Was George correct in his assessment?
Maggie was still a somewhat stunned as she walked back to her aunt’s house. Had that just happened? She had met a duke for the first time in her life, and he had slighted and disregarded her. Maggie couldn’t believe how rude the man had been. Never mind that he was a very handsome man, even more so than his sailor cousin, his manners were atrocious.
Maggie felt sorry for George and hoped he wouldn’t feel severely downtrodden. It wasn’t fair to him, simply because he had been talking to a lady. Maybe it was because she was without a chaperone or because he had a reputation, but Maggie wished the duke hadn’t been so obnoxious.
Sarah was in her study when Maggie came back. She went out as Maggie was handing her coat to Landry.
“Hello, dear. Did you get what you wanted?”
“Yes.” Maggie held up the bag of buns, which she also held out to Landry. “Would you have the cook prepare these, please, Landry?”
“Of course, Miss Maggie.”
Landry put Maggie’s coat away and walked away. Maggie followed Sarah into the morning room.
“I bumped into Lieutenant Patterson along the way.”
“Young George?” Sarah beamed as she sat, smoothing out her skirt. “He’s a lovely boy. I’m glad you liked him.”
They had spoken at length on the way home, and Maggie had mentioned that she enjoyed George’s company immensely. Sarah was pleased and happy to let her entertain this friendship, although she did warn Maggie about taking too much advantage of it. People could misinterpret the relationship and form the wrong conclusion. Maggie was sure George felt the same way however and assured Sarah that nothing romantic would come out of it.
She sat beside her aunt, looking at her hands in her lap. How was she going to explain this? Sarah had never married so she probably wouldn’t understand how Maggie felt. Should she confide in her?
“We were having a nice talk outside the bakery before his cousin came charging over. Honestly, he was like a bull. He grabbed George, told him they were leaving and left. It was as if George wasn’t a grown adult at all.”
“His cousin?” Sarah blinked in surprise. “Do you mean the Duke of Gloucestershire?”
“Erasmus Poltyne, yes.” Maggie stared at her. “I didn’t know you knew of him?”
“I knew him when he was a little boy. I was friends with his parents. Lovely people, taken from us too quickly.” Sarah made the sign of the cross. “I haven’t seen him in years. He must be nearing thirty now.”
Maggie nearly blurted out how inconsiderate he acted, but she stopped herself. It would make it sound like she actually cared. And she didn’t.
Did she?
“How is the young duke?” Sarah carried on as if she hadn’t seen Maggie’s hesitation. “He must be a handsome man now; even more so than when he was a child.”
Maggie didn’t know about that. But she wasn’t about to admit that Erasmus Poltyne was handsome and then some in her opinion. Her heart was still trying to get back to its regular rhythm.
“I couldn’t tell beyond the grumpiness.” She said. “He was quite rude.”
“Really?” Sarah frowned. “That doesn’t sound like Erasmus at all. He was such a pleasant child.”
“You did say this was a while ago, Auntie Sarah.” Maggie pointed out. “People do change.”
“I suppose.” Sarah sighed. Then she brightened up and retrieved a letter from one of the many pockets she had sewn into her dress. “Speaking of people, this came for you while you were out.”
She handed the letter over, and Maggie opened it. She laughed when she saw the person who had written it.
“It’s from George.”
“He must’ve sent it before he left the house this morning.”
“He’s asking me to join him and a few friends who are going walking in the countryside around his cousin’s estate.”
Maggie felt the anticipation building again. Poltyne’s estate. In the country. Could she get that close to a man she didn’t care for but who made her body tingle all over? Was that even possible?
She wasn’t sure if she wanted to find out.
Chapter 5
Not So Cold
Maggie knew it was a mistake to come here. She was glad to see George again, and his friends, who were boisterous but fun, and she liked their company. But there was one big problem and it was putting a dampener on the plans.
Erasmus Poltyne was also with them.
Why he was there, Maggie had no idea, but he was infuriating. He never said anything, merely stood a little way back from the group and observed. Maggie was sure he was looking at her intentionally, but she didn’t give him the satisfaction of turning round.
She couldn’t understand why she was feeling like this. Maggie had men look at her before, but there was something about Poltyne’s gaze that had her shivering. It was a new sensation, and Maggie had no idea how to cope with it. It was breathtaking.
Maggie told herself that she wasn’t here to flirt with a man who was so very much out of her league. She was here to spend time with her new friends and explore the countryside. It was an excursion she would love on any other ordinary day.
However, an ordinary day didn’t bring Poltyne with it.
During their walk around the edge of Poltyne’s country estate, Maggie found herself near the back of the group. Maggie had thought herself someone who kept herself in shape, but these people were something else. Most of them were sailors and probably kept up their health and fitness regularly climbing the rigging and hauling up the sails. Those who weren’t sailors were their wives or fiancées and were used to keeping up with them.
Maggie began to struggle and eventually found herself back of them and falling into step beside Poltyne. This wasn’t where she wanted to be. He might have been the best-looking man in the group but his presence, especially this close, had Maggie wishing she was elsewhere.
