Loving Madison

Twenty

Madison twisted her hands in her shawl and fixed her eyes on the two-story, red-bricked house with wide, long windows on each floor. Smaller windows lined the attic, and several tall chimneys jutted from the coffee colored roof. All in all, the house appeared lovely, and very welcoming. The cobblestone drive wound around a small brick wall that housed two manicured trees.

Several carriages and a few saddled horses rested along the dead man's drive. Frowning, she peered at Cameron. "I suppose the place isn't empty, as you had suspected."

"Looks that way. I'm sure these are mourners who have come to pay their respects."

"Yes, I'm sure of it."

He stopped their buggy and set the brake. "I think I should take off this disguise. I'm certain they will be able to realize that up close, I'm really not that old."

"Yes, I believe you're right." He removed his wig and she swiped the powder still dusting his eyebrows. When she dropped her gaze to his clothes, she frowned. "However, I pray they don't wonder about your outdated clothes."

He shrugged. "Let them judge. I doubt I will ever see them again after today."

Cameron jumped down. When he reached his hand up to help her, she hesitantly glanced at the house again. "Do you think they will mind if we arrive unexpectedly?"

"Not if we tell them that we have come to pay our respects, as well."

Slipping her hand into his, she nodded.

His heated gaze held hers as he slowly lifted her from the carriage. Her body shivered with elation. Even now, she couldn't breathe properly. His kiss had taken her to Heaven and back. In a way, she wished the horse hadn't disturbed their very passionate moment. Then again, she did need to think about this new direction with their relationship. Was it wise to have her heart soften toward him? If she couldn't find his sister, Rosie, he might never forgive her.

Once her feet touched the ground, she tried to pull her hand away, but he hooked it over his arm as he escorted her up the porch to the front door. Her insides jumped, but Cameron appeared calm and in control. She clutched the edges of her shawl around her shoulders, nervous about going inside.

Would she see something that would be helpful? She couldn't bear it if Cameron lost faith in her since her visions hadn't really told them anything about Rosie's location.

He rapped his knuckles three times on the door, and then patted her fingers still resting on his arm. "Let me do the talking." He gave her a wink. "All I want you to do is touch...and pray you get a vision."

The door opened by a servant wearing black. The older man's white hair nearly matched the color of his skin. He dabbed a handkerchief to the corners of his red, swollen eyes before straightening his shoulders and meeting Cameron's gaze.

"Forgive us for coming unannounced," Cameron began, "I'm Mr. Westland and this is Miss Haywood. We knew Mr. Bailey, and we came to pay our respects to his family."

The servant scrunched his brow and leaned an ear closer. "Pardon, sir?"

Cameron repeated it, louder this time.

The servant nodded and opened the door wider. Cameron motioned for her to enter first. As she stepped into the room, she wanted to touch the doorknob, but the servant still had his hand around the knob. As she moved her attention into the small hall, she noticed the room on the left first. This particular room didn't seem to have a door but nobody occupied it. A pianoforte sat near the window, and two large sofas decorated in gold and daffodil colored stripes, along with two brown leather chairs, were placed nearby.