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“All right.” Eden’s gaze drifted to the door, expecting her brothers to storm through. “Please send the nanny to the nursery.”
Rogers noted Lady Eden’s distress and wished to help her. “Is there a matter I may offer my assistance with?”
Eden took a deep breath. She must gather her emotions under control. If not, Rogers would inform her mother. She gave Rogers a serene smile. “Thank you, but no. I am excited to share some news with Maggie.”
Rogers gave her a skeptical stare. “Very well. I shall send the nanny at once.”
Eden nodded. “Excellent.”
She hurried off, climbing the stairs in a rush. Eden found Maggie playing teatime with Mina. She glanced behind her with impatience. She had hoped to go unnoticed until the nanny arrived, but Maggie saw her.
“Look who has joined us for tea.” Maggie pointed at Eden.
Mina squealed with glee. “Aunt Eden, hurry before Lady Hogabiscuit takes your seat.”
Eden smiled at her niece with adoration. If she wasn’t desperate to talk with Maggie, she would’ve played with them. However, today she must disappoint Mina.
“I am sorry, poppet. But Maggie and I are late, and we must hurry,” Eden explained. “I promise to play with you tomorrow.”
Maggie looked confused, and Eden gave her a small shake of her head not to ask questions. The nanny rushed into the nursery.
“All right,” Mina said, already pouring tea for the nanny.
Eden nodded for Maggie to follow her. After Maggie kissed Mina goodbye, Eden rushed Maggie along to her bedchamber.
“We have little time,” Eden started.
“For what?” Maggie gave Eden a peculiar stare.
Eden’s desperate attempt to get her alone confused Maggie. Was Eden in trouble? Eden still hadn’t answered her question. Instead, she paced back and forth across Maggie’s bedchamber, nibbling on her fingernails in between muttering about temperamental brothers and gentlemen who played her sisters false.
Maggie tensed at the comments. Eden wasn’t in trouble. This was all about Crispin. What had she learned? And what did Reese and Graham know? Her sister wouldn’t behave in this manner if her brothers hadn’t learned about Crispin’s secrets.
“Tell me what you have learned,” Maggie demanded.
Eden paused and faced her sister. “Are you aware Dracott is Ravencroft’s half-brother?”
Maggie nodded. “I learned last night of their connection.”
Eden’s eyebrows drew together. “How? You have not seen Dracott for days.”
“I snuck out and visited him at his lodgings,” Maggie confessed.
Eden gasped before her face fell. “Oh, Mags. What have you done?”
The implications of Maggie’s visit to Dracott’s was clear by her sister’s expression. The blush spreading along her neck only added to the evidence of how they had spent her visit. Reese’s plan to make Dracott disappear wasn’t an option any longer. There could be consequences to their evening spent together. Dracott had ruined Maggie for any other suitors. Which left Eden to wonder if the situation could escalate further out of control.
However, before Eden learned what else Maggie knew, Reese’s thunderous roar called for Maggie. Instead of cowering, her sister stood up straight and threw her shoulders back, marching to the door.
“Wait, Maggie. ‘Tis not as simple as Reese being unhappy with Dracott’s courtship. Something more sinister is at play. Reese is furious and will make demands you will want to defy. Let me speak with him first. Evelyn, Mama, and I will make him see reason,” Eden warned.
Maggie turned, offering Eden a courageous smile. “No. ‘Tis my burden to defend. I may not know Crispin’s story to explain to Reese. But I hold faith in our love for one another.”
Reese threw the bedchamber’s door open and stormed inside, followed by Graham and Evelyn. “Downstairs in my study, now!” Reese pointed for Maggie to obey his orders.
Maggie nodded, and with her head held high, she started for the stairs.
“Reese, what is this about?” Evelyn tugged on his arm.
