She was jealous, plain and simple.
And stupid. So stupid.
He'd told her that he and Tirith were only friends. And she'd believed him. Stupid.
How could he pay such attention to Tirith, be so close to her, and not be in love with her?
Maggie had excused herself politely from the last herd of gawkers and now stood at the edge of the ballroom. She really should leave. Go back to Tirith's suite and get her bag. She could catch a few hours of sleep anywhere. Her sister's sofa was as good a place as any.
"I guess you're not staying."
She turned at the voice behind her. There was her younger sister in a simple black sheath with her hair down around her shoulders. Had she crashed the party? She hadn't been announced as an official guest.
"Bea."
Her sister reached out, and Maggie fell into the hug. Tears pricked her eyes. She dearly missed her sister.
"You could stay longer, you know. Ten days isn't nearly enough."
Maggie backed out of the hug and was blinking furiously, trying to stem her pesky tears, when Bea's words registered.
"You knew?"
Bea laughed. "You're kidding, right? You don't think I could tell you weren't miss prim and proper in the first ten seconds? It's the way you stand," she said all in a rush. "I think it must be all the riding you've done. There's something in your posture—but no one else would see it. Not unless they'd been to the ranch and knew you."
No one else but Luc.
Maggie pushed him from her thoughts. "Did Mother figure it out, then?"
Maggie had planned to speak to Mother first thing in the morning, confess to everything. Drag Tirith with her, if necessary. Smooth things over. But if Mother had figured it out, like Bea...
Bea shook her head. "She's been flustered and out of sorts ever since Dad's phone call. I don't think she noticed."
Shoot. That meant there would be waterworks and a full-fledged guilt trip to look forward to in the morning.
Maggie would welcome the distraction.
She shouldn't, but she couldn't help glancing back to where she'd seen Tirith and Luc the last time.
Tirith was gone, but Luc remained surrounded by a small knot of people. He couldn't have felt her watching, but he look up. Right at her.
Their gazes clashed and held.
And then he looked away, his mouth moving. He was in the conversation.
She'd been stupid enough to hope he'd... what? Denounce Guinevere's foundation and claim he couldn't live without her?
He wouldn't be the man she loved if he'd done that. His niece mattered to him. Helping young people mattered to him.
She'd wanted to matter, too.
As she watched, Tirith returned to the circle. Luc held out a welcoming hand to her, clasped it in his.
Maggie had to look away. Her eyes pricked with tears anew. She had to get out of there.
"I'm a little disappointed," Bea said, startling her. She'd almost forgotten her sister was there.
"Why?" If her voice was breathless with tears, hopefully Bea would be kind enough not to comment.
