Page 56 of Debtor’s Daughter

“Well, I’m not at all sure he doesn’t have a point,” Maggie replied, wondering at her own sanity for agreeing with the sentiments of a cuckoo clock.

“Well, I’m sure if we asked him, Mr Weston would accompany us to ensure we are not being tricked or taken advantage of,” Connie said, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she looked at Maggie.

Maggie stared back, wondering just what it was her aunt knew. Still, having such a good excuse—a good reason to see Mr Weston again did not seem a terrible trial.

“I suppose he might,” Maggie allowed, and avoided her aunt’s gaze as she handed her a cup of tea. “I shall ask him when we go for our walk on Wednesday.”

“Oh, Maggie, could you not ask today or tomorrow?” Connie said crossly.

But Maggie shook her head. She thought Mr Weston needed a day to consider everything he’d revealed and to ensure he did not wish to take any of it back. For her part, she wanted nothing more than to run around to the back door of his house, pound upon it and demand he kiss her at once. Which also seemed an excellent reason for keeping away for a little while, in case she did something entirely inappropriate again and gave him a disgust of her.

“Wednesday,” she said firmly.

Any further argument was cut short as Gideon burst into the room. “Mama!” he said. “Look, look at my pictures.”

Maggie took the crumpled sheets from him and her heart swelled as she saw the drawings he had coloured in, drawings that only Mr Weston could have done for him. She smiled as she looked upon the fox wearing a hat, and a boy that looked very much like Gideon riding a fat pony.

“They’re wonderful, darling. How clever you are.”

“I’m an artist,” he said proudly. “Westie said so.”

Maggie hugged her son to her and kissed his tumbled blond curls.

“You are quite wonderful,” she told him, silently adding that Mr Weston was quite wonderful too.