Madeline stood outside the door, waiting as the footman knocked and opened it a crack. From the end of the hall, the long set of windows allowed moving sunlight to stream in. The winter storm was over at last, and the whole world was white. The sky, the trees, the ground. It sat thick and perfect, like a blank canvas. It felt fitting for this morning. The world held limitless potential.
“Lady Madeline is here, Your Grace,” the footman called into the room.
“Let her come,” came the duke’s voice from within.
The footman swung the door open, admitting Madeline into Rosalie’s bedchamber. She sighed with relief as she saw Rosalie sitting upright in the bed. Well, she was propped up more than anything, her body framed with pillows, but she was alert and smiling.
“Oh, Your Grace, I am so happy to see you awake,” she murmured.
Rosalie held out her hand and Madeline rushed to her side, sinking down into the chair by her side.
“They told me what you did,” Rosalie said, tears in her eyes.
“I did nothing,” Madeline replied, shaking her head.
“You had the foresight to call for Warren,” said James. “Doctor Rivers reluctantly admitted that he likely saved her life. Her and the babe.”
Madeline smiled. “Oh, I’m that glad.” She glanced around. “Where is the baby?”
“Burke took her to change her,” Rosalie replied, too tired to do more than turn her head in the direction of the open door that led deeper into her suite. “You look happy,” she murmured, seeing through Madeline in that way few others could. “Are things finally settled then?”
“Nearly,” she replied. “Charles has agreed to marry me.”
Tears filled Rosalie’s eyes. “Oh, that’s so wonderful. James, isn’t it wonderful?”
James nodded, reaching down to fluff her pillows. He seemed closed off, quiet and distant. Madeline could only imagine his thoughts and feelings having watched his wife nearly die, taking their unborn babe with her. She could still sense his protectiveness. She imagined if she leaned forward and gave Rosalie a pinch, he would tear her limb from limb.
In moments, Burke returned, a tiny bundle nestled in his arms. He smiled as he saw Madeline. “There she is,” he called. “We missed you last night.”
She returned his smile. “I had rather a lot to deal with downstairs, sir.”
“Yes, we heard about the row with your father in the entry hall,” James muttered. “Apparently, I have been called to a duel, angel. The honor of Alcott is now at stake.”
“You will do no such thing,” Rosalie huffed. “The viscount is only lucky I did not make him sleep in the stable last night. If I’d been in my right mind, he would have been kicked out at once.”
Madeline grimaced, grateful she’d spared Rosalie the indignity of turning away an unruly guest.
“As it is, his behavior on the night of your lying in means that we have the upper hand,” said Burke. “No one can fault James for tending to his dying wife if Lord Raleigh dares to make more of a fuss over this.”
“What happened after you dispensed with the viscount?” asked James, those green eyes narrowed on her.
She fought her blush. “I umm…waited for Mr. Bray to return. I was worried about the storm.”
“Hmm, and I imagine Warren waited with you?” said Burke with a grin.
Madeline dropped her gaze to the carpet. She still wasn’t comfortable discussing either of the men in company.
“Do not tease her,” Rosalie called softly. “She is on our side, Burke. Mr. Warren and Mr. Bray too. From what James told me this morning, they know everything. If I were you, I’d make nice with the gentlemen.”
“Oh, I imagine Madeline has already made nice with them,” he teased.
Madeline smiled. In truth, she’d ended the night with both men in her bed. The three of them snuck through the house, locking themselves away in her room. They’d fucked and slept and relished in each other’s closeness all night, Charles and Warren sneaking out before the dawn. If last night was a promise of things to come, Madeline was going to have to invest in a bigger bed.
Burke came to her side, swaying slightly with the bundle in his arms. “Would you like to hold her?”
Madeline’s smile widened. “She looks more than content in your arms…but I will see her, if I may,” she added, leaning closer to him to gaze down at the sleeping babe. She looked like a little angel—all rosy cheeks and pale skin.
“She’s so beautiful,” Madeline murmured, brushing a hand over her soft black hair. “Have you given her a name yet?”
“We have,” Rosalie replied, a tired smile on her face.
Madeline looked over. “Well?”
A sudden tension in the room had her heart fluttering. Her gaze darted from Rosalie to Burke and back. “What is it?”
A tear slipped down Rosalie’s cheek as she smiled. “We named her Madeline.”
Madeline gasped, tears welling in her eyes. “Really?”
Rosalie nodded, too overcome to speak.
Burke cleared his throat, still swaying with the babe. “Her full name will be Madeline Joanna Charlotte Corbin.”
And now Madeline was crying. “John and Charles too?”
“You three helped save my life,” Rosalie said through her own tears. “You saved her life. You saved…everything,” she said, glancing from Madeline to James to the babe.
James stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder, and offering her a handkerchief. “We’d like to ask the three of you to be her godparents. There’ll be a christening in a few weeks in London. Only when Rosalie feels more fully recovered and well enough to travel.”
Madeline dabbed at her eyes with the handkerchief. “Of course, Your Grace. I’m not sure I can speak for Warren,” she added with a soft smile. “I’m not sure he’ll know quite what to make of being godfather to a duke’s daughter. But Charles will surely be delighted.”
“And when do you make an honest man of him?” said Burke, moving over towards the bed to transfer the babe to Rosalie’s waiting arms.
Madeline smiled. “I um…we only have a few days left to claim my aunt’s money. We were thinking of riding over to Carrington today. We can bring Warren as a witness.”
James grinned. “Reminds me of our wedding. We woke up on a Thursday morning and walked into Finchley with Burke and Tom to witness. Selby married us.”
“And then we went home and had lunch, casual as you like,” Rosalie added, opening the side of her dressing robe to let the baby nurse.
Burke laughed, his gaze full of such loving warmth as he watched the baby settle in Rosalie’s arms. “And then you were a duchess.”
“And you were named steward,” Rosalie added, sinking back against the pillows as she brushed the baby’s dark hair.
“We all end up where we’re meant to be, I think,” said Madeline.
James stepped forward. “Speaking of…how soon will I lose Mr. Warren to the pleasures of a new life in London?”
Madeline pursed her lips. “Actually, I think we’d rather decided on staying. I shouldn’t steal Charles’s thunder but—”
“Oh, thank god,” James said on a sigh.
“He will accept the offer?” said Rosalie, sitting forward with the nursing babe in her arms. “He will be Vicar of Finchley?”
“Yes,” Madeline replied. “That way Warren can continue to work and so can Charles. And I hate London life…besides I think it might be a good idea to give my family time to cool off. I only just convinced father to leave me here.”
“And you love Alcott Hall,” added Burke with his characteristic grin.
Madeline let herself take a moment to feel profoundly grateful before adding, “Yes, and I love Alcott Hall.”
“Good,” Rosalie replied. “Because we love having you here. You belong with us, here in our little corner of the world. Help us make it a tolerant and loving place? For our children and their children to come,” she added, brushing her baby’s velvety cheek.
Madeline nodded. A quiet life in the country with her husbands, surrounded by the love and happiness of their dearest friends, sounded like a dream.
There was only one thing that could make this day of new beginnings truly perfect.
She glanced at the duke. “I wonder if I could ask a favor…”
James narrowed his eyes at her. “Madeline, you saved my wife’s life last night. And my child’s. You get a limitless number of favors from the Corbin’s from now until forever.”
She smiled. “Well, this is only one favor…and I think it must come from Captain Renley.”
