Chapter Six

Maggie returned to Montrose in the afternoon, albeit quite sheepishly. She knew that her parents would have much to say about her display at dinner the previous evening and the fact that she had left that morning without asking permission.

But her expedition to Pendleton Park had been so worthwhile. She and Isaac had organised to be away two weeks into September. That gave her a few weeks to gather her things and plan a journey to London. It would also give her parents a few weeks to get used to the idea of not having her around. Although with the trouble that she would be in upon seeing her parents again, she was sure they would not mind her absence.

Mr Lowell opened the door before she dismounted her horse and had a footman collect Midnight’s reins so that she could be returned to the stables.

“Milady,” breathed Mr Lowell, the suspicion was evident in his tone as if her antics had been spoken about downstairs, “you have returned.”

“Yes,” murmured Maggie as she removed her bonnet. “Where are my parents?” she asked him.

“The Countess is in the library with Master Edward, Lady Georgina and Lady Elizabeth,” he replied formally, “and the Earl is in his study above stairs, milady.”

Her siblings were obviously enduring the schoolroom while their father worked. Maggie took a deep breath. “Thank you,” she said gratefully. Mr Lowell bowed his head and Maggie started up the stairs while the butler continued about his duties. Maggie’s heart beat rapidly in her chest as she approached her father’s study. She discarded her bonnet on a nearby end table and paused at the door for a good minute until she worked up enough courage to knock.

“Enter,” mumbled Nate, his voice muffled through the solid oak door.

Maggie turned the handle and carefully entered the study. Nate slouched casually in his chair reading the newspaper while his feet were crossed atop the grand, mahogany desk. There was a fresh, steaming teapot beside his feet as well as a dish of untouched plain biscuits.

Nate lowered the newspaper and merely raised an eyebrow when he saw it was Maggie. “Margaret,” he muttered in greeting.

Maggie’s heart sunk. She knew she was in trouble. He only ever called her by her real name when he was most seriously displeased with her. “Daddy,” she replied nervously.

He raised the newspaper back up so that he could no longer see her. “Lovely day?” he asked nonchalantly.

“Daddy, I’m sorry,” Maggie said sincerely. She crossed the room to the desk quickly and she pushed the newspaper down so that she could see him. The pages creased and crumpled.

“I was reading that,” he murmured.

“Daddy,” Maggie persisted.

“What, Margaret?” he snapped, the anger in him rising. He stood up from his chair. “What do you want me to say? Go! Go and enjoy yourself!” he exclaimed sarcastically. “Travel thousands of miles away with a man you have only just met. Forgive me for worrying, Margaret, because that is what a true father does.” His emerald eyes were wide with anger, yet she was not afraid. He was the one who was afraid.

“Daddy, I do not expect you to be happy, but I would like your blessing,” Maggie pressed. “Mr Lavelle is to show me the plantation, introduce me to his wife and nephew, and then I might enjoy a few social occasions.”

“Thank God for Max,” he muttered under his breath, “for he is the only one who will see sense in all of this.”

“Daddy!” Maggie exclaimed. “Please! There are few freedoms we women are permitted. Allow me to see my birthright!”

“You are not a woman yet,” he retorted, “you are still a child!” He huffed angrily. “My child,” he emphasised.

She did not take offense to his claim that she was still a child. She believed herself to be a child. She was not yet ready to undertake the responsibilities of being a woman. She was not ready for marriage or children. She was not ready to be in charge of a household. She could barely command her father’s servants, let alone her own. “I will always be yours, Daddy,” Maggie promised. She made her way around his desk and then she wrapped her arm around his waist. He was startled for a moment before he reciprocated the action. She rested her head on his chest like she did when she was a girl. “I will return,” she swore. “I will return a worldly lady and not a frightened girl who has not any idea of who she is.”

Nate rubbed her back soothingly. “Don’t change too much,” he instructed, “for I do love the childish side of you.” He chuckled quietly. “I see you climbing trees from my window,” he informed her.

Maggie smiled.

“You must be careful, Maggie,” he implored, reverting back to her preferred name, “for there will be people there who wish you ill.”

Maggie pulled back her head and furrowed her brows. “Ill?” she repeated questioning.

“Plantations are very valuable places,” he explained, “and there will be many who wish to profit from it, from you.”

“From me?” Maggie asked in disbelief. How could they possibly profit from her? She would inherit the land upon Isaac’s death and he looked to be in good health.

“Just as we watch for them in London during the season, you must be wary of fortune hunters,” he clarified, “men who pay you attention specifically for what they can gain from you. Not only your dowry but the plantation also. You must also be careful for other reasons,” he continued.

“What other reasons?”

“You will discover that the people who work Mr Lavelle’s plantation are enslaved,” he said quietly.

Maggie gasped. “Enslaved?”

“Yes,” Nate confirmed. “They do not work for Mr Lavelle as our servants do for us. Mr Lavelle is their master. He owns them.”

