Page 62 of Debtor’s Daughter

“Thank you, ladies. If you’d like to stretch your legs and take tea with Lady Montagu, I shall see you again in an hour for today’s last sitting.”

Maggie looked up and nodded as Caro got to her feet and smothered a yawn. “Sitting still is so very tiring,” she complained as she walked from the room.

“Go ahead, darling, I’ll be right there,” Maggie told her, taking far longer than she needed to put her bookmark in place and set the book aside.

She wanted desperately to exchange a few private words with Larkin but at that moment the butler entered with a message for him, and she did not feel she could stay. Hurrying from the room to catch up with Caro, she almost collided with a woman walking in the opposite direction.

Mrs Regina Harris stumbled back, having been too lost in her own thoughts to have noticed anyone else was around.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” the woman she had bumped into said, though Regina did not believe it had been her fault at all.

“No, it was entirely my—” Regina began and then stopped as she noticed the way the woman was staring at her, mouth open, eyes wide with shock. Regina froze and then returned the favour.

“Maggie!” she whispered, appalled as she knew she had been recognised.

“Mmmff!” Maggie said in lieu of the name she’d been about to utter, as Regina clamped her hand over her mouth.

“Hush!” she said desperately, grasping hold of Maggie’s hand and dragging her into a lovely room that seemed to be a small, private parlour. She closed the door and leaned back against it as Maggie stared at her in shock.

“What on earth—”

“Mrs Harris. My name is Mrs Regina Harris, and you do not know me,” she said firmly, glaring at Maggie. “You’ve never seen me before in your life. Do you understand?”

Maggie opened and closed her mouth, considering, and then gave a decisive nod. “Very well, Mrs Harris,” she said, before moving closer to her and giving her an impulsive hug.

Regina sighed and hugged her back. Though she had not known Maggie as well as she would have liked, for they had not moved in the same circles, she had warmed to her at once on the occasions they’d met.

“Everyone thinks you’re dead!” Maggie exclaimed as she stood back, adding in a strangled voice, “Good lord, another one. Is it an epidemic, I wonder?”

Regina did not know what she meant by that but answered the part of the question she understood. “No, they don’t,” she said with a smile. “My family—at least those I care to know—are well aware I am very much alive.”

“And do they know where you are? What are you even doing here… wait. Mrs Harris? You’re the governess!” Maggie all but squealed.

“Keep your voice down!” Regina hissed. “Yes, I am the governess, and I’m most content in my position, and I swear if you give me away, I shall never forgive you, Maggie, you must understand that.”

Maggie sobered at once, presumably recalling just why Regina had disappeared. “Of course. Forgive me, only… only it was rather a shock to see you, out of the blue.”

Regina nodded. “I understand, and I cannot tell you how happy I am to see you, but I beg you, don’t do or say anything to give me away. Please, Maggie. If the Barringtons realise I’ve been lying all this time, it would be terrible.”

Maggie let out a breath and nodded. “You may rely upon me, but won’t you come and visit me so we may speak in private? Please, my dear?”

Regina considered this, remembering what she had heard about Maggie’s family, and the death of her father. “Very well. Give me your address.”

Maggie fumbled in her reticule for a pencil and a notebook and jotted down the address.

“I was so very sorry to hear of what befell Mr Merrivale,” Regina said, as he had been a kindly and jovial man who had always made her laugh. “And for what it must have meant for you too, Maggie. My condolences.”

Maggie looked up and handed her the scrap of paper. “Thank you. We shall talk more soon, though. Promise me, Mrs Harris.”

Regina returned a rueful smile and nodded. “I will come when I am able to, I promise,” she replied. Heading to the door, she cracked it open and looked out. “Come on,” she said, watching as Maggie walked back out into the elegant hallway.

Maggie turned, raising a hand as she carried on toward Lady Montagu’s parlour.

“Goodbye, Maggie,” Regina said softly, and turned away.

“Are you all right?” Larkin asked Maggie as the carriage conveyed them home. Caro was dozing, her head resting against the side of the carriage after the exertion of sitting still for several hours.

Maggie jolted and looked up, smiling as she saw the concern in Larkin’s eyes.