There might even be a few discreet opportunities for intimacy.
‘I can think of nothing that would give me more pleasure. Well, I can think of a few things, but not anything we dare do in your father’s front parlour.’
To his delight, she was blushing when the door opened.
‘Good evening, Mr Hadley,’ the marquess said as he strode in. ‘Now, what’s this mysterious purpose Rains tells me my daughter has summoned me to consult with you about?’
‘Really, Papa, it was hardly a summons!’ Lady Margaret protested as she walked over to give him a kiss. ‘I’ll let Mr Hadley tell you about it himself.’
Giles gave her a rueful smile. ‘If I’m about to embark on this endeavour, I suppose I ought to call myself “Lyndlington”.’
Lord Witlow raised an eyebrow. ‘Your father has invited you to Abbotsweal to begin learning about the estate?’
‘No, not Telbridge. Surprisingly, a request was made by some of Abbotsweal’s merchants and farmers for me to visit Romesly, one of the villages on the estate, and the surrounding area.’
Witlow gave a huff of impatience. ‘That business with your mother happened over twenty years ago. It’s long past time for the earl to have got over his injured dignity and look to the future of his heritage, by training his heir to manage it. Well, visiting Romesly is a start.’
‘Yes, but it won’t show him what is actually involved in managing an estate,’ Lady Margaret said. ‘I thought perhaps I could take him to Huntsford and let him go about with Julian for a few days.’
‘An excellent idea!’ the marquess replied, and then chortled. ‘If it gets back to Telbridge, which doubtless it will, perhaps it will shame him into finally doing his duty.’
‘I thought you would approve,’ Lady Margaret said.
‘Otherwise you’d not have invited my opinion, eh, Puss?’ he teased, tweaking one of her auburn curls.
‘You know I value your advice—even when it conflicts with my desires,’ she replied, giving him a hug.
Giles watched them, startled at first by their open display of affection. Suddenly his mind was filled with a vision of himself as a youngster, returning to the cottage after fishing with some of the boys from the neighbouring farm. Mama had met him on the porch with a kiss, and invited the boys to linger for a mug of water and a slice of bread. While they ate, she stood behind him, her arms draped loosely about his shoulders, listening attentively as he nattered on about every small detail of his fishing expedition.
A profound sense of sadness struck him, part grief at his mother’s passing, part longing for the joyous intimacy that Lady Margaret shared with her father, the warmth and comfort of close family he had not experienced since childhood.
Thankfully, he had his friends, who were almost as good as family.
Almost.
‘You shall have to watch out for my “managing” daughter, Lyndlington,’ the marquess said, recalling him. ‘She’ll have you out riding the acreage and tending crops and calling on tenants before you know what’s happening.’
‘Those all sound like things I need to learn to do,’ Giles replied.
‘Indeed. If I do say so myself, Esterbrook makes an excellent estate manager—which is my only solace for having a son so uninterested in politics. I wish I could accompany you, but with your forces marshalling against us, I must be here to prepare for the assault.’
‘As one who will be assisting with the marshalling, I won’t be able to stay long at Huntsford, but I appreciate your lending me your son’s expertise. And your knowledgeable daughter’s assistance as well.’
‘The latter I shall surely miss, so mind you don’t linger at Huntsford too long, Puss. I shall write Julian tonight, Lyndlington. We may have opposing views, but I admire the vigour of your intellect and the passion of your opinions.’ The marquess chuckled. ‘I shall look forward to the day you take your place in the Lords! But for now, I must return to work.’
‘Shall I have Cook prepare a tray for you, Papa, or will we dine as usual?’
‘I’d like to see your smiling face at the table—after which I shall have to repair to Brooks’s for a tiresome meeting.’
‘I must be off to dinner and some tiresome meetings as well,’ Giles said. ‘Lady Margaret, please send me a note when you’re ready for the excursion to Huntsford. I’ll delay my visit to Romesly until afterwards—when hopefully I’ll have a better notion of what I should be looking for.’
