She sniffed. “That shows how little you know about the situation.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Just a few days before he died, Daniel Lounsbury tried to blackmail your father.”
“Bah! I don’t believe that.”
“I know you admired the man, but it’s true. He betrayed your father’s trust.”
“Again, I don’t believe it. Besides, what could Daniel Lounsbury have known about Father that would give him grounds for blackmail?”
“It won’t do any good to dredge up those painful details now. Let it suffice to say, Lounsbury discovered matters that could have caused a great scandal, and rather than being a gentleman and proving his loyalty to our family, he threatened to ruin us.”
Nate shook his head. It couldn’t be true, could it? Why would Daniel Lounsbury want to destroy his father’s reputation? What had he discovered?
Nate focused on Helen. “I insist you tell me the details. I have a right to know.”
Helen raised her chin. “Very well. I suppose, as the heir, you ought to know the truth.” Her mouth pinched into a painful line. “After your mother died, your father was romantically involved with a woman.”
Nate clenched his hands. He was only two years old when his mother died, and he’d spent most of his early childhood in the care of nannies and nursery maids. He remembered very little about his father’s response to her death or his actions after.
Helen watched him with an eager, almost haughty expression.
Nate shook his head. “I find that difficult to believe.”
“I know it may seem out of character for your father. But they met in 1882 when he traveled to America. She was a stage actress in New York City. Unfortunately, she became pregnant and had a child. A girl.”
Shock jolted Nate, and his thoughts flashed back to his father’s final requests. He had urged Nate to continue sending money to Natalie Fredrick, a woman in America. Was she the actress or the daughter?
“Daniel Lounsbury discovered your father’s secret and threatened to go to the newspapers unless your father paid him a huge sum.”
Nate frowned. “You’re saying he did it for the money?”
“Yes, of course. He wanted to secure his future. But before Lounsbury could carry out his threats, he drowned, and that put an end to it.”
Nate stared at her, trying to process the information. If it was true, he had a half sister in New York, the daughter of an actress. And a man he had greatly admired had planned to betray his father.
“So you can see why I don’t want them to stay. I have no idea if Daniel Lounsbury told them about all this, but I certainly don’t want to give them an opportunity to take up where their father left off and cause more problems for our family.”
Doubts stirred in Nate’s mind. He’d always held Daniel Lounsbury in high regard, and it didn’t seem likely he would blackmail his father. But why would Helen make up a story like this? He focused on his stepmother. “Even if what you say is true, I don’t believe Maggie would ever try to hurt our family.”
“That shows how little you know about the situation and about her!” Helen shot a heated glance toward the library. “That girl knows more than she’s saying. I can feel it. And I’m sure when the time is right, she’ll try to use it against us. She’s just as devious and threatening as her—”
“That’s enough!” He clamped his mouth closed to gain control of his temper before he continued. “I promised Father I would take care of you and Clara, and I intend to keep that promise. But I will not allow you to poison my opinion of my friends. You must release your controlling grip on matters here at Morningside and be respectful toward my guests.”
Helen lifted her chin. “And if I don’t choose to obey you?”
He held his gaze steady. “Then you may find yourself occupying that cottage on the north drive.”
Maggie gripped the pommel and urged Juniper up the stony hillside. The wind whistled around her and blew her hair back from her face. Nate followed close behind, riding Samson. They reached the top of the hill, and she pulled back on the reins. Her heart lifted as she scanned the view spreading out below them.
Rolling hills painted in shades of green and brown flowed on for miles, with higher mountains rising in the north. Closer to them, a few ancient stone walls separated lush fields where sheep grazed. To the south she could see Heatherton, with the stone church tower rising in the center of the village and Clifton’s buildings just outside the village.
Nate reined in his horse and stopped beside her. He turned toward Maggie, his face ruddy from the ride and his hair windblown. “It’s quite the view, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s lovely.” She brushed a strand of hair from her face. The sun broke through the clouds and sent warm rays across her shoulders. The wind died down for a moment, and the scent of damp grass and yellow gorse filled the air around her. It was a beautiful spot, and he’d brought her here to see it.
Nate looked out across the valley to the high hills beyond. “I thought you’d like it.” He looked her way with a winsome smile.
She couldn’t help but return the same. The ride seemed to have transported them back in time, to the days when they’d been close friends and spent countless hours exploring the estate together. Those memories, along with the way Nate had stood up to his stepmother and insisted they stay on at the main house, drew her toward him and made her want to let down her guard.
She welcomed his brighter mood for another reason. When they left the stable, he’d seemed subdued and said very little. But as they rode across the estate, she’d asked him about his plans for Morningside. That drew him into conversation and seemed to ease his tense expression, but this was the first time he’d smiled since they’d left.
She shifted her gaze away, not wanting him to see how carefully she observed him. Lifting her hand, she shaded her eyes. “You can certainly see for miles.”
“Yes.” He pointed to the east. “That faint blue line is the North Sea.”
She squinted and scanned the horizon. “I believe you’re right.”
“Of course I am. I’m a Navy man. I’d know the sea anywhere.”