If it had been George and she had this reaction Maggie wouldn’t have cared and even welcomed it. But it was the Duke of Gloucestershire, who had been nothing but rude to her and Maggie didn’t like the way she kept getting drawn to him.
Nevertheless, she decided that she would attempt a conversation with the duke. There was no harm in being civil, and at least she could say she had made an effort.
“You don’t seem too happy to be here.” She commented.
Poltyne grunted.
“That’s an understatement.” He muttered.
“Really?” Maggie frowned. “Then why are you here if you don’t want to be?”
“I’m keeping an eye on my cousin.”
Maggie sighed. George had told her about his cousin’s behavior, and that he was attempting to keep George out of trouble. Maggie thought it was silly.
“He’s an adult now, Your Grace. And he’s a man. He doesn’t need a chaperone.”
“Maybe not.” Poltyne scowled as he looked ahead at the rest of the group, who was starting to move away from them. “But he does still get himself into trouble.”
“I can imagine,” Maggie muttered. Aloud, she said: “But surely he needs to find out for himself that he’s getting into trouble.”
“No.”
That finality of the no had Maggie staring at him.
“Why not?”
For a moment the duke looked as though he wasn’t going to answer her. When he did speak, Maggie thought he had forgotten the question.
“Because George’s family made that mistake and notice where it got them.” He took a deep breath. “George is not going the same way.”
“What mistake? Got them where?”
Poltyne glanced at her before looking away.
“You wouldn’t understand.”
Maggie knew when she was being dismissed. That hurt. Fine. She didn’t have to be treated like the hired help; she knew when she wasn’t wanted.
The group had disappeared, and Maggie wasn’t sure where they had gone. But she didn’t want to be around Eras
mus Poltyne any longer and hurried away, clutching at her skirts to keep them away from her feet as she moved into a brisk jog.
Erasmus knew he was silly. He shouldn’t have been so brusque with Maggie; it wasn’t her fault, and she was only inquisitive. But Erasmus was in a sour mood, and he was still struggling with his reaction to Maggie whenever she was nearby, so things were all in a mess inside him.
She even looked even more lovely today, if that were possible. Erasmus had done his best not to stare. Even when she was walking close to him, he had to refrain from looking at her too much. Erasmus liked this closeness; with everything going on around him her presence seemed to have a calming effect on him.
What that meant Erasmus didn’t know. He didn’t know how to interpret it.
Then he saw where Maggie was going. Unlike her, he had been keeping an eye on where his cousin and his friends were going. George had also told him of the route they were going on since they were going to walk over Erasmus’ estate. There were a few treacherous places and Erasmus wanted to ensure that no one was going to wander off alone and get hurt.
He had seen them go off to the right. But Maggie was now going off to the left, further into the trees. Erasmus stiffened. If she kept going that way, she was going to end up at the gorge. The gorge was a part of Erasmus’ estate that even he avoided. It wasn’t a deep drop, close to fifteen, maybe twenty feet, but it was sheer and came up suddenly after going over a deceptive rise. Anyone who didn’t know the estate wouldn’t see if until it was too late. The ground below was dirt, some bushes, and several fallen trees.
If Maggie fell off the gorge, she would either break several bones or kill herself.
Fear clutching at his chest, Erasmus hurried after her.
“Miss Colster! Stop! They didn’t go that way. Miss Colster!”
But Maggie either didn’t hear him or ignored him. She kept hurrying on ahead, lightly jumping over fallen tree trunks and ducking under low branches. She was lithe and athletic, which Erasmus had to admire even if she was too stubborn to realize that she was going the wrong way.
George knew about the gorge and wouldn’t have led his party this way. Maggie may not want to be around him right now, but she was going to get badly hurt. Erasmus wasn’t about to let that happen. He had to get to her.
He finally caught up with her as she reached the top of the rise.
“Maggie!”
Erasmus didn’t know if it was the way he said her name or the fact he called her Maggie instead of Miss Colster, but Maggie turned. As she turned to face him, her foot slipped off the side of the gorge, and she began to wobble, her arms waving about as she started to lose her balance. She screamed.
Erasmus ran up the slope and grabbed her before she toppled over backward, pulling her away from the edge. Maggie fell into him, and they ended up on the ground, with Maggie lying on top of him. They lay there for a moment, both breathing heavily. Erasmus could feel Maggie shaking in his arms. Or was that him shaking? He didn’t know.
Easing themselves up, Erasmus shuffled to a nearby tree and leaned back against the trunk. This felt a less awkward angle than the one on the ground with Maggie draped over him. Maggie was curled against his side, clutching onto his jacket. She looked up at him, and Erasmus realized that her face had gone white, the shock still shimmering in her eyes.
“It’s all right.” He held her tighter. “Just take some deep breaths. I’ve got you.”
Maggie bit her lip, but she nodded and did as she was told. Eventually, the shaking subsided and her heart, which he could feel hammering fast against his side, began to slow back to a steady pace. Knowing that she was calming down caused Erasmus to relax.
“What just…?” Maggie croaked. She swallowed and started again. “What just happened?”
