Much Ado About Margaret by Madeleine Roux

Author:Madeleine Roux [Roux, Madeleine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2024-10-22T00:00:00+00:00

13

I count myself in nothing else so happy

As in a soul remembering my good friends.

Richard II, Act 2, Scene 3

“Maggie! Dearest, where have you been?”

Once inside the dark sanctuary of Ann’s rooms, Winny’s face was the first to appear. Both of her sisters came running out of the shadows, throwing themselves around Maggie and sweeping her into a tight embrace. She sank into their arms, hearing footsteps from around the corner as Ann, Emilia, and Ruby came to investigate the commotion.

“We were worried sick and put about to all the staff and anyone who would listen that you should be summoned at once,” said Violet, pushing Winny to the side and holding Maggie at arm’s length. Violet’s inspection was thorough and completed through a beady glare. “Is something the matter with you? Your face is very strange. Did that Darrow man or his brother tie you up? We have heard the most conflicting and wild stories!”

Maggie gently removed Violet’s digging fingers from her shoulders, and carried herself, exhausted, to Ann. Poor Ann had been crying most of the evening, if the tear tracks and welts beneath her eyes were any indication. “I have not been tied up or anything of the sort,” Maggie reported to them all. They moved as a singular organism, around the corner, down the short hall, and into the low-lit, warm core of Ann’s bedchamber. The red curtains stirred gently around the balcony, honeysuckled air blown up from the gardens below. Fanny was there, dutifully laying out blankets and pillows for the sudden profusion of ladies crammed into Ann’s quarters.

She gave Maggie a quick, apologetic glance as she smoothed her hands across a heavy quilt.

As the women huddled on Ann’s bed, all eyes and ears were trained on Maggie. They were like a gaggle of wives waiting for news of the war, all clasped hands and mouths open in anticipation.

“I’m sure Fanny has told you what she knows,” said Maggie, looking her way once more.

“She has, and though she behaved badly indeed, we must not forget that a gentleman of Paul Darrow’s experience is horribly persuasive,” Ann replied. “Do you think he was the man in shadow on the balcony?”

“I do.” Maggie took her hands and sighed. “And his own brother believes him to be the culprit, too.”

Fanny cursed Paul Darrow softly, receiving an admonishing look from both Ruby and Winny.

“Recall, sisters, that we found a note beneath a vase on a bench in the gallery,” Maggie went on.

“Of course! And it must be related!” Violet exclaimed. “I was so distracted with our aunts that it utterly slipped my mind.”

Maggie briefly explained the note on the bench to Ann and the others, catching them up, finishing with “And it mentioned a meeting at midnight, a blue-and-gold place. Mr. Darrow—not the horrid one, the other one—and I thought it might mean the Sapphire Library or perhaps the new Grecian temple, but we could only choose the one to investigate. We went to the library at the appointed time, but we must have guessed wrong, for the couple did not appear.

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