Harlequin Historical April 2016, Box Set 2 of 2 by Lynna Banning

Author:Lynna Banning
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460396261
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Maggie returned from Upper Brook Street to her father’s house the following morning in a glow of satiated satisfaction. Having the previous day agreed with Giles that they would meet every morning, unless one or the other had a commitment that precluded it, she could look forward to each new day with an anticipation she hadn’t felt in years.

Ah, what a new day! Her well-pleasured body tingled at the memory.

She felt reasonably sure she was proceeding with sufficient discretion. Papa was used to her coming and going between their two dwellings, and would be unlikely to question her; most of the ton was abed until afternoon, so the chance of anyone discovering their crack-of-dawn assignations was slim, and she felt secure about the discretion of servants who had watched over her since childhood. In addition to which, she had no doubt that Polly had warned all the staff that if the merest whisper escaped either dwelling, the offender would be turned off without a character.

The only concern that might trouble her happiness—and she refused to spoil the idyll of the present with worry—was the possibility of Giles Hadley deciding he was ready to end the arrangement.

If that happened, so be it. In the interim, she intended to suck from the liaison every possible morsel of joy—an emotion she’d had experienced too seldom these last few years.

As she walked in, the butler came over to meet her. ‘Lady Margaret, I thought you’d wish to know that Mr Hadley—Mr George Hadley,’ he clarified, not looking her in the eye, ‘has called upon your papa. They are in his study.’

That announcement was enough to dissipate her cloud of euphoria. Remembering what Giles had told her about how vindictive his half-brother could be when denied what he wished, Maggie felt a niggle of foreboding.

‘Thank you, Rains. After I change, I’ll be in the morning room, if Papa wants me to join them.’

Had George come to ask her father for her hand, as Giles had told her he intended? Maggie wondered as she went up to her bedchamber. If he were rushing his fences with a proposal, she was going to have to reject him—and deal with what might be unpleasant consequences.

If she must, she would, she told herself philosophically. Were a proposal in the offing, she’d just as soon get it—and any unpleasant consequences—over with, so that possibility wouldn’t cloud a future now brilliant with the promised pleasures of her association with George’s much more compelling brother.

She walked in to find Polly with needle in hand and her morning gown draped across the bed.

The older woman looked up to study her face. Maggie tried, unsuccessfully, not to blush. ‘What lovely needlework,’ she observed, gesturing towards the tambour frame the maid had set aside.

Predictably ignoring Maggie’s attempt to divert her, Polly said, ‘You don’t look so over the moon this morning. Having second thoughts already?’

‘No,’ Maggie snapped, irritated at having another bucket of cold water dumped on the lingering warmth of her morning tryst.

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