Page 63 of Indecent Desires of a Proper Lady
Leonard stepped forward and clamped her moving hands in his own. “Sister, everything will be fine. Philip will hear you. He will forget his pigheadedness and forgive you. He loves you. I know it.”
Margaret smiled. “You do?”
“I do. I know my friend, and I know men. They all will fall to their knees to accept the woman they love, for they do not wish to imagine life without her.”
“That is true certainly,” Juliet said with a grin as she entered the room, her lovely white bonnet settled comfortably on her head. “But howlongit takes them to get it into their heads is another matter.”
Leonard chuckled and kissed his wife lightly on the cheek. “Well, with you both at the helm and the persistency you possess, I am sure that Philip will be begging you in no time to be his betrothed once more.”
“Thank you, Leonard,” Margaret said, her eyes nearly filling with tears. He had come a long way since he had accused her of bringing on Charles’ unwelcome advances.
“I will be ready in a moment.” He left the room and Juliet came forward with a smile.
“Sarah’s plan is brilliant is it not?”
“I hope that it will work,” Margaret could feel her resolve weaken. It was possible. He could turn away and scorn her.
“Not with that face of yours. And your strength and courage. And fire.” Juliet winked, and Margaret grinned, her fear for the moment subsided.
In an hour, they were finally in front of Havordshire Cottage, and both Sarah and Felix rushed outside to greet them, Sarah’s chestnut locks and cherub-like face smiling with excitement. “Friends! So glad you are so timely!”
She took both Juliet and Margaret into an embrace and grinned at Leonard. Felix strode out behind her. Surprisingly, he looked a lot better than he had the night of the concert. He shook Leonard’s hand feverishly, kissed Juliet on the cheek and Margaret on the hand.
“Well, we are quite the party are we not? Come, Leonard, I think the women have their own plans to prepare. We shall set upon our own in the study.”
The men walked ahead while the women walked arm in arm behind them. Margaret’s heart was fluttering. “Will he come?” she asked Sarah, feeling foolish for her lack of confidence.
Sarah nodded. “Felix has received a letter that Philip will be here! Soon, as well.” She tugged on Margaret’s arm lightly. “Once he sets his eyes upon you, he will not be able to resist. All men are the same in that regard.”
“I heard that!” Felix called good naturedly.
Sarah giggled. “Come. We will tend to your toilette, and then you shall wait in the drawing room!”
Margaret was soon whisked away into the house and was pushed into preparations. She was sitting nervously in the drawing room when she heard it. The distinct sound of carriage wheels, and her heart set to thumping. For the past hour, Sarah and her lady’s maid had been primping and preening, assuring that Margaret looked her best when she was to meet with Philip.
Juliet sat nearby. Sarah had gone to greet Philip at the door with Felix before the men returned to the study and Sarah to the garden to wait. “Calm yourself, Margaret.”
“But how will he see me? What reason will he have for coming to this room? You know that if he is near a door, he will certainly use it for his exit. He told me he never wanted to see me again.”
Juliet nodded. “I know. But just think. How many times have you said something in anger or passion that you did not quite mean? I know in my heart that Philip would very much like to see you again, and he only said such a thing because he was hurt. You can help him heal. Just as he healed you. Tell him everything.”
Margaret nodded, clasping her hands tightly until her knuckles turned white. When she heard him being greeted at the door, she felt a heat come over her entire body and she looked at Juliet desperately. Juliet winked and moved to the door. “Everything will work. I promise. Let me bring him to you.”
Margaret took a breath, but she couldn’t help but pace. It was the only comfort given to her at the moment. She walked back and forth between hearth and bookshelf, nearly treading a line in the floor. At least her dress was lovely. She was borrowing one of Sarah’s, a very light peach gown that offset her dark hair which had begun to grow out again, as well as her blue eyes.
She heard footsteps, and her heart flew to her throat as she saw the dark boots of Philip, now Lieutenant Winston, with Juliet at his side. He was looking at her sister-in-law and did not see Margaret, but once he looked up, she nearly pulled back when she saw his expression. He did not look at all happy, and he had paled. Juliet moved away to meet Sarah, and Philip stood a little taller.
“Lady Whitfield,” he choked, and then attempted to leave the room.
In a burst of feeling, Margaret rushed forward and pushed her hands out to grasp onto him. He tensed, but he stopped moving and turned around. Margaret looked up into his face. The face that she had come to love so dearly, even if at this moment, he looked more like a crumpled version of himself with dark circles under his eyes.
She still thought he was the most handsome man in the world and wanted to press her lips to his again. “Please, stay,” she said softly, her eyes watching his green ones as they sought to understand the moment.
He moved back into the room, and to her relief, his expression softened. “What is it?” he asked. “I cannot think of anything you wish to say to me.”
Margaret bit her lip to stop from retorting to such a reply, and with satisfaction, she noticed his gaze flick briefly there. “I wish to explain,” she finally uttered. “You left so soon, that I did not have a chance to say anything.”
Philip stiffened, but he remained where he was. “I see. What would you like to say?”
