Then he halted abruptly, causing her to stumble against him. He placed his hands on her shoulders and set her back from him, frowning at the telltale smell of whisky on her breath. “Who told you where I lived, Flora?”
Her mouth opened, though she said nothing for a moment, then, “Um, I cannae remember.”
Maxwell scoffed. “No, of course you can’t. No matter. I’ll find out who it was. In any case, you had no right to come here. None.”
“But I didn’t get any money last month.”
“Because there is none due, and you know it. I told you back in April that the money would be enough to cover your expenses for six months only, which—”
“But I—”
“Whichshould have given you more than enough time to get yourself a job and become self-sustaining. If you’ve wasted the chance I gave you, then you’re a fool. There’ll be no more money from me, Flora. Not a damn penny. Is that clear?”
She clasped her hands, prayer-like, beneath her chin. “But, Max, if you’ll just—”
“What I will do, though I’m in no way obligated, is put you in a carriage and have you taken to the nearest coach-stop. After that, you’re on your own. And if I ever see you back here again, it won’t be my wife who’ll have you arrested for trespassing, it will be me. Understand?”
“Max, please listen.” She touched his sleeve. “Truth is, I thought… I thought I could just let you go and get on with things, but it hasnae been easy.”
Maxwell thrust her hand away. “So, you decided to come here and upset my wife? That, I cannot—will not—tolerate.”
A sullen look came to her face. “You’re happy with her, then, your Sassenach?”
“Very happy, aye.”
“Do you love her?”
“More than anything.”
She flinched. “You once told me you couldnae love any woman.”
“Well, I was wrong. I only hope I can fix the damage you’ve done, and that begins with getting you off this property. Wait here while I arrange for a carriage.” He began to turn, but she caught his sleeve again.
“I dinnae have enough money for the coach, Max.”
“Damn it, lass.” Maxwell pulled himself free of her grasp, dug into his pocket, and pulled out some coins. “This is all I have on me,” he said, dropping them into her palm. “It should be enough. Now, wait here.”
Once again, she caught his sleeve. “I love you, Max. Have done since the first night I saw you at Buchanan’s.”
“That’s enough!” He jerked his arm away. “I mean it, Flora. You have to—”
“I never told you before, because I reckoned it wasnae something you wanted to hear, but I’m telling you now because it needs to be said, for my sake at least. See, I always had this hope that one day you’d consider me as more than just your mistress. So, when you told me you were getting wed… well, to be honest, it broke my heart.” A smile appeared and then faltered. “But, despite what you said about being faithful to your wife, I kept hoping you’d still seek me out once in a wee while. Then I heard you’d been in Glasgow in September, and my heart broke all over again knowing you’d been there and not come to see me. Part of the reason I came here was to see if your marriage was a happy one. And I’ll be honest, I hoped it wasnae, that you’d have cause to come back to me. I hope your wife knows how fortunate she is.”
“I’m the fortunate one,” he said. “Now, wait here.”
A short while later, having given instructions to McKinney, he returned to where he’d left her. All he found was a scatter of coins on the ground; the same coins he’d dropped into her palm. Cursing, he retraced their steps back to the garden, only to find the lawns and pathways empty.
“She left by yon side gate,” Reuben said, gesturing as Maxwell approached. “Appeared to be in a bit of a rush, skirts hoisted up an’ all. Cryin’, too, she was.”
Maxwell uttered yet another curse under his breath, wondering if he should send someone after her, to make sure she found her way to the coach stop. He suspected, however, that going after her was exactly what she was hoping he’d do and decided against it. She’d found her way to Northcott Manor on her own and could surely find her way home.
“If you see her again anywhere on or near the property, please let me know,” Maxwell said. “Or tell McKinney, if I’m not here.”
Reuben nodded. “Aye, will do.”
After informing McKinney that the carriage was no longer required, and asking him to also be vigilant, Maxwell made his way into the house. He paused in the hallway, feeling the solid thud of his heart beneath his ribs. But, other than the pronounced tick of the nearby grand clock, not a sound could be heard.
The clock indicated it was ten minutes after eleven. A mere half-hour earlier, Maxwell’s marriage—hislife—had been as damn near perfect as it could possibly be. Not anymore. Everything had since changed, although the amount of damage inflicted by Flora’s visit had yet to be ascertained. He wondered if he should wait before finding out, perhaps allow some time for emotions to settle. No, he decided, there’d be no waiting. A wound to the heart, to thesoul, merited no less immediate attention than a wound to the flesh. Often, the former took longer to heal.