Maggie thought the notion positively dreadful! How could one person possibly own another? She could not understand it. If they were his property, he could command anything of them. He could do anything to them. “Does he … does he hurt them?” Maggie asked fearfully, her voice barely louder than a whisper. She could not imagine anyone owning another person. Their own servants were paid a respectable wage, could not the plantation workers receive the same? If plantations were as prosperous as Nate claimed, could Isaac not pay them a fair salary? It seemed only right.

“I could not know, every master is different. But I witnessed such scenes on my travels through the south before I met you and your mother, Maggie,” Nate confessed. “But I want you to be on your guard. I will ask Max to do the same. I trust that Mr Lavelle will introduce you as his daughter and I trust he will offer you protection but I will have Max watching over you very closely. I pray this will be a good experience for you, Maggie. I pray it will be what you hope it will be. But there is every chance you will see things that you will not expect. I just hope you will show everyone you encounter the kindness and compassion that you hope to receive.”

“I will, Daddy,” she promised. She did already strive to bestow kindness and compassion on the people she met. She hoped it would encourage them to treat her the same way. It did not always work but she could hope. “I spoke with Mr Lavelle this morning,” she admitted, deciding that honesty was the best way to proceed. “We agreed on a departure date.”

Nate arched his eyebrow. “Yes?” he prompted.

“A fortnight from the first of September,” she replied cautiously, “a little less than a month.”  

“I will miss you every day,” he replied simply. “You must promise me that you will return to us.”

Maggie breathed a sigh of relief and hugged him tightly. “I will miss you, too,” she whispered. “I will return.” She did not know when, nor did she know for how long she would stay. Maggie assumed that she would know when she had worn out her welcome. “What do American women wear, Daddy?”

“I’ve no idea,” he replied honestly. “You had best ask your Uncle Derek. Even though it was several years ago, he was last in America. Though I imagine your things are appropriate. I would advise you to refrain from climbing any trees when you’re there. Not all are as understanding of a young lady’s behaviour like your father.” He smiled slightly and leaned in to kiss her forehead.

Maggie realised that she would have to write Max to inform him of the developments in their plan. “Do you think it inappropriate that I am travelling with Max, Daddy?”

He furrowed his eyebrows. “How so?”

“Max mentioned something to me about it being questionable that we are travelling together while unmarried. Do you believe this? Does the idea bring my reputation into question?” Maggie was worried about this. While she and Max knew that their friendship was just that, a friendship, she did not want to give any gossips further reason to judge her.

“Your reputation is safe seeing as you are travelling with –” Nate cleared his throat distastefully, “– Mr Lavelle, you are technically being escorted by your father. Max will be acting as my eyes and ears as well as your protector.”

Maggie frowned. “Your spy more like,” she deduced. Would Max be sending back information to her father?

“Your chaperone,” Nate corrected. “But if you are worried about your reputation we have but to take you and young Maxwell to the vicar,” he said with a sly smile.

Maggie scoffed. “Oh, please, be serious,” she retorted. “You could not condemn poor Max to a life as my husband. You could not have that on your conscience and Uncle Derek would have to put his unfortunate son in an asylum after having to endure me permanently.” Maggie giggled and shook her head.

“You are a terrible judge of yourself, darling,” Nate remarked, “for I think that Max would very much enjoy enduring you as you say.”

“Clearly you do not know Max as I do,” Maggie informed her father. “He is my oldest and dearest friend. If there was an ounce of affection about his intentions, I would see it. We ladies notice those sorts of things.”

Nate rolled his eyes and released his daughter. “Will you tell Mama that I will be absent for dinner?” he asked.

“Why? Where are you going?” Maggie asked curiously.

Nate collected his possessions and made his way towards the door. “Pendleton Park,” was all he said in reply.

Maggie felt anxious about any further discussion that Nate and Isaac would have. There was already great hostility between them. She dreaded to think of how their disdain for one another might escalate.

Maggie walked out of her father’s study towards the landing.

“Ah, Maxwell, we were just talking about you.” Nate’s voice sounded up the stairs. Maggie walked to the top of the stairs and saw that her father had opened the front door. Max stood before him smiling curiously.

“Do tell,” he replied inquisitively.

“Unfortunately I have a prior engagement,” Nate replied, “but if you are searching for Maggie, she is in my study.”

“Thank you, Uncle,” Max said appreciatively. Max crossed the threshold into Montrose Manor as Nate left the house. Maggie immediately began to descend the stairs and she smiled at her friend when he noticed her presence. “I came to see if you were alright,” he informed her as they met in the foyer. “Your father seems in good spirits,” he commented. “Is he not angry?”

“He was,” confessed Maggie, “but we have discussed all that needed discussing. I spoke with Mr Lavelle this morning and we have agreed to leave two weeks into September. Would that be alright with you?” she asked hopefully.

“I am glad that there is no residual conflict between the two of you.” Max smiled. “And yes, two weeks into September is perfect. I am quite looking forward to seeing America again. I have seen more of England than I have of America so visiting Georgia will be quite exciting, I think.”

