Secrets of the Heart (20 page)

As she pushed open the door of the barn where they liked to play, she heard a string of colorful words that followed the sound of hoof meeting pail. “Jenny? Is that you?” She wandered toward the milking stalls, looking for the milkmaid.

“Whad’ya want?” An angry, grime-smeared face jutted around the corner. “Oh, it’s you, my lady. Beg pardon.”

Madeline nearly collapsed into the pile of hay behind her. “Jenny. Could you please not do that! You frightened me nearly into a swoon.”

“Beggin’ yer pardon, my lady, but the door squeak’n had Glory kick the milk pail over.”

“I am sorry, Jenny. I’ll try to be more careful. Could you gather the boys for me?”

Jenny put her fingers to her lips and let out with an ear-splitting whistle that upset the livestock far more than Madeline’s creaking of the barn door.

Madeline looked around. The hay piled next to her shivered, and a pair of wide, dark eyes in a dirt-streaked face sparkled mischievously amongst the strands of straw.

“Danny, is that you?” Madeline smiled.

Jenny stuck out her tongue at the boy in the haystack and went back to her milking, unaware that the child returned the affec tionate gesture.

“Ye lookin’ for me, Lady Majesty?”

“Yes, I am looking for you. It is time for your studies. And what have I told you is the proper way to address me?”

“Lady Madeline.” He scampered up, spitting pieces of hay out of his mouth and dusting off his head of red curls. “I don’t need no studies.”

“What would you like to be when you are grown?”

“Dunno. Do mad folk get to be somethin’ when they’s growed up, Lady Majesty?”

“Danny, you are strong-minded. You are not mad.”

“Sure am. Mr. Sullivan says I’m batty more than most my age.”

“I’ll have a talk with Mr. Sullivan. You are as normal as any boy your age. Just because you have no parents does not make you mad.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Good. Then I’ll be… a pickpocket.”

“Danny!” Madeline took a deep breath and sighed. “You will not be a pickpocket.”

A serious expression covered his face. “Lady Majesty, I promise I’ll be a good one.”

Madeline burst out laughing. “I am sure you will be the best. You must be anxious for your studies to begin. I don’t believe I have ever seen you come so quickly. Excellent. That is the sign of a curious student.”

“I just don’t wanna do work is all.” He grinned, a mouth full of missing or decayed teeth marring his freckled face. He shuffled from one foot to the other, a nervous gesture that emerged whenever addressed by an adult.

“And where is Jack?” The hay shivered again and birthed another redhead.

“Jack!” Danny flung a fistful of hay at his eleven-year-old twin. “Gotcha, string head!”

Jack immediately pounced on his brother. “I’ll get you, bushy head!” A blur of arms and legs stirred the dust on the barn floor into a small whirlwind.

“I hope you are finished playing your games so we may get some work done today,” Madeline chided, trying to sound stern, but then had a fit of coughing from the dust swirling about her. “Now, follow me to our classroom.”

Madeline led the way to a corner of the barn padded in hay. The boys plopped down and sprawled out in comfort. They watched Madeline set her overly large reticule on a barrel, open it, and pull out several pieces of chocolate. Eyes grew wide with grins to match.

“Dr. Langford will be here tomorrow to make certain you are healthy enough to leave for the Royal Military Asylum in London. He will give you a thorough going-over, and then as soon as transport can be arranged, you will be off on a new adventure.”

“Do we have to go?” Jack asked. “We like it here.”

Madeline settled herself on a bale of hay. “It’s an opportunity to get your education so you can grow up to be more than pickpockets. Since both your poor parents are dead, and now you’ve lost your aunt, God rest their souls, the Duke of York has provided a place where children like yourselves can learn and grow together.”

“Will there be girls at this school?” Danny asked.

“Yes, I believe there are.” Madeline pulled out her Bible and a book of poetry.

“Then we ain’t going.” Jack crossed his arms and shook his head.

“And why on earth not?”

“Because girls are dim,” Danny said and crossed his arms too.

“Some year in the not too distant future you will change your minds about that. But until then I thought you might enjoy a sweet. Who can recite a line of Scripture that we memorized yesterday?”

Danny shouted “I can!” a moment before Jack did, and the talk of dim girls was forgotten.

“All right, Danny. Go ahead.”

“Blessed are the poor…” Danny scratched his head in thought. “…’cause they’ll get rich.”

Jack hooted.

“Danny, you’re almost right,” Madeline praised him and handed him a piece of candy.

He popped it in his mouth faster than a barn cat chasing a rat.

“‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they will inherit the kingdom of heaven.’”

Danny defended himself. “Yeah, that’s what I said.”

“Which of you can recite something from this book?” She held up a book of poetry.

Jack jumped up. “Something is rotten in… in… hemlock!”

Madeline could not help smiling. Danny laughed aloud.

“Can I have my candy, Lady Madeline?”

“You are getting much better, but you have some thinking to do. The answer is ‘Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.’”

Just then movement caught her eye, and she looked out a grimy window and stared in astonishment as Lord Vale entered Sullivan’s office with Amanda in tow.

The boys followed her gaze. “Amanda’s in trouble again.” Jack ran to the window. “The keepers made her cry yesterday. I don’t like them keepers.”

Madeline thought of the first time she’d seen Amanda. “What do you mean, they made her cry?”

“They wouldn’t give her no food. That’s what Cook said.”

