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After they had each sipped the steaming brew, Hadley set down his cup with an apologetic look. ‘I’m afraid I must confess to not being completely truthful about my reasons for inviting you here.’
Her great-aunt’s warning returned in a rush, dousing her heated euphoria with the ice water of wariness. ‘Not truthful? In what way?’
‘Much as I am enjoying our excursion to Gunter’s, we could have taken tea in the committee room. Except there is a matter I feel I must discuss with you that demanded a greater degree of privacy than would have been afforded in a Parliamentary chamber.’
Foreboding souring her gut, she said, ‘Then by all means, let us discuss it.’
‘I spoke with my brother not long ago. As you know, we…are not close, and he generally does not seek me out unless he wishes to dispute with me about something. The matter he wished to dispute about this time…was you.’
So she was to be a bone of contention? Not if she could help it! But perhaps she should hear him out before rushing to conclusions. ‘What was the nature of that dispute?’
Hadley shrugged. ‘You’ve read the journal reports—and so has George. Apparently my half-brother thinks you favour him—or he believes your father approves of him, and would favour his suit. He warned me to stay away from you.’
Some of the anger, hurt and despair of the episode with Sir Francis rose up, nearly choking her. ‘And so you sought my company to spite him?’ she spit out at last. ‘Do you think to beguile me, and then boast to him about it?’
He straightened, frowning. ‘Not at all! How could you imagine such a thing? Besides, if I were trying to charm you and boast of my conquest, would I have told you about our disagreement?’
‘Do you think you could charm me?’
His irritated expression smoothed, a roguish smile replaced it, and he smiled at her, that smile that made her knees weak. ‘Do you think I could?’
‘If you did, and we were compromised, we might be forced to wed. Then you’d be stuck with me for life—a fate which ought to give you pause,’ she said tartly, mollified.
His smile faded. ‘I would never do you the harm of marrying you.’
Before she could figure out that odd comment, he continued, his expression serious, ‘But that’s not what I meant to talk about. Did you speak with my half-brother about our meeting in Chellingham?’
It was her turn to be puzzled. ‘No, I’ve not seen him since I returned to London. Why do you ask?’
‘As far as you know, George is not a friend of your cousin Mr Armsburn?’
‘They are acquainted, certainly, but not close.’
‘The only place we’ve met, before today, was Chellingham. My brother specifically mentioned how detrimental to your reputation it would be if others discovered you’d been alone with me at the inn there. If you did not relate our encounter to George, and your cousin or his aide, Mr Proctor, didn’t inform him, how could he have known about it?’
Maggie paused a moment, thinking. She’d spoken with Aunt Lilly, but that lady would never divulge, even to her friends, confidential information about her niece, particularly if it involved a gentleman and would therefore make her the subject of gossip and conjecture. She was quite certain she’d not mentioned their meeting to anyone else.
‘I don’t know,’ she confessed.
‘Then it seems my suspicions were justified. Outlandish as it sounds, in order for my half-brother to have known that you’d accompanied me to that inn in Chellingham, he must have been keeping you under surveillance.’
She shook her head a little, not sure she could have heard him correctly. ‘Are you trying to tell me that your brother has someone…spying on me?’
‘You weren’t aware of it?’
‘Absolutely not!’
He nodded, looking grim again. ‘Your father wouldn’t have asked him to do such a thing, would he?’
‘Why would he? I had my cousin and Proctor to watch over me. If Papa had thought I needed additional protection, he would have chosen someone I know better than your brother to provide it. And I am sure he would not have done so without informing me and explaining the need for it. No, I don’t think Papa authorised this. Shall I ask him?’
‘Perhaps you should. I wouldn’t want to accuse my half-brother unjustly.’
The enormity of what he’d just told her registered. ‘Why in the world would your half-brother want to have me watched?’
‘He told me he intends to ask for your hand. Perhaps, with the turmoil over the Reform Bill and rumours flying of possible electoral violence, he wanted to make sure the woman he wants to marry didn’t come to any harm.’
‘Or he wished to make sure the woman he plans to marry did not behave in a manner of which he doesn’t approve!’ she retorted, more and more indignant as the implications registered. ‘The effrontery! How dare he have someone tail me as if I were a…a petty thief he was trying to prove guilty of larceny!’
Giles’s lips twitched. ‘I didn’t think you’d find the idea very appealing. May I assume from this that you are now even less likely to consider an offer from my half-brother?’
‘If he has indeed so grievously imposed on my privacy, you may assume the chances of my accepting an offer from him to be non-existent!’
He smiled at that. ‘Then I am almost glad of his arrogance. But…there is one thing more I feel I must say, before we drop the unpleasant matter of my brother.’ He paused, his smile fading. ‘I do hope you won’t feel I’m telling you this just because the two of us do not get along.’
