shook sand over the paper to dry the ink, and then folded up the missive and sent it to Reginald’s estate with the first footman that appeared to tend the fire that morning. She felt strong, as though doing this one thing for herself had given her courage to do even more in the future. She walked downstairs to the breakfast room with high spirits and shared her toast with Poppy, thinking only of the future.
When her father passed the door on his way out for a tour of the estate, she stood and called to him.
“Would you meet me in the parlour before you leave, Father?” she asked, trying to keep her voice bright. “There is something pressing I wish to discuss with you.”
He paused in the doorway, not even looking in Poppy’s direction. “It should be quick,” he said quietly. “There is much to be attended to today, and I believe that we are expecting a visit from Lord Waddington later.”
Margaret refrained from telling her father how unlikely she considered such a visit to be. She only smiled at him. “It will be quick.”
She sent Poppy into the garden to play on the swing with Carrie and made her way into the parlour.
“Father,” she said. “I also am busy, and so I will keep this conversation as brief and to-the-point as possible. I would not wish to detain you with another of our arguments on the subject of my marriage, and so I will not speak of Lord Waddington at all.”
His face looked rightfully suspicious. “And yet?” he asked.
“And yet,” she went on. “I think it only fair to tell you that I wrote to the gentleman this morning and informed him of what I am about to tell you. I am afraid that any marriage will have to include the child, Penelope. I am willing to give up my own future, but I am unwilling to give up hers.”
“You wrote to break off the engagement?” he cried, losing his cool in a rare moment of obvious rage. “Without asking me?”
“I did no such thing,” she said, though she knew in her heart that the letter had served the same purpose, even if she had done it indirectly. “I am only refusing to give up Penelope. I told him that I would adopt the child, and to be certain that he refrained from any deceptive behaviour, I assured him that a legal guardianship would be in place even before the adoption. He will have to take the child if he takes me. That is my only request.” She adopted an innocent tone. “Father, considering the fact you are signing my life away, I can hardly think a simple child is too much to ask. I’m very fond of her.”
Lord Somerville’s face was white with rage.
“You have ruined your chances,” he said coldly.
“I wouldn’t say that,” Margaret answered, keeping her chin up. “I believe the next move is Lord Waddington’s. Don’t be alarmed, though, if he refuses to come this afternoon as he had originally planned. I imagine that the prospect of caring for a child, when he already has so little to spare, would be overwhelming.”
She spun on her heel and walked into the garden before her father could say another word. He didn’t follow her, blessedly. She wondered what sort of retribution would be waiting for her in the future. But for now, she felt safe enjoying the warm sunshine and the sound of Poppy’s laughter across the garden. She walked over to the child and waved Carrie away.
“I’ll stay with her now,” she said simply.
“If you want,” Carrie said. She hesitated a moment by the little fountain in the centre of the garden before leaving. “My lady?”
“Yes?” Margaret asked.
“I’ve helped with children before,” Carrie said in a soft voice so that Poppy couldn’t hear. “When I was younger I stood in as a nurse for two separate families in the country, and helped with children in a house in the city before your father took me on.”
“I can tell,” Margaret said. “You’re very good with her.”
“That’s just it,” Carrie said with a gentle smile. “With all those children, I rarely saw the parents. My purpose was to keep the children hidden, keep them out of sight and out from under foot. You are with the child as much as your schedule allows, even taking her with you on visits and about town.”
Margaret frowned. “Is that a problem for you, Carrie?”
The maid shook her head. “Not at