Loving Madison

Twenty-Nine

Madison curled on her bed, with her knees pulled up as she stared at the wall. She hadn't been able to get Cameron off her mind since last night. Why had he been so obstinate? And pray, why couldn't she stop thinking about him? Mixed emotions had filled her after seeing him again. One minute she wanted to scream and shake some sense into him, and the next minute she wanted to sigh with pleasure as she cuddled in his arms...only to have her want to weep with dejection a minute later.

Would he ever believe in her? Obviously, he had believed enough to be spying on Mr. Bailey's house just as she'd done. So why couldn't he admit it to others? Was she that much of an embarrassment to him?

Her mind moved back to the moment she'd found the cane, and the vision she'd had. Madison fisted her hands. She told Cameron that was the murder weapon, so then why didn't he act upon it? Cameron had wanted proof. Wasn't the cane proof enough? Why did he continue to doubt her when she'd found his sister?

Her eyes hurt the longer she looked at the wall, so she blinked. Once she arrived home last night, her mind refused to sleep, which ruined her day for any sort of activity. She didn't feel like strolling through the park, or going shopping. She didn't even feel like venturing downstairs to chat with Ethel.

Frustrated with the sadness filling her, Madison climbed off the bed and stood. She pushed her fingers through her long locks of hair. Staying in this room was not good for her sanity. She needed to get outside and help people. That was her purpose in life, and she couldn't let unbelievers like Cameron stop her.

Immediately, she thought of Lord Hanover. She could help him find his missing child. From her visions, something in the Westland's house was telling her to help the kind lord. Why else would she have seen and heard what she had? Why else would she have felt so eager to solve the case from years past? There must be something in the Westland's house that was the key to solving this mystery.

Of course, that meant she'd have to force herself to talk to Cameron. Or maybe Alice would allow her inside. If only she could skip that part and go directly to Lord Hanover, but he'd specifically told her he didn't want her help.

Sighing heavily, she relaxed her stiff shoulders. She'd have to beg help from the Metropolitan Police. Cameron's father had been working on the case, and he would have kept some notes. Could she persuade Inspector Johnson to get them for her? And if he wouldn't... No, Cameron wouldn't be able to do it. Not until he talked with his captain and presented the evidence against Gaynor and Heath.

She really wanted to see Cameron again, only to give him the opportunity to apologize to her. However, maybe if she did that it would only make it worse on her broken heart. She had already decided she wouldn't fall in love with a man who refused to believe in her special gift. It hurt too much.

Madison left her room and proceeded down the stairs. Voices drifted up from the corridor. Ethel was speaking with someone. A man. The farther Madison moved down the stairs, the clearer the voices become.

Her heartbeat quickened with excitement. Cameron was here?

Without wanting to, her feet quickened their steps until she was practically rushing down the stairs. When she reached the bottom, she stopped and mentally prepared herself to see him. Although it was hard not to be excited, she must remember he'd broken her heart before...he would do it again if she let him. She must not let him!

Madison smoothed a palm over her hair to make sure it wasn't flying about. Taking a deep breath, she then proceeded to enter the corridor. Her gaze fell upon Cameron. He wore his uniform, but held his hat in one arm. He looked so handsome.

Stop that, Madison! Stay focused...

His eyes locked on hers, and even this far away, she could see the excitement illuminating from them. His gaze slid over her briefly, making his smile widen. Her heart fluttered, and she wished it hadn't.