“Hush.” Mrs. Drake silenced her daughter as they shuffled back into the corridor, which was no longer empty of curious eyes and ears.
“Mr. Kirkley and Miss Drake?” Margaret overheard more than one voice utter in astonishment. “But what of Lady Asherton?”
Pity spilled onto her from numerous sets of eyes, which then quickly averted away. Margaret shuddered and nearly stumbled. What had just happened?
“Come with me, dear.” Lady Sheffield took her by the arm and dragged her away from the hovering bystanders. Thoughts buzzed through Margaret’s head and so she didn’t resist the older woman or even acknowledge her until the two of them had stepped into the lady’s private chamber and the door was closed behind them.
“You are not heartbroken.” Lady Sheffield spoke in firm tones. “But everyone was watching you and I did not want you to give them anything more to gossip about.”
Margaret nodded. Yes, yes. Lady Sheffield was correct. “It seems that I am to be jilted.”
“You did not love him. I am not mistaken, am I?”
Margaret knew Lady Sheffield to be the soul of discretion. She and Margaret’s mother had been dear friends for all their lives. “No, I did not love him.”
“That is all well and good.” The woman lowered Margaret onto a settee beside her. “Mr. Kirkley, of course, is going to come out looking like the worst type of cad, but there are others who are going to speculate about you.”
“What would they have to say about me?” she asked. Because, as a widow, of course, she was not untouched.
Lady Sheffield stared at her. “That you are unmarriageable in other ways—perhaps that you are in financial difficulties, that you are a harridan, that you are not inclined to please him in the ways that a much younger woman was…” And then she shrugged. “Of course, I could be mistaken, but is it not always best to err on the side of caution in these matters? Especially when you, just last spring, attempted to pawn a maid off as a gentlewoman at one of London’s most elaborate balls?”
“Shewasa gentlewoman,” Margaret inserted.
“One who had been working as a maid for over a decade.”
Margaret exhaled in defeat. It had been a huge mistake. She had thought she was doing the right thing for her friend at the time. But, yes. Lady Sheffield was correct. It had tarnished both of their reputations.
“All I am saying is that you must tread very carefully. Be on your best behavior.” Lady Sheffield stared at her hard. “Be far more discreet if you intend to… befriend your former fiancé’s handsome young nephew.”
Margaret sat up straight. “He is a very kind gentleman.”
Lady Sheffield raised her brows and, in that moment, reminded Margaret very much of her mother.
“How did you know?” She could not dissemble with her mother’s friend.
“I see more than most. I see glances from across the room. And,” she indicated her window, which overlooked the back lawn and the path that ascended in the direction of the lake, “I rise early.”
“He is a friend, but there can be nothing more. He is too young for me. I want a family. I wanted to become a mother. Lord Rockingham is going to explore the world.” She smiled indulgently but also with some sadness. “He has a good deal of living before he would tie himself to an old widow like me.”
Lady Sheffield did not laugh. She did not agree with her nor did she express her disagreement. “So long as you don’t do anything foolish. I only want your happiness. I’ve been concerned about you since your mother’s passing. She wrote to me of how melancholy your husband’s death left you.” Lady Sheffield took Margaret’s hands in hers. “But that you were even more despondent after you lost the babe.”
Margaret could only nod. It was true.
“But also know that you are so much more than anold widow. You are a beautiful and intelligent woman who has the ability to forge a unique path in this world. You mustn’t lose sight of that. And you are not too old for such a man as Rockingham. Do not expect that you only have one or two options. Be open to other life experiences.”
Margaret stared down at the woman’s hands, covering hers just as the door knocked and was pushed open before Lady Sheffield could bid the visitor to enter.
“Miss Drake did not intend to trap Mr. Kirkley,” Penelope announced before dropping into the nearest chair.
Lady Sheffield laughed. “I would think not.”
“She thought it was Rockingham’s chamber.” Penelope laughed. “Could anything be more ironic than this, Margaret?” And then, of course, Penelope explained to Lady Sheffield exactly what had happened on the night of Lord Rockingham’s arrival. Thank heavens Margaret hadn’t told her sister-in-law the entire story.
One only had to glance at Lady Sheffield, however, to see that she read more into the encounter than Penelope had.
“But now, it seems, Miss Drake is going to have to marry Mr. Kirkley. Margaret, the man couldn’t stop smiling to save his life. I expect Miss Drake’s father will wipe the smile off eventually. But her dowry is enormous. I’m so sorry. But I’m not really. Are you disappointed? I did not think that you would be,” Penelope continued on without awaiting a response from Margaret. “And Hugh says to not worry if you cannot locate the ring. Mr. Kirkley left him with signed contracts earlier this week. By having sexual relations with another woman, he is obviously in breach and we shall hold that over his head if he gets too adamant about having the ring returned. It’s not as if you lost it on purpose, after all.” Penelope turned a little green. “Drat this. I haven’t had my toast yet. But I had to come tell you.” And she departed as quickly as she had arrived.
“It seems, Margaret, dear,” Lady Sheffield commented while staring at the closed door. “That you are quite free to pursue those other… opportunities.”
