Loving Madison

Thirty-Five

Madison's stomach flittered with nervousness as she waited in the sitting room as Cameron fetched Rosie. Madison hadn't gotten a chance to actually meet the sister when they rescued her, and she hoped Rosie would take to her as Alice had. By now, Madison hoped that Alice would have at least told her sister about the woman who helped them find Rosie.

She walked to the window and parted the drapes, looking out into the yard. Another thing that made her nervous was knowing she could touch something in this house and get the vision about Lord Hanover's little girl. Just the thought made her anxious to walk around the house, running her fingers over everything the elder Mr. Westland had made. But she needed to take one step at a time, and right now, helping Cameron talk to Rosie was the next step. Once that was completed, Madison could look for more clues the elder Mr. Westland would have left in regards to the lost child.

Voices drifted up the hall, and Madison jerked her head toward the door. Within minutes, Cameron and his younger sister walked into the room. Rosie's bruised eye looked slightly better than it had the night they rescued her. The young woman wore a pale green gown trimmed with white lace, and elbow-length sleeves and a square neck. Her brown hair wasn't as light as Cameron and Alice's, and the freckles on her cheeks and nose was something the other two siblings didn't possess, either.

"Rosie, this is Miss Madison Haywood." Cameron closed the door before standing beside Madison. "We didn't get much of a chance to be properly introduced the other night."

Rosie curtsied, and Madison also copied the movement.

"Miss Haywood," Cameron continued, "helped me find you."

"Miss Haywood." Rosie stepped closer. "Alice tells me you have visions."

Madison nodded. "I do."

"And that is how you saw me?"

"Yes. I saw you crying in the bedroom attic. And I saw Mr. Langston strike you."

Rosie grasped Madison's hands and smiled. "I don't know how to thank you for your help."

"I was only too happy to assist your brother." Madison smiled.

Rosie's eyebrow shot up and she switched her gaze to her brother. "And I'm certain you and Cameron spent a lot of time together."

Warmth gathered in Madison's cheeks. She hoped Rosie couldn't see how uncomfortable she was with this subject. "Well, we did spend some time—"

"Rosie, the point is," Cameron interrupted, "we rescued you from a very bad situation." He motioned toward the sofa, and she sat. "Do you have any idea what could have happened to you if Miss Haywood and I couldn't find you?"

She nodded and stared at her hands resting on her lap. "Yes. You have reminded me countless times already, Cam."

"All I want is for you to get to know a man and his family before you...um, decide hastily to run off with him."

She snapped her head up and glared at her brother. "I'll have you know that I spent many hours with Gaynor and I feel as though we understand each other well. I feel as though I have known him for years. I have never connected so quickly with a man before."

Madison didn't dare comment. She knew exactly how Rosie felt because that was what she thought about Cameron. So did that mean she needed to get to know him better before deciding if she was in love with him or not? It was probably best...

He released a heavy sigh and sat next to his sister. "Rosie, sometimes men tell a woman what they want to hear only to have them in their control."

Madison arched an eyebrow. Where is he going with this? She hoped he didn't know this from his own experience.