‘Oh, no, dear sir,’ Madeleine said, laughing. ‘The role of chaperon does not suit me. I am for home and bed.’
‘Do you say so?’ he queried, lifting a dark eyebrow. ‘Now, I thought I saw Risley’s coach outside. It must have been there for one of the others.’
‘I expect it was.’
‘Come along, my dear.’ He addressed Marianne. ‘I am as hungry as a hunter.’
They disappeared in a flurry of rainbow colours, leaving Madeleine to complete her toilette alone, dressing in a green round gown with leg o’mutton sleeves and a sleeveless pelisse of light wool and topping her dark curls with a small green bonnet, decorated with a sweeping feather. She took her time, hoping that the Marquis would give up and go home, but when she ventured out into the street, the carriage was still there. Straightening her shoulders and lifting her head, she walked past it.
‘Madeleine!’ Her name was spoken softly but urgently. ‘Madeleine, wait!’
She swung round, but could see nothing but his dark shape in the shadow of the building. ‘I have nothing to say to you, sir.’
‘Why not? Have I offended you?’
‘I will let your conscience be the judge of that, sir. If you have one, that is. I bid you goodnight.’
He reached out and put his hand on her arm to detain her. ‘Let me escort you home, then you may tell me how I have displeased you.’
She shook him off. ‘I do not need to ride in a carriage for that, my lord. It is easily told. You mocked the play. You brought your drunken friends to make fun of me. You threw orange peel on to the stage and cut off my speeches before they could be properly delivered. I am used to being derided, Lord Risley, but I had thought you were more sensible of my talent. You certainly made a great pretence of appreciating it last week, but that was before I refused to become your paramour, wasn’t it? Was this your vengeance?’
‘Vengeance? Good God! Surely you do not believe I am as contemptible as that?’
She ignored his denial. ‘And now I suppose those…those…rakeshames are privy to everything I told you in confidence.’
‘No, never! I was with those fellows, but I did not know what they would do and I certainly took no part in their bad behaviour. Please believe me. I would not for the world have you hurt.’
‘Hurt, my lord,’ she said haughtily. ‘I am beyond hurting. I am angry that other people’s enjoyment of the play was spoiled by a handful of idle ne’er-do-wells.’
‘So am I, believe me. Please allow me to take you home. You cannot walk through the streets alone at this time of night. Anything could happen.’
She smiled slowly in the darkness. ‘You are concerned for my safety?’
‘Naturally I am.’
‘And you would walk with me?’
‘If you prefer that to riding in my carriage, then I will be honoured to do so.’
‘Then send your carriage home. It is not fair on the horses to keep them waiting so long.’
He turned and instructed his coachman to take the equipage home, then offered her his arm. She laid her fingers upon it and together they strolled off in the direction of Oxford Street. He would have to walk home from there, but she did not care. It served him right.
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