His American Fling (26 page)

“Maggie, this is my sister, Penelope, and my nephew, William.”

Maggie held out her hand and smiled, mostly at the child, “Hi.”

Fiona winced, correcting Maggie indirectly, “Yes, Lady Penelope has two children. The one sitting politely reading is Thomas.”

The child looked up and nodded royally at Maggie, as if to dismiss her.

“Hello, Thomas.”

Gemma, her voice controlled yet pointedly condescending, turned to Maggie, “Maggie, dear. It was so nice of you to come, but as you can see, we have plenty of supporters. We’ll see you when this is all over.”

Maggie waited to see what Campbell was going to say. He said nothing,
continuing to look down at the shoes, steeped in thought.  It was Fiona who walked over to Maggie’s side.

“Oh, Gemma, Maggie is with me.  I asked her to come.”

Gemma couldn’t control the contempt on her face for Fiona, so she looked away.  Fiona actually let out a little snort. Turning to face Maggie, Fiona gave her a look that told her to ignore Gemma. But Maggie didn’t look convinced.

Fiona leaned in and whispered, “Mags, hang in there.”

Maggie stood off to the side, wondering if Campbell was going to say anything to her other than to make introductions. He had a conversation with his sister and Gemma about something to do with the estate. Gemma took out her cell phone and went jauntily down the hall towards the elevator.

Campbell turned to his mother and
sister. “Penelope, please take mother down to the cafeteria and feed her. I’ll wait and go down when you return.”

Penelope and his mother seemed to defer to Campbell without any argument. They gathered the children and started for the elevator.

Fiona turned to Maggie. “I’m going to go down and get a quick snack myself, you stay here and I’ll bring you up something.”

Maggie started to protest, but Fiona gave her a quick glare, stopping Maggie in her tracks.  Fiona went off, running to catch up with Campbell’s sister and mother. Maggie stood silently, watching a hunched over Campbell with his back leaning against the wall. He sighed so heavily, Maggie thought he might be crying. She walked over, put an arm out and touched his shoulder. He turned to her and buried his head in her neck, grabbing Maggie up in his arms.

Maggie automatically reached around him, holding him close and letting him just fold himself into her. He held onto her like a mast in a storm. 

“Maggie. What am I going to do?”

“Campbell, it will be alright, you’ve always known that this would happen. It’s hard, but when my parents died, I got through it.”

“He’s always been larger than life. I can’t live up to him. Me the Earl of Falkirk? I
can’t be
the Earl of Falkirk.”

“I doubt that anyone thinks they can live up to their parent’s shadow. But you will. You already have Campbell. You’re an incredibly gifted doctor, recognized around the world for your work and knowledge in infectious diseases. You managed to identify a problem in the dorm, one that could have made a lot of people ill or worse. You are a remarkable man.  You command everyone’s respect at work.  Henry tells me that when you speak, the entire board at the hospital listens. Everyone says that you are a natural born leader. Campbell, your grief is understandable, but never under estimate your abilities. You’re going to be a wonderful Earl.”

Campbell squeezed Maggie so tight she thought she’d have to cry out for him to stop, but he finally let up. “Mags, thanks for coming.  When I saw you coming towards me, I was worried. I don’t have the stamina to run interference with Gemma right now. But, I was also chuffed to see you again, especially after the way it was left.”

Chapter 15

The Battle of 1812 Was a Draw

We heard footsteps so he pulled away from me just as Gemma turned the corner. She eyed me suspiciously as she rushed up to Campbell.

“I’ve made arrangements for the solicitor and the estate manager to meet you down here in the morning darling.”  She stroked his back. “Maggie, Fiona might not say this, but really, there’s no need for you to be here. Let me pay for a cab to take you back to Campbell’s.”

Knowing that Campbell wanted me there gave me a boost in my self-confidence. I saw Fiona coming down the hall with a sandwich and drink for me. I turned back to Gemma. “You know
Gemma; I think I’m going to stay. I’m Campbell’s friend and I want to offer my support, just like Fiona.” I knew she’d never have the courage to suggest that Fiona should leave.

She clenched her jaw, “You are a bit of fluff, a piece of ass, a social buffoon. Leave while you still have a shred of dignity to claim.”

Campbell and Fiona were about to step in, but I put my hand up and smiled. “Gemma, I don’t mind you talking if you don’t mind me not listening.  I didn’t understand what Campbell sees in you, but Campbell’s smart, polite and cultured and they say opposites attract so I guess it makes sense.”

“You are insolent!”

I wrinkled my nose and shook my head, “I’m tired of your remarks. You should do some soul-searching, maybe you’ll find one. But, in the meantime, I’m staying because Campbell wants me to stay. If you have a problem with that, then we can go outside and I’ll show you how we won in1776.”

Gemma’s mouth fell open as she looked to Campbell for support, but Campbell was too emotionally exhausted to get into it with her. He shook his head slightly and walked away.

