Free Protected by the Major by Anne Herries

being a cheat in public. If I did so in private and asked for her release, he would simply deny it and find a way to murder me. No, I must contrive to play cards with him and accuse him in front of reliable witnesses.’
    ‘He will call you out if you do, for he has no choice.’ Mainwaring frowned. ‘He is a crack shot, Hal, and good with the foils.’
    ‘I am also thought an excellent marksman and sufficiently skilled with the foils.’ Hallam’s jaw hardened. ‘It is the only way to put an end to her misery, Jack. And if what you believe is true, he deserves to die. I cannot allow him to use her...to sell her to Rochdale in return for his silence.’
    ‘I should have liked to see him hang, but as yet I have no proof that his hand was on the pistol that took Roger’s life. Though I would swear I’ve seen him cheat.’
    ‘We must have proof of it,’ Hallam said. ‘I want you to sit down with him at the table while I watch. As soon as I know how he does it, I will accuse him.’
    ‘And I’ll stand by you as your second. He plays tonight at Lord Hartingdon’s house. Do you have an invite?’
    ‘Yes,’ Hallam said. ‘And you?’
    ‘Tonight it is,’ Jack Mainwaring said. ‘If you can spot him cheating, we’ll break him one way or the other.’

Chapter Four
    M adeline’s heart thudded wildly as she saw Hallam coming towards her. Hyde Park was filled with people, walking or riding, some in open-topped carriages. Once wild and teeming with game and the favourite hunting ground of a king, the park was now a popular place of pleasure and amusement for people of all classes and ages. It was a favourite haunt for ladies, because they could be sure of meeting friends as they drove or walked in the beautiful surroundings.
    Lethbridge’s coachman had dropped Madeline and her maid at the park gates and would return in two hours, which should be sufficient for them to walk around the park and greet friends. She had not been sure that Hallam would be there that afternoon and she felt a surge of pleasure as he came up to her.
    ‘Maddie, I hoped you would come,’ he said, taking her hand to bow over it. ‘How are you? I have been thinking of you. He did not punish you for your behaviour at the ball?’
    ‘No, for it seems it had the desired effect, even though I thought the marquis angry with me when he left us. Yet he has accepted an invitation to dine next week.’
    Hallam nodded. ‘I believe Lethbridge has a plan to save himself from ruin and it involves using you.’
    ‘Save himself? Is he in some trouble?’ Madeline said and frowned. ‘He was pleased because I had done what he asked, so the marquis could not have told him what happened in the garden. He sent me a message to say he was looking forward to meeting me again.’
    ‘You must be careful not to be alone with Rochdale,’ Hallam warned. ‘I believe him to be both depraved and ruthless. Your husband is a fool to court his company for he may discover that the marquis is more deadly than he knows.’
    A little shiver went through her. ‘I fear that Lethbridge hates me now. He blames me for not giving him a child, but indeed, it is not my fault. Now he speaks of a bringing an illegitimate child to his house and making him his heir.’
    ‘He could not so insult you?’
    ‘He could and would do anything that pleased him. While he holds Papa’s notes he knows I cannot defy him.’
    Hallam glanced back at Sally, who was following them a short distance behind. ‘She is to be trusted?’
    ‘Yes, of course, always.’
    ‘Have you tried searching for your father’s notes?’
    ‘No...’ Madeline bit her bottom lip. ‘I believe he keeps them in his bedchamber. I had thought to honour my promise, but he does not honour his.’ She lifted her gaze to meet his as a thought occurred to her. ‘Would it be very wicked of me to steal and destroy them?’
    ‘I think your husband does not deserve loyalty, Maddie. After the way he has behaved to you, you are