A Radical Arrangement Read Online Free Page B

thrust the man out of her life, everything would be peaceful again.
    Margaret relaxed and wiggled into a comfortable position under the bedclothes. Now she could sleep, but she would be sure to wake early and catch Philip before the others came down. That way, it would all be settled before her parents could open the subject again.
    * * *
    All the members of the Mayfield household were up betimes the following day. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mayfield had slept badly and woke early and irascible. Their houseguest, Philip Manningham, rose to begin packing his things, for he foresaw that his visit would soon become awkward.
    Margaret was out of bed as soon as it was light, and though her head still gave her some pain, she was washed and dressed by the time her maid brought early tea. She drank it with dogged determination, as if it were medicine, then went out into the corridor and approached Philip’s door. With the morning had come certain doubts about her plan, and great trepidation about this moment. Margaret would never before have imagined knocking at a man’s bedchamber. Only desperation made her do so now, and immediately she began conjuring up awful possibilities. What if Philip were asleep or not yet fully dressed?
    These fears dissolved when he opened the door, completely clothed and obviously wide awake. But the shock and amazement on his face when he saw her were almost as bad. Margaret’s cheeks crimsoned. “Ph-Philip,” she stammered, “I must talk to you. Could you come to the, er, library?”
    His face showed nothing. “I’m rather busy. Can’t it wait?”
    His cold indifference nearly discouraged her, but the alternative was so terrible that Margaret managed to say, “It’s important.”
    Philip looked annoyed. “Very well.” He came into the hall, carefully shutting the door behind him, and started toward the stairs. Margaret, after a moment’s hesitation, hurried after him. They did not speak until they reached the empty library. Then Philip said, “Well?”
    Margaret’s plan was crumbling around her. She could see that Philip’s attitude toward her had changed. Though he had never been an ardent lover, he had treated her kindly and always had a ready smile. Now he did not seem to want to look at her. But once again the threat of the future forced her on. “You…you know what happened yesterday,” she began.
    “I could hardly help it.”
    “Yes. Well…well, Mama is saying that I must marry Sir Justin.” She gazed at him with huge, appealing eyes.
    Philip nodded. “Very right. It is the only possible solution, though distasteful, of course.”
    “B-but I am engaged to you,” wailed Margaret, all her careful arguments falling away in the face of his agreement.
    He stiffened. “You must realize, Margaret, that after what occurred here last night I cannot be expected to continue that connection. I am very sorry, naturally, but…”
    “You are breaking it off?” Margaret sounded dazed.
    “I should think your parents would have told you how it would be,” he replied, almost angry. “It is not my fault. I did nothing.”
    “I thought you wished to marry me.”
    “So I did. It was a good match for us both. But you must see that it is impossible now. I am to have a seat in Parliament next election. I cannot have a wife who… Well, you understand.”
    “I thought you would help me. I cannot marry that man. If we married instead, would it not…”
    Philip looked horrified. He backed away a few steps. “You are not seriously suggesting… It would ruin my career. No one could expect me to… This is all Keighley’s fault. He is the one who must make amends. It is your duty to marry him, Margaret.” The look in her blue eyes was too piteous to be ignored. “I know you don’t like the idea now, but I daresay it won’t be so bad. Keighley is considered very attractive to women, you know. They flock around him in London. And he has a tidy fortune. You’ll be quite comfortable.”
    “