Madeleine’s heart melted. He was just what she would like, this English lord, if only things were different. A bit light on top, perhaps, but with a truly sweet heart. And he was safe, trustworthy, and large. To Madeleine’s mind, men should be large. She could keep him from making too much of a fool of himself, too…. But no. She was not going to be any man’s courtesan, even if she stayed unmarried her entire life.

She pushed him away. “Go away, do!”

Braddon looked at Madeleine doubtfully. Her face had gone fierce again.

“I may have to leave for a few days.” Did she look sorry? Braddon could not fool himself that she did.

“Good. I shall finally get some work done.”

No, she definitely didn’t look sorry. There was a little pause.

“Where will you be?”

“I have to elope,” Braddon said. “That is, Lady Sophie wants to elope, but I don’t, so I’m going to climb up a ladder and get her, but then I’m not actually going to take her to Gretna Green, because I don’t want to elope. And besides, no one elopes in the middle of winter.”

Madeleine’s heart was thudding painfully. “Does Lady Sophie truly wish to elope?”

“Yes.” Braddon’s voice was a little doubtful. “I’m not sure that she is as suitable as I told you before. She had hysterics last night and told me that unless I climb a ladder to her room at midnight and elope with her, she won’t marry me at all.”

Madeleine almost laughed at Braddon’s hangdog look, despite her own leaden unhappiness.

“I can’t start over, Madeleine—Maddie!” Somehow he had managed to get those long arms around her again and he was talking into her hair. “I’d have to start over, going to Almack’s and trying to find a girl who seems half reasonable. I’ve got to hold on to Lady Sophie. I simply have to figure out how to elope without eloping.”

At least he doesn’t seem genuinely attached to his future wife, Madeleine thought painfully.

“Why don’t you want to elope?” It seemed like a reasonable alternative.

Braddon pulled back, looking indignantly into Madeleine’s unsympathetic brown eyes.

“Won’t you miss me? It will take a week to get to Gretna Green and back, if we don’t get delayed. Why, I could be gone a whole fortnight!”

“I will not miss you,” she retorted. “And you will not be welcome in the stables after you are married.”

“Well, I would miss you,” Braddon said stoutly. “And I don’t believe you. I think you would miss me too. Anyway, I don’t want to get married so soon.” He gave Madeleine a little squeeze and then sank down on a pile of straw, pulling her onto his lap.