Page 15 of A Lady's Heart Deceived
Francis shook his head. He didn’t appear in the mood for exchanging light banter.
Alex rose from his chair and came to stand alongside Francis, giving his cousin’s shock of white hair a playful ruffle. “You don’t look a happy chap.”
Francis rolled his eyes. “That’s because I am not. The ship’s captain is still expecting me to pay for his soiled cargo. I can’t sell it for any decent price, and he is refusing to move his ship until we pay him. He and I spent an hour this afternoon arguing over what is to be done with all the rotten flax. And if he thinks I am going to give him a farthing for any of it, he has another think coming.”
Now Maggie understood his mood. Francis wasn’t one for making concessions when it came to other people—especially not in business. He and his father, Charles Saunders, ran a successful import and export company at the London docks. And while Charles was a steady hand on the tiller, Francis was always looking for a way to get an edge on their competition.
Whoever this ship’s captain was, they were in for a devil of a fight. Knowing Francis, he would cut his nose off to spite his own face. His stubborn temper was its own worst enemy.
“Have you considered asking him what sort of price he would be willing to accept in order to settle the matter? You must be able to find some common ground?” asked Alex.
Maggie smiled at him. Marriage and impending fatherhood had changed the hot-headed future duke. Millie was a calming influence in his life. Prior to her, Alex would have been more than ready to head out the door with his cousin and go rile up the ship’s captain.
Francis gave him a look that spoke volumes. He screwed up his nose. “The only common ground he and I will have will be when my fist connects with his fat face.”
Ewan grumbled his disapproval. A gentleman didn’t talk of violence in front of the fairer sex.
“My apologies, ladies. I let my anger get the better of me,” offered Francis.
Maggie gently patted his arm and Francis glanced down at her. “How about you come and eat? I expect some of your grumpiness is from lack of food,” she offered.
She knew her cousin only too well. Francis was just like her brother James—both were testy when their bellies were empty. They were happy when they were full.
“You are probably right, Maggie. But enough of my problems, I didn’t come here tonight to be the bearer of miserable news. I came to see my beloved relatives.”
“And get a feed,” teased Ewan, motioning for a servant to set a place for Francis next to Maggie at the table
Alex joined his wife once more. Francis took his seat and poured himself a generous glass of wine. He raised it to the gathering. “To your good health, Radley family members.”
As the tension in the room eased, Maggie smiled. She was badly in need of an evening with family, to talk and share happy memories. These were the things that gave her strength and brought peace of mind.
“Well, Millie, are you looking forward to your first visit to Strathmore Castle?” she asked.
The Marchioness of Brooke wriggled in her chair and patted her baby belly. She was glowing.
“I can’t wait to see Scotland. This will be my first real winter in England, and Alex has promised me snow for Christmas Day. And since it will be such a long journey to undertake in my present condition, we have decided to take a week to travel north. We shall stay at the homes of friends along the way. This trip you are undertaking, Maggie—is it far from here? I mean, I have no idea when it comes to places in England.”
Millie had been born in Calcutta, India, and had only arrived in London at the start of the year. Maggie found it intriguing to talk to someone who was new to England. The things that she found to be ordinary and dull, Millie often noted as being quite fascinating.
“Coventry is one hundred miles north of here. Travelling via the Great North Road, you won’t pass through it on your way to Scotland. In fact, I haven’t been there before myself,” she replied.
Her journey wasn’t quite the same as sailing the many thousands of miles from India as Millie had done, but it still held its own sense of adventure. She was breaking new ground, travelling to a distant city without her family. And in the company of Captain Denford.
Beneath the table, Maggie wiped her sweaty palms on her napkin. She was both excited and apprehensive about tomorrow. Hopefully, when she knocked on the door of Denford House, bright and early, and announced that she was to accompany him, Captain Denford would greet the news with delighted surprise. And if he didn’t, he was going to have a fight on his hands.
Chapter Ten
Maggie was up well before the sun the following morning. The Strathmore House servants had a plate of hot eggs and warmed up leftovers from last night’s supper ready and waiting when she entered the breakfast room. No one else was up and about at this unholy hour, but she didn’t mind.
She needed time to compose herself. In her mind, her case for travelling with Captain Denford was solid, her arguments sound. But until they were both on board the coach, and it was speeding out of London, there was always the chance for something to go wrong.
I don’t need his permission. He isn’t my family. Nor my protector.
If he said no, she would go it alone. And while that notion was a sobering thought, Maggie wouldn’t be deterred.
The hot breakfast was washed down with two cups of tea—a dash of milk, two lumps of sugar,thank you kindly—and she was ready to leave.
Maggie checked her notebook. The mail coach to Coventry was due to depart from outside the Swan with Two Necks just before eight o’clock. If she made it to Denford House by seven, had a brief conversation with the captain, there was still plenty of time for them to make the journey over to Lad Lane and secure their seats on the coach.
