The love of a good man.
She turned away when more movement caught her eye. At first, she thought it was Jeremy, but he was at Government House today. But another person did get out of the carriage.
She put a hand to her mouth and blinked, unsure if her eyes had deceived her. They had not.
She spun around, shaking. And then she bolted out the door, her hands gripping the iron rail looking down at… him. At Beau.
“You’re back,” she said.
He turned and looked up at her, and though she was looking down at him, she blinked away tears, as if she was looking straight at the sun. His smile was radiant and, she realized, it was for her.
“I couldn’t stay away.”
She raced down the stairs and stopped short in front of him. Even though he looked a little rumpled from the travel, and lines of fatigue creased at his mouth and the corners of his eyes, he was still the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. She wanted to reach out and adjust the lapel of his coat that had turned up as he’d gotten out of the carriage.
“I didn’t expect to see you again,” she said. “I thought you were too busy. That your company needed you. Your sister. That?—”
He reached out and grabbed her hands.
“I spent a week trying to solve this case,” he said. “and I definitely wanted the satisfaction of seeing the look on Miller’s face when I give him the evidence about Taylor. And I selfish being that I am, I definitely couldn’t wait to see you again.”
Maddy couldn’t help but smile as she turned away, her body trembling. They went upstairs and into the parlour where Beau greeted his aunt with a kiss. It was clear that she was thrilled to see him. She lingered a moment, giving herself time to get her emotions in check before joining them.
Beau relayed the entire story, and though he didn’t express it, it was clear to Maddy that instead of worrying about his own future, he’d spent every waking hour leveraging every connection and favour he had to help ensure that Maddy never had to look over her shoulder. So that she had a future, too.
“Oh Maddy,” Phillipa said, relief in her voice. “That is a relief.”
“Well,” Lady Em said, “this calls for something more celebratory than tea, don’t you think? Tilda, I think this deserves the good sherry.”
Animated discussion broke out in the room, joined by the clinking of glasses and the passing of plates of cookies that Rimple had baked in a fury last night in anticipation of the hints of good news in Beau’s telegram. Maddy was subjected to hugs from her fellow spinsters, which she accepted, and all seemed to be well.
But Maddy was not. She rose, and feigning then need for air, went to her library to sit.
This job was coming to an end. And it was happy… for Everwell.
But not for her.
She blew out a shaky breath and cursed herself for wanting the visit to end. For Dominic and Elouise to go home, for Beau to leave with his aunt, and for everything to go back the way it was. Except the way it was meant Maddy having sleepless nights thinking she had blood on her hands. The way it was meant not knowing about the beautiful stone cottage and the magical garden, laughing with Annie Chandler or picking berries with Hollis. It was a life that had not known the love of a man like Beau. Who’d offered her everything she wanted, but she had been afraid to have, because he saw what she could not. Her worth. That her happiness was worthy of fulfillment.
She pushed aside a traitorous tear with the palm of her hand.
A knock at the door jolted her out of her sorrows. Quickly she rose to her feet, dabbing her eyes and preparing to mumble an apology about pollen reddening her eyes when she realized it was Beau standing in the door.
“If I’m disturbing you, I’ll go,” he said.
“Not at all,” she said, gesturing him to come in. “I owe you a debt of gratitude for what you’ve done for me. You didn’t have to do that.”
He wore a smile, but it did not meet his eyes.
“But I did,” he began. “I am a selfish man, after all. What I want, I want.”
Maddy swallowed, nearly afraid to breathe. “And what do you want?”
“I recently had an unexpected meeting with someone who opened my eyes to some novel business possibilities. Exciting ones. However, there were a few obstacles in the way.” He rubbed his hands together, then pantomimed what looked like a living advertisement for some kind of beauty cream they advertised the Ladies Home Journal. “What is this charming smile and lightening intellect for if not for removing those obstacles, and opening the doors so they can walk through them?”
There was not a drop of sarcasm in his voice. If anything, there was more than a generous dollop of self-deprecation, which brought a bit of lightness to her chest. She pressed her lips together, trying to suppress an unwanted smile.
“But then, I had an even more remarkable idea that may help in that effort.” He came closer then paused, uncharacteristically cautious. “That is, if you would be open to hearing it.”
