Spring Blossom
Page 27
Marie-Louise frowned and stared blankly. “Don’t you know?” she asked. “Mr. Maguire asked us to stay on here for a time.”
Maggie straightened in her chair, obviously surprised but pleasantly so. “That’s wonderful,” she cried.
“Maggie,” Marie-Louise ventured softly. “If you don’t want us here, you just have to say.”
“Don’t be a goose. I’m thrilled that you’re here. Hunter is always full of surprises.”
Obviously that wasn’t a problem. “You’re happy with him then?”
“Yes, I’m very happy.”
“I had my doubts there for a little while.”
“I was a foolish, frightened girl then, Marie-Louise.” Maggie flashed another quick smile. “But he’s made a new woman of me.”
The other woman eyed her belly and grinned. “Obviously.”
Maggie was still blushing when the men entered the kitchen.
Jeffrey took one look at the women and marched over to his wife. “What have been saying now?” he teased.
Marie-Louise grinned up at him. “Honestly, Jeffrey,” she murmured, “sometimes I think that Maggie is permanently pink.”
And then Hunter was standing beside her, waiting patiently. “Hey, where is my hello?” he asked as he reached for her hand. “Jeffrey tells me you’re well.”
She flashed him one of her most beautiful smiles. “As big as a house and twice as healthy.”
He bent and kissed her cheek. “I’m grateful you could make the trip and happy you are both here.”
“Well, you said we could help, and we’re here and ready,” she said, looking expectantly from Maggie to Hunter and back to Maggie.
Maggie looked confused and then exasperated.
Hunter looked chagrined and then concerned.
And Marie-Louise frowned as she realized there had been a lack of communication between her friends.
*
“I have a plan that I want to discuss with you,” Hunter said, taking Maggie’s hands and resting them across her midsection. She was sitting with her shoulder against his chest, her legs stretched out on the sofa in Alastair’s study.
“You’ve had this plan for a long time, it seems.” She was miffed and didn’t bother to hide the fact. “And you didn’t choose to discuss it with me.”
Hunter sighed and lightly stroked the back of her wrist. “The plan can be set aside if you’re not in agreement, little one. I just wanted to firm all the details in my mind before we started tearing it apart.”
“But you’ve already sent for help.”
“Aren’t you happy that they’re here?”
“I am,” she returned, still frowning, “but I think I should be miffed with you.”
“All right,” he sighed. “You can be miffed, but in all fairness, they’re a week early. I had fully intended to tell you they were coming. And even if you don’t like my plan, isn’t it nice to have our friends here?”
“I hate it when you’re rational and I’m not,” she muttered.
He laughed. “I know.”
There was a long, strained moment between them, and then Maggie tipped her head back, smiling. “I’m happy you’ve brought them here,” she confessed. “I’ve missed Marie-Louise.”
Hunter smiled tenderly and dropped a brief, sweet kiss on her lips.
“But this scheme had better be good,” she teased, “or I’ll vote it down.”
“The ultimate decision is yours,” he said, laughing at her attempt to be severe. “I want to have a…show, of sorts, as soon as the weather turns warmer. Possibly by the end of April or early May.”
She was frowning, trying to comprehend. “A show?’ What sort of show?”
“A showing of Passion’s Pride. To introduce a stud service that will provide for the care of the mares as well.”
Maggie was silent for a time, giving him her complete attention.
“The stallion will be like black gold for us,” Hunter added. “What do you think?”
She was still not certain what to think. “Could you explain this to me in more detail, please?”
Hunter pulled her up on his lap and turned her to face him. “People will bring their prize mares here to Treemont to be put with Pride. The owners will pay a fee, a flat rate, for the servicing of the mares until they are caught. They will also pay a monthly fee for us to care of the mares, as long as they wish to leave them here…until after the birthing, if they wish.”
Her eyes grew large as he continued with the explanation and the merit of the plan settled in her mind. “Of course,” she whispered with growing excitement. “Not every owner of fine animals can boast a stallion like Pride.”
“That’s right.”
“But Pride is yours, Hunter.”
“Pride is ours, my love. It’s my hope that he will help us save Treemont.”
Maggie’s eyes grew suspiciously moist as she stared at him in awe. “Do you think it will work?”
“I do.” He was counting on it working. And he was so convinced that Pride would be a huge draw to other stables, he had gone ahead and started building the new facility to house the pregnant mares.
“How will we get people to come?” Maggie asked abruptly, breaking into his thoughts.
“We’re going to offer a Sunday afternoon outing,” he told her. “We’ll advertise in town and in newspapers. People will come to see the stallion and over-look the property and facilities. Everything about Treemont must be spit and polished. We want the owners of prospective mares to trust the cleanliness and the care we can give their animals. The second stable must be completed and the old one well cleaned and whitewashed. Your task, with the help of Florence and Jennifer…and Marie-Louise, if she’s not too burdened by then…will be to entertain the ladies with tea and cakes or whatever. Jeffrey and I will show the men around the place and convince them of Pride’s merits and our capabilities to look after their prize animals, based on our vast experience.” He winked at her and teased lightly, “so you can see the importance of entertaining the ladies away from those sorts of conversations; we don’t want to offend their tender sensibilities.”
