Page 68 of Taming the Heiress
"If it is true love, your name and fortune will make no difference," Angela said. "Love finds a way, so it is said."
"In this case," Guy said, "love's way may be littered with lawyers and bankers. It is indeed a thorough mess. The man has a great deal of pride, my lady. It will take more than a simple explanation to win his affection after he learns the truth."
"I do wish we'd left you at home," Angela said.
"You cannot do without me, dear Mrs. Shaw," he quipped.
"I have to confess the truth to him," Meg said. "I have to. I cannot live with this any longer. It was never my choice for it to continue like this and become so very complicated." She felt dizzy, staring into the darkness and rain, as if she poised on the brink of a cliff. She gripped the leather loop on the door.
"You surely must tell him in private, before he comes to the soiree and learns it in public," Guy agreed.
"I fear Sir Frederick may have already told him," Meg said.
"Matheson knows that Stewart thinks you are no more than a girl of the Isles?" Guy said.
Meg shrugged, for she was not sure.
"In all fairness, sheisa girl of the Isles," Angela pointed out. "We should not forget that. Meg never truly lied to Mr. Stewart. She simply... omitted a few details."
"Thank you, Angela," Meg said.
Guy huffed. "I doubt Stewart will see it that way. What does Matheson know about all this?" he asked curtly.
"I wish I knew. He visited me on Caransay, and he saw that I wanted to be simply Meg MacNeill there. He could easily find out that Mr. Stewart never realized my identity. Sir Frederick might have told him already. They were to have a meeting today."
"Matheson will be too busy puffing his own feathers to waste time talking about anyone else," Guy remarked. "I wouldn't worry."
"I do worry. Guy, Angel, I must tell you. Everyone will know, sooner or later. I have... decided to marry Sir Frederick."
The silence, immediate and profound, did not last. "You what!" Guy exclaimed, while Angela gasped.
"I must. It's best for all concerned, I think."
"Best! It's plain foolish," Guy growled from the shadows.
"Why do this, dear? I do not understand," Angela said. "He was once a friend and supporter to you. I know that. But over time he has revealed himself to be a rather unsavory man. You cannot abide him. How can you accept him as a husband?"
"Because," Meg said, looking at Angela in the darkness. She could feel her heart pounding. "He knows about Iain."
"Oh, my God," Angela murmured.
"Who?" Guy asked.
"I will explain later," Meg said. Angela and Mrs. Berry, her closest confidantes, knew about Iain's existence, but Guy had never guessed. Now, for some reason, she felt ready to let Guy learn about it. She wanted to confide in her friends about Sir Frederick's evil threats, but she could not bring herself to explain Iain's existence to Guy directly. She leaned to look out the window. "We are nearly there."
"Who is Iain?" Guy asked. Angela waved her hand to hush him.
The coach slowed to a stop. "Calton Hill," the driver called. "Number Thirty-nine Calton Hill."
Meg felt the lurch as the driver climbed down. She looked at Angela and Guy. "Wait here. I will not be long. Once I tell Mr. Stewart the truth, he will not wish me to linger."
Angela reached out to squeeze Meg's gloved hand. "Courage," she whispered.
Glancing at her friend, Meg drew up the hood of her cloak and shifted to stand as the driver opened the door. Guy stepped out first, offering his hand in assistance to her.
"Tell me what is going on," he murmured.
"Angela will tell you. Go back and stay with her. Tell her that I want her to explain it all to you."
