Page 35 of A Lady's Heart Deceived
Robert Taylor’s slimy grin dropped into his mind. That was the look of a man unafraid of repercussions. A man capable of carelessly, needlessly hurting an innocent woman wasn’t about to give up the comforts of home.
“From the state of his house and garden, Taylor doesn’t look like a chap who has too many coins to rub together. He won’t be going anywhere. Besides, I got the distinct impression that he fancies his chances of talking his way out of the whole mess. He still thinks he holds sway over Maggie.”
Robert had labelled the connection between him and Maggie as being trifling, an indulgence. The words were carefully crafted in a deliberate attempt to convince her that she was the one who was being too emotional. That she had placed more weight upon their so-called relationship than had ever existed.
If you tell someone something enough times, they will eventually begin to believe it.
But the betrothal had been real. He had seen the ring on Maggie’s finger.
Though it wasn’t there when I held her hand earlier.
Maggie had given up her mourning clothes, along with the engagement ring.
My brave girl.
She had stood up to Robert. Even after the shock of having seen him, and then the embarrassment of collapsing in the street, she had rallied.
It had been heartbreaking to see the scales finally fall from her eyes—for her to have her supposed war hero revealed as nothing more than a lying fraud.
“What do you intend to do if Taylor does front up tomorrow?” asked Jonathan.
“I’m not sure. Much as I might want to be Maggie’s knight in shining armor, this isn’t my fight. I will go with her if she wants me to, but I am not going to press my opinions on her.”
Jonathan nodded. “Good. That’s exactly what I was hoping you would say. Protect but not dictate. In my opinion, it is the best thing you can do for her. Elizabeth and I have only known her for a day or so, but I think it is obvious that Maggie is an intelligent lady. She is not going to let Taylor get the better of her a second time.”
“No.”
And if Robert Taylor tried to sweet talk his way out of things, Piers would be ready to set him straight.
He hated seeing Maggie in pain, but he could also privately admit to having an awkward sense of relief over her reaction to Robert. Whatever love she may have still held for him had hopefully died on the streets of Coventry this afternoon.
Thank goodness it had.
But the relief he felt made him no better a man than Robert.
What sort of cad takes pleasure in seeing a woman suffer heart break?
There was no avoiding the obvious answer. He wanted Robert Taylor gone from Maggie’s affections, Every ounce of warmth she had once felt for him obliterated from her heart.
Because only when she had purged Robert from her soul could Piers stand any chance of claiming Maggie’s love for himself. It was wrong to want her, but his heart was beating its own fierce demand.
“I think I might go for a short walk up the hill, just to burn off some of my anger. Then, when I return, I will check in on Maggie and see how she is doing.”
Jonathan met his gaze. The look on his brother’s face was one of deep concern. “Just be careful, will you? Maggie has already had to deal with one man who hurt her deeply; don’t let yourself become another.”
“You mean, I shouldn’t allow myself to fall for Maggie when I may not be in a position to offer her marriage? Thank you, brother. I respect your words of caution.”
Piers left the house a short time later, his temper still not fully under control. Robert Taylor stood in the way of Maggie finding a bright future. While, he had the whole of the British Army to contend with when it came to his own.
Chapter Twenty-Two
It was late when Piers finally made his way to Maggie’s room. His conflicted mind had seen him take a long walk up the hill to the church, then down to the army barracks, around the block back up Warwick Lane, and then, finally, home. He had passed close by the Taylor house but had managed to resist the temptation to go and confront the man who had caused Maggie such grief and pain.
He was saving his rage for the morning, readying himself to go to war on her behalf.
After tapping lightly on the door of her bedroom, he listened. A faint “Come in,” came from within. Pushing the door open, he was greeted with a heartbreaking sight.
Maggie was seated on the bed with her knees drawn up. Her head rested on her folded arms. She greeted him with a sad smile.