Gemma turned to me and clenched her teeth. “You Yanks think you own the world.  Well, when it came down to it, he came back to me, didn’t he?”

“From what I heard, you came running back to him to get a
title. But, for now Campbell just needs support and I plan to be here to give him that.”

“He doesn’t need the stress between you and me, so if you really care about him, you’d leave and we can sort this all out at a later date.”

“Why don’t you leave?”

“Because I am his current girlfriend.”

Sadly, she had a point.  I looked over at Campbell and realized I wasn’t helping by standing my ground. He had enough to sort out without having me embroiled in a cat-fight with Gemma. He stood with his head tilted down, his hand covering his forehead as if he had a massive headache.

Since I did care about him, I had to admit that Gemma had a point. More importantly, I still didn’t know where I stood with Campbell not to mention that there was the question of where I stood with Henry. If Campbell wasn’t going to step up to the plate, then I wanted to see where my relationship with Henry might go. But, then again, this Sophia was a specter hanging over Henry and me.  It was all so convoluted, but paramount was that Campbell didn’t need to sort his feelings out over me at this very moment. He needed to deal with his family.

I didn’t acknowledge that she was right. I simply walked over to Campbell and asked him if I could talk to him in private for just one minute.  He sighed, knowing that Gemma would probably throw a fit later. He nodded and looked around for somewhere to go to talk. He walked down a corridor, not checking to see whether I was following him or not.

The fluorescent lights shown down on us as we huddled together, heads down to keep the discussion private. He looked up, over my shoulder and put out a hand.

“Gemma, I just need a moment with Maggie, please go back. I’ll join you soon.”

“But…” Her veins were bulging in her neck and her face was flushed with anger. I knew I needed to say something.

“Gemma, I’m just saying my goodbyes. He’ll be with you soon.”

She sulked off just as Campbell grabbed my hand.

“Goodbyes?”  He sounded worried, upset.

“Yes, Gemma’s a cow, but she said one thing that’s true. You shouldn’t have to listen to us bicker over you. This isn’t a discussion that needs to happen now, but if I stay, Gemma will force it.  Campbell, I don’t know what you want or who you want, but for now, you need to table it and deal with your father’s problems. I want to stay, but you and I both know I’m just adding to the stress of the situation.”

He frowned, but nodded. “I am so sorry. I wish you could stay, but Gemma brings a certain comfort to my mother. Mother knows her, knows that Gemma can get certain things done for the family if we need them done. Not that you couldn’t do them, it’s just that you don’t have the local connections.

But he was right.
Gemma had stepped up and filled the void that was created by the situation. I could only observe and console. I looked around, remembering his family sitting in the sea green plastic chairs, the quiet hum of the coke machine, the long faces that said they were waiting for death.

“If something changes or if you really want me or need me here, please call me. I’ll be here as fast as I can.”

“I know we have a lot to discuss and I’m sorry that we have to postpone it for now.  Thank you so much for coming. I’m really glad that you did.”

I reached up and kissed his lips quickly, more like a brush than a full-fledge kiss. He looked quickly around to see if anyone had noticed, but apparently they hadn’t. I went in search of Fiona, finding her sharing a conversation with Campbell’s mother, who had just returned. They looked serious as if they were deciding the fate of England. I motioned to her and she immediately came up to me.

“He was very happy that I came, but as you could see, Gemma and I are butting heads and causing Campbell even more stress.  I think I’ve accomplished what I set out to do, to show my support. I’m going to try and get back to Cambridge. Can you call me if anything comes up?”

“Oh, don’t go Maggie. Don’t let that witch win.”

“I can’t think of this right now as a contest, I’m thinking what’s best for Campbell.  But, thank you Fiona, I really am glad that I came.”

“I’ll give you a ride back to Campbell’s.”

“Just take me to the train station, I’ll catch a train.”

“Fine.”
 

As we rode to the train station I got up the courage to ask Fiona about Sophia.

“I don’t know what will happen with Campbell, but do you think Henry has feelings for me?”

She stared down the road without responding and then finally, as we pulled into the station next to the curb, she turned and took a deep breath. “Henry will always be in love with Sophia because Sophia reminds Henry of me. Henry has loved me since we were pubescent twits. It’s why I chose Campbell to sleep with the first time. I knew that if I chose Henry, it would just make it harder on him to get on with his life. People
always refer to Sophia as the “Poor Man’s Fiona.”  Henry has feelings for you, but you will never become the Countess of Guilford.”

“It’s not that I want to be the Countess, but why do you say that Henry would never marry me?”

“Sorry Mags. Despite Campbell’s prejudice against Americans, he’s much more likely to follow his heart when it comes to marriage. People think Henry is the modern man, but he won’t marry someone unless they bring something to the table other than good looks, intelligence and wit.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I’m saying that, unless you’re rich or titled or have property, Henry will play with you, but he won’t marry you.”

I must have looked like I’d been hit with a frying pan.

