“Thank you, Harriett.” Maggie thought for a minute. “I would love to try the cream.”
“I will send it up, my dear. Is there anything else?” Lady Worsley inquired.
“Well…yes.” She hesitated a moment. “Would it be permissible to ask Max to visit? With Anna, of course. I have several things I feel the need to discuss. Perhaps we could use the upstairs sitting room?”
“If you are certain that is a good idea. Dr. Perth specifically requested that you get rest. I fear that a visit from Max will be anything other than restful.” A smile lit up Lady Worsley’s face.
“I think I know what you are hoping for, but the chance for Max and me disappeared so long ago. I am afraid I am damaged goods. Besides, he has someone by now, I am sure.”
“What do you mean, Max has someone? Has he told you something? He has shared nothing of the sort with me. And I should think he would, considering how much I nag him. He left home for almost three years to get away from that.” She grinned at Maggie. “I am kidding. He left home, but it was because of other things. You should rest.” She tucked the blanket at Maggie’s side and turned to go.
“Do you mean that Max left after I married? I had not realized.” Maggie’s voice choked with emotion. “Truly, I would not have hurt Max for the world…”
“We know that, dear…now. At the time we did not understand. Your parents died, and then poof! You disappeared. For a while, the world felt like it was crashing down all around us. Max searched for you. He was broken-hearted. I can only imagine the suffering they must have put you through.” Lady Worsley got up and straightened out the place on the bed where she had been sitting earlier. “I have probably said too much. But I want to add this—please do not count yourselves out. I see the way you look at each other. There are feelings there…if you only coax them to the surface.”
“Harriett, before you leave…can you tell me where Max went when I got married?”
“To the front lines of the Napoleonic War, my dear,” she returned with a somber expression. “It was a hard time for me. But my Max was one of the luckier ones. He and Harlow returned—without injury. That was not the case for many of their friends.”
“You must have hated me.” Maggie looked away.
“No, never hate. But I would get angry, truthfully.” She sat back down and hugged Maggie. “But, my dear, I have always loved you. I have known you since you were born. Life was cruel to all of us. I did not understand why I was losing everything—my dearest friends, my son, and you. And so, for a short time, I blamed you. But then the rumors started, and I asked for forgiveness, feeling they were true. Your mother came to me one night in a dream and told me to look for you. I did not understand what she meant. Now, pish! I know you probably think that is an old woman’s fancy, but it was as if she was as real as you are. She asked me not to abandon you if you ever found your way home. I did not understand what that meant. I still am not sure. And maybe it was just a dream.” She stood and straightened the covers and then looked at Maggie. “But that dream happened two nights before Max brought you home.”
Lady Worsley paused at the doorway. “I will send Gertie and Anna to prepare the sitting room. Perhaps it would be good for you and Max to have a meal together, if you do not mind the company.”
“You think Max would want to eat up here? Can we have more than soup?” Maggie grinned broadly.
“Certainly.” Lady Worsley looked back wearing a smile on her face. “Happiness looks good on you. We may have you on your way back to health.” She left, softly closing the door behind her.
Maggie could not stop hope from filling her heart. Perhaps there was no one else in Max’s life. At least his mother seemed to think the way was clear. Could there be even a tiny speck of a chance for them? She replayed his kisses in her mind and a flicker of hope wormed its way into her heart.
Maggie knew society would expect she mourn Lord Tipton, but it would be a lie. He was a spawn of the devil himself. She would pay proper respects, but never mourn him. Never.
Only minutes later, the door to her room opened, and Anna directed the maids that followed. “Place the tub over there.” She stoked the fire while the maids filled the tub.
“Your ladyship, your bath is ready. Would there be anything else for you?” Anna bobbed a curtsey.
“Yes, Anna, I think my dog needs to eat. Although I know he hates to get up from such a cocoon of warmth.”
“He appears to be right toasty, milady. And he enjoys being ’round people. Brings a smile to everyone.”
“He does! This little man has kept me company through the worst days of my life. I owe him so much.” Maggie leaned in and kissed Shep on the head. “Would you be so kind as to take Shep to the kitchen for a bite? Cook has been ever so kind and fixes him a bowl of his favorite chopped vittles.”
“Yes, milady.” Anna encouraged Shep down from the warm bed and closed
