Quiet Meg (27 page)

He gasped, then blinked, and in the sudden dimness saw
Hayden standing now to the right. His left arm was raised,
and David’s pistol smoked in the cold air. Chas tried to say
something to Myles, something about Meg, but his lips
formed only a meaningless moan. Then the morning went
black.

Meg and the duchess, trying not to think or talk about the
only subject worthy of either activity, sat at breakfast. Their
conversation became increasingly limited, for even an ex change on the weather held all manner of import. It was not
raining, yes, but it was unexpectedly cold. Meg could not
help but wonder if such a thing mattered when one dueled.

She crumbled the rest of her toast into a small heap on
her plate. She had been married all of fifteen hours.

“Ma belle, Meg … the clock will move no faster for
your attentions”

“I am sorry, Grandmere-it does seem we should have
received some message by now.”

“We will hear something very soon. Perhaps they believe they might disturb us. I am not the habitual early riser.
My grandsons know this.”

Meg tried to smile at that effort to reassure her. But the
comment only reminded her that the duchess had also slept
poorly.

“I see I am too severe,” the duchess admitted. “We
should not avoid what is dearest to our hearts” She opened
a locket to reveal miniatures of her grandsons in younger
days. Cabot was handsome even at sixteen, when his portrait had been rendered.

They were speaking low over the tiny, framed paintings
when the sound of footsteps in the hall had them turning
eagerly to the door. But Lord Hayden’s look was solemn.
As Meg started to rise, Hayden extended a staying hand.
An awful, sinking sensation made her grateful for her seat.

“Chas lives,” he said quickly, his gaze meeting hers. “But
he has been injured-gravely. Grandmere,” he glanced at
his grandmother. “‘Tis likely to be a very close thing.” He
looked again to Meg as the duchess reached for her hand.

“Where is he, Myles?” his grandmere asked, while
Meg sat for a second in gratitude-or weakness.

“David and Lawrence are with him at Dr. McCaffrey’s-the home of one of our surgeon’s associates. At Putney.
‘Twas nearby, and we determined it best that he not be
moved far.” Again his gaze met Meg’s. “He took two shots”

“Two?” she asked faintly. “How is that possible? Sutcliffe . . “

“Is dead.” He spoke with curt satisfaction. “Mr. Ferrell
came back with me to town. I left him at your aunt’s, to advise your father. I believe the sly old-I believe Sir Eustace
is anxious to see you. But Miss Meg, I would ask two favors of you.”

“I shall go to Cabot at once,” she said, rising unsteadily
to her feet.

Hayden actually smiled at her.

“That is not one of them. In fact, I would ask that you stay
here, where you might be protected. And-if necessaryremove to Braughton with Grandmere. ‘Twas Chas’ wish,”
he added at her frown.

“No doubt that was his wish, my lord. Before. But surely
it no longer signifies.”

“To the contrary. The circumstances were such that I
have reason to believe you may still be in danger-of being
taken, or harmed in some way”

“How so, my lord?” Meg asked. Her need to reach
Cabot was most alien to her, but undeniable. “The earl’s resources can be nothing without his direction. And you have
told me he is dead.”

“Others have acted in his stead. I am not assured that is
the end of it.”

“But I cannot simply stay here!”

“It is one favor I would ask of you”

“Meg, ma cherie,” the duchess said, rising to intervene.
“Charles is in good hands.”

“What is your second request?” Meg asked stiffly.

“That you admit no knowledge of this … contretemps.
Sir Eustace, and others, should not be aware of the details.
‘Tis best for all concerned.”

“That should not be difficult, my lord. Since you deliberately withhold knowledge of this `contretemps,’ as you
term it.” Her gaze challenged his. “Am I also to pretend
that I have no knowledge of my husband’s injuries? Or
even, perhaps, to dispute that he is my husband at all?”

“No one hearing you, my lady, could have any doubt”
Hayden gracefully nodded to her. Meg was so astonished
that she stayed silent.

“Your father will come to you here,” he added. “And
your brother intends to return to town this evening. David
will look after Chas. My brother-Major Trent-is unfortunately well used to the needs of the wounded, Miss Meg.
Chas will have everything he ought.”

“Not everything, Myles,” his grandmere corrected, and
Meg was surprised to note the merest break in Hayden’s
composure. “You will be returning to him?”

