Page 74 of Debtor’s Daughter

“Please,” she replied at once.

“My daughter, Grace, and her husband, Sterling, were sorry not to be here today, but leaving the farm can’t be done at the drop of a hat. They’re to be at the Priory for Christmas, however. I have not asked Larkin yet, but I hope you might join us, too.”

Maggie considered this and looked ruefully up at the Baron.

“Ah,” he said, understanding at once. “You have plans.”

“It’s to be our first Christmas back at the manor, and there have been so many changes in Gideon’s life of late—”

“Say no more. Jemima told me as much, but I’m a stubborn fellow and like things all my own way,” he said ruefully.

Maggie laughed and shook her head. “Indeed, I would have loved to join you, but perhaps we might come for Easter?”

He brightened perceptibly at this suggestion. “An excellent notion. I shall look forward to it immensely.”

“As shall I,” Maggie replied, meaning it.

The dance ended, which she suspected was just as well as the baron’s limp was rather more pronounced as he made his way back to his wife.

“Mama! Grandmama is almost as good at drawing as Westie. Look!” Gideon brandished the drawing of a pig sitting at a table and wielding a knife and fork, with obvious delight.

Lady Rothborn looked a little sheepish as she regarded her daughter-in-law. “I’m sorry, I’m so used to being ‘Grandmama’ to my daughter’s children I did not stop to think and—”

“I think it’s wonderful that Gideon has grandparents. Don’t you, Giddy?”

Giddy, who had returned to his drawing, ignored this, instead tugging at Lady Rothborn’s sleeve. “Grandmama, do another. A duck,” he insisted.

Laughing, Lady Rothborn complied at once.

6th November 1850 Ridgeley House, Belgravia, London.

Though the party looked set to go on long into the night, by late afternoon Larkin was champing at the bit. He had arranged with Barnes and Mrs Goodall that his house be made ready for his wife, and food enough provided for several days, so that they needed no extra staff, though Priddy was waiting to help Maggie prepare for her wedding night before leaving to take up her new position working for Lady Belinda Knight. Whilst Maggie and Larkin remained in town, Caro and Giddy would stay with Lord and Lady Rothborn, who were guests at Montagu House, and the staff would go ahead to the manor to prepare everything for their arrival.

They were to have two blissful nights alone before travelling to Norfolk, and Larkin did not wish to share his wife for another moment. He had already taken action and requested their carriage be readied for them, so when Pip tried once again to dance with Maggie, Larkin once more told him to get lost.

“Larkin!” Maggie protested crossly.

“I know, I know,” he said, holding up a hand to forestall her scolding. “I’m a highhanded brute, and at any other time I would not dare, but I want to go home, Maggie,” he said, his expression meaningful.

Maggie turned pink, the colour flushing down her neck to her décolletage. He wondered just how far it spread, which did not help his impatience.

Ashburton cleared his throat. “Another time, Mrs Weston,” he said politely, grinning at Larkin as he went to ask Maggie’s aunt to dance instead. Connie, who had just held Ashton Anson to his promise to waltz with her, was so gracious as to accept.

“Do you mind very much?” Larkin asked, frowning as he realised he was a greedy devil. This was her special day and, if she wished to stay, he would endure it.

“Of course not,” she said. “If only you’d said so in private instead of in front of the earl, you wicked man! Come along, then, before anyone notices.”

So saying, she grasped his hand and hurried out of the ballroom, towing him behind her.

“Gideon?” Larkin asked, rather delighted by this turn of events, but wondering if they ought not say goodbye first.

“He’s asleep in your mama’s lap,” she said with a laugh. “He adores her, and he won’t know we’ve gone. He seems delighted at the prospect at staying with them and seeing Miss Barrington again, and he’s got Caro too. I’m sure they can manage him.”

Relieved, Larkin needed no further persuading and rushed her to their waiting carriage.

The moment the door closed, Larkin pulled down the shutters and drew Maggie into his embrace. She laughed, her breath warm against his lips as he pressed his mouth to hers, and the quarter hour drive back to Berwick Street passed in a blur of increasingly heated kisses.

Though he was frustrated by having to let her go, spending his wedding night in a carriage did not appeal and so Larkin helped Maggie down before sweeping her up into his arms and carrying her over the threshold.