Chapter Ten: Blood Moon by Rosaline Saul
AS THEY SAT down at the long wooden table for dinner, Cathy said, “I understand the Count had a proposition for you today.”
“Yes,” Maggie said calmly. “He wants me to be a chaperone to his ward.”
“That is what he told me before I told him where he could find you. He said the girl is a big problem to the entire household and she needs someone with a sympathetic, yet sensible ear to be her companion.” She shot Maggie a look. “I told the Count you would be the ideal choice.”
Maggie looked from her stepmother to her father. “Does Mother know he had me jailed even though I was innocent?”
“That was just an innocent mistake,” Cathy said before John could utter a word. “But everything has changed now, and you need to earn a living.”
Maggie braced herself. “I am sorry, Mother, but I turned the Count down. I did not accept his offer. I cannot work for him; you must be able to see that.”
“I see nothing of the kind,” Cathy replied tartly. “You would live in a beautiful house, be paid a generous salary, simply to stop a young girl from causing any more trouble. How can you refuse?”
“I will find a more suitable position. I know, I will.”
“But the position the Count is offering you would not even be for long,” Cathy urged. “The Count told me he hopes Beatrice's wedding will take place at the earliest date possible. Marriage will settle her.”
Maggie said angrily, “Maybe he should be her sympathetic ear and spend more time with her.”
“You will accept the offer, Maggie. There is no choice,” Cathy insisted.
John interrupted the conversation before it could become any more heated. “What is for supper, dear? I am starving.” He gave both Cathy and Maggie a pointed look. “We’ll discuss this further after I have had my supper.”
DURING THE NEXT few days, even though her surroundings seemed at peace, there were personal storms to endure.
Disturbed nights, vivid dreams and by day, Cathy's constant coaxing to accept Count Burke's offer of employment, which in turn only made Maggie feel a strange aching emptiness she could not escape.
She was sitting within the shadow of a small gathering of trees not far away from her home. Her back was resting against the trunk of a tree. Her eyes were closed, and she was enjoying the last day of her forced holiday. In the morning, her father will take her back to London, suitcase in tow, and she will go to the Agency to request another position. Luckily, if a girl was not picky there was always a tutoring position available. She would just have to accept the first position she was offered. After declining Count Burke's offer, living with Cathy had become unbearable.
When a darker shadow fell across her, she assumed the glorious warm weather was changing for the worst. She opened her eyes to glance up at the sky, only to find Beatrice glancing down at her.
The girl had an anxious look on her face. “Maggie?” Her face broke into an uncertain smile. “May I join you?”
“Of course.” Maggie returned her smile politely. “How did you know where I am?”
“Your mother told me. I was so pleased to meet her.”
Maggie grunted.
The young girl sat down beside Maggie, resting her back against the same tree trunk. “I have really wanted to see you, and I wanted to say how sorry I am for what Joseph did to you. Did I not tell you how evil he is?”
“Yes, you did,” Maggie acknowledged.
“I really need your help.” Worried, Beatrice glanced around them. “You must stop this marriage from taking place. I beg of you to help me.”
Maggie sighed. “I am really sorry, Beatrice, but it would not be very wise for me to interfere and maybe you will be happy to be married.”
“You do not understand.” Beatrice lowered her voice to a whisper even though it was only the two of them for miles around. “He will force me to do as he says.”
“Talk to your parish priest. He will not marry someone against their will.”
“He does what Joseph says. They all do.”
“Then the Count will hardly listen to me either.”
“I do not want you to talk to him, but if you come to live at Manor Burke you can help me to escape.”
“You have already tried to escape, and I ended up in jail for hours. Where would you go anyway? I think the best thing would be for you to talk to Joseph and to convince him being married will be a disaster.”
“I do want to get married.” There was a glint of expectation in the girl's eyes. “But Joseph will never permit it.”
Maggie felt her heart sink. “You have someone in mind?”
“You know I do.” Beatrice sounded shocked. “It is James, of course.”
If Beatrice tried to run off again to elope, what would Joseph do? Would he do something medieval, like lock her up in a tower? He seemed capable of doing such an evil thing.
They are just so wrong for each other, Maggie decided. It would be a wretched marriage for both. Although there was no reason why she should care what kind of trouble Joseph created for himself, she was concerned about Beatrice. The girl did not deserve to be in a loveless marriage. Joseph did say he cared for her deeply, but it was so obvious Beatrice would do just about anything not to marry him.
Maggie glanced in Beatrice's direction, stealing a sideways glance at her pretty face. So far in the young girl's life, she had been handed from one heir to another, like a precious parcel.
“Why are you so quiet, Maggie?” Beatrice asked petulantly. “What are you thinking?”
“I was just deciding what the best plan would be.”
“You will help me? How? Joseph told me he offered you a position to replace Madame Anne, but you refused. I cannot always come here. Look.” Maggie followed the direction of her pointed finger and saw two men standing not too far away. “He has me guarded all day and every day.”
Maggie was shocked when she saw the men. They were so secretive; she did not even notice them until Beatrice pointed them out. Resolved in her immediate decision, she said, “Then I will have to come to Manor Burke.”
“You mean it? You will tell Joseph you have changed your mind?”
Maggie felt a stab of pain in her chest. “Yes, I will tell him.”
As if he was standing aside, waiting for a sign, as if he had been conjured up from a dark place, he came walking across the field toward them.
Beatrice jumped up and called to him, “Joseph! Guess what? Maggie said she will be my companion after all. Isn't that good news?”
Joseph stopped in front of them as Maggie was pushing herself up against the trunk of the tree. His gaze swept across Beatrice's elated face to Maggie's tense figure.
“I am overwhelmed,” he said courteously. “Especially after you were so adamant at our last meeting. May I ask the reason for your change of heart?”
“I have had time to think things over,” Maggie said evenly.
He gave her a long, dispassionate look. “It would be helpful if you took up your duties as soon as possible.”
Maggie returned his look. “That will be no problem.”
She felt as if she was being swept along on some fast speeding ride. She knew she should not get onto it, yet she did, against her better judgement, and now it was in motion. She allowed her concern for Beatrice to supersede her initial decision to avoid danger.
He was watching her, a faint smile lifting the corners of his mouth.
She lifted her chin in a silent challenge, wishing she could read his mind.
“Come, Beatrice.” Joseph extended his hand to her. “We should return home and prepare to welcome our guest.”
The girl pouted, but rushed to his side, sliding her arm through his with casual familiarity.
Polite goodbyes were said and then the Count and his future bride walked off into the sunset.
Maggie stared after them.
Continue reading Chapter 11/17
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