“And you don’t think I have any ‘tender sensibilities’?” she asked with well-feigned offense.
“Not the woman I know who once hid in the loft,” he returned and she laughed. “If you’re in agreement, I’ll proceed to have legal contracts drawn up,” he added. “We don’t want any disputes over the terms of our services. And once they sign and deliver the mares, we’re in business.” He shrugged and frowned. “I suppose Jeffrey and I had better sharpen our salesmanship skills between now and then.”
“Jeffrey, perhaps,” Maggie murmured fondly. “But I believe you, beloved husband, could persuade a peacock to shuck his colors.”
*
Despite her cumbersome state, Marie-Louise still knew her way around a kitchen. She and Maggie soon fell into a comfortable routine of shared duties and of knowing each other’s moves in advance.”
“It’s as if we’d never stopped working together,” Maggie said happily.
The other woman smiled from her place at the stove. “Yup. Except one of us is bigger and the other one’s getting that way.”
Maggie laughed as she set out serving bowls. “But you really don’t mind,” she returned, convinced.
“The only thing I mind is that Jeffrey has to sleep arms-length from me.”
Maggie hadn’t thought of that.
“Don’t frown so. You’ve got a ways to go yet.” So saying, she burst out with laughter.
“What’s so funny?” Maggie prodded.
“I never thought I’d see the day you’d mourn his not being able to touch you.”
Maggie blushed, as Marie-Louise knew she would.
“I’ll tell you something,” she said. “That is one pretty blush. I love it,” she crowed merrily.
Just as Maggie remembered she could.
*
Florence found Marie-Louise a bit much for her t
ender nature although, eventually, she seemed quietly drawn to the woman and would often watch her from a quiet corner of the kitchen.
Jennifer, however, had no such reserve. She thought Marie-Louise was fun. “Wow!” she said, upon seeing the newly arrived woman for the first time. “There’s really a baby in there?”
“A baby or a buffalo,” Marie-Louise muttered, but she was smiling. “We’re not sure.”
Jennifer dropped her lunch pail and approached the chair where Maggie’s friend was sitting. “Doesn’t that hurt?”
“Jen,” Maggie warned softly.
But Marie-Louise waved her to silence. The women and girls were alone in the kitchen and what harm could there be in a child’s inquisitiveness?
“Come and feel,” she coaxed and drew Jennifer closer. “He twirls around in there sometimes,” she said, taking the girl’s hand and placing it on her stomach.
Jennifer’s eyes were round as she remained silent and still, concentrating. And then she felt something beneath the palm of her hand. “Wow!” she crowed before twisting around toward her sister. “Does our baby do that, Mag?” she asked with excitement and Maggie nodded her head.
It was moving, somehow, hearing Jennifer refer to ‘our’ baby for the first time. “A little bit.”
Jennifer dashed forward. “Can I feel?”
Maggie flashed a mock frown at her friend. “See what you’ve started?”
Marie-Louise simply laughed again.
*
Hunter had always loved to put his hands on her, but it almost seemed there was no better time than now. He would watch her face, as he felt the tiny flutters of their child, and his own expression would glow with delight.
“Sometimes I think I can’t wait for her to come,” he said one night as they lay in bed.
Maggie snuggled more comfortably within his arms. “So, today the baby is a her?”
“Her today, Gowan tomorrow,” he quipped.
She slapped him lightly on his inner thigh, laughing.
“Oh, that’s dangerous,” he warned.
“And your quip was really awful.”
“I know,” he admitted easily. “It just came out. I promise I’ll try to do better.”
Maggie sighed, contend, happy in her love for him, and teasingly stroked his arm as it lay across her middle. “I imagine once I’m the size of Marie-Louise, I’ll be ready for this baby to come out, too.”
“You won’t be nervous having her here, will you, little one?” he asked with sudden concern. “Marie-Louise will deliver before you and…”
“Don’t worry, dear husband. This is something about which I have no fear.”
“None?” he asked, surprised and immediately in awe.
“Well, I might be a tiny bit nervous when the time comes, but only because it is my first time, you understand.”
He wasn’t sure which of them she was trying to convince, and replied wryly, “Of course.”
“And, too, by the time Marie-Louise gets through with all of us, there won’t be a bashful bone in any of our bodies. The whole world could come in and watch my delivery, and I won’t even bat an eye.”
“Really?” he inquired, unbelieving.
“Really. When Florence stops blushing, Hunter, we’ll know we’re in trouble.”
“You love her.”
He stated that comment so matter-of-factly, she giggled. “She’s a terrific friend. I only wish she weren’t so shy and reserved.”
They both chuckled over that, and then Maggie became suddenly serious. Her fingers dug into both of his forearms as she pressed her cheek against his chest. “Your plan will work, Hunter. It has to work.”