“After I … complete a task here in town. But yes. Soon,
Grandmere”

“Then you must at least take notes from us”

Hayden’s gaze again sought Meg’s face.

“He is not conscious, Grandmere.”

Meg abruptly sat back down at the table and clasped her
hands. For a moment she pictured the worst, wondering
how she could continue. Then she looked again to Hayden.

“Would you now make me as much of a prisoner as Lord Sutcliffe ever did, my lord? Given the situation, your-your
driblets of information are a type of torture.”

“Yes, Myles,” the duchess agreed. “You must tell us all.
Is Charles… whole? What does the surgeon say? You play
the game with our hearts!”

Hayden’s lips firmed.

“He is whole, but unconscious,” he relayed stiffly. “The
surgeon expects him to pass through several days of fever,
to flirt with wakefulness, then to recover-or fail to. Chas
took a shot through his left shoulder, and another-much
more severe-to his left side. The ball broke a rib but
seems to have spared his organs. He has lost considerable
blood. If he recovers, ‘twill take him many weeks to be as
he was.” Hayden surveyed their white faces, nodded briefly
and sharply, then turned as though to depart. But sounds of
a commotion in the front hall halted him.

At her father’s impatient “Good heavens, man, give me
some room …” Meg rose and moved stiffly toward the
hall. She could see the duchess’ man, sturdy Alphonse, attempting to make way for her father’s chair. She glanced
once at her father’s face, but feared his swift perception.
Instead she moved to clasp his hand at the side of his chair,
and kept her composure by focusing on Ferrell’s calm features. As their group entered the breakfast room, the duchess
looked most intrigued.

“Your Grace,” Meg managed, “I beg your pardon. May I
present my family? My father, Sir Eustace Lawrence, and
Mr. Ferrell, my sister’s husband”

“It has been some time, Sir Eustace,” the duchess said.

“Too long,” her father agreed. “I apologize for the intrusion, Your Grace, Lord Hayden-but I should very much appreciate a moment alone with my daughter-if you
would permit me?”

Hayden’s glance cautioned Meg, but he obligingly drew
Ferrell out of the room. The duchess patted Meg’s arm.

“Meg is now also a daughter of this house, Sir Eustace,”
she told him warmly.

“So I understand. Though I have not yet had the opportunity to tender my blessing. You realize I am a most frustrated father.”

“You must take whatever time you wish, then” she said,
kindly yielding her breakfast room to the two of them.

“So, Margaret . . ” But Meg had already fallen to her
knees before her father’s chair and brought his hand to her
suddenly tear-streaked face.

“Oh come, girl,” he said gruffly. “‘Tis not so bad ..

“I cannot see him.”

“Surely you’re not so squeamish.”

Meg shook her head.

“Lord Hayden will not let me go to him.”

“Will not let you, eh? Well, we shall see. After all, you
are his wife.”

Meg summoned a small smile.

“You do not mind, father?”

“It’s what you wanted, Margaret?”

“Yes”

“And if he is-after this-as I am?”

Meg drew a sharp breath.

“I shall thank God he is alive”

He patted her hand.

“You see it is not so bad. You love him, my dear?”

“Yes, father.”

“Then, having been your champion, he deserves his reward. Like the knights of old” He smiled. “Lord Hayden is
overly cautious in denying him your company. I suspect he
discharges a promise to Cabot, which is commendable, but
given the situation-misguided. He does not understand
matters of the heart”

Meg shook her head.

“I think you are wrong there, father. He certainly understood Lucy and Harry before any of the rest of us. Even before Lucy.”

“Did he? Perhaps there is hope for him then. Tell me,
Margaret, are all these fools afraid of me?”

“I believe so, father.” Her eyes were still tearing. “Lord
Hayden will not relay the facts to me, for fear I shall tell
you.

“What-do they fear I shall have them all clapped in
irons? At my great age and state of decay, it is most flattering. Surely the cold as Christmas marquis is not afraid of
me? He is untouchable.”

“He fears for Cabot. And-that something might happen
to me”

“Ah-yes! That I can see. Well, I shall have it all from
Bertram soon enough. But in the meantime you must assure
yourself that Cabot cannot be faulted in any way-for Ferrell told me he took two shots. Two shots is evidence
enough, my dear, that Sutcliffe and his accomplice were intent on murder. Do you understand? They duel with single
shots. Cabot could not have fired even before the signal and
taken two shots himself. His honor cannot be impugned”

Meg swallowed and wiped her face with one palm.

