Music for My Soul (26 page)

He turned to the shriveled jeweler. “And you said the woman I described sold this to you?”

“Oh, yes, my lord. ‘Tis a nice piece, don’t you think?”

“Yes,” Garrett agreed. “Very nice. How much?”

It was early afternoon when Garrett climbed the stairs of the dark, dank building. A child wailed loudly in the distance. The smell of urine and stale vomit overwhelmed him. A tattered woman and her young son passed him on the stairs, their eyes downcast, their faces covered with filth. Garrett shuddered at the place Madeleine had chosen to hide, guessing her funds must have dwindled considerably if this was the best she could afford.

It had been easy to find her. She’d given the jeweler a good idea where she could be found in case he had further interest in her stones.

Garrett heard her voice as he neared the top of the rickety stairs.

“
Zut, zut
! Oh, when will this end?”

Yes, that was his darling, cursing in French. Quietly, Garrett opened the door.

The alcove was small, with barely enough room for a narrow bed and chair. Stale air hung like a curtain, blanketing the entire space. A fat rat scurried by his foot, as if glad to make its escape from the enclosed place. The only window was cracked down the middle, and he could feel the sharp wind pour into the nook, chilling him.

Madeleine was on her knees next to the lumpy bed, her fingers laced together, her head bowed. She was giving God a dressing down, with a few apologies thrown in for good measure. A single shaft of sunlight fell upon her, radiating a halo around her head. His desperate, runaway angel.

“Oh, my Sweet Lord, I’m so sorry, but I cannot say any more “Hail Mary’s”! I’m so tired and lonely and frustrated. I want only to serve You, but I cannot stop thinking of Garrett.”

She sighed, biting her lower lip. “I know I must never see him again, my Dear Lord, for I know marriage vows are sacred. I am so very sorry indeed. I just want to go home now and see
ma mere et mon pere
. I miss them so much. I promise to go to the convent if you’ll only grant me a few days of peace with them.”

She crossed herself once and then again. “In Your Name, oh Holy Christ, I offer these prayers. Amen.”

Without opening her eyes, she flung herself against the tattered quilt. Once again, her sobs were silent. Somehow Garrett felt sure these noiseless tears were a key connected to her past.

Garrett stepped inside and closed the door quietly behind him.

She banged her fists against the bed several times and then croaked out, “Oh, Garrett, I miss you so.”

“Then why did you run away?” he asked softly.

Her head popped up. Her face was red, her eyes swollen from crying. She began to tremble all over. “No,” she whispered, shaking her head back and forth. “It can’t be.” She rose unsteadily to her feet. “I . . . I don’t want to see you,” she said stubbornly, her chin rising a notch.

Her words crushed him, but he stood straight as a Montayne would. For a long moment he gazed at her steadily, without speaking.

She ran her tongue over her bottom lip as if she were nervous. “You must leave, Garrett.”

He could see her pulse fluttering wildly against her slender, white throat. He took a step toward her and she shrank back. “You take my declaration of love for you and throw it back in my face? Without a word, you forsake both me and Lissa. Did you think she and I would simply pick up our lives where we left off?”

Tears welled in Madeleine’s eyes. She blinked, spilling them down her cheeks.

“I thought my heart could not be broken twice in this lifetime, but you proved me wrong. You broke it again, Madeleine. I cannot imagine what your thoughtlessness will do to my child.” He ran his fingers through his hair, his frustration with her growing. In agony, he told her, “You abandoned us.
Just like Lynnette
.”

His words were stronger than any blow Henri had ever dealt her, for Henri had only hurt her physically. Garrett’s words pierced her soul.

She felt the waves of anger that emanated from him. His words were meant to hurt her, and they had. He compared her actions to Lynnette’s. She couldn’t let him think he was unloved. What Lynnette did had almost destroyed his soul. In the end, she would still have to leave him, but she must let him know she loved him and trusted in him.

She prayed God would give her the strength and courage to do what she must do.

She stared at him, his eyes blazing, his mouth set so firmly, and her face crumpled. Oh, God, she loved him so much.

She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest. She clutched him as if her life depended on him. Finally, he placed his arms around her tightly.

Tremors rippled through her body as she held onto him. He bent and placed a soft kiss on the top of her head.

