Scoundrel With A Noble Heart (sequel of Disgraceful)

Chapter 44

Sometime later, Wagner's skeptical remarks about his feelings towards Arabella still lingered in his mind when Matthew stood in front of Marguerite's bedchamber. He'd bathed and changed into casual clothing before coming upstairs, feeling refreshed and ready to tell Maggie about everything.

"Come in."

At the sound of Marguerite's voice, Matthew felt his resolve weaken a bit, but he steeled himself and turned the knob.

Across the room, Marguerite sat with her back to him, her head bent over the table. She must be working on one of her flower sketches, he guessed by the scribbling sound she made.
"I'm not hungry yet, Mary."
Marguerite said without turning, apparently mistaken him for her maid.

At the familiar sight, suddenly an odd feeling settled over him, like a tinge of sadness. At the moment, it just occurred to him that his reunion with Bella would change everything between them. More or less, it meant at some point he and Maggie would be parting, going on their own separate lives. Thinking about it, he suddenly had a huge lump in his throat. He'd accustomed to having Maggie around, and it felt devastating to not being able to see her every single day.

Still overcome by the sudden, strange feeling, he brought himself to call,
"Maggie."

She turned to look at him over her shoulder, and his heart twisted at the sight of her lovely face. At the moment he realized, it would be a real wrench to leave her after all these years.

Marguerite's eyes widened as she looked at him, and her mouth parted on a surprised gasp. Hastily she pushed away from the table and hurried over to him.

"Matthew, what happened to your face?!"

The question caught him off guard, because he hadn't prepared for the answer.
"I... I got mugged on my way home."

"Good Lord! Are you hurt?"

"No."

Stopping before him, Marguerite reached up to cradle his face between her palms. As she looked up at him, her eyes filled with a genuine concern that made his heart squeeze painfully in his chest. When he was nothing but a stray, it was Marguerite who took him in. When the world had been so cruel to him and nobody would have cared, she was the only one who'd showed him sincere affection, taken care of him with the utmost care and treated him with compassion. Apart from his own mother, Marguerite was the first person to ever make him feel wanted and secure and at home.

Now, looking down at her, he felt a mixture of emotion he couldn't quite fathom. His breath caught at the feel of her soft, gentle finger on his skin as she carefully traced his nose, examining his injury.

"Thank God your nose is not broken. Does it still hurt?"

"No."

"I will get some ice to press on the bruise so it will heal faster."

"No, Maggie. I'm fine. Really."

But Marguerite persisted, urging him to sit on the couch nearby and ringing the maid for some ice and a clean cloth. After the maid brought her everything she needed, she sat beside him and pressed the cold compress gently to his nose. Several moments passed before Matthew cleared his throat and began,
"Look, Maggie. I'm so sorry for last night. I felt bad about not showing up."
He paused. At first he'd planned to break the news about Bella gently to her, but after thinking about it again, it felt like rubbing salt on an unhealed wound. Unable to meet Marguerite's eyes, Matthew swallowed an uneasy knot in his throat and resumed,

"I was about to leave when Mannheim challenged me to play poker with him and some other guys. I decided to play a round or two, but then I got carried away and totally lost track of time."