Loving Madison

Forty

Cameron didn't know which emotion to go with at this particular moment. Should he scream at his sister and call her lewd names. Should he shake her senseless? Or should he kick her out of the house and disown her from the family?

Decisions, decisions...

He opened his eyes and met Rosie's watery gaze. What kind of girl had he raised? And why did he feel like this was all his fault?

He moved his gaze to Madison, who looked quite embarrassed for both him and Rosie. And yet, his little sister didn't seem to be ashamed at all.

Rosie wiped away the moisture from her cheeks and breathed slowly. "We really need to talk, Cam. Now."

He nodded and looked back at Madison. "Forgive me, but—"

"There is nothing to forgive." She offered a polite smile, even though he could tell she struggled with it. "I shall wait outside for you."

"No. Why don't you have Mrs. Trumble make you—"

"Cameron." She placed her hand on his arm. "I'd love nothing more than a stroll around your estate. It's such a lovely day, too. I'll be outside waiting for you."

Sighing, he nodded. "I won't be long."

"I know."

Madison left the room, closing the door behind her. Rosie walked to the black leather chair and sat, keeping her eyes on him. Cameron really wasn't ready to talk. His anger had simmered slightly from her sudden outburst, and especially her confession. But he needed to get this over and done with and push it aside so he could help Madison.

He cleared his throat. "So you were with Gaynor all night?"

"Yes." She lowered her head as she twisted her fingers in her lap.

Something on the edge of his memory jerked him alert. What is she talking about? Hadn't she told him yesterday that she'd not seen Gaynor the whole time Heath had held her prisoner in the attic room?

Anger shot through him hotter this time, and he bunched his fists. She was lying to keep Gaynor out of prison. Either that or she'd lied to him yesterday so that he wouldn't try to strangle the man she claimed to love. How would he know which was the truth?

"Rosie, I don't know if I can believe anything that comes out of your mouth, anymore."

Her head snapped up and her eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know whether you lied to me just now, or yesterday when you mentioned that you hadn't seen Gaynor the whole time you'd been locked in the attic."

A blush spread through her face at a rapid speed. Whether she knew it or not, she'd just given him her answer. He was almost relieved that his sister wasn't a hussy, and yet, she was willing to lie about it just to save a murderer.

"You were not with him all night, were you?" he asked, but continued without waiting for her answer. "In fact, when I had arrested Gaynor, he appeared genuinely relieved that you were back home because he hadn't seen you for a week. That tells me you were not with him at all."

Rosie released a sob and covered her face with her hands. "You don't understand. You have arrested the wrong man." She sniffed and dropped her hands back to her lap. "There's no possible way Gaynor could kill Mr. Bailey. He loved his cousin. They were very close—like brothers. I'm quite certain that if Mr. Bailey wouldn't have given Gaynor a loan, he would have at least helped him locate employment. And he would have allowed us to live there for a while until we could earn the money we needed to start our lives together." She brushed her fingertips underneath her wet eyes again. "You just don't know Gaynor like I do."

"And knowing him only two weeks makes you an expert on the man?" Cameron shook his head. "I think not, dear sister." He moved closer to her and leaned down to peer into her face. "Tell me, Rosie. With a wealthy uncle like Lord Hanover, why didn't Gaynor ask him for a loan?"

She pouted. "Because that old geezer has been greedy for years now. He stopped trusting people after his precious daughter was taken from him."

Cameron grumbled under his breath as he tried to control his temper. "Rosie, I'd rather talk to Lord Hanover about his nephew. That man, out of anyone, would know Gaynor and what kind of man he really is."

"Will you talk to him then?" Hopeful eyes stared up at him. "Would you at least consider that Gaynor might have been set up? After all, Heath was staying in Mr. Bailey's house along with Gaynor. He might have an alibi for that night. He could have left his cane at the house, too. Perhaps the true killer is Heath and he was trying to set up Gaynor to take the blame."

"Why would he do that?"

Rolling her eyes, she snorted. "Because Heath was just as desperate for money...more so, in fact. Mr. Bailey allowed Gaynor to stay there, but he refused to let Heath. That despicable man hadn't lived there until right after Mr. Bailey's death. Heath always gambled away the money he earned, and Mr. Bailey didn't want to deal with his cousin's mistakes any longer. After Mr. Bailey died, Lord Hanover told the two cousins he would decide which one inherited the estate and all that was entailed with it. I believe Heath felt as though his uncle would not pick him, and rightly so."

Cameron silently groaned. Rosie made sense. He definitely didn't like it when his sister made him look incompetent. Thankfully, it didn't happen very often.

"Then I shall look into it. When I'm at the station, I'll tell the captain of my doubts and see what he says."

She released an audible sigh and her shoulders sank. "I would appreciate it if you would. I think you'll be surprised who the real killer really is."

"We shall see." He gave her a sharp nod.

She stood and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tight. "Forgive me for lying in front of Miss Haywood. I was so desperate. I didn't know what to do."

He lifted her chin until she met his eyes. "I don't abide being lied to, so when I return, we'll think of some kind of punishment."

"Yes, I know."

He kissed her forehead. "Now I must leave. Miss Haywood and I have things to do."

A slow smile spread across her face. "I knew you liked her."

Before he could give away any more of his feelings for Madison, he hurried out of the room and out of the house. Scanning the yard, he looked for Madison's beautiful long, dark brown hair, and the lovely gown which was the color of daffodils. Because of what she wore, he'd think she'd be easy to spot, but he couldn't see her at all.

"Madison?" He called out, and not hearing her answer he went back inside and called for Alice. She meandered down the stairs with a book in her hand.

"Have you seen Miss Haywood?"

Her head snapped up and her eyes grew wide. "She's here? Why didn't anyone tell me?"

"Because she was here for me, not you." He frowned. If she wasn't with Alice, or outside, where was she?

Cameron ran outside again and all the way around the house, calling her name. But he still couldn't find her. Worry escalated the longer he searched. She wouldn't have gone to the station without him.

Suddenly, a thought struck him like a brick between the eyes. Heath Langston was still out there...and by now, he would be pretty upset that Cameron and Madison had rescued Rosie.

Fear froze his blood. Because Langston had a fierce temper, would he have sought revenge by taking Madison?