The Unknowing Heiress

Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Maggie did not re-join the party after her hasty exit. She knew that if she were to partake in any conversation regarding her leaving then she would surely say something that she would regret. She had an awful talent of saying the wrong thing whenever her temper flared.

So instead, Maggie hid herself in the servant’s sitting room, playing cards with Max. They could hear the conversations coming from the dining room and the kitchen staff completing their chores before they retired to bed.

The fire crackled beside them, giving off a comforting warmth. The rooms below stairs could often be quite cool.

“There you are,” remarked Rebecca. Rebecca stood in the doorway, appearing to be relieved that she’d finally located her brother and Maggie. Rebecca entered the small room and closed the door behind her. Max’s elder sister was so lovely. Maggie was sure half of Derbyshire were already in love with her. Her American accent had not completely disappeared as Max’s had, but it had mellowed greatly. She spoke very well and her speech was very eloquent. Miss Tully had seen to that. This had been Rebecca and Max’s first full year without their childhood nanny and governess for she had met a London banker during the summer season last year. Of course it was unusual for a governess to educate a young man but an Eton education was not what Max desired. They often received letters from Miss Tully with news of her new family, including that of her infant son. “Daddy sent me to find you. I have climbed and descended every staircase in this house.”

“Our family do not think me terribly licentious, do they?” Maggie asked Max after a while of menial conversation.

“Licentious?” Max exclaimed, his eyebrows raised. “I should think not.”

“Your father was put out upon your departure. I believe a motive of his was to perhaps dissuade you from leaving but I could not swear to it. The conversation stunted a little and we had to rely upon loquacious Aunt Bess to rally the spirits of us all.” Rebecca stood behind Max’s chair and placed her hands on his shoulders. “Would you like to come upstairs now?” she asked. “We’ve all retired to the drawing room for cheese and wine and a little music.”

“Oh, you’re not singing, are you?” Max asked, groaning.

Rebecca looked down at him with a displease expression on her face. While Rebecca’s accomplishments were extensive, her singing talents were well below par. “No, I am not singing,” she retorted, “but I will play. Come and hear,” she urged them both.

“You should go, Max,” Maggie encouraged. “I think I shall just go to bed. I am tired.” Besides, she had plans to rise early the next morning to pay Isaac Lavelle a visit.

Both Rebecca and Max kissed Maggie’s cheek before returning to the family and Maggie crept up the servants’ staircase which was carefully concealed in the walls so that she could reach the second floor without detection. It was cowardly but Maggie did not want to see any disappointed faces.

Maggie rose early the next morning. The sun had barely risen when she opened her drapes and she elected not to ring the bell for a maid to help her dress. She was still wearing her corset from the night before as she had not had any help to undress. She’d merely loosened it in the front so that she could sleep. Maggie tightened the corset and fixed the laces. She buttoned herself into a sky blue day dress and fixed her hair into a braided bun. She found a matching bonnet and tied the silk ribbon underneath her chin and then pulled on her riding gloves. Maggie didn’t care for bonnets as they served no purpose for her but she could appreciate the fact that it was appropriate for her to wear one.