Page 71 of Lady for a Season
She stood silent, heart pounding, unable to meet his eyes.
“Evidently, I was not clear enough when last we spoke. Let me make myself absolutely clear, so that there can be no doubt whatsoever. If any such intimacy occurs again, I will have no qualms in telling everyone who you are and that Edward is a lunatic.”
Her stomach lurched “He will be locked away again!”
He smiled an unpleasant smile. “Then I, his family’s trusted physician and expert in this matter, will once again take him into my care. For as long as is necessary. For the rest of his life, quite possibly. And I will be paid handsomely for doing so.” He leant closer to her. “Or you will see to it that he marries and marries well by the end of the season, in which case both you and I have been promised a payment acknowledging the successful completion of our task. And we will go about our lives again, as though none of this ever happened. Choose, Maggie, but see to it that you choose wisely. You are not to speak with His Grace unless it is absolutely necessary. You are not to dance with him nor spend any time alone with him. Do you understand me?”
The polished wooden floor shone her reflection back at her, the floating dress, the careful ringlets of her hair. A lady, through and through. But her outer appearance concealed a fast-beating heart and the knowledge that any chance at happiness had been snatched away.
“Do you understand me?”
“Yes, sir.”
He was gone, but the polished lady still stood there, her reflection marred by tears.
Edward had awoken to a fierce rush of joy. The sunlight streaming in his window echoed his feelings and he had hurried Joseph through his dressing, anxious to find Maggie and speak with her. They would have to find somewhere private, and he thought at once of the mews, where only the horses would be privy to their whispered conversation about how to proceed. But as soon as he ventured out of his room, Bartholomew, the footman, found him.
“Her Grace wishes to see you, Your Grace.”
He nodded. She would have some invitation to mention or some other such nonsense. He did not care. The quicker it was over with, the faster he could find Maggie. He strode to the drawing room and found his mother standing there, her face white with rage.
“Miss Elizabeth Belmont.”
“What of her?”
“You will marry her.”
“Lord and Lady Godwin’s daughter? The mouse?” He gave a despairing groan. “Is that all you think me worthy of? A girl who is scared of her shadow? Do I get a say in the matter?”
The Duchess met his gaze with a steely glare. “No.”
“I do not get to choose my own bride?”
“You have proven yourself incapable of making sane decisions, Edward. Perhaps it is not your fault, you were not raised to be the Duke of Buckingham, and you…became… ill and were taken away for treatment. Perhaps I should have left you there. Perhaps it would have been better for you, but the estate and title would have been passed away and we would have lost everything.”
“Youwould have lost everything.”
She lifted her chin. “I would have lost a great deal. But there are hundreds of people who rely on our family. Who knows who would have replaced us? Perhaps someone who would have treated them poorly. I had to try. And I thought you were doing better than I had expected, despite a few… incidents.” Her nostrils flared. “But this… this is too much.”
“What is?”
“This affection for a maid.”
He stared at her, his heart thudding.
“You were seen, Edward.”
“By whom?”
“Doctor Morrison.”
“Doctor… how could he have seen anything? He was not there.”
“He was… informed.”
“He set spies on me?”
“He was right to,” she spat. “Kissing a maid!”
