Maggie left the bed and put a toe in the water. It felt heavenly. She quickly gave up her clothing and eased her still aching body into the warmth. Taking advantage of the small bar of lilac soap, she lathered herself and rinsed her hair. After what seemed like an eternity in the tub, she dried herself and pulled on a wrapper. Taking her pink pearl brush, she sat next to the fire and dried her hair, combing through it slowly and thinking about her day. She was not sure what she had done to become so blessed in her life, but with Slade lurking around, she was still putting a family she loved in danger. She would have to leave soon. The money she found in her father’s study would be of great benefit. It would keep her from begging, to be sure, until she found a post. Her mind drifted to what it might be like to live in her own home.
She owned a house! Why had Uncle Silas not told her about that? He had made her feel like she was poor with nary a penny. It was as if Uncle Silas had other plans for it. Her mind stilled at that thought. Possibly he had. That would have meant that I was in the way. Maggie already knew her life meant very little—if anything—to her father’s brother. He had given her away to pay a gambling debt. And the man he married her to was pure evil. How lucky for the world that Uncle Silas had no children. Then she recalled the rumor that Slade might be his son and shuddered. That cannot be true. That vile man was his toady.
A shrill bark sounded at the door and jarred her from her thoughts.
“One minute, boy.”
Maggie opened the door to let her small dog in, only to see two very well-shaped calves instead of her dog. “Max!”
“Mind if we join you?” She did not miss Shep’s look of pure satisfaction at being cuddled by Max.
“Your mother suggested that the small parlor might be appropriate for us…if you are inclined to share a meal with me tonight.”
A sudden surge of shyness overcame her and forced her to look down while her heart fluttered with happiness at the promised time together. She remembered her state of undress and flushed a deep shade of crimson. “Oh my! I am not dressed for this. You caught me musing, and I need to dress. Can you give me a minute or two?”
“Anna is right behind us. We will wait in the parlor.”
As soon as he turned to leave, Maggie flew behind the screen. What she was wearing, while not indecent, was inappropriate. Harriett would be most unhappy with her, even though she was a widow.
A widow! She wanted to be happy to have lost that bad seed of a husband of hers, but his death weighed heavily on her. Who would have wanted him dead? She had wanted away from him, but not once did she wish him harm. Well, she had wished him harm, but not death. Satisfied that she had finally given God a true accounting, she pulled on her chemise.
“Milady, I’ve come to help. Allow me.” Anna rushed in and helped her into the rest of her clothes.
“Your timing is perfect, Anna. Thank you so much.”
“I have pins for your hair, I do. Will a simple bun do, or would you like something different? Miss Gertie has been teaching me the hairstyles. I am eager to try them out on you.” Anna laid out a selection of pearl and other pins on Maggie’s vanity.
“I am excited to have you try out your skills, but for tonight, let us keep it simple. A small bun with a few curls would please me greatly.”
A few minutes later, Anna passed her the looking glass. Maggie opened and closed her mouth like a fish when she first saw her reflection. “Anna, you have learned well! If this is simple, I cannot wait to see the next level.”
“Thank you, your ladyship.”
“Let us be off to the parlor. I am quite starved this evening. I fear my expedition this day created a bit of an appetite.”
“Yes, milady. And you were quite tired, if I can be so bold. When you arrived back, you were a bit pale, as if you had seen a ghost.”
Maggie laughed aloud at that and quickly noted the look of concern on her maid’s face. “Oh, I apologize, Anna. I did not mean to laugh at you. You do not understand how close to the mark you were with that, is all.”
A look of confusion and relief passed over her servant’s face. “Yes, milady.” Anna followed her mistress into the parlor and immediately found a seat toward the back of the room.
“Welcome!” Max stepped away from the door, and to her astonishment, an elegant table set for two stood waiting behind him with a footman in service. Shep was curled up on the settee near the wall with one eye opened, in case any morsel should fall. Maggie had not been in this room in an age, and the delicate pink shades of velvet and satin in the curtains and upholstery gave the room a glowing hue of happiness. The gold and crystal appointments on the table only added to the elegance. She felt giddiness well up inside of her and hoped that she could shut out the real world with this man for at least this short time. She needed his smile. She wanted to remember every moment of tonight.
“You look beautiful. I had worried the day had over tired you, but Mother insisted we eat privately and discuss things. I thought of meeting in my office to discuss the contents of the box, but I gave in to her wishes.”
“That is unusual. She let it seem like it was my idea. She is crafty.” Maggie smiled as she allowed the footman to place her napkin and fill her glass. “I thought