Madeline pursed her lips, then made a quick decision. “Boys, I want you to memorize this scripture. ‘Ye shall not fear them: for the Lord your God he shall fight for you. Deuteronomy 3:22.’ I’ll be back in a few minutes. I want to speak to Mr. Sullivan.” Madeline touched each of their heads as she departed, knowing they were not likely to memorize Scripture in her absence. But she could not sit there knowing that Amanda could be suffering at the hands of Mr. Sullivan.

Madeline hurried through the yard to the office. She could hear Amanda crying, and instead of stopping to knock she hurried inside unannounced. Amanda lay in a heap on the floor unmoving.

Madeline whirled on Sullivan. “What are you doing to this girl?” she demanded.

“We haven’t decided yet.” Sullivan drawled, reaching for his pipe.

She glared at Vale. “How could you permit this outrage?”

Madeline rushed to Amanda and took her hand. The smell of her nearly made Madeline vomit. Barely able to hold her head up, Amanda looked at her. Those big brown eyes made Madeline want to weep. Dark circles were under her eyes, and her right eye was bruised and swollen. “Who hit her? Was it you?” She looked at Sullivan.

He packed his pipe with tobacco. “The patients frequently fight, my lady.” He lit his pipe as though nothing of importance was being discussed.

“You are not to interfere with the management of the patients, Lady Madeline,” Lord Vale snapped. He sat in a chair across from Sullivan, who was behind his desk.

“When was the last time this patient had a bath? When did she have the opportunity to wash her hair? She’s emaciated, and the boys said that you, Mr. Sullivan, were refusing to let her eat. You are treating her worse than an abused animal.” Madeline entwined her fingers with Amanda. “What is the meaning of this?”

Sullivan stood behind his desk. “This is that runaway, the murderous Amanda. She tried to run again last night. She must be trained not to attempt that behavior again, or she will be placed in solitary confinement.”

Madeline bristled. “If you treated her well, perhaps she would not want to run away. And you say ‘train her’ as if she’s not human.” She looked from Sullivan to Vale, barely able to contain her disdain for both of them. “Lord Vale, how can you approve such actions as a benefactor of this asylum?”

“There are things you cannot comprehend at your age and having lived a life of privilege, Lady Madeline. Certain measures are necessary to maintain order in an institution like this.”

“You cannot approve of such ill treatment, Lord Vale.” Madeline feared that Amanda might die if she didn’t get some food. “I want you to have Cook bring some food. I will help her bathe.”

She watched the interactions between the two men. Vale shrugged.

Sullivan said, “Very well. You will see that I am a compassionate man and not the monster you believe me to be. I will send for food, and then you may assist her in her toilet.” Sullivan left the three of them alone.

Madeline turned on Vale. “How can you have business dealings with such a man? He’s awful, and he’s treating this poor girl dreadfully. I hesitate to think what else is going on behind the closed doors of this place.”

“You misunderstand, Lady Madeline. This is not a business. I merely help support the place because of my concern for those less fortunate. The same thing that your friend, Ravensmoore, boasts about.”

“He is nothing like you.” She laid Amanda’s head on her lap where they sat upon the floor. “How do I know that she will not be abused when I leave?” Madeline demanded. “How can you overlook such cruelty?”

Vale came to stand over them, sending a shiver through Amanda that Madeline absorbed.

“Sullivan’s actions are based solely on the actions of the patients. If they do as they are told and don’t make trouble, then they have nothing to regret with the exception of what their tormented minds tell them to regret.”

A keeper arrived to carry Amanda to a room off the kitchen that was toasty warm. Madeline followed behind, ordering that a bath be drawn and fresh clothing provided. While she waited for the water to heat, Madeline spooned chicken soup into Amanda and hot tea with lots of sugar. Amanda revived enough to climb into the tub of warm water, groaning in what Madeline imagined must be sheer relief. Madeline let her soak and then washed her hair and clothed her in new garments provided by the local parish.

Madeline returned to the office. This time she knocked before entering.

Lord Vale stood in front of the fireplace, his hands clasped behind his back. “Is she well?” he asked and turned to face Madeline.

“She is very sick.” Madeline searched his eyes but could detect no emotion hidden there—neither hatred nor approval. “I want to take her to Richfield until she’s better.”

“I think you know what the answer to that is.” He took a few steps closer to Madeline. “Absolutely not. Have you not been listening?”

“Will you give me your word that you will talk to Sullivan and allow Amanda to go to the kitchen and eat with Cook every day?”

“I will ask him. Now, as you know, the boys are to see Langford tomorrow and then be on their way to the Royal Military Asylum in London. There is no need for you to return. In fact, I will speak to your mother, and together we will forbid you to return. I will not be able to be here to see to your welfare, and I have business that must be attended to for both Richfield and my estate at Vale House.”

Madeline struggled to keep her voice even. “Will you also have Sullivan consider keeping a physician on these grounds to attend to the needs of the sick?”

“I will discuss it with Sullivan, but it is very unlikely that any physician would want to take up residence here at Ashcroft.”

“Time will tell, Lord Vale. I will say good-bye to the twins and be ready to return home within the hour.”

Vale nodded. “Very well.”

Once back home Madeline went for a long walk in the gardens and spoke to God. She could make no sense of why the Lord allowed such misery to exist.

“A penny for your thoughts.”

Madeline’s hand flew to her throat as she turned toward her friend. “Oh, Hally. You gave me a fright.”