Loving Madison

Seventeen

The morning sun streamed through the sunflower yellow lace hanging around the window in the dining room. On the table, scones with honey-butter, strawberries, bananas, and sausage were spread. Madison sat beside Alice at the table for breakfast, struggling to finish the food piled on her plate. Never had Madison seen so much at one breakfast table, and took one of each item, hoping she didn't appear overly eager.

With a full stomach, she leaned back in her chair and stared at her empty plate. Perhaps she shouldn't have eaten so much. But she didn't know how to politely refuse the large meal brought from the kitchen by a very cheerful Mrs. Trumble. The middle-aged woman appeared so delighted that she could serve Madison.

As Alice chatted on, Madison stifled a yawn. Last evening, Alice had begged Madison to stay the night when Cameron didn't return home as promised, but Madison knew it wouldn't be proper. Thankfully, she had arrived back at the boarding house before dark. She hadn't slept well because her mind was full. Thoughts of Cameron plagued her. She desperately wanted to help him find Mr. Bailey's killer, and his sister, of course. But once everything was finished, would Cameron follow through with his promise of telling his captain about her? So far, Cameron seemed like an honorable man, but...she'd been hurt before and she feared she would be hurt again by this particular handsome man who made her smile so much yesterday, her cheeks hurt.

Bright and early this morning, Madison had dressed in another of her favorite gowns—a soft lavender ensemble trimmed with silver buttons and bows. Whenever she wore this dress, she could picture herself at a ball, dancing the night away. This time, however, Cameron was the gentleman in her image as they danced in each other's arms.

Alice's nonstop talking brought Madison out of her thoughts. She delved into Rosie's life and described what it was like growing up in the Westland household. Madison could connect to Alice and her siblings well, mainly because they were orphans, too. Madison understood their heartbreak, and anguish. Madison also understood Alice's need to feel accepted. Their father's death had left rumors circulating that he'd lost his mind. Madison could certainly relate to that aspect of their lives.

"Shall we adjourn into the sitting room?" Alice asked sweetly.

"Certainly." As Madison followed the other woman, she glanced up the hall toward the front door. When would Cameron grace them with his presence? Had he discovered anything after spying on Miss Trent? Madison would give anything to know what secrets that woman was hiding.

"So Madison," Alice began after they'd reached the room and sat. "You really haven't told me very much about yourself. How did you start having visions?"

Madison thought back on that first day when she'd known she was different. "I was about seven or eight. I was in school, and we had just come back inside after having lunch. As I walked by the cloak room, I stumbled and fell against a broom. There was an old man who cleaned our school at night. As soon as I touched the broom handle, I could see him lying on the floor by his bed. He was pale and weak, and crying out for help." She rubbed her forehead as the emotions from yesteryear resurfaced. "I told my school teacher, but of course, she thought I was daydreaming or making up stories again. It frustrated me that she wouldn't listen. When I returned home and told my aunt and uncle, they didn't' believe me, either." She paused. "The next day in school, we learned that the old man who cleaned our room had died." She shook her head. "I wanted to scream at my school teacher for not believing me. If she might have done something after I told her, that sweet old man would have lived."

Sadness covered Alice's face as tears gathered in her eyes. "How awful. It must have been dreadful feeling so helpless."

"Indeed, it was." Emotion tightened her throat, so she swallowed hard. "That was when I realized my visions might actually help others. I also realized I had to help those people anyway I could, whether they believed in my gift or not."