Page 98 of My Highland Rogue
“I should like to see Miss Boyland again. Would that be possible?”
Demands rarely accomplished anything. Sweetness, on the other hand, often accomplished more.
“I shall not take very much of her time,” she added.
Ellison opened the door wider, stepped back, and bowed slightly again.
“If you will remain here, ma’am, I shall inquire.”
“Thank you,” she said, smiling brightly at the man as she sat at the end of the bench.
In a flash he was up the stairs.
She was quite proud of herself. No one looking at her would guess at the level of rage she was hiding at the moment.
First of all, she was tired. The journey from Edinburgh had been long, difficult, and taxing. Although her dinner had been excellent, she was still hungry. She craved a tray in bed and perhaps a snifter of brandy. After that she fully intended to sleep for a day or two.
She had reached her quota of emotion. She wanted no more histrionics of any sort, which made her thankful Abigail had stayed in Edinburgh. She wanted things done the way they should be. She was heartily tired of the world running counter to what she thought was right, proper, and just.
No one should stand between Gordon and Jennifer any longer. They’d both been through too much in the past few years. She certainly wasn’t going to allow Maggie Boyland to be a harpy, when kindness would be just as easy. She didn’t care what kind of resentment Maggie felt for Jennifer; withholding information about Gordon at this point was simply cruel.
Ellison suddenly appeared in front of her.
“Miss Boyland only has a few moments, but she’s willing to spare them for you.”
No doubt Maggie had said those exact words to him. Ellen stood, smiling again.
“How very kind of her.” Hopefully, Ellison did not hear the sarcasm in her voice.
He escorted her up the stairs again and down the corridor. This time the door was closed and he knocked three times before they heard Maggie’s voice.
Ellison opened the door, stepped back, and bowed once more.
She thanked him again with a smile. With a placid expression firmly in place, she sailed into the office. The minute Ellen closed the door behind her, her smile disappeared. When Maggie stood, Ellen shook her head and waved her back into her chair.
“Let’s not mince words, shall we? I don’t want any of your hail-fellow-well-met false cheer. Nor will I pretend to be polite and diplomatic.”
“That would be a welcome change,” Maggie said. “I despise being a hypocrite.”
“As do I. You know where Gordon is, just as you know when he’s due to return. I want that information. In fact, I insist upon it.”
Maggie smiled. “Or what? You’ll shout the house down? You’ll get down on the floor and kick your heels?”
“Yes. Ellison is an excellent porter. He looks large and strong enough to remove any miscreant from the club. No doubt that’s part of his duties. How, though, will he handle the situation with a woman?”
She smiled brightly. “I know, quite well, how to defend myself. Plus, I have a very wicked-looking hat pin in my reticule. I would hate to have to use it on the poor man, but I shall. I shall also scream. That should summon an audience as well. I will simply refuse to leave. Poor Ellison will have to transport me bodily from here, and that surely won’t do the reputation of the Mayfair Club any good. I’m well-known in London. Or at least in financial circles. You see, my husband was a very wealthy man. His word carried a great deal of weight. As his widow, I have somecachet. Whatever would happen if word got out that I was treated badly by you?”
She advanced on the desk. “If you care as much about Gordon as I think you do, you wouldn’t allow his reputation to suffer such a fate.”
Maggie’s lips thinned, a sure sign that her temper was rising. Ellen didn’t care. Besides, it was only fair that Maggie was an enraged as she was.
“Tell me where Gordon is and when he’s returning.”
She sat in one of the chairs before the desk and waved Maggie back into her chair.
“I absolutely refuse to leave until you do. Where is Gordon?”
“I told you. He’s in Edinburgh.”
