Love Comes Blindly (book 5) (The Fielding Brothers Saga) (8 page)

“Oh, my lovely, we will have all the time in the world to talk, but right now, I want to communicate with our mouths.”

She literally melted into his arms, and his heart cheered. This passionate woman was not meant to be a nun—and he’d see to it that she never became one.

He lifted her and laid her on the bed, following her down. His name sighed from her lips, and he wanted to shout with happiness. Guilt tried to worm its way into his consciousness. After all, wasn’t she a nun? No, Drake had told him she was different. She didn’t wear the habits. He had to convince her she was made for a higher purpose.
To be his wife.

Soft moans came from her throat and it pleased him to know he made her feel this way. He was also happy to know he’d finally found someone who was able to take his mind off one certain woman—after three years of searching.

He broke the kiss only so he could travel his lips down her neck. “Mary, you’re so wonderful.”

Suddenly, her body stiffened and she pushed him away and rose clumsily from the bed.
“Oh, Gregg.
Please forgive me. This was so wrong.”

Before he could stop her, she ran out the door. He growled and rubbed his eyes. What did he have to do to make her see how much he cared? He was half in love with her...no—he loved her with all his heart.

He needed to let her know before it was too late.

* * * *

She’d failed.

Madeline groaned and sank to her knees in front of her daughter’s headstone. Why had she allowed Gregg to kiss her? Again! Her body still tingled for his touch, and her mouth craved his tender caress.
The way her heart had been beating so wildly not too long ago reminded her of when she’d been intimate with him three years ago.
But this time… This time she
knew
she was in love with him. Unfortunately, their love could never be.

He’d never forgive her now. Her life would be inept unless she told him the truth, and even then she expected he’d still hate her.

The afternoon brought shade to the gravesite under the large elm trees. She wiped away dry leaves from the headstone before tracing her finger through the engraved name.

Vivian Caroline Fielding.

What would her daughter have looked like? Would she have inherited her father’s dark hair or her mother’s blonde tresses? Would Vivian have had her father’s incredible blue eyes?

Madeline gazed across the quiet graveyard, grateful for the peace. How else could she think otherwise? And thinking was what she needed desperately. How was she going to tell Gregg about his daughter? Did it matter? He wouldn’t believe her anyway.

Three years ago, their parting words had been harsh. She wanted her family to believe she’d slept with her brother-in-law. As much as she’d wanted to back then, it never happened. Gregg had been her one and only, and she’d crushed him terribly.

The galloping of a horse coming toward her pulled her away from her reverie. She glanced over her shoulder toward the entrance. Riding on a black stallion, gray cloak flapping behind him as his wavy hair rippled in the wind, Gregg Fielding approached.

Her heart sank. No! He couldn’t be here.

But it was what she truly wanted—for the truth to come out.

Taking a deep breath, she stood to face her past once and for all. But just as she thought she’d gained courage, she lost it. She sank to the ground and covered her face.

“Mary, why did you leave me back there?” Gregg dismounted. Leaves crunched under his feet as he neared.

“Where did you get the horse?” she muttered in her palms.

“I borrowed it from the stable. I’ll return it when I’m done.”

She took a quick glance over her shoulder at him, and then buried her face in her hands again. “How did you know where to find me?”

“Sister Mary Beth told me.”

Inwardly, Madeline growled.
The one nun who knew everyone’s secrets.
“I’m afraid, Gregg.”

He stepped behind her and stroked her hair. “Why?”

“Because of what I’m
feeling,
and especially for what I know.”

He gripped her arms to help her stand, but she kept her back to him.

“There is nothing to be afraid of, my darling,” he said. “What we shared earlier was meant to happen. I was brought here for a reason. I know that now. That reason was you.”

Closing her eyes, she sighed. It was time to open his eyes to the truth. “Gregg, you need to know to whom you say these words of endearment.”

When she turned, he took her face in his hands and kissed her mouth. His lips were so gentle she wanted to cry. She wouldn’t. That would certainly come later.

She pulled away and looked into his smiling eyes. His gaze swept over her, and she knew he could see clearly now. Within seconds, his forehead creased and confusion clouded his eyes.

“Wait—do I know you?”

She nodded. “You know me as...Madeline O’Neil.” She gave him a weak smile, knowing it didn’t reach her eyes. Hopefully, he’d recognize the girl he’d known in the woman standing before him.

“Madeline O’Neil?” His lip curled as he jerked away. “What kind of trickery is this? You are not that woman I knew three years ago.”

“Yes, I am. That’s the reason I’ve not wanted to show my face to you.”

His eyes skimmed over her again, quicker this time. He moved his gaze down the length of her body, then back up. Finally, his eyes widened in recognition. “Oh… It is you!”

“Yes.”

He shook his head. “But...but… What in the
devil
are you doing parading as a nun?”

“I’m not a nun. I’m not even a novice.”

“I thought you were training to be a nun. You lied to me!”

“No, I just didn’t tell you that you had assumed wrong. I wanted you to think that in hopes of you getting to know the real Madeline. I’m not like I was three years ago.”

He paced in front of her, dragging his fingers through his hair. “None of this makes sense.” He came to a stop and looked at her with wide eyes. “You were pregnant?” His voice rose.
“You little harlot!
Whose brat did you have? Was it your brother-in-law’s or did someone else bed you?”

Her heart painfully ripped into tiny pieces, even though she had known this would be his reaction. “No, Gregg.” She stepped away from the grave and pointed to the headstone. “The baby was yours.”

Color left his face and his jaw dropped. “You gave that illegitimate child
my
name?” He glanced back at her. “How could you?”