‘I think I can count on your honesty.’ She hesitated, unsure how much she could or should say, given how brief their acquaintance was. ‘Even though I understand that you have not been…kindly treated, either by your father or your half-brother.’
He grimaced. ‘We are estranged, that is certain.’
She respected his reticence, and admired his restraint in not pouring out the complaints her comment invited—complaints, according to what Aunt Lilly had told her, he would be well justified in making. ‘So, what else did you wish to tell me?’
‘Would your father compel you to wed a man of his choice, even if you had no particular desire to do so?’
‘I cannot imagine he would. Besides, should he try to, I am of age, and have property and assets of my own over which he has no control. There would be no way he could force me to marry against my wishes.’
Giles nodded. ‘So I thought. However, George has been…much indulged by his father.’ Maggie noted he did not say ‘our’ father. ‘He is quite used to getting whatever he wants. And it seems he wants to marry you. He believes your father would favour his suit, and that you would follow your father’s guidance in the matter of the choice of a husband.’
She gave a short laugh. ‘No wonder he seems so little interested in charming me, and so much more interested in beguiling Papa.’
‘George can be quite…unpleasant, when he is prevented from obtaining what he desires. If he does in fact make you an offer, and you refuse him, just…be careful.’
She’d been about to take another sip of her tea, but at that, she looked up to stare at him. ‘You don’t mean he would try to…force me! Or harm me, for refusing him!’
‘No, no, probably not that. He would be more likely to start some malicious gossip in an attempt to blacken your name. So if you do refuse him, you might wish to be on your best behaviour.’ He winked at her. ‘No trysts at secluded inns in small market towns.’
She laughed. ‘I will keep that in mind, Mr Hadley.’
‘Very well. Now, much as I hate to bring this tryst at a very public place in the huge metropolis to an end, I fear I am due at a meeting in half an hour. Can I escort you home first?’
‘No, I have some errands to complete.’ Even more reluctant than he to have their time together come to an end, she added on impulse, ‘Father is hosting a dinner tomorrow night for some friends, not a policy meeting, but a wide-ranging discussion of political ideas. The guests will be quite varied in background and opinion. Would you like to attend?’
‘Are you sure your father would want me?’
‘Papa enjoys a free exchange of opinions. I know he would be interested in hearing more of yours. And let me assure you in advance, your half-brother will not be invited.’
‘Will you be acting as hostess?’
‘For the dinner. I shall probably leave the gentlemen to their discussions afterward.’
‘Then I should be delighted…’ He paused, frowning. ‘I should be delighted, but I was not exaggerating George’s malevolence. I didn’t note anyone tailing us to Gunter’s, so he may not discover that you accompanied me here, but my presence at your father’s dinner will surely excite enough comment to reach his ears. Probably, the knowledge will merely increase his enmity towards me, which is a matter of no import—the fact that I breathe daily increases his enmity. He might, however, seek you out for an explanation. I would not have you harassed.’
His concern that she not be drawn into a squabble between brothers dissipated the last of the caution generated by Aunt Lilly’s warning. ‘I refuse to allow your half-brother to dictate whom I may or may not invite to my home. If he tries to take me to task for it, I assure you, I am quite capable of putting him in his place.’
‘That I would like to see!’ Hadley declared, then paused, still looking troubled. ‘You are sure? The last thing I want is to introduce any unpleasantness into your life.’ His frown dissipating, he gave her an intimate smile, his voice lowering to a seductive murmur. ‘I would rather introduce you to pleasure.’
She looked up at him, her gaze caught and held by the power of his. Feeling a little breathless, she had to force herself to look away.
That comment made his amorous intent plain enough, she thought, thrown back into uncertainty by the realisation. She could put any potential affair to a stop right now…if she wanted. But did she want to?
Just because she was certain he would be amenable to dalliance, didn’t mean she had to make a decision about it right now. Besides, there could be pleasure in less: conversing, flirting—even a simple kiss.
‘My father and I would be honoured if you would come to dinner tomorrow night,’ she found herself replying.
His smile broadened and his eyes lit, as if she’d just given him a treasured gift. ‘Then I will certainly be there.’
‘Until tomorrow night,’ she said, a little giddy. What was she getting herself into?
He escorted her out and summoned a hackney. ‘You are sure you’ll be all right? You don’t even have a maid or a footman to carry parcels.’
‘I never bring my maid if I’m visiting Parliament—she’d be bored to death, poor thing, and it would unnecessarily delay her work. Since I’m ordering supplies for dinner, they will be delivered later anyway, so no need of a footman to carry parcels.’
‘What, no gowns or slippers or feminine fripperies?’
She laughed. ‘At the risk of having you find me totally unwomanly, I confess I don’t spend much time on gowns and slippers and fripperies.’
‘I could never find you anything but delightful.’
