“A blessing, given those mistakes, yes.” William turned to Margaret. “To see that you have risen like this makes me so proud, Margaret. My little Meg, a duchess...”
Margaret was silent, staring at the floor. Her face was fixed in anger—had been the whole time William was speaking. She sat squeezed next to Eliza, her fingers clawing the arm of the chair. Finally, she looked up, eyes on fire.
“Mama, you must take Eliza outside, into the gardens, anywhere far enough away so she cannot hear us.”
Katherine laughed. “What? Come now, Margaret. It is almost dark?—”
“You will take Eliza outside and remain there, or you will all leave at once. I need to speak to Father alone.” She glared at Katherine. “Go. I will not ask you again.”
Raising her brows in shock, Katherine nodded and gestured for Eliza to follow. Eliza could be heard asking what was happeningas they left, turning back to look at her sister while her mother dragged her out of sight.
Margaret rose immediately, hurrying to the door and closing it. She waited a moment, turned from Alexander and William. Her shoulders trembled, and both men lifted out of their chairs as she began to speak.
“Unbelievable...” Margaret turned, fists clenched at her sides. “What were you thinking, coming here? Oh, no. I did not expect an answer. I know precisely why you came—forcing us to host you while using Eliza as bait. It is as you said. You knew I would never agree to see you otherwise, so you disgraced us instead. Selfish,selfishman... I would not have Eliza hear more of your lies.”
William’s neck bobbed above his cravat. “They are not lies. I told you why I had to keep my distance.”
“How long have you been returned to London?” Margaret asked.
“No longer than two weeks. I have been staying at the house with your mother, but none have seen me.” He took a step toward his daughter, then retraced it. “I swear it to you, Margaret. None know that I have returned.”
“I do not doubt it. Why announce yourself without first ensuring you have the support of your son-in-law—the only one with the power to facilitate your return to society?”
“Now, you are speaking nonsense.” He looked pleadingly at Alexander. “My heart broke to be away from my family. I could not remain there for all time, though I knew I should have. For your sake, the sake of Eliza, I should have.”
“Yes, you should have. Do you think I am a fool? No word from you in over half a year, but the moment I become a duchess, you decide to begin planning your return? If you were hoping my marriage to His Grace will be enough to shield you from scandal?—”
“You are right to think poorly of me, but you are mistaken in this. I waited until such a time as your life was stable, that is all?—”
“Oh, spare me.” Margaret laughed, and she clutched her ribs. Alexander marched to her, holding her steady. “You are much changed from when I last saw you, and I am much changed too. I love you, but I will not help you rebuild your life if that is what you are thinking. That’s certainly what Mother wants, isn’t it? How easy was it for you to convince her to take you back in like a runaway hound? What did you say to win her over?”
“Your mother is a sensible woman,” William said. “She understood the necessity of my disappearance from the first, encouraged it, even. She has accepted my return with her whole heart. I do not expect the same of you, but in time, I hope you will forgive me.”
Alexander could see Margaret’s mind turning.
“She understood your disappearance from the first?” Alexander repeated.
Margaret’s eyes shined with tears. “How long has she known you were alive?”
“Oh, Meg...” William looked ashamed. “She has always known.”
“This whole time... She knew where you were...” Margaret placed a hand over her mouth, the other clutching onto Alexander. “And yet she said nothing to me,let me believe you were dead!”
“It was for your own good, Meg, I swear!” The viscount held a hand over his heart. “At the beginning of it all, so much was uncertain. She thought you would abandon London if you knew I lived there, and would come to me in the North. But that would never have been the right life for you or Eliza. And look at what you have achieved. We were right to keep the truth from you!”
“You were not right. Youlied.” Margaret’s voice rose. A sob escaped him as she leaned on him for support. She looked up at him, face crumpled. “I don’t...” She panted. “I can’t...”
“Margaret, please,” said the viscount. “If you will only listen?—”
“Shehaslistened,” Alexander said, cutting him off. “And you can see with your own eyes what it has done to her. Leave this place and do not return.”
William started. “Your Grace?”
“No,” Margaret said. “I will not hear another word from you.”
With a reluctant nod, William made for the door. Tears were streaming down Margaret’s face as she watched her father go. She slackened in his arms, and he recalled the silent message from earlier, sent from Margaret beside her sister, knowing what had to be done.
“Miss Eliza must remain here,” Alexander said.
