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 I m fine, he bit out, closing his eyes in an attempt to stamp out his lingering
anger.
 Humph! Miranda pouted.  And he says I m in distemper.
 Miranda, Celeste warned.  Watch your tongue.
Yes, he thought, do watch it, or I ll gladly slice it out of your mouth.
Mistress of the Night Charlotte Featherstone 38
Damn it, he was in far too foul a mood to be traipsing about a bloody museum
gawking at musty artifacts. He didn t give a damn if the Historical Society had unearthed
a treasure trove of antiquities they thought belonged to King Arthur. Arthur and his
knights were a fable, a meaningless tale, a bloody lie--just like everything else in life.
He stirred, rubbing his shoulder against the velvet. It was all her fault he felt this
way. Until the Maddening Madeline Brydges strolled into his life he d never let his
emotions get the better of him, in one way or another. He prided himself on his control,
the ease he had in being able to make himself feel nothing but empty amusement. He d
only ever allowed himself to feel mild sexual attraction, moderate enjoyment, and most
definitely never anger. But Madeline had taken all that away from him. She made him
crazed with lust, mad for the hope of a future free of loneliness, and she d damned well
made his temper soar out of control.
And that had been the reason he d acted like a bastard. Jesus, he still couldn t
think of what he d said to her without wanting to shrink in shame. He d been vile, utterly
pompous and conceited--and he d delighted in it. He relished her shock, the look of hurt
as it crossed her face. He d gloried in the fact that he d turned her and her unwanted
attentions away from him. He was free of her, free of her haunting green eyes and
tempting mouth. His secrets were safe, his heart would be safe. He could live his life in
the quiet solitude of his own private hell without her unsolicited intrusion.
And yet, that was what had kept him up all night, tossing and turning, pummeling
his pillow, fighting the vision of Madeline married to another a man. Of Madeline
carrying another man s child.
 Uncle Blaine, Miranda said, concern evident in her voice when he groaned
aloud again.  You aren t going to-
 I m fine, he snapped.  Would you both stop clucking like a pair of mother hens.
I m attempting to sleep, if you must know.
 Sorry, Miranda said, looking out the window.  I only meant to help.
 Pardon me, he mumbled back, forcing his temper to subside. He really needed
to get a hold of himself. It was always dangerous to get worked up into a state. Any
emotions were dangerous, but a temper, well, that was the most perilous emotion of all.
What he really needed to do was to get the Maddening Madeline out of his mind for
good. That would solve everything.
 Lady Madeline has invited me to take tea with her and Lady Hester tomorrow
afternoon. Would that be acceptable to you, mother? Miranda asked.
 Of course, Dearest, Celeste murmured.  How sweet of Lady Madeline to
include you.
 Oh, she is the nicest person. It was so thoughtful of her to introduce me to
Georgiana Longbottom. We ve become fast friends.
 She is a very caring young woman.
Blaine felt Celeste s eyes burning a hole in his face. He could just imagine the
expression she wore. Sympathy mixed with anxiety. It was always the way she looked at
him when she was concerned for him.
 Lady Madeline runs a home for poor unfortunates, did you know that? Miranda
asked, heartily warming up to her topic of Lady Madeline.
Mistress of the Night Charlotte Featherstone 39
 I had heard, Celeste mumbled, trying to curb Miranda s exuberance.
 Well, Miranda announced,  Lady Madeline says that we can accompany her to
Covent Gardens when they set up their table on Faire Day. We have to be properly
chaperoned, of course.
 Of course.
He wished to God Miranda would stop touting the chit s merits and just stuff it.
He was sick of hearing her name, tired of feeling ashamed of his deplorable behavior and
what it had done to the saintly Madeline. But to yell in frustration would be too telling.
He d be giving far too much away if he gave into the urge. So instead, he allowed himself
to suffer through half an hour of listening to the saintly acts of Madeline Brydges and
praying to his maker that he would not meet up with the temptress of his dreams.
Mistress of the Night Charlotte Featherstone 40
Chapter Five
 My ancestors hail from the north, Lord Tynemouth droned on.  Durart Hall
overlooks the peaks. Lovely part of Derbyshire.
Madeline smiled, nodding to a group of Tabbies who were busy looking her way.
 Have you been to Derbyshire? I wondered if you ve ever happened to come across
Durart Hall?
 I ve been many times to Derbyshire, my lord. I m afraid I ve not had the
pleasure of seeing your ancestral Hall.
 Well, Lord Tynemouth smiled, squeezing her arm as he maneuvered her
through the crowd.  We will have to see what can be done about that.
Madeline forced a smile on her lips and feigned interest in the numerous rows of
artifacts lining the gallery. She wasn t one to be in raptures over antiquities, but she did
love the romance of King Arthur. His Knights of the Round Table were everything that
was good about humanity. Their vision for equality and justice was simply visionary.
 Lady Madeline, Lord Tynemouth.
Madeline looked up from a display case of swords to see Lady Bathurst waving.
 Isn t it a crush? she asked excitedly, squeezing her husband s hand in her exuberance.
 Indeed. Madeline watched as the earl affectionately squeezed his wife s hand in
return.  As a member of the Society, Lady Bathurst, you must be thrilled to be part of this
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