‘Send you a...note?’ she repeated, raising an eyebrow in query.
Did she fear that, now that they would be seen associating openly, he might cease his clandestine visits?
Did she really think he could stay away?
‘Yes, a note. In the interim, I shall follow my usual routine. All of my usual routine.’
‘Very good,’ she said, looking relieved. ‘I expect it should take about a week to arrange—if that will be agreeable?’
‘I am at your disposal,’ he replied with a wink. Turning to the marquess, he said, ‘Thank you again, my lord, for your advice and your invitation. I shall look forward to meeting your son.’
The two men bowed, and Lady Margaret walked them to the door. ‘Papa, I’ll see you later. I shall look forward to showing you Huntsford, Mr Hadley.’
‘I shall look forward to seeing it with you,’ he replied, letting a glance convey what he could not say out loud in her father’s presence: how much he hoped that during their journey, she’d be sharing with him more than just her ancestral home.
Feeling as if he’d had a burden lifted, Giles walked out to hail a hackney. It wasn’t until he was seated in the vehicle, bowling along towards dinner with his friends at the Quill and Gavel, that it struck him how easy and natural it had seemed to consult Maggie.
Normally, he hated asking for help, working twice as hard as he might otherwise have to in order to sort out problems on his own. The lingering effects, he supposed, of having to stand alone against the world during his early days at Eton.
Even more ironic, he was actually anticipating, rather than dreading, his upcoming journey into a life he’d never wanted.
Because Lady Margaret would accompany him, easing the transition, as she eased the tension in his body and carried him to delight?
Better not study too closely the implications of that fact. And simply focus, for now, on the satisfaction of having taken the first step towards accepting his destiny.
Chapter Thirteen
The next afternoon, Maggie was attending to the myriad of details that would keep her father’s household running smoothly during her absence when Rains appeared in the small back parlour she used as her office. ‘The Dowager Countess of Sayleford to see you, Lady Margaret.’
‘How lovely,’ Maggie said, feeling guilty for not having made time to see her elderly great-aunt since her initial call, when she’d gone trolling for information. ‘You’ve shown her into the Blue Salon?’
‘Yes, ma’am. Lady Sayleford has already ordered refreshments,’ he added.
Trust Aunt Lilly to have no compunction about issuing commands in her nephew’s house. ‘What are we having?’
‘Tea and cakes, Lady Margaret,’ the butler replied, trying to hide his smile.
Maggie chuckled. ‘Tell her I’ll join her directly.’
After washing the ink off her hands and tidying her gown, Maggie hurried to the salon, wondering what might have prompted her great-aunt to seek her out, rather than issuing a summons for her to call at Grosvenor Square. Some delicious piece of gossip she couldn’t wait to share?
A moment later, she walked into the Blue Salon and gave her visitor a kiss. ‘Aunt Lilly, what a delightful surprise!’
‘If my great-niece saw fit to call upon her old great-aunt occasionally, it wouldn’t be such a surprise,’ that lady r
eturned tartly.
Trust Aunt Lilly to go straight to the point, without wasting any time on the social niceties. ‘You are quite right, Aunt, and I should apologise. With Parliament convening again and the hubbub over the efforts to push through the Reform Bill, Papa has been busier than ever with his political dinners, which means I have, too. But that’s no excuse for neglecting you.’
‘It certainly is not,’ the dowager agreed. ‘I have heard you’ve been exceptionally busy. Particularly after your early morning ride.’
Maggie froze, shocked into silence. Could her great-aunt know about her morning rendezvous—and if so, how had she found out?
By the time she’d gathered enough wit to search for a reply, she realised her obvious chagrin at the pronouncement would make it rather difficult to fob it off. Before she could give it a try, her great-aunt shook a finger at her.
‘No point trying to tell me you have no idea what I mean, missy. Guilt is painted all over your face! Besides, you could never tell a convincing lie, and you know it. But I didn’t come to take you to task, though I probably should.’
