Page 55 of A Virgin for the Duke of Depravity
“Just tell me the truth. It is all we have ever asked of each other.”
“Leo and I had met before. Before the house party. I met him at Olympus, where I might have stumbled upon his book club.” Margaret looked down at her dress, willing her eyes not to well with tears at the sweet memories of her time at Olympus.
Surely, those were all over at this point.
“But your vows?—”
“He did not ruin me,” Margaret said quickly, to ward off any thoughts Theresa might have had about what they did. “There was no reason why the sisters would not still accept me. Not that it matters now…”
Theresa nodded, saving Margaret from the embarrassment of having to tell her exactly what Leodiddo to her.
Her friend would surely understand, but she did not think her modesty would permit her to speak.
“If you won’t go back despite the fact that you’re not ruined…Will you go through what the Earl plans? What do you want?”
Margaret considered the question for a moment, her hand absentmindedly reaching for the rosary that was not in her pocket. There were some benefits to life at the convent—safety, for one. But there was no longer a possibility she would find that, no matter where she went.
“I’m not sure I am allowed towantanything,” Margaret said. “Leo and I—it is not meant to be. I’m sure you understand.”
“I worry for you. I want you to find happiness, as I have. If that means that you and Leo must marry—” Theresa took Margaret’shands in her own, but they were interrupted by the giggles of two small girls.
Annie and Kitty jumped into Margaret’s lap, forcing Theresa to pull back. Kitty put a small, sticky hand on Margaret’s cheek. She furrowed her brow, clearly trying to discern what caused the emotion in Margaret’s eyes.
Margaret tried to smile for the girls, to pretend that she and Theresa had not just been discussing the uncertainty of her future. As if she did not have to think about whether she should return to the convent and take her vows.
“Margaret, will you take us to the kitchens for a little strawberry pastry from today’s breakfast?”
“Two girls after my own heart.” She forced herself to laugh. “Theresa, come with us, and we shall all indulge our sweet tooth.”
She stood up, Annie and Kitty each taking one of her hands. Theresa groaned as she rose to her feet, one hand resting on her belly. The four of them furtively crept through the halls, not wanting to be discovered on their quest for dessert.
The cook saw the girls coming and frowned.
“I have told the girls they could have dessert,” Margaret said with a smile. “I hope I have not overstepped.”
“Not at all, My Lady.”
“Is there any of the strawberry pastry left?” Annie asked quickly.
The cook reached behind her and took out a plate that still had several pastries on it, setting it on the table in front of the ladies.
“If you will excuse me, I have some chores to tend to,” she said, before taking her leave and leaving Margaret, Theresa, and the girls alone in the kitchen.
No sooner had Kitty taken a bite out of her pastry than Leo and Joan burst through the door.
“I have been looking everywhere for you,” Joan complained, out of breath from racing around the mansion in search of the girls.
“And what are you doing here in the kitchens?” Leo asked, raising an eyebrow at Margaret.
She paused with the pastry halfway to her mouth. “You’ll have to forgive me, Your Grace. It seems the girls wanted something they were not supposed to have,” she said.
Leo looked at her intently, the tension rising between them.
The girls looked at each other, unsure of what to say or do. Annie wolfed down the rest of her pastry and stepped toward Joan, who took her hand and reached for Kitty.
Theresa rose from her seat and hovered at the edge of the room. Margaret looked at her friend, willing her not to leave her alone with Leo.
“I fear that I have exhausted myself,” Margaret said, rising to her full height. “Theresa, we will have to continue this conversation tomorrow.”
