Page 12 of The Captain Claims His Temptress

“Mrs. Spencer?” exclaimed Saxton’s gawking solicitor.

Stephen’s heart plummeted. She was married? His shock turned to fury.

“I will escort her to her chamber.” Hugo Adams grasped Madalene’s arm and tugged her toward the door.

“Stephen,” she called over her shoulder, her voice a plea for help.

His anger morphed into concern. “Be gentle with her.” He started toward her but froze mid-step for there was nothing he could do. She was married. Had he known he never would have…. He rubbed a hand through his hair and groaned.

“I expected this from her. But you, Captain?” His host stabbed a finger in Stephen’s direction. “We will talk about this tomorrow.” He slammed the glass door behind him with so much force that the stone castle seemed to shake.

Stephen exhaled. What in blazes had he done?

Should he offer for her hand?

But she was already married. A duel at dawn against a jealous husband was probably in his future. A truly archaic and beastly way to settle things. But what other recourse did a cuckolded husband have? And damn, if she was his, he would do whatever it took to keep her from another. But she wasn’t his, and he couldn’t kill her husband since he was the one in the wrong.

How ironic. He’d given up women to dedicate himself to his country and had survived the most brutal of battlefields to meet his maker at the end of a jealous husband’s pistol. And fool that he was, he had let down his guard when there may have been someone hiding below watching him.

His shoulders sagging, he began the agonizing walk of shame to his chamber.

Chapter six

October 4th, 1817

Maddieawokewithastart, gasping for breath. Why were the horrific nightmares about a skeleton-like creature climbing on top of her continuing even though she was no longer relegated to her dank New York townhouse? It was truly absurd since the sun blasted through her window, her chamber was exquisite, and she was in a lovely village outside of London.

She sat up, leaned against the headboard, and steadied her breathing. Everything negative had a silver lining if one looked hard enough.

Last night she had been her own woman, done precisely what she wanted, and seduced a knight in shining armor. His kisses had been erotic, and his touches had set her on fire. She had not intended to make love to him on the balcony. She would have grasped his hand and led him to her chamber, but Sir Saxton had interrupted.

A fuming Hugo Adams had escorted her to her room, spewing spikey denouncements.

“How dare he pretend to be honorable, then put his filthy hands on you?”

“Do not worry. I will protect your virtue. I will speak to your uncle. Word of this incident will never get out.”

“He may be a soldier, but I will slice him in two if he ever tries to force you into his arms again.”

And finally, “He will be gone by tomorrow evening. I will see to it. Then he will never bother you again.”

No defense of Stephen had placated the seething solicitor.

And she had never seen her uncle so angry. Had he raged at the captain? Had he threatened his life? Would everyone at the gathering turn their noses up at her? Worse, would they no longer see Captain Stephen Eaton as heroic? That was unfair because she had initiated their liaison.

Dropping her forehead into her hands, she moaned. Her mother and aunt had warned her to show discretion, so what had she been thinking?

Although flirtatious, she was not as experienced in lovemaking as people assumed. The secret she couldn’t divulge was that she had never consummated her marriage. If found out, Spencer’s nephew would claim the marriage be annulled, and then her father would bellow non-stop, making the six years of torment for nothing.

The few times Spencer had come to her and undressed, she had cried, and he had left the room, fuming. Fearing his touch, she began bolting her door. His ego had prevented him from outing their secret. After years of dutifully attending events by his side and locking herself away at home, he had passed in his sleep. And still, the nightmares plagued her.

Then while out for an early spring walk, she met Kit. He’d been handsome and charming, escorting her into a restaurant to counsel a “grieving” widow. There had been intimate rendezvous at a hotel. Six, to be exact. He was skilled in lovemaking and had taught her deliciously scandalous things. But their affair had gone terribly wrong when he carried her off to his Boston townhouse on what was intended to be a romantic weekend. His wife had also been at the residence. Maddie had been as shocked by Mrs. McDonald’s existence as she was by Maddie’s. Maddie left the house immediately, but her reputation had been beyond repair when word got out.

The worst part was that the dalliance had been for naught because Kit’s touch had not erased her nightmares.

After that, Maddie increased her flirtations. Not because she meant to sleep with dozens of men. She simply wanted to feel alive. What did it matter since her reputation was already soiled? Besides, she was good at garnering male attention, and it was nice to be good at something.

But soon, her invitations again dried up as the rumors ran rampant.Madalene Spencer, the harlot. Madalene Spencer, the older man’s whore. Madalene Spencer, the Black Widow. Keep your husband away from Madalene Spencer….