His American Fling (32 page)

Fiona looked furtively at Henry, who simply shrugged back. Henry nodded at the butler. “That’s all Walker, you can go. We’ll be down to eat in fifteen minutes.”

“Yes, your Lordship.”  Walker left the room without any hint that he was confused by Fiona taking up residence in Henry’s room.

Fiona looked worried, “She left to go back to Cambridge and Campbell went off to Paris with Gemma without telling Maggie?  Maggie is probably ready to chuck it all in.”

Henry patted the bed. “Come here, I want to look at you.”

Fiona went over and sat on the edge of the bed, smiling, almost laughing at him. “Do you think the servants are completely confused
by now?”

Henry threw his head back and laughed. “My God, I never thought of looking at it that way, but I suspect they are. Do you really think Campbell’s in trouble with Mags? I mean, after all, we all heard Penelope say that he went on a business deal.”

“But taking Gemma? Without running it up the mast? That was very bad form.”

Henry nodded an agreement, “Should we drive into Cambridge and see Mags?”

“Maybe this afternoon. I’d like to run by Audley End and take a look at your house there, see if I can tolerate the place when we’re married.”

Henry grabbed her up in his arms and hugged her. “You’re just marrying me for my money and property.”

“Yes and you’re just marrying me to keep me from shagging Maggie.” Fiona replied.

“Oh, yes, now about that threesome?”

“I suggest you go to sleep because that’s the only time you’re going to get a threesome—in your dreams!”

“Let’s eat and then get going.”

Fiona kissed his cheek. “Jolly good.”

*********************

“Maggie, I’m going to have to stay in Paris for another month to sort things out.”

“With Gemma?” She asked with a definite chill in her voice.

“Yes, with Gemma,” Campbell said it reluctantly.

“Does she know about you and me?”

There was a dead pause.

Maggie nodded to herself. “I see. There is no you and me.”

He whispered into the receiver, “No Mags, that’s not it. She’s just been leaving several hints that if we don’t get married and soon, she’s not going to help me with the estate. It’s a total mess because of my father’s death. We stand to lose half our capital if I don’t pull the irons out of the fire and that could mean most of my mother’s money and Penelope’s too.”

“You’ve been gone a week now and this is the first time you found to call me?”

“I’ve been in meetings almost all day and night.  If I’m not in a meeting, I’m sleeping or bathing.”

“Are you sleeping with Gemma?”

“Technically she’s in the same bed, but we haven’t done anything.”  Campbell lied, knowing that Maggie wouldn’t understand the situation, understand that if he didn’t keep up pretenses, making love to her every so often, he’d lose Gemma and the deal would crumble in his hands. So far, she had steered him through dangerous waters, pointing out various clauses in documents he was about to sign, things his own solicitors had conveniently forgot to talk to him about, their common retort was, “We went over this with your father and it was fine with him.”

Gemma had been his father’s most prized employee, considering she had a
master’s degree from the London School of Economics and had done research at Harvard; she was more than adequately trained for the job. His father had been extremely upset when Campbell had refused to marry her. It meant that the Earl not only lost a prospective daughter-in-law, but probably the only person, outside himself, that knew the estate business.

“Can I come down to Paris to see you?”

“Mags, this entire situation is tricky.  I have to keep Gemma focused on the deal and not on you or our relationship. Please understand, a lot is riding on this.”

There was silence, both of them thinking. “Campbell, you do what you have to do.  I have to concentrate on my finals.  We’ll talk later.”

Campbell whispered sweetly into the phone, “I’ll try to call whenever I can get free. I’m sorry darling. I’ll make it up to you.”

*********************

“At first I tried to get him to ring me back, but he didn’t. When he finally came home, Gemma was in tow and although he called me, he complained that he needed to spend time with the solicitors to settle the matter. Have you heard from him?”  Fiona asked, leaning in over her salad.

“He called me a week after he arrived in Paris and twice while I was in class and couldn’t take the call. I got a very drunk phone call one night, claiming that he desperately wanted to be with me.  But I know he’s sleeping with Gemma.”

Fiona stopped and looked at Maggie, “Are you sure?”

Maggie shrugged, “He said they were in the same bed, but not doing anything. But, his voice sounded like he was covering up something. I think, in order to keep Gemma from scurrying away, he’s acting like they’re a couple—in every sense of the word.”

“Because she knows the business, not because he loves her.”

“Maybe, but if Henry did that to you, would you tolerate it? If Henry and I went to Paris and slept in the same bed—
without you
—how would you feel?”

“I admit that I’d probably be on a plane
to Paris.”

Maggie looked at her, tears in her eyes, “I wanted to, but I didn’t have the money.”

“Maggie, you just have to have patience.”

“Thanks Fiona, but I’m not feeling much goodwill towards men right now. When he got back, I rode by his townhouse on my bicycle and could see lights on, but he never came over to Downing to see me in my new room.” Maggie picked at her fish and chips and sighed into her cell. “Fiona, I called you because I have news for you. I have to go home, my scholarship was revoked—apparently the company sponsoring the scholarship just filed bankruptcy. Dean Hopkins and I tried to find another scholarship to cover my tuition, but we couldn’t find one this late in the semester. I have to go home and file the papers for a student loan, but I won’t get it until after the semester starts. They’ll give me credit at my law school at home and let me start the semester still owing the tuition, but not here.  Downing expects their money before you start the semester. I had a hard time finding a flight I could afford, but I leave January 9th.”

Fiona snapped, “
What? Have you told Campbell?”

“I sent him an email telling him it was
important that I talk to him, but there was no response.”

“Y
ou can’t go!
You’re one of my bridesmaids! Henry and I are getting married in May. You have to be my bridesmaid! You have to stay!”

