Page 65 of Debtor’s Daughter

“Now, now Gerard, don’t be jealous!” she scolded, wagging a finger at the cuckoo clock.

“Gerard?” Maggie and Caro said in confusion.

Connie sighed and nodded sadly. “Yes. In my despair over Cecil disappearing, I made a foolish mistake. For Gerard loved me madly the first year I came out, but he died, the poor dear, of tuberculosis. Such a frail, wan little fellow he was, but utterly devoted.”

Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo!

“Yes, yes, Gerard. I know. It was a most upsetting mistake, I see that now. You’re still very welcome here, I assure you,” she said, turning to look at her husband to be, who was glowering at the cuckoo clock with an expression of displeasure. “Now, Cecil, do be reasonable.”

“I mean it, Connie, I’ll give you anything you want in the world, but I won’t have that blasted clock.”

“Yes, dear. We’ll talk about it later,” she said soothingly, giving poor Cecil a comforting pat on the arm. “Do come and sit down again and I’ll pour you a nice cup of tea.”

Maggie and Caro exchanged glances, trying hard not to laugh as they made their escape and left the two lovebirds to their negotiations.

Maggie took herself off downstairs in search of Gideon, intending to give Mrs Moody the good news and ask her to send a fresh pot of tea up to the parlour. Frankly, she thought Cecil needed something stronger, but she was certain Connie could handle him and would know better than she what to do.

“Well, isn’t that the loveliest news!” Mrs Moody exclaimed, putting the kettle back on the range. “A wedding, and so soon. Oh, shall I make a cake?”

Maggie hesitated and, to her credit, Mrs Moody understood at once. “Ah, Mrs Goodall should have the privilege, of course.”

“Well, perhaps you could work together?” Maggie suggested, for the two ladies seemed to get along rather well.

“I’d be willing,” Mrs Moody said at once. “But I’ll not step on anyone’s toes.”

“I’ll speak to her,” Maggie promised, and then looked around. “Is Gideon with Priddy?”

Mrs Moody laughed and shook her head. “No, pet. He’s next door. Barnes has been looking after him and I don’t doubt Mrs Goodall is feeding him too.”

“Oh,” Maggie said, sidling towards the back door. She had not expected to have an excuse to see Larkin again so soon, but she wasn’t about to let it slip by. “In that case, I’d best go and see what he’s up to, and I can speak to Mrs Goodall at the same time.”

“Right you are, missus,” Mrs Moody replied, busy with preparing tea for upstairs.

Maggie hurried out of the door. It was dark now but there was enough moonlight to guide her as she made her way up the garden and across the lawn, hiking up her skirts to keep them off the wet grass. Feeling very naughty, she rapped on the back door, which opened a moment later.

“Mrs Finchley.” Barnes smiled at her, not looking the least bit surprised. “Come in out of the cold. Young Master Gideon is taking tea with Mr Weston, if you’d care to join them?”

“I would, thank you, Barnes,” she said. “Might I have a quick word with Mrs Goodall first, though?”

“Of course,” Barnes said, moving away and busying himself elsewhere in the kitchen to give them some privacy.

“Oh, what lovely news!” Mrs Goodall exclaimed, once Maggie had delivered her message. “I’m so happy for her, and how romantic it is, after all these years. As for the cake, I’d be happy to work with Mrs Moody. Truth be told, from what I’ve seen, she’s far cleverer at fancy icing than I am, though I’d swear my fruitcakes are better, so I’m sure we can come to an arrangement.”

“Thank you, dear Mrs Goodall! I knew I could rely upon you,” Maggie said, before following Barnes up the stairs to the parlour.

Here she found Larkin and Gideon sprawled on the rug before the fire, arranging a veritable army of tin soldiers. As Gideon only had a half dozen, she thought these must belong to Larkin. Spying the battered tin open beside him, she smiled as she realised he had hunted them out so Gideon could play with them.

Barnes smiled at her and melted away, leaving her to watch Larkin as the two of them enacted a ferocious battle. A sensation rose in Maggie’s chest as she saw the trust Gideon had in him, and the easy way they interacted and her heart swelled, feeling as though it might burst as she gazed at two of the people she loved most in the world. Loved. Her breath caught as the word lingered in her mind, settling beneath her skin and warming her. Of course. She loved him.

“Mama!”

Gideon jumped to his feet and ran to hug her, crushing her skirts, not that she cared. She bent down to kiss him, but he pushed her off and grabbed her hand instead.

“Look, look. Westie gave me all his soldiers! All of ’em!” he said, looking so overwhelmed by such bounty, Maggie had to laugh.

“Why, what a magnificent gift, darling. I hope you said thank you?”

“I did!” Gideon said solemnly. “Didn’t I, Westie?”