Loving Madison

Twenty-One

"Please forgive my family," Lord Hanover said, breaking the awkward silence stretching through the room. "We are all grieving, and I fear we aren't quite ourselves today."

Cameron gave him a curt nod. "That's quite understandable. We'll leave now."

"That's probably best." Lord Hanover threw a scowl at Gaynor before he returned his attention to Cameron.

Lord Hanover briefly looked her way before Cameron gently tugged on her arm, leading them out of the room. Trying not to look suspicious, Madison ran her fingers over as much as she could on the way out. Unfortunately, there wasn't much to touch, and those things she did come in contact with didn't bring her any visions.

This time when they passed the music room, they were closer and she detected a hint of a woman's flowery cologne. Just as when they'd entered, the room stood empty.

Madison slowed her steps and glanced behind them. Thankfully, nobody followed, but she was certain the old servant would appear soon to escort them out.

"Cameron," she whispered, pulling on his sleeve.

He stopped and narrowed his gaze on her.

"Do you smell that?"

He inhaled, but after a few moments, shook his head. "What am I supposed to smell?"

"A woman's flowery cologne."

He arched an eyebrow. "What's so odd about that?"

"When we were in the sitting room with the others," she kept her voice low, "this particular scent wasn't in the air. Don't you think that's strange, especially because there were women in the room?"

He inhaled again, closing his eyes. Within seconds, his eye flew open and his gaze locked with hers. "Rosie wears this cologne. I'm sure of it." He switched his attention to inside the room. "Do you think she was here? She loves to play the pianoforte, so perhaps—" He sucked in a quick breath and pointed to the floor just inside the entryway. "Look! There's a woman's handkerchief. Rosie has one just like that."

Madison moved her focus to the rose-colored fabric surrounded by white lace with a flower hand stitched on the corner. "Are you quite sure? Because it looks rather ordinary."

"Pick it up and see if you receive a vision." He motioned his hand.

Why hadn't I thought of that? Madison stepped closer and bent, but before she could touch it, footsteps slapping against the hard-wooden floor in a quick rhythm brought her upright again. The old servant approached them with distrust laced in his beady eyes.

"Pardon me, but did you forget something?" he asked in a harsh tone.

"Uh, well..." she began, but Cameron cleared his throat and stood in front of her.

"Forgive us," he said loudly for the man who was hard of hearing, "but Miss Haywood believes she has dropped her handkerchief." He pointed to the floor inside the room.

The servant's eyes widened. He shook his head and pushed past Cameron to pick it up. "Oh, no. This isn't Miss Haywood's. This is Mrs. Brailsford's handkerchief." He pointed to the pianoforte. "She was playing earlier this afternoon and probably dropped this on her way out."

Boiling inwardly, Madison endeavored to remain an outward appearance of calm. There was no way she could get it from him now. "Then forgive us for stalling our departure. We'll leave now." She hooked her hand around Cameron's arm and they proceeded out of the door.

Once they were on the porch with the door closed, a strange feeling washed over her, as though they were being watched. Frowning, she peered back at the closed door before moving her gaze around the yard, and then up to the windows. Why would she feel like this?