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all, so I’ll bid you goodnight.’

      When she came over to give him a kiss, he caught her hand, staying her. ‘Had I forgotten you telling me you’d met Mr Hadley in Chellingham?’

      Maggie felt her face redden, and hoped in the dim candlelight, it wouldn’t be apparent. ‘I don’t believe I mentioned it, specifically. Since at the time, I wasn’t sure whether or not I would ever see him again, I didn’t think it important.’

      ‘Nor can I remember you visiting the Ladies’ Gallery any time recently to hear the speeches.’

      ‘I’d been remiss in not visiting sooner.’

      ‘This young man must have made quite an impression on you.’

      So much for thinking she’d got through their little chat without having to explain her interest in Giles Hadley. ‘Yes, Papa, he did,’ she admitted.

      ‘I thought your favour might lie with a different Mr Hadley.’

      ‘George?’ She shuddered, and for a moment, debated telling her father it was almost certain that Mr Hadley had been spying on her. But asking Papa whether he’d authorised such a thing, especially when she was nearly certain he had not, might force her to disclose she’d seen a bit more of Giles Hadley than she’d thus far admitted. Deciding to say nothing, she continued, ‘He may be a good Tory, but I cannot like him, Papa. He’s too…calculating. And completely self-absorbed.’

      Her father nodded. ‘With the wealth and affection Telbridge lavished on the boy, small wonder he thinks of little beyond his own interests. It’s probably just as well he lost his seat. In my estimation, his ambitions rather exceed his abilities.’

      ‘That was my impression,’ Maggie said drily. ‘Unless the measure of a man is the inventiveness of his tailor.’

      ‘Should I be asking Giles Hadley what his intentions are?’

      ‘Good heavens no, Papa!’ she protested, embarrassed by the very idea. ‘Promise me you will do nothing of the sort. Yes, I find Mr Giles Hadley…attractive. An excellent and persuasive orator with unique ideas I would like to hear more about. But that’s all!’

      Her father retained her hand, rubbing the fingers. ‘Would it be so bad a thing if you were interested in…more? I know losing Robbie broke your heart, and whatever happened with Sir Francis hurt you deeply. But it hurts my heart that you are wearing out your youth playing hostess for an old man, instead of enjoying a husband and setting up your nursery.’

      Tears stung her eyes at the mention of those old wounds. ‘I like being your hostess!’ she protested. ‘If you’re tired of having me preside over your table, I can always retreat back to my house in Upper Brook Street, or visit Mama at Huntsford.’

      ‘You know I love having you here! Though your mama would, of course, appreciate a visit.’ He sighed. ‘Sometimes I do feel…selfish, however, for not doing more to urge you to go on with your life.’

      ‘I have gone on with my life.’

      ‘Have you, Puss? Or are you just treading water, holding your place against the current, refusing to allow yourself to be swept into something new?’

      ‘Papa, how poetic!’ And unfortunately, how true. But how could she allow herself to be swept away when she no longer trusted any man to tell her the truth? And even if she could, when she no longer believed a mere marriage of convenience would wash away the lingering ache of loneliness and loss?

      The possibility of opening herself to more—to anything that might cause the sort of devastation she’d experienced after Robbie’s death—was unthinkable.

      A flirtation with Giles Hadley might make you forget it for a while, a little voice in her head whispered.

      Ignoring it, she said, ‘For now, enlivening conversation at dinner by adding an articulate, dissenting voice is as “swept away” as I care to be. Will that suffice?’

      ‘It’s a start,’ he said, patting her cheek. ‘But don’t keep holding your place in that stream for too long. I still have aspirations of bouncing your children on my knee before I’m too decrepit to lift them.’

      Her children. She swallowed hard. ‘I’ll try not to disappoint you. But please, let’s not be tasking Mr Hadley to help me provide you with them just yet.’

      He laughed. ‘Very well, Puss. We’ll have him to dine a few times first. An excellent young man, by the way. Many an individual who suffered the setbacks he endured in his youth would have railed at his fate and become a bitter or frivolous wastrel, marking time until he inherited. Giles Hadley confronted his situation with courage, and with quiet determination and considerable effort, earned himself a place in the governing of this nation. I admire him for that.’

      ‘So do I, Papa. And now I will bid you goodnight.’

      After exchanging a kiss, they both walked upstairs to their bedchambers. But after blowing out her candle and settling back on her pillow, Maggie found she was no longer sleepy.

      What had she really intended to accomplish with her impulsive invitation? To see if Giles Hadley could fit into her world—or she into his?

      Did she want him to ‘sweep her away’? She wanted him. That was certain. Every feminine part of her came to aching, needy life when he was near. The strength of that physical attraction made her only too acutely aware of how much she missed ‘enjoying a husband’.

      But it was a great leap from that to a more serious relationship, one she was nowhere close to being ready to take. Although, she suddenly realised, unlike every other man of her acquaintance, she probably didn’t need to fear that this Mr Hadley would feed her sweet lies to win her favour—or her hand.

      She had no idea what his current income was, but when he inherited the earldom, he would be a very rich man, with no need of her wealth. Though his half-brother George might prize her for her political ties, her Tory associations would be of no assistance whatsoever to the Reformist Giles; indeed, they would be a detriment.

      Wedding her would offer him no real advantage, her only usable attributes—her lineage and breeding—being possessed by numerous other single females. Perhaps she could, cautiously, trust Mr Hadley when he told her how he felt about her.

      And then she had to laugh. Had he not just told her quite plainly he had no interest in marriage? In fact, he’d made that odd comment about not ‘harming’ her by marrying her. As if she were a Tory candidate who would suffer for allying herself with a Reformer.

      She considered the remark for a few minutes before dismissing it, unable to puzzle out the enigma. With neither of them interested in anything serious, perhaps she could let down her guard, feel free to be herself and simply enjoy his stimulating conversation and electrifying presence.

      As for the physical attraction… He had all but invited her to a discreet affair, amicably conducted, no strings attached.

      The very thought of it sent a spiral of warmth and longing through her. Even Aunt Lilly had admitted to ‘amusing herself’ after she’d been widowed. Oh, if only there were a truly safe way to do so!

      But it was way too early in their acquaintance to worry about that. Before one directed a horse towards the highest fence, one must first saddle and bridle him, and get to know his paces. So for now, as she’d told her father, she would stick to the simple enjoyment of listening to his views…and the exquisite, tantalising pleasure of having him near.

      In the late afternoon of the following day, Giles poured a glass of wine for Davie in the sitting room of their suite at Albany. ‘You don’t intend to accompany Ben and Christopher to dine with the committee members?’ Davie asked.

      Not wishing to reveal any more information than he had to, Giles simply shook his head as he handed Davie his glass.

      ‘I

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