She laughed, and he smiled again, obviously pleased by her response.
“Would you like to get down and stretch your legs for a bit?”
“That sounds like a good idea.” She shifted in the saddle, hoping she could dismount without embarrassing herself.
He swung down from his horse with ease and came around on her left side. She lifted her knee over the pommel on her sidesaddle and faced him. He held out his hand, ready to assist her if needed.
She took the reins in her right hand, then placed her other hand on the pommel, turned, and started to slide down. But halfway down she jerked to a stop. With a gasp, she fell backward into Nate’s arms.
“Whoa.” He grabbed her around the waist.
“My skirt is caught!” She reached for the bunched-up fabric and tried to pull it away from the stirrup.
“Do you need my help?” Nate held her tight against his chest while she struggled with her skirt. His warm breath fanned out across her cheek.
A tremor passed through her, and she silently scolded herself for her reaction and her clumsy dismount. “No, I’m sure I can get it.” She tugged harder, her skirt came loose, and she slid to the ground.
Nate loosened his hold, but he didn’t let go all the way.
She glanced up at him. Their gazes held, and her heart pounded hard against her ribs.
One side of his mouth pulled up, and a touch of mischief lit his eyes. “I knew that outfit would be perfect for riding.”
She narrowed her eyes and sent him a scolding look. “Nate!”
He laughed and released her. “Just trying to lighten the moment.”
She pulled in a deep breath, giving herself a second to steady her wobbly legs. She hadn’t ridden for years. That must be the reason she felt unsteady. It had nothing to do with her close con
tact with Nate. Nothing at all.
He placed his hand on her shoulder. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, yes…I’m fine.” She turned toward him.
“Shall we walk?”
She glanced at Samson and Juniper. “Will the horses be all right?”
He nodded. “We won’t go far.”
“Then a walk sounds perfect.”
His smile returned. “Come on, then.”
She fell into step beside him, and they tramped across rough tufts of grass and low heather. Soon they reached a rocky outcropping with a view to the west. Nate held out his hand and helped her climb up a bit higher.
“You can see the manor house from here.” He looked down on Morningside, and his expression grew solemn, his eyes troubled.
She studied his face. “What is it, Nate?”
His expression eased. “Nothing for you to worry about.”
“Whatever it is, I’d be glad to listen.”
His solemn gaze remained fixed on Morningside for several seconds, then he looked her way. “There is something I want to say.”
She stilled. “I’m listening.”
“I know it’s a sore subject, and I won’t ask you again if you tell me your decision is final, but would you reconsider and accept the money our family owed your father?”
Maggie bit her lower lip and glanced away, uncertain what answer to give.
“I know you’re hoping the insurance settlement will come through soon and you’ll be able to rebuild your shop, but until then, the money could be a great help.”
It was true their needs were greater now that the fire had destroyed their business and home. They would have no income until the shop was rebuilt.
Grandmother’s words came back, reminding her that pride and a lack of forgiveness should have no place in her heart.
“Your father earned that money, Maggie. It would’ve been passed on to you.” Nate studied her face, his expression hopeful. “He was a fine man. I respected him a great deal.”
Her throat tightened at the mention of her father, and she had to force out her words. “He was very fond of you as well.” She hesitated but then met his gaze. “I think he would want me to accept it.”
Nate nodded, looking relieved, then he turned and gazed out into the distance again. “I’m sorry I didn’t come to the funeral.”
The old wound tore open. She clenched her jaw and looked away.
He placed his hand on her arm. “Maggie?”
She wouldn’t look at him. She couldn’t.
“You must believe me. I would’ve come if I’d heard the news in time.”
Her gaze snapped back to meet his. “What?”
“It wasn’t that I chose not to come. I didn’t hear about the accident until almost a week later.”
She squinted at him. “How could that be?”
“I was visiting my cousins in Newcastle upon Tyne. My parents never sent word.”
“You were with your cousins?” Maggie stared at him, dumbly repeating his words. “You didn’t know they’d drowned or that Violet and I nearly died with them?”
“No, of course not. I would’ve come home immediately.”
Maggie blinked, trying to weave this new information into her memories of those painful events. “I thought your parents didn’t want you to come to the funeral, and you bowed to their decision.”
“If they’d told me to stay away, I wouldn’t have listened. But as it happened, I didn’t arrive home until you’d left for Scotland.”
“Why didn’t you answer my letters? I wrote three times asking for your help.”
His face darkened. “I never received them.”
Confusion swirled through Maggie. Had someone intercepted her letters and kept them from him? Why would they do that? She searched his face, and his sincere expression bolstered her courage. “I asked you to speak to your father and try to find some way for us to stay on at Morningside. But when you didn’t come to see us or attend the funeral, I gave up hope.”
“Why didn’t you stay in Heatherton with your grandmother?”
“She was ill at the time. No one knew if she would recover. As soon as the funeral was over, your parents insisted Violet and I go to my great-aunt’s in Edinburgh.”
He scowled. “They told me you’d gone to Glasgow.”