“There’s a sharp dip at the edge of the path,” Erasmus said gruffly. “It’s not safe as you don’t see it until you’re right on top of it. You could’ve hurt yourself badly.” He grunted. “I was trying to tell you they didn’t come this way. This part of my estate isn’t safe, so to speak, and George knows that.”
“I’m sorry.”
Maggie’s voice was small. Erasmus sighed and rubbed her arm.
“No need to apologize. I’m happy we diverted you from an extremely hazardous situation. But next time just swallow your pride and listen to me, please? I may not be the most outspoken of people, but I do know what I’m talking about when I say something.”
“I’ll remember that.” Maggie murmured. She swallowed. “I feel dizzy.”
Erasmus wasn’t surprised.
“Take your time. Then we’ll go and find the others.”
He was happy to sit there holding her until she was feeling better. Erasmus knew he was smitten the moment he had that thought.
Chapter 6
Changing Her
Perspective
Maggie was still considerably shaken as she headed back to the house. The duke stayed close to her, helping when her legs felt like they were going to give way. Maggie appreciated the assistance but at the same time wanted to ignore everything and run away.
Those few moments where the duke had held her were extraordinary; she felt more tranquil than she had in a long time. With her father’s death, she hadn’t had much time to have a quiet moment and forget everything. Even now Sarah kept her busy and Maggie hadn’t had any alone time to herself.
There she had been in the duke’s arms, his breathing steady and soothing as she got herself into a state she deemed suitable. That was frightening. Never had a man been able to calm her like this. Maggie didn’t know what to make of it. Duke Erasmus Poltyne was rude, brusque and intolerable but in those few moments, he had been considerate, caring and gentle. It was like he had become an entirely different person.
Of course, that disappeared a while later when they were walking back, and the duke began to withdraw a little until they weren’t walking together. Maggie was upset at that but understood that the expression of emotion was an unfamiliar concept to the duke.
She only wished she knew why it was so.
George and the rest of his party had arrived back at the house. They were surprised at Maggie’s state and shocked to learn she had come frighteningly close to hurting herself at the gorge. George had taken one look at Maggie’s face and asked if she wanted to go home. Maggie had immediately said yes. But as she had said it she was sure the duke’s expression had changed a little. Not much but enough for her to sense he wasn’t happy with her leaving.
Why would he care?
George had a carriage fetched and walked Maggie out when it arrived. Maggie gave him an apologetic smile.
“Thank you so much for being understanding, George. I’m so sorry I have to go now but…after what happened, I’m still a little shaken.”
She was more shaken by her encounter with the duke than the fall, but she wasn’t about to admit that out loud. George smiled and chucked her chin.
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. I’m just glad Erasmus had caught you in time. I fell down there myself as a child and broke both my legs.”
“Oh my goodness, that could have happened to me.”
George chuckled. Maggie was glad she had a friend in him. He understood her more than her brothers ever did, and that made her feel better.
The only other person who could possibly do that was Erasmus Poltyne himself and that thought was unnerving. She wasn’t supposed to like the man, so why was she thinking more about him?
“Why are you so fond of your cousin, George?” Maggie knew she was prying, but she had to ask. “He doesn’t seem to be the easiest person to be close to.”
“I know what you mean.” George glanced towards the house. There was nobody there, and the footman was nowhere near them, but he still lowered his voice. “My father made some bad choices. My mother died, and he married a woman who was completely unsuitable for him. Needless to say, the rest of the family cut us out of their lives. Erasmus was the only one who
bothered to keep in touch with me. He’s always looked out for me, even as children.” He let out a heavy breath. “I was going through a few rough times, especially with my stepmother squandering away our money. I got into a lot of trouble; I was fortunate not to end up in prison. Erasmus wrote a letter of recommendation, sent it to me with instructions to go to the nearest port. So I joined the navy at eighteen, and it was the best thing I’ve ever done.”
Maggie couldn’t help but stare. She hadn’t realized how much George was in his cousin’s debt. The duke was the only person who stood in his corner when everyone else turned away. He had looked out for his younger cousin and enabled him to pursue a distinguished career.
Underneath his gruff exterior, Erasmus Poltyne was indeed a good man. Maggie was beginning to see that.
“He had your best interests in mind.”
“He did.” George ran his hand through his hair. “He has his moments, but he is a good man. And I do owe him for that.”
Maggie glanced towards the house. She couldn’t see him, but from the shiver down her back, she knew the duke was watching her somewhere.
“Tell him I said thank you for today. I neglected to say it to him earlier.”
“I will do.” Smiling, George kissed her hand. “Safe journey, Maggie.”
Maggie couldn’t think of a time when she had been caught in such a whirlwind. She had gone to balls before but this one seemed to be a faster pace than she was accustomed to. For a while, it was quite enjoyable, but now it was exhausting.
Maggie couldn’t believe she was getting worn out trying to keep up. And she was one of the youngest in the room.
Everyone had been gracious on meeting her, even the old biddies who stood in corners whispering to each other, muttering that stopped when you walked past them. The men fawned over her, and many wanted to dance. Maggie was glad there were cards to put names on, or she would be struggling with each dance.
Regency Romances Page 61