On the other hand, her brother might merely be putting on an optimistic face or making a show of bravado. Or he might simply be placing all his faith in Rayne.
For herself, Madeline was very, very glad Rayne had decided to take the lead in confronting Ackerby, even if it put her further in his debt and bolstered her growing certainty that he would never come to love her.
A few moments later, Gerard suddenly spoke as he peered from the coach window.
“There, that is Claude’s cottage up ahead—the one with the green shutters. And that,” he added more grimly, “is Ackerby’s carriage standing out in front.”
Madeline’s stomach tightened when she spied the vehicle. The baron was indeed lying in wait for her brother.
Rayne took command then, addressing Madeline first. “It would be best if you remained here with Lynette for the time being. Ellis, you will come with me.”
“Yes,” Gerard agreed, visibly girding himself for the impending confrontation.
Madeline wanted to accompany them, but Lynette looked frightened enough to need consoling. Moreover, as the two gentlemen descended, the cottage door was flung open and the Vicomte de Vasse came striding out, with his vicomtesse directly behind him.
“Papa! Maman!” Lynette exclaimed in a bewildered tone, clearly surprised to see her parents this long distance from home.
Madeline was also taken aback by their unexpected appearance, even more so when the vicomte headed directly for Gerard, fury written on his features. As the French aristocrat forcibly grasped her brother by his coat lapels, Madeline scrambled from the coach, hoping to prevent more violence. Lynette was obviously of the same mind and followed directly on her heels.
Fortunately Rayne intervened and pulled the two men apart. At the same time, Lynette was noticed by her mother, who gave a glad cry and hurried forward to embrace her wayward daughter.
But Lynette seemed more concerned about her new husband. De Vasse stood cursing Gerard in French, calling him a devilish cur, among other aspersions.
“Papa, no!” the girl cried, extricating herself from her mother’s attentions to rush to Gerard’s side. “You cannot say those awful things.”
Her father turned his anger on her. “Ma petite, how could you wound your maman that way? This man is a thief!”
“No, you don’t comprehend—”
“I comprehend perfectly. He not only stole my only daughter and sullied her name but endangered her very life!”
“That is not true, Papa!”
“Indeed, it is, Lynette! As Ellis’s accomplice, you will be locked in prison with him.”
Madeline hurried to speak up. “It will not come to that, monsieur.”
De Vasse hesitated while eyeing her, but then shook his head angrily. “I will not risk it. We have come to bring our daughter home.”
Gerard’s jaw hardened with similar determin
ation. “Lynette is my wife now, sir. You have no right to dictate to her.”
“You keep out of this, you canaille!”
“Please, Lynette,” the vicomtesse pleaded, weeping openly now. “Lord Ackerby has given us the opportunity to make you see reason. We traveled here with him in his carriage. But his patience will not last long. For your own safety, you must return home with us.”
“I would strongly advise that you heed your parents, Mademoiselle Lynette,” a new male voice suggested.
Baron Ackerby, Madeline realized, had emerged from the cottage, flanked by a burly man whom she guessed was his fourth lackey.
“I intend to have Ellis arrested for theft,” Ackerby announced to the group at large.
In protest, Madeline took a protective step toward her brother, but Rayne’s hand came down on her shoulder, heavy and reassuring while he again intervened.
“I believe you will have to rethink your position, Ackerby, given the new circumstances.”
The baron did not look at all pleased by Rayne’s presence. “What the devil are you doing here, Haviland?”