Maggie knew her mother and siblings were in the library so she seized Max’s hand and she pulled him into the drawing room. Just as soon as the door was closed she threw her arms around Max’s neck. “Oh, thank you, Max,” she breathed. “Thank you, thank you!”

Max chuckled heartily and squeezed her tightly. “This is just as much an adventure for me as it is for you. I have drawn nearly every Derbyshire hill and boulder. I think it is high time I attempt to capture whatever treasures Georgia has in store for us.”

Maggie was reminded of her father’s mention of the enslaved workers. That was the only part of the journey that did indeed frighten her. Although she could not judge her father before she had seen the way he commanded his plantation for her own eyes. There was every possibility that he paid his workers, after all. Isaac Lavelle did seem like an agreeable man. From their few encounters, he did not seem at all cruel. “I do not remember my time in America well so I cannot recall, but were you aware of … of slaves?”

Max pursed his lips as they parted. “Unfortunately, yes. I do not remember myself as I was only nine years old when my sister and I left but my father encountered a few masters when he and Grandpa first started scouting for buildings that could be converted into desirable hotels. They elected to draw guests away from such scenes but this was some twenty years ago. I imagine things are far different now.”

“I hope so.” Maggie smiled.

“At least we will still be in England to see Davy off to school,” he said positively, “and perhaps a farewell soiree will be organised prior to our departure. The families attending the season would have returned by then. I’d wager the ballroom would be very full indeed.”

Maggie pursed her lips. “I shall be happy to see Davy off to school,” she murmured, “but I doubt an invitation to farewell me from Derbyshire society would fill a ballroom. Though,” she said thoughtfully, “perhaps our acquaintances would be inclined to attend if it meant that they would not have to see me again.” She smiled slyly.

“Oh, hush,” Max said comically, rolling his eyes. He walked over to the corner of the room to pull the golden braided rope that led to a bell in the kitchen. “You have more friends than you think, Maggie. I am dreadfully thirsty. Will you have tea with me?”

Maggie nodded. “Do they have tea in America? I know I was born there but I am so accustomed to the English diet that I must have at least twelve cups of tea a day,” she joked.

“As am I,” replied Max as they sat down on one of the white settees. “Shall we take a few packages of tea leaves with us to be safe?” he proposed.

“Yes,” she agreed. Maggie then smiled slyly. “Oh, by the way, my father has granted us permission to marry.”

Never before had Max’s green eyes flashed to her so quickly. His face had completely paled. She could see it as plain as day on his face. Marriage to her was not what Max wanted. She was so used to him being temperate. This look of terror was foreign.

“What?” he asked quickly.

“If ever I fear for my reputation we have but to visit a vicar,” she murmured, still enjoying his reaction. Maggie laughed lightly. “Fear not, I shan’t put you through that.”

His expression became puzzled. “Why not?”

“Don’t be silly, Max, for I saw the terror on your face only moments ago,” Maggie replied.

“It was not terror, Maggie, merely surprise. For a moment I thought you were considering –”

Before Max could finish his sentence, there was a knock on the door.

“Enter,” Maggie called.

The door opened and a maid, Anne, curtseyed before them both. “Good afternoon, milady,” she said politely, “Mr Montgomery. How may I be of service?”

“Good afternoon, Anne.” Maggie smiled at her. “Could we please have a pot of tea?” Maggie asked politely. “And could you please tell Mrs Norton that we are without His Lordship for dinner but Mr Montgomery will be staying?”

“Certainly, milady.” Anne nodded. “Will that be all?”

“Yes, thank you, Anne.” Maggie dismissed her. “You will be staying, won’t you?” she asked Max, raising her eyebrows.

“I won’t refuse a nice meal,” Max replied.

Maggie then remembered that Max had been interrupted by Anne’s knocking. “What were you saying before?”

He shook his head and closed his eyes. “Never mind.”

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Don't worry, Max will have his moment in the future, a rather dramatic one at that ;) There will be jealousy from both Maggie and Max once they get to America and when she sees another young lady paying Max some attention, I'm thinking she will wake up a little. But don't be too hard on Maggie's blindness. I once had a really close guy friend who I never saw as anything but a friend and I thought he felt the same. Until one day he told me that he liked me and I was blind sided. I had NO idea, so in writing Maggie I know what it's like to see what you want to see instead of what's in front of you, you know? But alas, that friend moved to Queensland and we have remained just friends :P I live in Victoria which is down the bottom of Australia and Queensland is directly north in case you didn't know. Lovely place to holiday but I couldn't live there. Too hot! 

I am the most clumsy person you will ever encounter, to a point where the most common word spoken in my house is me shouting "OWWW!". Just toay, I have banged my hip on a door handle, punched a wall by accident while folding a blanket, elbowed the oven and stubbed my toe on my bed. Then next you have the "DAMN IT!" which is reserved for whenver I get in the shower with socks on or pour cereal only to realise there's no milk, or whatever I'm eating spills down my front. 

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter :) Vote and comment!!