Hunter held her close for a long while that night. Her words had only confirmed his thoughts of the past weeks; all the while she smiled at him and joked with him and made love with him, the thought of losing Treemont had been plaguing her mind.
CHAPTER 27
Maggie ventured into the attic of Treemont’s old venerable house, moving cautiously up the steep steps.
The attic was dim and musty, and dust motes danced in the narrow beam of spring sunlight that came through the small round window. She set her lamp on an old wooden table and looked around. They should clean up here one day, she thought; the massive area was filled with worn things and dust collectors.
In a darkened corner she spied the object that had brought her up here; a large shape covered over by an old sheet. Holding her skirts carefully away from the wooden storage boxes and dusty furniture, Maggie moved forward toward the thing and whisked off its covering. Jennifer had been the last to use the high cradle suspended between two intricately carved posts. It was in need of polishing and a new mattress, but it was a perfect beginning for her preparations. Excited by her find, Maggie moved quickly toward the stairs and made her way to her father’s study where Hunter was once again working.
“Could you help me please?” she asked from the doorway.
He raised his head, curious. “Of course, my love. What’s up?”
“There is something I need, but you will have to help me,” she said evasively.
He stood and rounded the desk. “We’re a bit mysterious this morning, aren’t we?” he teased, moving to her side and dropping an arm casually across her shoulders. “What do you need?”
“We’ll find it upstairs.”
Hunter’s brows arched in anticipation. “Really?”
“Not that,” she laughed.
He feigned a frown. “Now I’m hurt and disappointed.”
“You are incredible,” she accused lightly.
He nodded his head. “It’s called lust, my love,” he explained.
“Hunter,” she admonished the man with his own name as they climbed the stairs.
“I can’t seem to help myself,” he said conversationally. “I love you. I long for you, and I lust after you.” He grinned then as she looked at him askance. “The three L’s.”
She laughed. “You’re insane.”
“Possibly,” he agreed, still smiling roguishly.
Maggie led him to a door at the end of the corridor, and he frowned in curiosity as she opened it and he spied the steep, winding stairs.
“Good, God,” he said. “You didn’t go up there alone?”
“Of course I did,” she said, starting upward again. “I’m not made of glass, my darling and I’ve been coming up here as long as I can remember. You must stop worrying about me just because I leave the kitchen occasionally.”
“I worry about you,” he returned sardonically, “when you leave our bedroom.”
“That’s just the lecher in you.”
“No, ma’am,” he drawled, which made her laugh because his accent was more English than Southern.
“It’s over here.” Maggie led the way to the dusty corner. “I need this taken downstairs, please.”
Hunter stood beside her and examined the cradle. “What a lovely piece,” he said. “But you won’t need it for quite a time yet, little one.”
Maggie shook her head vigorously. “It needs waxing and polishing, and I want to make a new mattress and…”
He held up a hand in surrender. “All right! I understand. But I’ll need help getting down the bend in those stairs. I’ll ask Jeffrey to come and help me.”
He turned, waiting for Maggie to pass in front of him in the narrow area near the top of the stairs. “This is quite a storage place,” he muttered as he looked around the room, skirting cobwebs hanging from wooden rafters.
“There are a few good things up here,” she said defensively, picking her way carefully down the steps.
Hunter refrained from comment, giving the area one last disgusted look.
Maggie stopped at the last step and reached out to open the door. Her body suddenly went still when she pulled back…with only the doorknob in her hand. She stared, stunned and stupid for a moment at the thing, her mouth falling open as the ramifications of what had just occurred registered fully in her mind.
“This is not funny, Hunter,” Maggie said quietly.
Hunter was busy wiping tears of merriment from his eyes now.
“It is,” he croaked, striving for control.
“Hunter,” she said, smiling now herself as she realized she must have looked very ridiculous a moment ago. “We have to pull this door inward in order to open it.”
He nodded his head, once again gasping with his continuing laughter.
“In order to get out,” she stressed.
“I know, love.”
“We’re trapped up here,” she added, crossing her arms beneath her breasts. But he was enjoying the kind of laughter that, once started, could ripple infectiously through crowds, becoming contagious, and Maggie soon found herself laughing as well. “This is insane,” she choked as Hunter wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest.
“I don’t mind being locked up here with you,” he said, containing his laughter at last. But his smile remained as she looked up at him. “There are too many people demanding your time or mine and much too often,” he added, lowering his lips toward hers.
Maggie accepted the kiss, but she found laughter bubbling up with her and her lips began to twitch against his.
Hunter gave it up as a bad job.
He raised his head and smiled down at her as he stroked her cheek lightly with his knuckles. “I do love you, Maggie. I don’t think I tell you that often enough.”
“I love you, too,” she returned quietly, sincerely.
He laughed briefly, then sat on one of the lower steps and pulled her down beside him. “Has it occurred to you how fortunate we are?” he asked, holding her close against his side while he stared at a door they could not open.
“To be locked up here?” she teased.
He shook his head, his smile filled with fondness. “We have everything…each other, a baby soon to join us, yours sisters, good friends…”