Maggie cocked her head. “Was that a mistake, or do you think they purposely gave you the wrong address?”
“Oh, it was probably the right address, but the wrong city.” Nate shifted his gaze to the mountains. “I was determined to find you, but everyone I met in Glasgow insisted they’d never heard of you or your great-aunt.”
Maggie’s breath caught. “You went to Scotland to look for us?”
“Yes, I was furious with my parents for sending you away.” He turned to her. “As for it being a mistake or intentional, I don’t know. But I do remember they did not approve of me spending so much time with your family.”
Maggie crossed her arms, the view of the valley blurring before her eyes. Helen Harcourt had always been cool toward her. Last night’s reception and Helen’s plan to move them to an estate cottage seemed to confirm her opinion had not changed.
Maggie looked up at Nate. “I don’t understand. Your father respected mine. We lived at Morningside for almost five years. Why would they care if you spent time with us?”
He shook his head, but she could see him turning something over in his mind. Finally, he looked her way again. “I think Helen was not in favor of my growing attachment to you.”
Maggie stilled, unable to even form the question rising in her heart. “Attachment?”
He picked up a stone and tossed it off the cliff. “She warned me I might give you and your family the wrong impression.”
The wind rushed up the hillside, and her skirt fluttered around her. Without warning, huge raindrops splattered on the rocks near them.
Maggie gasped and lifted her hand over her head, but it did little to shelter her from the sudden downpour.
“Come on!” Nate grabbed her hand, scrambled down the rocks, and ran back toward the horses. He helped her mount, then swung up into his saddle. “Do you want to find somewhere to wait this out or ride for home?”
She lifted her face to the rain, letting it splash across her cheeks and eyes. Laughter bubbled up from her heart. She turned toward him with a teasing smile. “I’ll race you back to Morningside.”
His laughter rang out, and they charged off down the hill.
Maggie wrapped the blanket tighter around herself and stepped closer to her bedroom fireplace. The ride back to Morningside in the pouring rain had been exhilarating, but she’d been drenched long before they reached the manor house.
She smiled, thinking of the startled look on the old butler’s face when she and Nate walked into the entry hall, laughing and dripping puddles of water all over the tile floor.
Lilly picked up Maggie’s wet dress and undergarments from the screen in front of the fireplace and draped them over her arm. “I’ll take these down to the laundry and see what I can do.”
“Thank you, Lilly. I’m sorry to add to your workload.”
“Don’t worry about that. I just hope you don’t catch a dreadful cold.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine.” But Maggie shivered, and she could hardly keep her teeth from chattering.
Lilly’s brow creased. “Would you like me to bring up some tea?”
“Thank you. That would be wonderful.” She grinned at her friend. “I can’t very well go down for tea like this.”
Lilly’s smile broke through. “No, you can’t.” She turned and started toward the door.
“Before you go, there’s one more thing.”
Lilly turned and waited.
“This morning, when I was in Mrs. Harcourt’s sitting room, I found the journal from ninety-nine.”
Lilly’s eyes widened. “Did she write anything about the accident?”
“I don’t know. Before I could r
ead the entries, Mrs. Burnell walked in.”
Lilly gasped. “Oh no! What did you say?”
“I told her I wanted to write a letter to the insurance company and needed some stationery.” Maggie tried to squelch the guilty feeling that rose in her heart. She didn’t like deceiving the housekeeper or anyone else, but she had to find out the truth.
“Did she believe you?” Lilly asked.
“I think so, but she wasn’t happy to find me there.”
“Of course not.”
“She probably thinks I’m an ill-mannered snoop, but I doubt she suspects why I was looking through Mrs. Harcourt’s desk.”
“Mrs. Burnell has eyes and ears all over this house. I hope you’re not planning to sneak back into Mrs. Harcourt’s rooms.”
Maggie sent her friend a pleading look. “Do you think you could slip in and bring me the journal? I’m sure no one would be the wiser.”
Lilly’s eyes widened, and she shook her head. “I couldn’t. They’d sack me for sure if they found out I’d taken something from her desk.”
“It’s not really stealing. We’re just borrowing it. I’ll take a quick look, then return it as soon as I’m done. No one will know.”
“But what if I get caught?”
“Please, Lilly. It’s important.” Maggie crossed toward her friend and lowered her voice. “Today Nate told me Mr. and Mrs. Harcourt kept the news of the accident from him, then they tried to stop him from finding me in Scotland.”
“Why would they do that?”
She thought through her conversation with Nate earlier that afternoon. Did his parents consider her and her family unworthy of Nate, or were they motivated by guilt and hoping to keep Maggie as far from Morningside as possible?
She looked at Lilly. “I’m not sure, but they sent me away and they lied to Nate about where I’d gone.”
Lilly raised her eyes to the ceiling, the struggle evident on her face. “Oh, all right. I’ll look for the journal, but not until Friday, when it’s my regular day to dust and tidy up in her rooms.”
Maggie reached for Lilly’s hand. “Thank you.”
“Just pray I don’t get caught.” Lilly sent her a serious look. “I’m the only one in my family with an income right now.”
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