Chapter 1 Madeline
I glanced at the clock and hurried my scrubbing. I still had the entry hall to finish, the sitting room needed attention, and I hadn’t even started on the mess Father had left from the night before. If he came downstairs and found any of it unfinished, he would be angry.
I pushed a loose strand of hair away from my face and went back to work. My sleeves were already rolled above my elbows, and I could feel strands of hair escaping the pins I’d hastily shoved into place that morning. There had been a time when I wouldn’t have been doing any of this myself.
Rose Estate was the home of a viscount. From the road, nothing appeared to have changed. The grounds were still maintained, the house still stood proudly behind them, and anyone passing by would see exactly what they expected to see: wealth, respectability, nobility. They couldn’t see that there were no longer servants inside to clean the entry hall, or that the viscount’s daughter was doing it herself.
I straightened and looked around critically. It would have to be good enough. I still needed to—
“Madeline.”
I stiffened at the sound of my father’s voice.
Father entered the hall dressed in fine clothes befitting a man of his station. He had always cared about appearances, and at first glance, he looked every bit the respectable viscount. A closer look revealed the crooked cravat, the slightly rumpled waistcoat, and his bloodshot eyes.
His eyes swept over the room. “Make sure the entry hall and sitting room are clean. If I bring company home, it had better look as though we have a full staff. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Father.” I immediately returned to work.
Father crossed the room and reached for a bottle, only to find it empty. I watched his expression change.
“Madeline. Get me another bottle.”
I cautiously backed away. “I’m sorry, Father. We’re out.”
He crossed the distance between us and grabbed my arm roughly, his fingers digging painfully into my skin. “How can we be out? Did you hide it?”
“No, Father. I promise.”
He leaned in, putting his face close to mine as though weighing my words. After a long moment, he finally released my arm.
“Get me the silver. I can use it to get some.”
I rubbed my arm where he’d grabbed me. “Father, please. We can manage on the money we have if you would just... cut back a little. We don’t have to keep selling things. If we’re careful—”
His expression hardened. “I am the man of this house. I will make these decisions.”
He turned away from me. “Tomorrow, you must find anything that can be traded and go trade it yourself. I cannot be seen doing such things. What would people think?”
Red marks from his fingers were already beginning to appear against my skin, slowly darkening. I lowered my head, knowing the fading bruise along my chin had not completely disappeared yet.
Father turned toward the mirror and straightened his coat, adjusted his crooked cravat, and smoothed his hair. I could see both of us in the reflection—my father inspecting his appearance while I stood behind him, holding the arm he’d just hurt.
“The silver, Madeline.”
I retrieved what remained and placed it in his hand. Father took it and left without another look at me.
I stood there rubbing my aching arm, already starting to bruise. I wanted nothing more than to sit down for a moment, but when I glanced at the clock, my eyes widened. I still had so much to do. I quickly gathered the empty bottles and glasses and cleared away the remnants of Father’s drinking, then finished straightening the entry hall and sitting room. When I finally looked around, everything appeared respectable again. No one coming through our doors would know how different things had become inside Rose Estate.
I hurried upstairs, already thinking about the ball Clara had invited me to that evening. Clara and I had barely seen each other since my mother died. I didn’t really want her visiting Rose Estate with the way Father had been, and I had found more and more reasons to avoid having her here. When she wrote and asked me to attend a ball with her, I wrote back that I would. I hadn’t told Father about it. He would either tell me I couldn’t go or decide to join us, and I couldn’t risk him drinking too much and making a scene.
There was also a chance Rowan would be there. I hadn’t seen Clara’s older brother since before my mother died.
I threw open my wardrobe and pushed through the few dresses that remained. Empty hangers hung between them where my better gowns had once been.
“No!”
I searched more urgently, shoving one dress aside and then another. Is there nothing nice left? Did he really find all my nice gowns? Eventually, I pulled out one of my modest church dresses and held it against myself, grimacing. It was certainly not a ball gown. I glanced at the clock again, knowing I was quickly running out of time.
“Clara invited me. After everything she’s been through, I can’t say no.”
I hurried to get ready, washing away the evidence of a day spent cleaning and working outside before attempting to fix my own hair. There was no maid to help me and no elaborate styling, but I did the best I could before slipping into the simple dress.
By the time I made it back downstairs, evening had fallen. I waited near the front door, looking through the window for any sign of the Fontain carriage. Every few moments, I glanced toward the drive again, hoping Clara would arrive before Father returned. The last thing I wanted was for him to discover what I had planned before I could leave.
Finally, an elegant carriage appeared in the distance, making its way toward Rose Estate. Relief washed over me. I didn’t waste any time. As soon as the carriage arrived, I left the house and hurried toward it.