“Sutcliffe is dead.”

“Yes, Margaret. But by whose hand?”

Meg stared at him, at once aware that the morning’s encounter had been more involved than she had first supposed.

“Now here is what we shall do, my Meg,” her father said
with satisfaction, drawing her attention back to her predicament. “Bertram promises to return this evening with Ferrell’s carriage. If Lord Hayden consents to send you to
Putney, you shall have Bertram to accompany you. And
if Putney is prohibited, perhaps we shall still get you to
Selbourne. For I know my Margaret. An imprisonment in
town, even at the home of a duchess, will be quite beyond
you. What say you?”

“I shall try,” she said.

“Good. Then you have only to wait this day for Bertram.
And if this does not work, I shall put you on Arcturus, who
will fly you wherever you wish to go.” At that Meg smiled.
“Now dry your eyes,” Sir Eustace passed her his handkerchief, “and let us see the others, sheepish lot that they are”

Meg kissed him before rising to open the door. The others, apparently having lingered in the hall, returned quickly
to the breakfast room.

“My lord,” Sir Eustace addressed Hayden. “My girl
knows little of this morning’s adventure. Will you not enlighten us?”

“‘Twas a sportin’ event, Sir Eustace,” he claimed easily,
“that went rather awry” Hayden’s gaze sought Ferrell. “I
believe Mr. Ferrell will confirm?”

“Indeed,” Ferrell agreed. “More awry for some than for
others”

Sir Eustace snorted inelegantly.

“You know I am a decrepit old cripple, with no power to
harm any of you. Why will you not consider what I might
do to aid you? What if Cabot should die?”

“In that unwelcome event,” Hayden said, ignoring Meg’s
small gasp, “we would not need your aid, Sir Eustace.”

“Ah-I see. The law cannot touch you and your kind.
But you fear it might still grasp at Cabot. From what little I
have heard, that is most unlikely.”

Hayden acknowledged that with a tilt of his head.

“Nevertheless, Sir Eustace, it is best that you continue to
remain-unapprised-for the nonce. I refuse to burden you
with knowledge that can only weigh unnecessarily on your
conscience. There remains a continuing threat from an unpredictable quarter.”

“This is why you restrain Margaret? I am convinced
Cabot would wish to see her.”

“Undoubtedly.” Hayden nodded to Meg. “But there may
have been plans, to harm her-vengeful plans-should
Sutcliffe not prevail.”

“Umph! In all his cursed days, Sutcliffe only ever expected to prevail. So it must be that menace Mulmgren for
whom you prepare.” As Hayden’s gaze narrowed, he added,
“You think I would protect such a fellow?”

Hayden smiled tightly.

“I think you are as you are, sir,” he said frankly. “Sir Eustace, I regret I cannot stay to chat. Some other time perhaps.
Grandmere” He bowed to his grandmother, then abruptly
took his leave.

“A clever man, that,” Sir Eustace mused as he shook his
head. “‘Tis a shame”

“What is the shame, monsieur?” the duchess asked sharply.

“Why-that he is a marquis. Do you not agree, Ferrell?”

“I do indeed, sir.”

“I hear of your independent views, Sir Eustace,” the
duchess said with a small smile. “I will surprise you, by
agreeing with you.” But Meg, eager to catch Lord Hayden,
had swiftly abandoned the exchange.

“My lord,” she called, stopping Hayden even as he was
at the door. She could sense his reluctance to be detained.
“My lord, I would go to him. Surely … surely you must
understand?”

“‘Tis not so entirely incomprehensible,” he said. His
tone was both wary and amused.

“Then-must I plead?”

“Miss Meg,” he started with some impatience, but
seemed to collect himself, “you are nearly a sister to me
now, Miss Meg. So I hope you will trust in my frankness. As
a practical matter, ‘tis an impossibility. Doctor McCaffrey’s
house is small. He and his wife have given Chas their own
boys’ room and packed the youngsters on a sofa. My brother
will sleep in a chair, or on the floor. There is no one else we
might evict, not even a maid. And before you suggest ityes I see it in your eye-Chas cannot be moved. I promise
you,” and she thought his voice softened, as though he
would be kind, “David will care for him. And protect him”
“But perhaps I might stay in the village?”