’t be an idiot. She’s hot and she’s into you. That’s what matters,” I said. “Now, you better give me the full details because Madison and I are leaving for London first thing tomorrow morning,”
“Really?”
“Come along,” I started leading him to my study.  

\~~~~
London!
Lord and Lady Worthington were checking out their new painting. During Madison’s passage rite, the photographer took so many pictures of the family. Madison, standing in-between her parents and after a careful selection, one was finally picked and framed into a bigger picture which had just been delivered.  
“I think she looks more like me,” Lord Worthington said while staring at the portrait in his hands with delight.
Lady Worthington laughed really hard. “You wish. She is the exact replication of me,”
“I agree,”
Suddenly, the steward stepped into the living room and cleared his throat loudly. The couple turned to him.
“Introducing Lady Eleanor and her husband,”
Lord Worhington almost dropped the portrait in his hands. He turned to his wife who equally had a stunned expression on her face.
Michal and Madison walked into the living room. Some of the staff followed closely behind, carrying their luggage bags.
“My God,” Lady Worthington exclaimed and then rushed toward the couple. She hugged her daughter while Michael went to greet the lord.
“What a surprise,” Lord Worthington said to Michael.  
Michael smiled and Madison went to hug her father.
“Shouldn’t you both be on your honeymoon?”
Michael cleared his throat loudly. “We missed you guys and wanted to be here greatly. Also, we wanted to come and relate Savannah’s capture firsthand,”
The old couple exchanged glances.
“Savannah has been captured?” Lord Worthington asked.
Madison nodded repeatedly. “She’s behind bars and got tried in court yesterday. We are waiting for the police chief to write to us about her verdict,”
Madison’s handmaidens, Tasha and Elis came running to the living room.
Lady Worthington clapped. “Quick, you two should arrange a chamber for Madison and her husband immediately,”
“Have them placed in the best room in the house,” Lord Worthington added.
The handmaidens nodded and swung into action.
“Come, you guys arrived just on time. We were about to have dinner,”  Lady Worthington said.
They led the young couple to the dining room.
Madison and Michael sat right next to each other. Lord Worthington stretched his hand toward Madison. “You have no idea how we’ve missed you. Especially your mom,”
Her mother agreed with a nod and a bright smile.
“I was in the town’s meeting yesterday and I couldn’t stop blabbering over the fact that my precious daughter, who was just named heiress secured a wonderful husband,” then he turned to his wife. “My mates were jealous, especially lord George whose daughter is rebellious. She won’t find a husband nor would she make meaning out of her life,” he said.
“We are lucky. Eleanor is obedient and upright,” Lady Worthington remarked.  
“I’m proud of you, Madison. You’re just the ideal daughter,” Her father said.
Madison turned to Michael with a conflicted expression. Michael gave her an assuring nod.