alone the remaining way to the tent.
*
Gwenith had a fairly good night and Madeleine had spent a pleasant morning with her friend. She’d left Gwenith napping while she went to perform in the first show of the day.
Madeleine eagerly scanned the crowd but did not catch sight of Garrett. She did see Ashby, though, Hannah by his side. He waved gaily to her, even as his eyes wandered when a pretty girl passed in front of him. Like a bee flying from flower to flower, she thought.
When the play was completed, she was surprised when he made his way over to her.
“A lovely performance, Madeleine.” He smiled at her. “May I call you Madeleine?” he asked impishly.
“Better than Lady Montayne, I suppose,” she quipped.
He laughed heartily at her words. “Oh, I will enjoy having you around, Madeleine.”
His words perplexed her. “What mean you, Sir Ashby?”
“I hope I haven’t let the cat out of the bag.” He rolled his eyes and began whistling.
“My lord?” she asked pointedly, her eyes narrowed, imploring him to answer.
He threw his hands in the air. “I give up, dear lady. I could never stand for a woman to look at me in anger.” He sighed. “Your Mister Farley has agreed to have the mummers and the faire move to Stanbury next.”
Madeleine frowned. “You must be mistaken, my lord. We are to leave in two days’ time for Summerville. There we will spend at least two weeks and celebrate the summer solstice.”
Ashby flicked a ladybug from his shoulder. “Not anymore, Madeleine. Garrett has arranged for you to bypass that stop. His home, Stanbury, is where you’ll spend the next few weeks.”
“But . . . but . . .”
“No buts, dear Madeleine. You’ll be nearby to entertain us for many pleasant hours.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly. “Until we meet again.”
Madeleine yanked her hand free and whirled, needing to find Farley. Surely he would not confirm such gibberish.
She spotted him and, lifting her skirts, hurried as fast as she could across the short distance between them.
“Farley! I must speak with you at once.”
He turned. “Hello, Madeleine. How is Gwenith today?” he asked pleasantly.
“Much better, Farley, but what’s this about skipping Summerville?”
Farley lifted his shoulders. “We were made a better offer, Madeleine. I have many people who depend upon me. I chose to go where we’ll earn more money.”
“So Stanbury is our next stop?”
“Yes, indeed.”
Madeleine turned and flounced off, passing by a laughing Ashby.
“Zut!” she swore under her breath as she stormed away. “And I don’t intend on saying any Hail Mary’s, either,” she muttered to no one in particular.
Chapter Eleven
Stanbury was, Madeleine admitted to herself, one of the loveliest estates she’d ever seen. Although she loved her native France, and the wine country in particular, England in full bloom was spectacular. The lush, green hills rolled gently throughout the countryside, fading into forests filled with tall, strong trees that had stood for hundreds of years. She’d only been here two days but she felt she would never tire of this scenery.
As she stood admiring it yet again, Evan tugged on her tunic to get her attention. Madeleine lowered her gaze to the colorful bouquet of wildflowers he held in his hands. He smiled at her, a wiggling, tousle-haired imp.
“These are for Mama,” he said, splitting the bouquet into two sections and indicating those in his left hand. “And these are for ye, Maddie.”
“Thank you, Evan.” Madeleine curtsied then swept the flowers up, inhaling their sweet scent. “I shall treasure them.”
“Of course ye will. They’re from me!” He squealed with delight and went running off to the tent area. He hollered over his shoulder. “And they’re from him, too.” Evan continued running, flying across the green grass as fast as a jackrabbit being pursued by dogs.
Madeleine cocked her head and frowned. “What did he mean by that?”
A voice that was all too familiar responded, “He meant that the flowers were from the both of us.”
She spun around and inhaled sharply. “Lord Montayne,” she managed to say calmly, although her heart beat as fast as the pursued jackrabbit’s. She was glad to have the flowers in her hands, else she’d be wringing them to no end.
“Madeleine,” he replied softly, a trace of a smile crossing his face. He nodded in Evan’s direction. “I came across Master Evan nearly an hour ago. He’s quite the fountain of knowledge.”
She sighed. “Evan is much too nosy for his own good, my lord. He’s a wicked little eavesdropper