“Fiona, I have to finish my law degree so that I can take the bar. In May, I’ll just be out of school, preparing for the bar exam. I don’t think I can come back, sweetie.”

“Mags, Henry and I will pay for you to come over. We’ll pay for everything, but I couldn’t think of getting married without you there. It wouldn’t be happening if you hadn’t come over, stuck your nose in our business and ruined our lives forever. We need you there Mags.” Fiona looked very agitated, upset at the thought that Maggie might not come for the wedding.

Maggie exhaled and rolled her eyes to herself. “I guess I could come for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but I couldn’t stay longer.”

“You’ll have to come Thursday. The wedding rehearsal is always on Friday night.”’

“I’ll try to get here Friday morning, there’s a flight that gets in at six am. That’s the best I can do. But, how do I get fitted?”

“Don’t worry; we’ll make the arrangements when it’s necessary. But Maggie, you can’t go home without talking to Campbell.”

“Fiona, I wanted to talk to him, but he’s avoiding me like the plague. I can’t even talk to him to tell him to go to hell. Nigel said he’s back in Europe.”

“Henry said that Campbell isn’t sleeping, he’s stressed out and dealing with some major financial disaster. Luckily, Peter has been working behind the scenes on it, trying to help him. Campbell had to take a year’s leave of absence from Addenbrookes which I know is probably the worst thing in the world for Campbell, except, of course, for you to leave.  If you saw his lights on in Cambridge, why didn’t you go up to the door and knock on it?”

“Fiona, I’m not a doormat. The man slept with me, told me he loved me and then ran off to Paris with Gemma without telling me.  He’s talked to me twice in six weeks, despite the almost daily emails and voice messages I leave him. I’ve decided that he can come and see me if he wants, but I’m not going to go begging.”

Well, Henry and I are going skiing in the Alps; we leave this afternoon from Stansted.  Do you want to use Henry’s place in Audley End?”

“Would he let me? I’m done at Downing and they really would prefer that I vacate the premises so they can get it ready for some Americans who are coming over for a conference during the intersessions.”

“I’ll give you my key. I’m almost done here. I can drive into town and pick you up and then we could drive to Audley End together. That way you can use the car until you leave.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I am. You don’t realize just how much I owe you.”

Maggie giggled. “I think I do.”

They drove to Audley End and pulled into the drive for a modest three bedroom brick home. It was very unassuming from the outside, but quite modern on the inside, very different from the opulence of their London homes. The furniture was sleek, the kitchen had stainless steel appliances and granite counters. The home was beautiful, but not grand. It seemed to be perfect for the two of them.

“You can use the guest room. The third bedroom has been made into an office.”

Maggie didn’t care where she slept.  As she took a look around, Henry showed up.

“Mags!  Where have you been? You just dropped out of sight!”  He reached around
Maggie, hugged her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“Finals.”

Fiona butted in, “Darling, you better hurry. We should have been at the airport a few minutes ago. Mags is going to stay until her flight leaves on Friday. Our poor Maggie has to go home!”  Fiona’s voice was distressed. “Mags’ scholarship ran out, she doesn’t have the tuition for next term.”

“Mags, you should have come to me. I would have sponsored you!  Is it too late?”

Maggie nodded. “I didn’t enroll, gave up my room and my law school at home has agreed to accept me.”

Henry was gathering the luggage, “What does Campbell have to say?”

“She hasn’t told him! The prat hasn’t returned her calls or gone to see her.” Fiona moaned.

Henry stopped in his tracks, “Maggie, he’s in trouble. I know he’s working hard to hold onto everything the family has. One of the business partners saw a weak link when the Earl died and tried to steal the entire deal for himself. If he manages to do it, it will leave Campbell’s family in the hole. I don’t know much more than that, I’m afraid. I just know he’s working very hard.”

“He obviously thinks I’m useless at helping him with his current situation. But, Gemma, on the other hand, is their savior. I’ve given up on the Earl. He needs Gemma, he doesn’t need me.”

“Mags, I don’t know what to say. That’s how they met, Gemma worked for his family, she never stopped working for them. Campbell thought the Earl had fired her when they broke up, but he went behind Campbell and hired her back a few months later.” Henry said as he pushed the luggage to the front door with his leg.

Maggie shrugged. “I have no choice; I have to go home. I can’t wait for him to make a decision.”

They started out the door, but Henry turned to Maggie. “Don’t leave without talking to him.  You owe it to both of you.”

They were gone and Maggie was left with her doubts and a deep sadness. Henry and Fiona were right, she needed to see Campbell and find out where they stood. She decided that when she went up to Cambridge to get her things, she’d stop by to see him, confront him.

Maggie drove back to Cambridge and pulled up in the little drive behind her dormitory. She had already packed most of her
belongings so it was just a matter of getting them out to the car. After eliciting some help from three of her friends in the dorm that were still hanging around for the holidays, she managed to get most of her belongings out to the car but packing the car wasn’t easy since Jaguars don’t have much space in their trunks.  Maggie went back and grabbed the rest of her things and on her way out, handed in her keys to the porters who hugged her and then sent her on her way.

She drove around Campbell’s street, finally finding a parking spot two blocks away. It was already five and it had been dark for two hours already. Maggie had a hard time getting used to it being pitch black by three-thirty in the afternoon during the winter. Locking the car, she grabbed her jacket and gloves as she rushed along the road towards the townhouse. She looked up and could see lights on in Campbell’s bedroom. Swallowing hard, Maggie hit the buzzer and then started preening, hoping she didn’t look too disheartened. At first she didn’t think that anyone would show, but then she saw a shadow behind the second door, the door open to the mud room and then the front door slowly pull back.