Part 16 (2/2)
He paused over the brandy decanter. ”Did you really expect me to?”
”I would have been surprised if you had,” she told him. And disappointed, she said to herself. ”I wasn't even gone a year.”
”Six months can be a lifetime if you want it to be.”
”I know.”
Barnabas and Julia heard the voices from the drawing room when they entered the house. Seeing Maggie, Julia looked quickly at Barnabas. Until he had gone into parallel time, he had been quite close to this woman who so strongly resembled Josette. Was the attraction still there? Or had his discovery about his feelings for Angelique ended it, she wondered.
”Julia. Barnabas.” Quentin looked at Julia, read her concern in her eyes. His hand tightened on the gla.s.s in his hand as he fought the jealousy that seeing Barnabas with Maggie brought.
”Maggie. When did you arrive?” Barnabas asked.
”Just a while ago.”
”You're looking very well.”
”Thank you. It's because I'm back home.”
Julia took the conversation. ”You didn't like Europe?”
”Of course. Especially Paris. But the only person I knew at all was Sebastian, and I so seldom saw him. I was homesick. Now that I'm home, I don't intend to leave again.”
”I hope you mean that,” Elizabeth said from the doorway.
”Mrs. Stoddard.”
”Welcome home, Maggie.”
”Thank you. I know I haven't any right to ask, but is my old position still open?”
”It is. And it's yours - if you want it.”
”I do. I'm sorry about running off the way I did -”
”There's no need to say anything more about it. You're back now and that's all that matters.”
”I hope Mr. Collins agrees,” she said, referring to Roger.
”I think I can handle any objections my brother might have,” Elizabeth a.s.sured her. ”Where is your luggage?”
”I rented a car in Bangor - it's in the drive.”
”David, do you think you could get them for her?”
”Sure.”
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