“Do not worry, Shep. I will do nothing right now. But we need to get back to my parents’ home. I think I remember where Father left his money.”
“You are thinking of leaving, Meg?”
Maggie looked up to see Max standing in the opened doorway of her room.
“Your lordship! You scared me!” Maggie had been so lost in thought that she did not hear Max’s approach.
“I was heading downstairs and thought to see if you might join me.” A look of pain flashed across his face. “Surely, we are past your lordship, Meg. You cannot possibly be thinking of going back to your father’s home. It is far too dangerous.” He stayed in the doorway but was no longer leaning on it. “We need to talk. But not here.” He looked around. “Please meet me in my study after lunch. You need nourishment.” Max smiled down at Shep. “We have a small dish of food prepared in the kitchen for Shep. I have it on good authority that he would not leave your side this morning.” He laughed. “You need to come downstairs so your sentry can eat.” He reached down and patted the dog’s head.
That elicited a giggle from her. Max could always coax her into a better mood, no matter how bad things seemed. That is why she loved…had loved him. She needed to keep her heart out of this. “What is it you wish to discuss?” She locked eyes with him.
“Something very important.” At her look, he added, “We have guests—Harlow and a private investigator. But first, let us eat. Would you allow me to escort you?”
Maggie nodded as Max held out his arm to her. She placed a hand on his arm lightly, and a familiar jolt of awareness traveled to her very core, spreading warmth in its wake. Resisting the impulse to withdraw her hand, she kept her touch as light as she could, silently admonishing her foolish body and heart. With Shep in tow, the two left the room to join the others already waiting in the dining room.
* * *
Max felt his heart race. His body reacted immediately to her touch, with heat moving throughout his loins. Thank goodness they were walking to the dining room. He had a few precious minutes to will his body to behave. He willed his body to focus. “You remember Lord Harlow, do you not?” His suddenly dry throat struggled to finish the sentence.
Maggie nodded but did not look at him. Her focus was on the stairs ahead of them. Only a moment before, she was laughing with him. He wanted to ask her what happened, but the need to gain his self-control took priority over that desire.
Shep scampered ahead of her, already becoming accustomed to eating when she did. He seemed a very intelligent dog, picking up on everything around him quickly.
“Harlow and Mr. Nizal, the investigator, will join us.” He should give her more warning. Max did not want to overwhelm Meg in front of guests. “I told you that Tipton died. Some odd circumstances surrounded his death. You should know your uncle is trying to frame you for his murder.”
“Wait. What?” She stopped and turned to him. “He thinks I killed Fergus?”
Max studied her upturned face. There was true shock and surprise…and something more. Fear? Does she know something? She could not have done this, but what does she know? “I have known you almost my entire life, and I know you are not capable of this act. Someone slashed your husband’s throat.” He searched her eyes. “What have you not told me?”
Maggie did not look away. “My uncle was horrible to me in the short week before the marriage. He waited for some dresses that Mother had commissioned just before her death…” She brushed away a tear. “Four dresses and the undergarments were all he allowed to be made and cancelled the rest of my mother’s order. He threatened that if I did not go through with this marriage, he had other friends that would find me worthy.” A shudder shook her. “My wedding had two witnesses—only my uncle and the vicar’s clerk. Fergus had had a special license. I was to settle a gambling debt.” She grew quiet. “I was supposed to have gone with my parents the day they went to town. Uncle was shocked that I had not gone, and I have wondered about that reaction to this day.”
“Are you suggesting that someone murdered your family?”
Tears flowed freely. “I have thought it, but I had no one to turn to and knew it unwise to voice.”
“You had me. You had my family.” Bile rose in his throat. His family would have moved mountains to help her.
“I tried to escape, but he locked me in my room and sent our servants away. I had no one to help me. Even Shep was locked up. He said he would sell him to a kitchen.”
Max quieted his anger. She did not jilt me. Meg had been as much a victim as he was. He pulled her close, his lips hovering above hers. His heart ached. He had been fighting the French while she fought for her life. This had been a nightmare for Meg. He needed to hold her and never let her go.
“RRRR…uff!” A piercing bark from below stairs startled them both.
“Your sentry is hungry.” He touched her chin and gently tugged it up. “I would like to pick up where we are leaving off—perhaps this evening, over supper?”
Maggie nodded. She wiped away her tears and fixed a smile on her face.
They met Cabot as he was returning to his post. “My lord, your guests await you in the dining room.”
“Thank you, Cabot. Would you ask Mother to join us?”
“At once, my lord.” His butler left immediately.
As they entered the dining room, the two men immediately ceased their conversation.
“Lady Tipton, it has
