Read Secrets of the Heart for Free Online Page B

cheekbones and almond-shaped eyes, for which she was most grateful. She had also inherited her father’s stubborn chin and unfortunate habit of speaking her mind, a most disagreeable flaw for a young woman of breeding. She wondered what Ravensmoore thought of her appearance. Then she quickly snuffed out that unbidden thought as though it were a flaming candle.
    “Thank you, darling.”
    Madeline bent and kissed her on the cheek. “It’s been a difficult time for both of us. If only we hadn’t taken Father to the hospital that day. If only I hadn’t wanted to go riding.”
    “Please don’t. If only will get you nowhere, Madeline. Your father is living with the Lord now. He would want you to be happy.”
    “Sometimes I still have nightmares.” Her eyes filled with tears.
    Grace stood and hugged her. “You must let go of the past, dear. Put it to rest, or the past will always haunt you.” She brushed a tear from Madeline’s cheek and returned to the vanity.
    “I know you’re right, Mother.” Madeline crossed to the bedside table and arranged and rearranged the red, purple, and yellow pansies that scented the room. “I’m trying to move forward with my life.” She closed her eyes and said a silent prayer, uncertain if God listened.
    “Does your arm still hurt? You are blessed that it did not break and that Ravensmoore came to your rescue.”
    Madeline’s eyes flew open. “He did not rescue me. Hally and I would have done quite nicely without his help. There were other men on the hunt field.”
    Grace turned away from her mirror. “You cannot blame him for your father’s death, Maddie. I’m certain he did all that could be done that day. Ravensmoore could not stop the bleeding. Your father suffered a serious injury.”
    “He should have waited for Dr. Langford to return.” She staved off the avalanche of emotions that threatened and tightly balled her fists at her sides. “He should have waited.”
    “Excuse me, ma’am.” Agnes, her mother’s personal maid, interrupted. “Lord Vale has arrived. Phineas escorted his lordship to the library.”
    “Thank you, Agnes. Please tell him I shall be there momentarily and offer him something to drink. We don’t want to appear inhospitable, do we?” Her mother looked in the mirror, gave her hair a final pat, and dabbed perfume behind each ear.
    “No, ma’am,” Agnes replied stiffly and left the room.
    Madeline prided herself on her powers of observation. Agnes did not care for Vale’s attentions toward her mother any more than she did. However, the loyal Agnes hid her displeasure behind excessively correct behavior.
    She caught her mother staring at her curiously. “I’m sorry, Mother. Did you say something?”
    “You do seem preoccupied these days. I said, how do I look, dear?” She turned an elegant circle and curtsied before Madeline. “You don’t think this dress is too flamboyant, do you? After all, I’ve only been out of mourning for a month.”
    Madeline appraised her mother’s fashionable aquamarine gown. “You are beautiful, Mother. And your new perfume is wonderful. It smells like an exotic faraway island.”
    Grace smiled at the compliment. Madeline thought she almost glowed. Why are you so excited? It seemed her mother had shed all memories of her father, Thurston Whittington, when she’d discarded her mourning clothes. Now she boldly entertained a male guest. Madeline thought it dispiriting that as her mother’s misery lifted, her own sadness deepened. Perhaps Ravensmoore could prescribe a receipt for this dreadful malady that continued to res urrect itself.
    Grace’s smile slowly faded.
    “What’s wrong?” Madeline asked.
    “You are not appropriately dressed,” she complained. “Do hurry and put on something bright and cheerful, dear. I’ll send Daisy in to help you.”
    Madeline looked in the mirror at her modest brown walking dress. Devoid of ruffles, lace, or anything one could call decoration, she thought it mirrored