Page 66 of Debtor’s Daughter

“You did indeed, and very well done it was too,” Larkin said, getting to his feet before turning to Maggie with a sheepish grin. “I had them sent up from Mitcham for him. It seemed a shame they were all gathering dust when they might be sent back into action.”

“That was so very thoughtful of you, and I am sorry to interrupt your battle plans, but I was told there was tea,” Maggie said.

Larkin laughed and guided her to the chair nearest the fire. “Indeed, there is, and scones too. I’m afraid we got distracted,” he said, gesturing to the half-eaten scones on the table. It was a measure of Gideon’s excitement that he had left a scone piled high with jam and cream in favour of playing soldiers with Larkin.

“Well, shall I—? I shall pour myself a cup. Would you like another?” Maggie said hurriedly, changing her words just in time before she asked, ‘shall I be mother?’ Though she knew very well what she wanted, and Larkin had promised not to trifle with her, he had also been very clear that he was unsure of his feelings, and of what it was he wanted. Despite the now clear overtures he had made, she still did not feel confident enough to presume.

Larkin agreed to another cup and asked her to make herself at home, so she refreshed his drink before pouring her own. Taking the seat opposite her, he accepted the cup as Gideon continued playing on the rug between them, making occasional explosive noises as his soldiers battled on. Larkin met Maggie’s eye over her son’s head and smiled.

“This is nice,” he observed, holding her gaze as he took a sip of his tea.

Maggie’s heart skipped, wondering if he intended the words to mean what she wished them to. “Is it?” she asked, knowing she was falling now, and terrified lest she was allowing her feelings to run away with her. Gideon was not his son and, just because Larkin was kind to him, did not mean he wished to be his father.

Larkin held her gaze, his expression growing serious. “I think so. It seems rather perfect to me.”

Maggie’s breath hitched, and she gave a startled laugh, for the words meant so much and surely, they were unmistakable. “To me too,” she replied, though her reply was little more than a whisper.

Larkin smiled at her and set down his cup, getting back to the floor to play with Gideon. Impulsively, for she knew it was well past her son’s bedtime, Maggie joined them, which delighted Gideon, and they passed a wonderful hour, eating scones and drinking tea whilst Maggie learned the correct way to play with tin soldiers, though they teased her mercilessly for being unable to make a sound like a gun firing. Exasperated, she simply said ‘bang,’ which made the two males fall about laughing.

Finally worn out, Gideon put his head down on his arms, gazing happily at his neatly ranked army as his eyes grew heavy and he fell asleep.

“I should take him home,” Maggie said, regretful that their delightful evening was over.

“Yes, but not yet. Come here,” Larkin said.

He had returned to the chair by the fire, and now patted his knee, a wicked glint sparkling in his eyes that made her breath catch.

Though she knew she ought not, Maggie did not need asking twice and got to her feet. She stood before Larkin, looking down and hesitating, her courage failing her at the last moment. Larkin laughed and reached up, grasping her waist and pulling her onto his lap. She sat with a flurry of skirts and a smothered gasp, not wanting to disturb Gideon.

“Larkin!” she exclaimed, torn between laughter and scolding him. “You can’t keep doing that.”

“I certainly can, and I shall,” he told her plainly. “Besides, the last time you fell. It wasn’t my fault. I merely profited.”

Maggie sighed and linked her arms around his neck.

“Magdelina,” he said, his voice soft, his handsome face cast in bronze by the flickering firelight. “How beautiful you are.”

“Not compared with Caro,” she said with a laugh. “My nose is too long, my mouth too wide, and I get freckles the moment the sun comes out.”

Larkin shook his head. “You’re wrong, you know. True beauty isn’t perfect, if you ask me. Your nose gives you character and speaks of a woman with courage and determination. I cannot wait to see your freckles, which sound enchanting, and as for your mouth—” He lifted his hand, tracing the outline of her lips with a fingertip that made her shiver. “Your mouth makes me think wicked things, Maggie.”

Maggie swallowed, aware of the tension prickling between them, of the heat that flared inside her at the way his voice had dropped, becoming husky and seductive.

“What kind of things?” she asked breathlessly, knowing she ought not, but then she ought not be here, alone with him, with only her sleeping son as a chaperone.

Larkin nuzzled the skin beneath her ear and inhaled deeply before pressing his mouth to her throat. “I want to kiss your mouth for hours and hours, and I want to feel the touch of your lips upon my skin,” he murmured, trailing a damp path of kisses up and along her jawline. He lingered at the corner of her mouth, not quite touching her lips, until Maggie could not stand to wait another moment and turned her head. He kissed her then, his arms tightening around her as his tongue swept in, devouring her with an intensity that made her bones and her mind turn to warm honey, melting in the heat growing between them.

A loud snore filled the room, breaking them apart as Gideon mumbled in his sleep and turned over.

Maggie held a hand to her heart, appalled to think he might have awoken and caught them together. Whilst she did not think Gideon would mind having a new papa, and indeed, would be delighted with his beloved Westie being around all the time, she did not want him to be disappointed if things did not work out, or if they did, to discover their relationship in such a shocking way.

“I must go,” she said, trying to get up, but Larkin held her back.

“I know you must, but—I don’t want you to. Either of you,” he said, holding her gaze. “I want you to know that. Do you understand?”

Maggie stared at him, believing she did, but too terrified she wanted it too much to trust her own judgement.

“I hope I do,” she said carefully. “But I would like you to be very clear, with no ambiguity.”

He smiled at that and nodded, allowing her to get to her feet. “I can do that, and we shall talk seriously very soon, my dearest Mrs Finchley, but for now I had best help you get this sleepy fellow home. Wait there.”

Larkin disappeared for a moment and returned with a blanket which he laid over Gideon before scooping the boy up in his arms. Gideon huffed but laid his head trustingly against Larkin’s shoulder. Maggie watched as Larkin smiled fondly down at the lad and felt her hopes soar. Perhaps it really was possible for fortune to shine on their family again.

Perhaps Auntie Connie had broken the mould, and now, anything was possible.