“Gregg, the baby was yours, I assure you.” She cried. “I know you don’t believe me, but you were the only man who made love to me.”

“You have lied so much in your life, how
can you
tell the difference between lies and the truth?” he snapped.

“You have to believe me.” She sobbed, her heart crumbling.

“I’ll never trust another word that comes from your mouth again!” He glared at the headstone. “And I want my name taken off that stone!” He met her eyes with a pierce hot glare. “If you don’t remove my name then I’ll do it myself, and you won’t like the way I do it, either!” He stormed back to his horse, mounted and rode away.

She fell to the ground and cried out her anguish.
Just as she suspected.
He hated her.

Chapter Six

Shock still vibrated through Gregg’s body the next day. He badly wanted to return home to England, but he wouldn’t do it without Calvin. Infection hadn’t set in Drake’s leg, and by now, the chances of it happening were slim. Still, the doctor wanted to keep an eye on Calvin just in case. Although his friend would have his limb, he’d have a limp for the rest of his life.

Because Lord Drake wasn’t ready to leave, Gregg would stay as well, which meant he had to remain at the Abbey. He hadn’t talked to
Maddie
since they were at the cemetery, but he was forced to watch her as she moved in and out of the sick room. What else could he do?

He walked to the window and looked outside. Soon the sun would set and bring night’s shadows, which made it harder for him to see. A few people from town were visiting with some nuns near the front steps. Over the past couple of days, new patients had been brought to the Abbey for the doctor to attend them. It surprised him to see the soldiers were still here as well. Gregg wondered why they were here with prisoners in the first place.

He watched everyone closely, trying to imagine what kind of life these people had. For the past few years working at building his newspaper, he learned to think this way in order to find that great article which would bring in readership. However, the only story that needed unfolding today was
Maddie’s
. He had to know what happened to her. He
must
know the truth. Could he believe what she said? Three years ago, she’d lied to everyone around her. He really didn’t think a person could change that drastically.

Cautiously, he quit the large room in which he’d been kept, and preceded up the stairs. Although nobody had mentioned where the Sisters slept, he guessed it was the second floor. When he reached that floor, he stopped. Silence hung around him. Would
Maddie
be up here? But he didn’t want to find out. He wouldn’t know what to say to her anyway, so he continued up to the third floor. On the winding stairs, voices were heard from above, making him stop and listen.

“The soldiers will be asleep soon. It won’t take long before the sleeping draught begins to work,” a man with a Russian accent said.

“How will we get the prisoners out without anyone
noticin
’?” Although the second man’s Scottish accent wasn’t as strong, it still hand a twang.

“We switch their clothes with the soldiers.”

Confusion filled Gregg’s head. They couldn’t possibly be talking about what it sounded like. Yet he felt in his heart this was indeed, treachery. This couldn’t be good. Not in an Abbey…especially if all the soldiers were asleep and not able to help during the breakout.

Taking a slow step backward, he moved quietly, not wanting to draw undo attention. He had no weapon, and he still didn’t feel strong enough to use his fists to defend himself. Just as he reached the bottom step, it squeaked. The voices from up above stopped. Gregg grumbled an oath of curses and hurried on soft feet—as soft as a man of his size could make them—down the hallway of the second floor. As he passed each door, he checked the door knob, trying to find some place to hide.

Locked.

Heavy footsteps on the stairs echoed, making Gregg’s heart hammer faster as he moved through the hall. Finally, a door wasn’t locked and he rushed in, closing the solid oak barrier softly behind him. The semi-dark room wasn’t lit very well. Only a small lamp gave him light, and because he couldn’t see well in the dark, he squinted harder. A movement from over in the corner drew his attention.
Maddie
jumped to her feet from her vanity, holding a brush.
Her hair still damp from her bath.

“Gregg? What are you doing here?” she asked, pulling on a worn, brown wrapper.

“Hide me. Someone is coming,” he told her in whispers. The heavy footsteps grew closer and Gregg searched for someplace to hide in her room. Because the chamber was so small, there wasn’t anywhere except under the bed. Certainly the intruders would see him. At the end of the bed sat a large trunk. He lifted the lid and peeked inside. Quickly, he threw out the gowns she had in there and climbed in. “Cover me.
Hurry!”

Her eyes widened and her face paled. Shaking her head, she hurried and stuffed the gowns on top of him. Just as she closed the lid, someone knocked on the door.

Gregg heard her shuffled feet then the clicking of the door as she opened it.

“May I help you?”

“Eh…are
ya
one of the Sisters here?” the Scot asked.

“Indeed, I am,”
Maddie
answered.

“
Yar
tae
purty
tae be a nun.”

“We are all beautiful in God’s eyes.”

Good answer,
Gregg thought.

“Pardon our intrusion, Sister, but we have reason tae believe a
mon
in
hidin
’ up here somewhere.”

She gasped. “But Officer, these rooms are for the Sisters of the Abbey. We do not allow men up here. In fact, both of you need to leave.”

“Sorry, ma’am, we cannot do that.” The other man spoke, and Gregg could tell he was trying to disguise his Russian accent. “We were following the man. He’s up here somewhere, and even if it takes all night, we will find him.”

Their footsteps came closer to the trunk. Gregg held his breath, praying they would give up their search and leave.

“There is no possible way a man could be in my room since I have been here for a good hour and nobody has come in.”

Gregg couldn’t stop the grin sneaking across his face. Even in a church,
Maddie
was going to lie. But this time, he really needed to thank her… That’s if he escaped alive.

* * * *