and then called over his shoulder, 'Perhaps we can persuade Madelyne to give us a song or two before we take our walk, Adela, if Duncan 's talk about men and horses can wait a while longer.'
Gerald heard Duncan 's laugh before he left. Gilard also stood up. 'Where are you going?' Edmond asked.
'To get Madelyne another chair. There seems to be something wrong with this one,' he added. 'She keeps trying to fall off it.'
Madelyne slowly turned to Duncan and glared at him. If he said one word, she was going to throw him out a window.
Adela thought it was a wonderful idea for Madelyne to play the psaltery. She was all for any plan that would delay her walk with Gerald. She pleaded with Madelyne to play for them all.
'Oh, Adela, I don't think tonight would be a good time-'
'Are you so eager to be alone with your husband?' Duncan asked in a soft whisper.
Madelyne turned to her husband again, frowned, and was rewarded with one of his heart-stopping smiles. The dimple was back in his cheek too. And then he winked at her again, right in front of everyone.
Duncan was tearing a piece of bread in half and she very stupidly watched him, until it dawned on her that he wasn't holding her foot now. How long had both his hands been in plain sight?
She immediately removed her foot from his lap. 'And if I sing like a frog, Duncan, and shame you?' she asked him.
'You could never shame me,' Duncan answered.
It was such a kind thing to say. Madelyne didn't know how to respond. Was he teasing her or telling her the truth? 'You're my wife, Madelyne. Nothing you could do would shame me.'
'Why?' Madelyne asked, leaning toward her husband so they wouldn't be overheard.
'Because I've chosen you,' Duncan answered. He also leaned toward his lovely wife. ' 'Tis a simple fact, even to a-'
'If you call me half witted, I shall be forced to take Adela's gift and knock you senseless with it.'
Madelyne was more appalled by her threat than Duncan appeared to be. Duncan took hold of her hand and pulled her closer. 'Stop touching me,' Madelyne whispered.
She glanced over to the other Wextons. Gilard was telling an amusing story and both Adela and Edmond were listening to him.
'No.'
She looked back at Duncan when she heard him deny her request. 'I don't like it, Duncan.'
'Yes, you do, Madelyne. When you're in my arms, you like everything I do to you. You moan and you beg me to-'
Her hand covered his mouth and she blushed as red as the fire in the hearth. Duncan laughed, a loud booming sound that filled the hall with warmth. Edmond and Gilard both demanded to know the cause. Duncan looked like he just might tell them. Madelyne started praying, and held her breath.
She started breathing again when Duncan merely shrugged and changed the subject.
Madelyne happened to notice Adela was straightening the sleeves of her gown. She patted her hair too.
And then it dawned on her. Lord, she really was simpleminded. Adela wanted to look pretty for Gerald. She was primping and squirming enough to give that impression at least.
Now that she thought about it, Madelyne realized Gerald was still attracted to Adela. The way he had stared at her said as much.
Madelyne's heart softened with the knowledge that Gerald might still want Adela. It made her feel great affection for the baron.
And then she immediately began to worry. Adela's mind was set on remaining with her family. Duncan had given his word. It was a complication.
'What has you frowning so, Madelyne?' Gilard asked.
'I was just thinking how complicated life becomes the older we get,' Madelyne answered.
'We can't stay children forever,' Edmond interjected with a predictable shrug that made Madelyne smile. She thought Edmond was as set in his ways as her uncle was.
'I'll wager you frowned your childhood away,' she teased.
Edmond looked taken aback by the remark. He started to frown and then stopped himself. Madelyne laughed.
'I don't remember much of my childhood,' Edmond said. 'I do remember Gilard as a boy all too clear. Our brother was in constant mischief.'
'Did you get into mischief when you were a little girl?' Gilard asked Madelyne, thinking to draw attention away from his embarrassing escapades. Madelyne didn't need to know about his wild inclinations. She might think less of him.
Madelyne shook her head. 'Oh, nay, I never got into mischief, Gilard. I was very quiet. 'Why, I never did anything wrong.'
Duncan laughed as loud as his brothers. Madelyne took exception until she realized she'd made herself sound like a saint. 'Well, I did have flaws,' she stammered.
'You? Never,' Edmond interjected, smiling.
Madelyne blushed. She wasn't sure how she should take Edmond 's comment. She still didn't completely trust this Wexton, though she'd adjusted to his smiles. She turned to look at Duncan.
'Don't embarrass Madelyne,' Duncan admonished his brother.
'Tell us one of your flaws, Madelyne,' Adela asked, smiling with encouragement.
'Well, I know you'll find this difficult to believe, but I was a most awkward child, clumsy, in fact.'
No one found it the least bit difficult to believe. Duncan shook his head at Gilard, who looked ready to shout with laughter over Madelyne's confession. Edmond started choking on a drink he was trying to swallow when Madelyne shyly admitted her flaw. Adela was giggling while she slapped her brother on his back.
Baron Gerald returned with the psaltery and placed it on the table in front of Adela just as Edmond controlled his fit of coughing. The triangular-shaped instrument was made of a light bleached wood. The strings numbered a dozen and Madelyne watched with envy as Adela ran her thumb across the wires.
'Father Laurance will have to bless this instrument,' Adela said.
'Aye, at mass tomorrow,' Gilard interjected. 'I've instructed the priest to say the mass in the hall each morning until the chapel is repaired, Duncan.'
Duncan nodded. He stood, giving the unspoken command that dinner was over.
Madelyne waited until everyone started to walk toward the chairs in front of the hearth. As soon as their backs were turned, Madelyne knelt down and searched under the table for her missing shoe.
Duncan lifted her by her waist, pulled her back against him, and then dangled her shoe in front of her face.
Madelyne turned and tried to grab her shoe.
'Why are you frowning at me?' Duncan asked. He lifted her onto the edge of the table, took hold of her foot, and put her shoe back on.
'I could have done that,' Madelyne whispered. 'And I'm frowning because you're teasing me, Duncan. I don't like it.'
'Why?' Duncan lifted Madelyne back to the ground. He didn't let go of her waist, however, a fact that bothered Madelyne more than she cared to admit.
'Why?' she asked, wishing she could remember what she wanted to say. It was all his fault, of course, because he was staring at her as though he'd like to kiss her, and how could she think of anything but kissing him back?
'Why don't you like me teasing you?' Duncan asked, leaning down toward her upturned face.
'Because you aren't predictable when you tease,' Madelyne answered. 'You're like a blade of grass in the winter, Duncan. Cold and stiff, aye, rigid.' She tried to take a step back, but Duncan increased his hold and slowly pulled her closer, until she was touching his chest. 'And now you're acting like the grass of summer, bending this way and that…'
She looked so flustered, he didn't dare laugh. 'I have never been compared to a blade of grass,' he told her. 'Now give me the truth and not another parable if you please.'