“Don’t look so surprised. Henry’s first wife was extremely rich, ended up paying him to get out of the marriage, not that Henry’s family isn’t rich too. But money is power and Henry’s family is much more concerned with how things look than Campbell’s. Campbell is much more likely to not care about those small details.”

I couldn’t even open the door I was so flabbergasted.

“Oh Mags, I’m so sorry. You look done in.”

“I just realized that I don’t understand what makes you all tick. It’s a culture so foreign to me that you could pass for Watusis as far as I’m concerned. Has Henry ever told you that he loves you?”

“He asks me to marry him once a year at Christmas, like clockwork. He even did it when we were both married, to other people.”

I heard the blood in my ears
whoosh through like a subway. My heart was palpitating. “Do you love Henry?”

She looked out her side window, away from me. “I love him dearly.”

I felt faint. “Am I an idiot? If you love him dearly, why…”

“Why don’t I marry him?”

“Yes.”

“Right now, I’m the Goddess, the unrequited love of his life. But, I know Henry, he covets something for ages, but once he has it, he plays with it and then discards it. I don’t want to be discarded. Besides, I don’t have money or property. Does that make sense?”

“
No!  Are you an idiot? 
If you love him, you owe to both of you to try. My God, you all live in a bubble so insular you can’t even take chances on the unknown. I take chances and I get my teeth kicked in, but at least I know I still bleed. If we pricked you, would you bleed?”

“Oh, let’s not get dramatic.”

“No, heavens let’s not feel anything. It’s so much easier than feeling the pain of rejection. So what if you actually live happily ever after? Too great a risk, isn’t it?”

“My, my, Maggie, you really are a romantic.”

“No, I’m a pragmatist. You can only feel love if you’re willing to get hurt.  Sorry, those are the rules. They suck, but then I didn’t make them.  Bye Fiona, I’ll see you later.”

I jumped out of the car and headed to the ticket booth, still shaking my head and wondering if I even wanted to be a part of a world where what other people thought of you defined who you were, where feelings were denied to insure that this imaginary kingdom continued. After all, what was a title? It was something out of a feudal system that had died centuries ago. As an American, it meant nothing more to me than good fodder for a Merchant-Ivory movie.

As I waited on the platform, I managed to find a seat on one of the three benches that flanked the wall of the ticket booth. It had started raining, but I was underneath the platform’s roof watching the heavy drops splatter on the dust of the train that waited to take people to London. I could smell that iron-like smell that comes from rain when it first starts and knew we were in for a good, heavy storm.

The only thing that was clear to me was that I now felt sorry for Henry. I had been hoodwinked into thinking he didn’t have a care in the world, that life for him was a smooth path with nothing more than a few pieces of gravel to hinder his way. In fact, Henry’s life was a sham and at the root of it was a man that had loved a woman for decades, but had been rejected. What was sadder was that she loved him too, but was afraid that by committing she would eventually lose both his love and friendship. They were even more pathetic than I was.

I went back to Campbell’s and waited up erroneously believing that he would come back to the townhouse. I didn’t realize he was closer to their estate, Robscott Manor, in Saffron Walden and would go there. I waited, but no one called so I went to bed.

Sunday morning the phone rang and I ran down to pick it up, almost losing my balance on the stairs and falling. After stumbling, I managed to get to the phone before the answering machine picked up.

“Hello?”

“Mags, dear?” 

It was Henry.

“Henry, where are you?”

“I’m at the hospital with Campbell.  He asked me to let you know his father died about half an hour ago.”

“Oh, God. Please tell him that I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do?”

“No, darling, not right now.  We’re headed to Robscott Manor to help make the arrangements. Campbell specifically asked me to invite you.”

“I don’t have a car.”

“Oh, yes, that’s right.  Hmmm.  Do you have enough money for the train to Saffron Walden?  I could pick you up there?”

“I can’t miss anymore school. Is Gemma with Campbell?”

“Yes, of course.” He sounded surprised by the question. “Why do you ask?”

“Just that I don’t know what good I’d do being there. I don’t want to cause problems or be a burden.”

“I tell you what. You go to school tomorrow and I’ll keep you informed on what’s going on.”

I nodded at the same time I responded, “Okay. Please tell Campbell…” I stopped. What
I wanted to tell Campbell and what I could tell Henry to tell Campbell were two different things. “Tell Campbell that I’m sorry for his loss and that if I can do anything, bring him anything from home, or …well, whatever, to just call.”

“Righto. I’ll talk to you soon.”

We hung up and I had a nagging feeling that I should have gone, but in reality, I didn’t know what good I could do and I really did need to get caught up in school. The following morning I went to Dean Hopkins and explained about the Earl of Falkirk dying and that I would need time to attend the funeral. He wasn’t that sympathetic.

“It was my understanding that you are dating Lord Guilford and not Lord Adair. I doubt Lord Adair and his family really require your presence in order to make it through these trying times.”
              I was pissed. What did he know about my relationship with Lord Adair?  Nada. I tried to control my temper, “Dean Hopkins, it was Lord Adair who specifically requested my presence. We’re good friends.”