Loving Madison

Twenty-Five

The cool night wind bit Madison's cheeks and nose. She shivered and bundled her black cloak around her shoulders as she watched through the thicket of trees toward Mr. Bailey's home. Perhaps tonight wasn't the best time to spy on the place, but if she didn't solve this case, she'd never forgive herself. She'd promised Alice, and Madison never went back on her word.

The people that had been at Mr. Bailey's house the other day must have left, because there was only a lone horse in the stable and one small carriage. Only two windows had lights—one downstairs, and one upstairs. Her instincts told her Rosie was in this house, and most certainly, in one of those rooms.

Cameron's lack of belief still left a bitter sting in her heart, especially because of all she'd helped him with. After she'd sulked and cried for most of yesterday, Madison finally decided she was going to prove to Cameron—and the Metropolitan Police—that she could solve cases. She would find Rosie, and God willing, she would find the person who killed Mr. Bailey, as an extra bonus.

Madison didn't need Cameron to tell her that he was embarrassed of her gift. Most people were. And yet, there for a while, he'd acted as though it hadn't bothered him. He'd made her imagine—for a brief moment in time—that he was different from the other men she'd met throughout her life. Sadly, he wasn't different at all. He was just more charming.

She grumbled in irritation and tightened her fingers around the edges of her cloak as she shifted her stance. Madison would show that good for nothing Inspector Westland that she knew exactly what she saw in her visions. She'd make him eat his words. And she'd prove to those other police inspectors that she was not crazy.

Her plan was to sneak inside the house and find Rosie. Of course, she had to be extremely quiet to pull this off. And, she needed to figure out a way inside. Perhaps the back door was the best way to get in.

Another gust of wind blew through the trees, stinging her face. She gritted her teeth against the cool air and shuffled her feet again. What was wrong with these people? Couldn't they retire for the night?

She brought her gloved hands to her mouth and blew some warm air onto them. If these night owls didn't go to bed soon, she might have to wait inside the stable next to the horse for heat. She glanced toward the barn. In fact, she should do that now before her toes became numb. These boots were not made to keep a lady's feet warm.

Madison peered to the left, and then the right, before she dared leave her hiding spot. Nobody had disturbed the area since she'd arrived. Taking careful steps, she made her way toward the stable. As she neared, a loud thump came from the house. Her heartbeat hammered wildly as she swung her gaze around. A man exited the house as he pulled the door closed behind him. The high collar of his overcoat and his hat coupled with the darkness of the night, hiding his identity.

Sucking in a fast breath, she panicked. If she ran back toward the thicket of trees, he would definitely notice. If she hurried toward the stable, chances were that he was heading in that direction, anyway. Since the stable was closer, she made the decision to go that route. Once inside, she would look for someplace to hide.

Madison held her breath and darted toward the stable, but only reached the side wall. The man's boots crunched on the gravel as he neared the structure. Flattening herself against the outer wall, she closed her eyes, praying he wouldn't detect her presence.

Inaudible mutters came from him, but the only words she could understand were idiot, and foolish man. She thought he'd even said something about him taking care of things himself...but she wasn't certain.

He opened the wide door to the stable and entered. She peeked on the other side of her to see if there were any windows, but unfortunately, there weren't. The only way to know who this man was would be to follow him inside and get closer. That, she wouldn't do.