“Never forget I am doing this for her.”
“Of course.”
Maddie’s father checked his pocket watch. “When did you first know?”
“Know what?”
“That you wanted to marry my daughter.”
Harrison’s mouth hitched. “When I was fifteen.”
Webster shook his head and he pinned Harrison with a hard stare. “You could have returned from Paris sooner and saved us the trouble.”
True, but until a few days ago Maddie hadn’t thought of him in a romantic way. “I could have, but where would have been the fun in that?”
“I daresay it won’t be easy earning Maddie’s forgiveness. She’s been working on this match with Lockwood since March. Between that and tennis, it’s all she’s talked about for months. You know how much she hates to be taken by surprise.”
“I do.” Harrison remembered how annoyed Maddie became whenever he didn’t follow her schemes to the letter. “And if you don’t mind, I’d like to find her now, start working on that forgiveness.”
“Go on, then. I need to find my wife. I’ll let you know what time to show up for the ceremony.”
Chapter Fifteen
Nellie was lingering in the corridor when Maddie left her father’s office. She followed Maddie toward the stairs and hissed, “What happened?”
“It’s a disaster. I need to find Lockwood.”
“He went up the steps and asked the butler to send up his valet. Then he said he’d need a carriage to take him to the train station.”
Maddie paused on the bottom stair. Oh, God. Lockwood was leaving.
Of course he is leaving. You humiliated him.
“Come with me.” Nellie grabbed Maddie’s arm and dragged her toward the empty drawing room. Maddie followed blindly, her mind still tripping over all that had happened.
When they were alone, Nellie folded her arms across her chest. “Spill.”
“Mrs. Lusk told my father everything and Lockwood has begged off. Harrison and I are being married this afternoon.”
Nellie’s eyes rounded. “Goodness gracious. When you decide to go bad, you really take the three-tiered cake, don’t you?”
That hardly made Maddie feel better. “Nellie!”
“I’m teasing. Listen, you kissed a man and got caught. It’s not the end of the world.”
“It feels as if it is. Lockwood despises me, and my mother is no doubt reaching for the smelling salts.”
“Perhaps, but so what?” Nellie gave her a smile full of affection and understanding. “I am aware of your desire for everyone to like you best, but no one is perfect, Maddie. Not even you.”
“I don’t need for everyone to like me best”—she ignored Nellie’s disbelieving expression—“but I do not like hurting people. Or embarrassing them.”
“I understand, but have you considered that maybe you were meant to be with Harrison all along?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Someday, you will—and you will thank Aunt Nellie for all the great advice she gave you these past few days.”
Maddie threw her arms around the other woman. “After this party, you might be my only friend left.”
“Stop.” Nellie patted Maddie’s back. “Society has a short memory. Time heals all scandals, as they say.”
No one said that, but Maddie didn’t quibble. She let Nellie go. “I need to find Lockwood and apologize. I feel absolutely awful.”
“Don’t feel too awful. The duke would have made you a terrible husband.”
Her friend said it with such certainty that Maddie cocked her head. “Why?”
A look passed over Nellie’s face before she could mask it. “Because he isn’t Harrison. Now go.”
Maddie had the sense the other woman was not telling the whole truth but there was no time to dig into that pile. Best to leave it for later. “Thank you for attempting to make me feel better.”
“You are welcome,” Nellie called as Maddie dashed out of the room.
At the top of the staircase, she spotted Lockwood striding along the corridor, headed right toward her. He walked briskly, as if desperate to leave. Swallowing, she drew in a deep breath and prepared to grovel. “May I speak with you?”
“Of course,” he replied easily. “Shall we continue this outside? The carriage is waiting.”
He held out his arm, ever the gentleman. The consideration was more than she deserved. Placing her hand atop his forearm, she let him lead her down the main stairs, through the vestibule, and out the door. In the drive, footmen were securing the duke’s things to the top of a carriage.
Folding his hands behind his back, Lockwood stared off into the distance. The angles of his handsome face were harsher, less welcoming than they’d been yesterday. Her stomach roiled with self-loathing and regret as she considered what to say. “Please accept my heartfelt apology. I never meant for this to happen.”
He cleared his throat. “I assumed as much. If I had thought your attentions were engaged elsewhere, I never would have pursued you.”
“They weren’t. There is no explanation for what happened.”
“I’d say Harrison Archer happened,” he said, wryly.
“Nevertheless, I have no excuse for my dishonorable behavior. I feel terrible for treating you this way.”
His jaw tightened, lips thinning into the hint of a grimace. “If you are hoping for absolution, I’m incapable of providing it at the moment. Honestly, it is quite humiliating to be thrown over like this. I hadn’t expected it, especially considering how well we got on together.”
A duke was a position of great power and responsibility, and she could imagine losing was a bitter pill for him to swallow. A tear slipped from out of the corner of her eye and rolled down her cheek. Then the other eye followed suit. “I understand, and I regret causing you any embarrassment. Someday, I hope you will be able to forgive me.”
He gave a short nod but didn’t reply. A man, she assumed the duke’s valet, approached. “Your Grace, the bags are packed and secured. We may depart whenever you are ready.”
Lockwood nodded once. “A moment, Wilkins.” The valet climbed into the carriage to wait.
Maddie clenched her hands together tightly, more tears leaking, unsure what more she could say. “Do you plan to return to England?”
“No, I’ll return to New York first.” His gaze darted over her head and his expression hardened. He grunted, the noise sounding full of derision. “I suppose he’s come to gloat.”
She didn’t need to turn around to know who stood there. “Perhaps he wishes to apologize.”
A grim smile twisted the duke’s lips. “He isn’t sorry, not one bit.” He pulled on his cuffs. “I wish you luck, Miss Webster.”
Lockwood disappeared into the carriage and a groom set the step, then the carriage rolled down the drive. Maddie watched, her mind spinning as the emotion of the day settled on her shoulders, weighing her down. She’d caused so much damage, all from a single moment of passion.
How could she ever forgive herself?