Song of the Heart - Alexa Aston Page 0,97

pleasure. His hands clamped around Garrett’s throat, choking him. The strong pressure amazed Garrett. It was the strength of a man gone mad. He wondered how Madeleine had survived as long as she had.

He clawed at Henri’s hands and forced them from his throat. Then he gripped the front of de Picassaret’s rich, black tunic, now wet with blood. He slammed him against a nearby barrel and pounded him in a blind frenzy, delivering blow after blow to his body.

“This is for Madeleine!”

As Garrett heard a rib crack, the comte emitted a high, girlish scream and collapsed. The crowd roared its approval.

He dropped to one knee and mopped the sweat from his brow as he tried to gain control of his anger. He wanted nothing more than to kill Henri de Picassaret. But could he do so without losing Madeleine’s love and trust? Once free, would she want to be with her husband’s murderer?

He gazed at her, undecided. Their lives, their love, lay in the balance with his next action.

She cried out, “Garrett! His dirk. It’s poisoned!”

Garrett reacted instantly. Moving in one swift motion, he rushed toward his attacker. The comte clutched a blade. Garrett latched on to the bastard’s wrist and squeezed with all his might but the madman refused to drop his jeweled dagger. With superhuman strength, he brought it up under Garrett’s chin.

He knew with sudden clarity that they were locked in a death struggle. Only one of them would survive this battle.

And the winner would decide Madeleine’s fate.

Not a sound came from those gathered around the pair as each fought for control of the deadly blade.

“Whoremonger!” de Picassaret cried and spat in Garrett’s face.

Garrett wrenched the man’s wrist and slowly forced the dagger away from him and toward the comte. He pushed the tip of it against the Frenchman’s throat, cutting the tender flesh. Blood creased and trickled down onto his cloak.

The comte’s eyes grew large in his pasty face. A faint sound came from his narrow lips as he went rigid. A spasm crossed his face then froze in a ghastly mask of death.

Garrett eased his hold and Henri de Picassaret fell lifeless to the ground.

The mass that had assembled shrugged and went on their way, their afternoon’s free entertainment coming to an end.

He returned to the cart and climbed into the back of it. At his order, Raleigh flicked the reins and started away from the ugly scene. Garrett eased Madeleine into his arms again, stroking her cheek tenderly as he cradled her.

“He’s dead?” she asked, lips quivering.

“Yes.” Garrett touched his mouth gently to her forehead. “Henri is dead. And you must fight to live, Madeleine. Don’t give up, dearest. I need you too much. I’ll always need you, my love.”

Madeleine smiled weakly. Her nightmare had ended.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Madeleine awoke to the scraping sounds of a fire being laid in the hearth. A damp chill hung in the early morning air in the master’s chamber.

She eased up from the mass of blankets and recognized the tiny servant struggling with the task. “No, Maude, please don’t bother. You know we return to Stanbury today. There’s no sense in lighting a fire.”

Maude faced her, hands on her hips. “The master wants you to have a fire, dearie, and a fire is what you’ll get. Now stay in that warm bed and drink the soup I brought you.” She motioned to the table next to Madeleine.

Sure enough, a wooden bowl of broth stood awaiting her, steam rising in swirls.

“Maude, you spoil me.”

The servant winked at her and turned back to her job at hand. “No, I believe it’s the master who spoils you. I just do his bidding.” Maude deepened her voice in a gruff imitation of Garrett. “Maude, make up the master chamber. Maude, warm bricks for the bed. Maude, send for the doctor again. Maude, tend to—”

Madeleine interrupted her, laughing shallowly so as not to torture her ribs unnecessarily. “You’ve done it all, Maude. I cannot thank you enough for your kindness to me.”

The fire now lit, Maude came to her. “I thank you for the change in Lord Montayne. There was always a good man buried in that hard shell until you came around.” She beamed at Madeleine. “Now that he has spoiled you, in truth, you’ll be rotten to the core now, I fear.” She patted Madeleine’s hand and smiled fondly at her. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Let the fire do its task, then we’ll see about getting you ready for