At that, she looked back up at him, into eyes that once again seemed to see deep within her. Enchanted, mesmerised, she didn’t want to look away. Every nerve quivering with awareness, had they not been standing on a public street, she might have gone into Hadley’s arms.
A pedlar with his handcart pushed past them, breaking the spell, and Maggie stepped away. ‘You’d better summon a hackney yourself, else you’ll be late to your meeting.’
‘Thank you again for accompanying me for tea.’
‘And to you, for tea…and your warning.’
He turned as if to go, then paused, looking back at her over his shoulder. ‘Do you really think I could beguile you?’
‘All too easily,’ she answered, before realising it would have been more prudent to turn that question aside.
He reached over to take her hand. Little eddies of delight swirled through her as he raised it and brushed his mouth against the thin kidskin sheathing her fingers. ‘Then I’m very encouraged. Send me the invitation. I’ll definitely come…exchange views with your father.’
With a bow, he handed her up into the carriage, waved his cane in farewell, and walked away.
Hand tingling, even more enchanted than she’d been after their interlude in Chellingham, Maggie watched him until the departing carriage set off, robbing her of the sight.
Chapter Five (#ulink_16bf83ce-de7c-52c4-b01d-d28c21d414d4)
That evening, Maggie waited up for her father, who had attended a dinner with some of his political cronies at Brooks’s. Although she was certain the marquess would not object to including Giles Hadley in their gathering—the purpose of the entertainment being, as she’d told that gentleman, to explore a wide range of ideas—she also knew he would be surprised by her invitation, and curious.
Best to meet that curiosity head-on. Unfortunately, she wasn’t sure she could do a very good job of explaining it to her father when she didn’t fully understand it herself. She just knew she wanted to see more of Giles Hadley, and since he didn’t attend society functions and was unlikely to turn up at Tory gatherings, luring him to her father’s home was probably the only way she was going to manage it.
She really didn’t want to tell her father that.
But since the invitation had been tendered, the gentleman had accepted, and she had no intention of revoking it—the need to see him again being greater than her reluctance to discuss the reasons for it with her sire—she’d have to tell Papa—something.
She was dozing over her book in the library when at last she heard her father’s distinctive step in the hallway.
‘Papa, could I have a word with you?’ she called out as he passed the library door.
At the sound of her voice, he stopped short and peered into the room. ‘Is that you, Puss? What are you doing still up?’
‘There’s something I wanted to inform you about. Nothing of importance, but I know you will be tied up in committee meetings all morning, and was afraid I might miss you. It will only take a moment.’
Her father came over to place a kiss on her forehead. ‘I always have time for you, sweeting. Shall I pour you some wine?’
‘No, this really won’t take very long.’
‘I think I will rest these old bones while we talk,’ he said with a smile as he seated himself. ‘So, what’s amiss?’
‘Nothing! It’s just that I invited someone else to join us for dinner tomorrow night, and wanted to let you know beforehand.’
‘I thought we’d included everyone we thought could contribute to the conversation. Who did we forget?’
‘Well, it’s not someone we normally include, but he does have quite interesting views. You’ve even told me you admire him, though you disagree on almost every particular. It’s Mr Hadley—Mr Giles Hadley.’
He looked perplexed for a moment before the name registered. ‘Viscount Lyndlington, you mean! Unusual that he insists on spurning the title, but I suppose, given the situation between him and Telbridge, understandable. Of course he’s welcome, Puss—but how did you come to invite him? I wasn’t aware that you were acquainted.’
‘Oh, yes! I met him in Chellingham—you remember, I was canvassing for Michael, and he was there to rally support for Mr Reynolds. We spoke briefly, and I found him quite interesting. Then today, we spoke again when he came up to the Ladies’ Gallery after he’d given a speech at the Commons.’
‘An eloquent plea for passage of the Reform Bill, I understand.’
‘Yes, he’s quite an excellent speaker. If it is inevitable that the bill will pass the Commons, and he is certain it will, then it might be useful to have a thorough discussion before it comes before you in the Lords.’
‘You must have found him persuasive.’
‘I did. Not that I agree with all his views, of course. It’s true, though, that there was quite a lot of reform talk even in Chellingham, and that borough is as conservative as conservative comes.’
‘I will look forward to debating his views.’
‘Very good, Papa. That’s all, so I’ll bid you goodnight.’
When she came over to give him a kiss, he caught her hand, staying her. ‘Had I forgotten you telling me you’d met Mr Hadley in Chellingham?’
Maggie felt her face redden, and hoped in the dim candlelight, it wouldn’t be apparent. ‘I don’t believe I mentioned it, specifically. Since at the time, I wasn’t sure whether or not I would ever see him again, I didn’t think it important.’
‘Nor can I remember you visiting the Ladies’ Gallery any time recently to hear the speeches.’
‘I’d been remiss in not visiting sooner.’