“Oh, Madeleine.” Garrett sighed and drew her even closer. He brushed his lips against her hair over and over. She closed her eyes and wished they could remain this way forever.

He lifted her chin and met her eyes. “We must talk.”

She nodded and swallowed hard. He led her to the single bed and sat, pulling her down next to him.

He took her hand in his. “Where did you find the necklace you pawned?”

Shocked at the question she’d least expected, she said, “Necklace?”

He reached into his purse and dangled it before her.

“So that’s how you found me,” she muttered. Her eyes opened wide as she realized the meaning of his words. “You still believe me a thief!”

She jerked her hand from his, her pride hurt by his words. “That’s what you mean by my ‘finding’ it. You mean where did I
steal
it, my lord? Well, I didn’t!” Her chin went up and she glared at him.

“I’m not saying you stole it.”

“’Twas a gift to me,” she answered reluctantly, knowing God had finally given her the way to tell her sordid tale.

“From whom?” His eyes darkened.

She could see the doubt mingled with the love in his eyes. Did he think she was some merchant’s bought woman? A married man’s mistress?

She shook her head adamantly. Perhaps it wasn’t wise to tell him about Henri in his present mood, not without knowing where his thoughts were headed.

“That I will not say. But have no doubts, the necklace was mine to sell. Why all these questions?”

“Because ‘twas a necklace I had made especially for my wife. Lynnette wore it always. I’m sure she had it on when she left Stanbury.”

“No,” Madeleine gasped. “It couldn’t be.”

“I’m afraid ‘tis so.” He lifted the clasp. “This alone would be enough to convince me. See, the lion engraved here with a sword in his paw. My banner is exactly the same. The stones, too, are identical to the color I had made up. There’s no doubt ‘tis the same necklace.”

Madeleine stood. She had to face the inevitable. He would learn of Henri now. In her heart she knew that her love for Garrett demanded it. She would make a start now.

“I know where the piece was purchased for me. That may be the first clue in Lynnette’s disappearance.” She stood quickly, determined to put an end to her charade. “Come, Garrett. I know Ebony must be nearby. We go to The Open Locket. I don’t know exactly where ‘tis located, though I do remember a heart-shaped locket graces the doorway. This should be enough for us to find it.”

Garrett took Madeleine’s hand and threaded his way through the crowd, moving down the street to where Ebony awaited. The weak sunshine threatened to break through the cloud cover at any moment.

He tossed a coin to the lad that had kept watch of his horse and then placed Madeleine in the saddle. She stroked Ebony’s mane fondly. Garrett climbed up behind her, and she tensed as he put his arm about her waist.

“No, sweetheart,” he whispered in her ear. “Please. Do not reject me thus.”

She turned and met his eye. “Oh, Garrett.”

He brushed his lips gently across her mouth, blocking out the world for a short moment.

As they made their way across London, he asked, “And how’s your mother doing?”

She flushed a deep pink. “So Coster told, did he? I didn’t think he’d stay quiet forever, but I gave him more credit than I should have. He broke much too fast.”

She looked up at him with sudden concern. “You weren’t too hard on him, I hope. He really is a decent sort.”

“I will deal with Coster when we return to Stanbury. By the way, where’s my horse?”

She gave him a sheepish glance. “Sold,” she squeaked out. “’Tis a poorly nag I asked for, Garrett. Not up to your usual standards. The brooch I left was worth far more than the horse.”

“Where does your jewelry come from, Madeleine? I thought I’d confiscated it all.”

“Oh, really?” she replied frostily, but she refused to answer him when he pressed her.

They rode Ebony in silence after that, stopping thrice to ask directions. Eventually, they located the shop. The balding jeweler there was delighted to see customers.

“No one’s buying or selling these days,” he confided to them. “’Tis glad I am to have your company. Come, tell me what I may show you. Perhaps a ring for the lovely maid?”
  Garrett said, “We’d like to inquire about a necklace purchased here some time ago.”

“About two and a half years,” Madeleine added.

The shopkeeper frowned. “’Tis a long time to remember a certain piece.”

“Here,” Garrett said, placing the necklace on the counter.

The man smiled immediately, his yellowed teeth glowing as much as his eyes. “Of course. The lion clasp. I remember how unusual I thought it was at the time.” He picked up the necklace and studied it carefully. “Yes,” he confirmed, “I know this piece.”

