Page 101 of When We Touch

“I know your heart, my lady, but it would be a wise time for you to stay as far away from the East End as you can!”

“Of course, Darby,” she said absently.

They went out; Darby brought the family carriage around.

Maggie was so nervous that she chewed her thumbnail as they drove. When they came to the house at Mayfair, she ran out of the carriage before Darby could help her. Bursting into the house, she cried, “Clayton!”

“My lady!”

He appeared from the area of the kitchen and stared at her expectantly.

“Clayton, is my brother here?”

“No, my lady, he’s still down by the Parliament.”

“Mireau?”

“He did come by.”

“And?”

“He’s gone off . . . a bit of a holiday, perhaps.”

“Gone off?” she gasped.

Clayton narrowed his eyes, studying hers. He took a step toward her. “I would know . . . it would be quite impossible . . . my lady!” His voice was but a whisper. “The wee babe, she isn’t yours, is she?”

“No!” Maggie gasped. “No, no, but I’ve . . . sworn to protect her. She is mine now, my responsibility.”

Clayton shook his head sadly. “Monsieur Mireau does not deserve your love and patronage!”

“What?”

“He dallies, and you are willing to pay the price.”

“Clayton . . . you really don’t understand.”

“It’s not my place.”

“Clayton, please! Do you know where Mireau took her?”

“Come into the kitchen, my lady. I believe I can enlighten you . . . but I believe I’m entitled to some enlightenment as well!”

“Is the baby . . . is she all right?”

“Right as rain, and soon to be swaddled and loved by the sweetest of women.”

“Who?”

He smiled. “My sisters!” he said proudly. “But now you! You may be a countess now, m’lady. Tonight, however, I think you owe your dear old butler a few words!”

There was nothing else to do.

She followed him into the kitchen, and soon forgot that she had ever promised Arianna that she would return to Moorhaven and talk with her that evening.

Chapter 14

The man who sat across from Arianna called himself Heath. Jeremiah Heath. He was tall, broad shouldered, with strange dark hair that seemed to stand straight up, but then, it was very short, and certainly had no customary cut which she was familiar with. But what he had was dark, and after he removed his cap, she studied his face as they spoke, playing it all as she went along.