‘You didn’t?’ Maggie said, still trying to wrap her mind around the horrifying news that her great-aunt knew she’d been trysting with Giles Hadley.
‘No.’ Her great-aunt chuckled. ‘That would be rather hypocritical, after I’d practically urged you to take a lover. And if I were angling for one myself, Giles Hadley would certainly catch my eye!’
‘Indeed,’ Maggie said faintly.
‘Thank heavens that monster Napoleon no longer terrorises Europe! I’ve not been abroad for ages, and a nice long sojourn on the coast of Italy during a chilly English winter and spring would be just the tonic. So I wanted to tell you that I stand ready to assist if any little...consequences develop.’
Maggie felt her cheeks flame, while sickness at the very thought of such a catastrophe made her stomach churn. ‘We’ve...arranged things to make sure nothing like that ever happens.’ She shook her head, still a little stunned. ‘I can’t believe I’m talking to you about this.’
‘I would have hoped you’d have your mama to talk with about whatever most concerns you. Sadly, Ophelia hasn’t been strong enough to fill that role for years. I want you to know in your present...circumstances, you’d have someone sensible to protect you, if protection should be needed.’
‘Protection rather than chiding?’
Her great-aunt reached over to take her hand. ‘How could I chide you for doing something that makes you happy, child? It broke my heart to see how devastated you were after you lost your Robbie. You’ve been simply existing for too long! How could I not rejoice to see the bloom back in your cheeks, that long-absent sparkle in your smile, the bounce back in your step? I noticed the difference in you the moment you entered the room! All I ask is that you be as prudent as you can—and relish every moment of joy. One never knows when there will be another.’
‘Of that, I’m well aware,’ Maggie said.
‘You don’t envision anything...longer term?’
‘Probably not. I don’t think so—oh, I don’t know! Since I effectively propositioned him, there has been no discussion of his expectations.’
‘You propositioned him? Bravo!’ her great-aunt said, with an approving nod. ‘I wouldn’t have thought you’d have the gumption.’
‘Or the foolhardiness,’ Maggie said.
‘Why, are you already regretting it?’
‘Oh, no! It’s been...wonderful. I’d forgotten just how wonderful it can be between a man and a maid. I shall be grateful to him for ever, just to have once again tasted that sublime pleasure.’
Her great-aunt raised an eyebrow at her tone, which was perhaps too enthusiastic. ‘Are you sure you’re not beginning to want something more?’
Maggie snuffed out the flicker of hope before it could catch fire. ‘I can’t, Aunt Lilly. I don’t think I could bear loving like that again. I admit, this is the first time since Robbie that any man has interested me enough for the thought to enter my mind. But we didn’t begin the affair with any intention of it being more than a mutually enjoyable interlude. I intend to continue considering it only that.’
‘Probably wise for you to tread carefully, my sweet. One broken heart is enough for a lifetime.’
‘With that, I can certainly agree. But—Aunt Lilly, how did you find out?’ The idea that, even as they sat here drinking tea, the tantalising on dit about aloof Lady Margaret dallying with a lover might be blazing through the ton like wildfire across dry grass, made her feel ill.
‘Don’t worry, my dear, I haven’t heard a whisper of gossip—yet. It probably will get out sooner than later, by the way, a fact for which you should prepare yourself. In the meantime, I have my sources,’ she ended, looking smug.
‘Your sources? But if there’s not gossip, you must mean...from within my own household?’ Maggie cried.
‘Don’t get your feathers ruffled,’ her great-aunt said, patting her hand. ‘After your mama was so ill for so long, and your father off at Parliament, how else was I to learn how you were getting on? I needed to have some way of knowing if anything were amiss, in case you required someone to step in and assist. And with your mother unable to fill the role, you needed someone who could be a companion.’
It took only a moment for Maggie to piece it all together. ‘Polly?’ she gasped.