“Do you have any knowledge of who might have come in to sell it? A man? A woman?” He glanced at her as he asked, “Or do you remember who bought it?”

She flinched at his words. “I don’t remember who purchased it my lord, but I do recall the seller.” He fingered the clasp as he spoke. “I thought it strange that one such as he would have access to something so fine and unusual, but he said he was selling it for his mistress who was in great need.”

“Can you describe him?”

“Oh, easily, my lord. The man had only one eye. Wore a patch o’er it, he did. He had sandy red hair and a reddish beard. Yes, I remember him quite well.”

Garrett grew pale at the description. He gripped the counter for support.

“Garrett?” Madeleine took hold of his forearm. “Are you all right?”

“Yes,” he said through gritted teeth. “Thank you.” He placed a coin on the tabletop for the jeweler, then turned and led them outside.

The afternoon sun had dipped below the surrounding buildings, leaving them in the cool shadows of the October day.

“I know this man,” he told Madeleine. “He used to be my head stableman. A lazy, shiftless drunk. Because his wife was quite ill and they had several children, I reluctantly kept him on, but I demoted him.” He snarled. “I cannot wait to get my hands upon him.”

They had only taken a few steps when a man stepped from a narrow alley. “Gimme yer jewels!” he barked.

Madeleine stammered, “But I have none.”

“Nay,” the thief said. “I just seen ye leave Thomas’s place, and ye’re bound to have some bauble.” The thief pulled a knife from nowhere and held it in front of him.

With a quick motion, he sliced Garrett’s upper thigh. A bright, crimson line appeared, and Garrett gasped in pain and outrage.

“You have chosen the wrong man to tangle with, my friend.”

Chapter 22

Garrett slammed his fist into the nose of their attacker, making his head snap back. Crimson blood spurt from the thief’s nose, giving Garrett a small sense of satisfaction.

The bandit’s eyes narrowed. His grip tightened on the knife as he lunged.

Garrett feinted to his left, then delivered a series of powerful blows to the thief’s midsection. He crumpled, collapsing into a heap at their feet.

Garrett calmly turned to Madeleine, whose face was white with fear. He pulled her to him. “Are you all right?”

She stammered, “O-of course. But we must see to you.”

Following the direction of her gaze, he stared at the blood now flowing down his leg.

She reached for the hem of her tunic and tore a wide strip from the bottom, tying it tightly around his leg.

“Let us hurry, my lord. We must see to your wound at once.”

He sighed. “I do wish you’d quit ‘my lording” me, Madeleine. A simple ‘Garrett’ or ‘my sweet’ would do wonders for my health.”

She rolled her eyes. “Get up on Ebony, my dearest Garrett, before I cause damage to you myself.” She smiled at him sweetly.

“Now that’s much better,” he said a bit woozily as he gave her a lazy smile.

With her help he was able to mount Ebony, then he reached down and lifted her in front of him.

The light had faded fast, and the streets emptied quickly as they made their way to his townhouse. He refused to take her back to the room she had been letting.

“We’ll send for your things tomorrow, love, but for now you’ll return with me. I wouldn’t want to chance your safety.”

Three quarters of an hour later they reached their destination. Garrett’s home was small by Stanbury standards, but Madeleine was impressed with it all the same.

She slid off Ebony as a lanky groom appeared. “Bit o’ a mishap, my lord?”

“Just a little fracas, John.” Garrett eased off the horse with a grimace and handed the reins to his servant. Madeleine quickly took his arm and helped him to the house.

A tiny housekeeper, who barely came to Madeleine’s chest, greeted them.

“Hello, Maude,” Garrett called out weakly. “This is Madeleine. She’s even feistier than you.”

Calmly, as though Garrett came in bloody on a daily basis, the servant said, “We’ll need to dress yer wound, my lord. I know ye’ll also want something to eat.”

Madeleine watched Maude take charge of Garrett, fussing over him as she led him upstairs to his bed, making sure his gashed leg was propped up with pillows.

“Madeleine can attend my injury, Maude. Just bring me a tender chicken with your famous cheese sauce, and I’ll be fine in no time.”

“Chickens? ‘Tis the very thing I need,” Madeleine proclaimed.