a move would distress Madeline body and mind. But he would not. His word was law and his mind closed to what he called the foolish whims of women.
“Do not weep, Grandmother. We will be at Meadlow soon, and there you can have a hot cup of tea and a warm bed.”
“Will be better than the cold attacking me, and this horrible swaying and bumping.” Madeline pressed a handkerchief against her eyes. “But even as that shall be over, I feel a little afraid of this change.”
“At least we are together.” Darcy adjusted a heavy wool blanket over Madeline’s knees.
“I am grateful for it, Darcy. But you are not here by your own free will.” She leaned her head back and shut her eyes. “Langbourne forced you.”
Darcy tried to be reassuring. “By my own free will I chose to come with you.”
“A difficult decision to choose between your parents and me. You should honor them over me.”
“I will see them once I know you are settled.”
“How dare Langbourne send Hayward away?” At last Madeline remembered, but for how long? “My son had no strength to argue, did he?”
“He is in good hands now that he is with my mother and Mr. Brennan.”
“Yes. I have no doubt of that.”
“Ethan will bring them to Meadlow after he receives my letter.”
“Indeed they shall,” said Mrs. Burke. “Mr. Hayward shall be right as rain by then.”
Madeline’s eyes glistened. “You think so, Burke?”
“I know so,” Mrs. Burke nodded. “All he needed was some tender nursing and his wife to improve.”
Darcy waited to speak, thinking back on how she had broached the subject of Madeline staying with the family before. To think of her living with Charlotte in an unfamiliar place pressed severely on Darcy. It would have made things easier if the driver had been willing to change direction. She felt like a prisoner inside the dismal carriage.
“Grandmother, return with us to Fairview when Ethan comes. I know it would mean another journey for you, but you could live with us, you and Mrs. Burke.”
Madeline stroked Maxwell’s ears and sighed. “I do not know, child. I am so weary. But that is not to say I don’t want to. I do.”
“Then it is settled. We will all leave together.”
“Well,” said Mrs. Burke with a smug look and a wiggle of her head. “That will certainly put Mr. Langbourne in his place.”
The carriage turned at a bend in the road and climbed a hill. Madeline laid her hand over her heart. “Tell the driver to stop. I do not feel well.”
Panicked, Darcy opened her window, stuck her head out and called up. “Stop at once. My grandmother is ill.” The driver slowed the horses and pulled to the side of the road. He jumped down and appeared at the window.
“What now, miss?”
“My grandmother is not feeling well.”
“Is she? Well, there’s not much I can do about that. We will be at Meadlow shortly.”
“Fairview is closer, is it not? We will pay you for your trouble. Now turn and take us there at once.”
“You are wrong, miss. Meadlow is closer, not even a mile away. Fairview is back that way and I’ll not turn.” He eyed her and drew in a deep breath. “I have my orders.”
Darcy balled her fist and groaned. She heard the snap of the coachman’s whip, and the carriage rocked and creaked past a scattering of poor hamlets, houses with thatched roofs, small windows where few faces passed behind sullied glass. The horses turned at a sharp bend in the road. A chill rushed through Darcy at the site of a gibbet swinging from a tall post, within the iron cage tattered ribbons of rotting clothing, over the exposed bones of a highwayman. She looked away, disgusted at the scene, and prayed for the soul that met his end in this barbaric way.
Madeline had drifted back to sleep against Mrs. Burke’s shoulder, and stirred when the driver called out, “Meadlow, ladies!”
The carriage entered through the gates and swept along to a circular drive, the gravel crunching beneath the spinning wheels, until the horses slowed and came to an easy halt. Darcy leaned forward to look out the window at the grand house that stood on a flat span of deep green lawn. Two stories were graced with large mullioned windows set within a façade of blushed brick, offset by a black lacquered French door with bright brass fixtures. Two chimneys climbed against the racing clouds and spewed smoke. Gnarled ivy grew over the