‘How else would a junior housemaid suddenly get herself advanced to being the maid and companion of the daughter of the house? I’d had my eye on her for some time, and when I was sure she might be the one, broached the possibility to her. She was quite enthusiastic, and it was the trick of a moment to get your father to agree.’
‘I can hardly believe it. Polly, spying on me all these years?’
‘I’d hardly call it “‘spying”!’ the dowager objected. ‘Has she not always been a friend, confidante and supporter when you needed one? Looked out for your welfare, rejoiced with you in your happiness, sustained you in your sorrow?’
‘Yes,’ Maggie admitted.
‘Well, then. Heavens, child, it wasn’t as if I’d been paying her to report back to me! All I did was obtain her the position, and tell her to call on me if circumstances developed she thought you might not be able to manage alone.’
‘Like the repercussions of taking a lover,’ Maggie muttered.
‘Very true. Polly might sympathise, but she hasn’t the resources to assist you, should assistance of that sort become necessary. So, of course, she told me about it.’
‘I still can’t believe it.’
‘You might rather thank me for being such a good judge of character. I think she has served you well.’
Aunt Lilly was right; it was silly to cling to her outrage over having a loving relative place a concerned individual to guard her, with instructions to call for assistance if the need arose. ‘She has served me well,’ Maggie admitted. ‘But I do wish you’d told me about the arrangement sooner.’
‘Well, now I have. I understand you are taking Hadley to Huntsford?’
‘Yes,’ she replied, no longer surprised that her great-aunt seemed to know all her plans. ‘He has finally decided he must face the future he’s avoided all these years. Although, I’m sorry to say, not because he reconciled with his father. A delegation from the townspeople in one of the villages on the estate begged him to start becoming involved with their community.’
Aunt Lilly nodded approvingly. ‘About time he started acting like Viscount Lyndlington. Since his attics-to-let father refuses to see to teaching him how to run an estate, someone must. Julian will set him an excellent example.’ The dowager raised an eyebrow. ‘You had some hand in this decision, I’m sure. Well done of you! I hope he appreciates it.’
Maggie chuckled. ‘He certainly didn’t at first! I did rather lecture him about it, though, which he was kin
d enough to forgive. Of course, I can’t wait to show off Huntsford.’
‘I’ll leave you to your preparations,’ the dowager said, setting down her teacup. ‘Just remember, I’m here to help, should you need it.’
Maggie walked her to the door and gave her a hug. ‘Dearest Aunt Lilly! What would I do without you?’
‘Heaven knows, child,’ her great-aunt said with a chuckle. ‘I won’t tell you not to do anything I wouldn’t, for that would give you far too much leeway.’ With a little wave, she allowed Rains to escort her down the hallway.
* * *
Smiling, Maggie climbed the stairs back to her chamber to instruct Polly in some packing. And put a word in her ear!
She had to marvel again at her great-aunt putting in place someone to watch over and guard her, a fact which still touched, gratified and outraged her. She felt the world somehow tilted: her great-aunt knew of and approved her having a lover, would help her should there be any consequences—heaven forbid!—and had been a secret presence, watching over her most of her life.
While she’d thought she had been fending for herself.
Shaking her head, she entered her bedchamber, where Polly was spreading layers of tissue paper over her gowns. Halting, she stared at the woman until the maid looked up, a question in her eyes.
‘You might have told me.’
Predictably, Polly showed neither surprise nor remorse, her expression more the patience of a mother trying to quiet a troublesome child, than guilt for having reported on her mistress for years.
‘Tell you what—that her ladyship obtained me this position? That she begged me to let her know if a child who was virtually motherless and fatherless needed help? I’ll not apologise for that, missy!’
‘How often did you call upon her?’
‘Only once—when your Robbie died. I knew to survive that, you’d need all the loving arms you could get surrounding you. I considered telling her about that last...incident, but that resolved itself before any intervention was necessary. This time, with no wedding ring in the offing, I wanted her prepared to help, in a way I cannot.’
Forbidden Nights with the Viscount Page 16
