Jason had called him out for it. During the duel Robertson had fired before the count was finished. Jonathan and Phillip had been with him at the time and were part of the group of veterans and friends who had pursued Robertson. He was forced to flee into exile in Europe for his perfidy. It looked as if he had returned.
The news caused both Jonathan and Phillip to drop the subject of Maggie’s new knowledge.
“Are you sure?” Phillip asked him, dumbfounded that Robertson would have the audacity to return.
“Fairly certain.Our source is quite reliable, Tom Flanders, the sergeant in Hofstedtler’s company.”
“Why? What can he hope to gain by his return?” Jonathan wondered aloud. “Surely he knows we’ll be hunting for him.”
Tony leaned forward, all amusement wiped from his face. “Knowing that we will kill him should have been a deterrent. Whatever his reasons, I’m very uneasy about it.” He sighed deeply. “We wanted to warn you, since he knows you’re with us. He may hope for some type of revenge, and now, with Maggie, well…” He left the thought incomplete, but all there knew what he meant. Robertson had a history of abusing women to get even with their men.
By now, several of the gentlemen in the room had joined them. Derek Knightly, who had also been part of the force searching for Robertson, spoke up.
“By God, if he dares to touch another of our women, he will suffer.” His voice fairly vibrated with his anger. His companion Ian Witherspoon lightly touched his arm, calming him.
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“Settle down, Derek. We don’t know why he’s here or even if he’s still here. He has some investments and properties. Perhaps he’s merely here to see to some business, quietly, and then leave again.” Ian looked at Jason inquiringly.
“It’s a possibility,” Jason responded, “one we’re looking into. People have been notified and are on the lookout for him. He’ll either be on a boat to the continent or in our hands before too long.” He glanced toward the French doors through which Kate and Maggie had left. “But until then, be alert.”
* * * * *
As soon as they reached the terrace, Maggie broke away from Kate, and on shaky legs walked over to the stone bench running along the balustrade. She fell onto the seat, her thoughts tumbling through her mind, making her feel dizzy.
“Are you all right, my dear?” Kate asked gently, coming to sit down next to her.
“I…I don’t know what to say,” Maggie whispered, trying to look at Kate but unable to, her cheeks bright red. She didn’t want to hurt Kate’s feelings or embarrass her by saying something inappropriate.
“About Jason and Tony?”Kate asked in the same gentle tone.
Maggie’s head swung around quickly and she gaped at Kate. She wanted to discuss this? Maggie was practically a stranger to her, why would she embarrass herself so?
Kate looked anything but embarrassed. Her gaze was one of concern, but concern for Maggie, not herself. She looked almost proud, definitely defiant, even satisfied. Maggie turned fully toward her as an idea took shape.
“This is what this whole dinner party is about, isn’t it?” she asked, not sure how she felt about being manipulated this way. “Phillip and Jonathan brought me here so you could talk me into accepting their little ‘relationship’.” Her voice had hardened as she spoke, and her eyes now flashed fire.
Kate sighed. “Yes, I’m afraid so, in a way.”
Maggie interrupted before she could go on. “Well, it won’t work. I’m not that kind of woman.” She sat ramrod straight on the bench, glaring into the drawing room, wishing the thick curtains were open so Phillip and Jonathan could see her glare at them.
Kate rested her hand on Maggie’s sleeve. “My dear, please, it’s not like that. They merely hoped I might talk to you about what it’s like, to be loved by and to love two
The news caused both Jonathan and Phillip to drop the subject of Maggie’s new knowledge.
“Are you sure?” Phillip asked him, dumbfounded that Robertson would have the audacity to return.
“Fairly certain.Our source is quite reliable, Tom Flanders, the sergeant in Hofstedtler’s company.”
“Why? What can he hope to gain by his return?” Jonathan wondered aloud. “Surely he knows we’ll be hunting for him.”
Tony leaned forward, all amusement wiped from his face. “Knowing that we will kill him should have been a deterrent. Whatever his reasons, I’m very uneasy about it.” He sighed deeply. “We wanted to warn you, since he knows you’re with us. He may hope for some type of revenge, and now, with Maggie, well…” He left the thought incomplete, but all there knew what he meant. Robertson had a history of abusing women to get even with their men.
By now, several of the gentlemen in the room had joined them. Derek Knightly, who had also been part of the force searching for Robertson, spoke up.
“By God, if he dares to touch another of our women, he will suffer.” His voice fairly vibrated with his anger. His companion Ian Witherspoon lightly touched his arm, calming him.
Page 31
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“Settle down, Derek. We don’t know why he’s here or even if he’s still here. He has some investments and properties. Perhaps he’s merely here to see to some business, quietly, and then leave again.” Ian looked at Jason inquiringly.
“It’s a possibility,” Jason responded, “one we’re looking into. People have been notified and are on the lookout for him. He’ll either be on a boat to the continent or in our hands before too long.” He glanced toward the French doors through which Kate and Maggie had left. “But until then, be alert.”
* * * * *
As soon as they reached the terrace, Maggie broke away from Kate, and on shaky legs walked over to the stone bench running along the balustrade. She fell onto the seat, her thoughts tumbling through her mind, making her feel dizzy.
“Are you all right, my dear?” Kate asked gently, coming to sit down next to her.
“I…I don’t know what to say,” Maggie whispered, trying to look at Kate but unable to, her cheeks bright red. She didn’t want to hurt Kate’s feelings or embarrass her by saying something inappropriate.
“About Jason and Tony?”Kate asked in the same gentle tone.
Maggie’s head swung around quickly and she gaped at Kate. She wanted to discuss this? Maggie was practically a stranger to her, why would she embarrass herself so?
Kate looked anything but embarrassed. Her gaze was one of concern, but concern for Maggie, not herself. She looked almost proud, definitely defiant, even satisfied. Maggie turned fully toward her as an idea took shape.
“This is what this whole dinner party is about, isn’t it?” she asked, not sure how she felt about being manipulated this way. “Phillip and Jonathan brought me here so you could talk me into accepting their little ‘relationship’.” Her voice had hardened as she spoke, and her eyes now flashed fire.
Kate sighed. “Yes, I’m afraid so, in a way.”
Maggie interrupted before she could go on. “Well, it won’t work. I’m not that kind of woman.” She sat ramrod straight on the bench, glaring into the drawing room, wishing the thick curtains were open so Phillip and Jonathan could see her glare at them.
Kate rested her hand on Maggie’s sleeve. “My dear, please, it’s not like that. They merely hoped I might talk to you about what it’s like, to be loved by and to love two
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