Spring Blossom Read Online Free

And when he returned
to his own chair and sat smiling across the table at her, Maggie
knew without doubt that she had truly found her first love.
    “Now we shall engage in some engrossing
conversation,” she said.
    Alastair stared at her, perplexed and fell
to shaking his head yet again.
    Hunter coughed suspiciously.
    In fact, Maggie proved herself to be an
engaging conversationalist. Although she was still somewhere
between childhood and womanhood, she was nevertheless an
interesting table companion and a credit to her parents.
    For her own part, Maggie found the strain of
maintaining an adult mien quite draining and was feeling wilted by
the time dessert was served. In truth, she would have preferred
being in her bed to struggling through more conversation. She had
already slipped a time or two and said something outrageous. The
last time, her father had scowled in her direction and she had
fallen silent until the men had been served coffee.
    That was her cue.
    “Well, it has been delightful,” she said,
rising to her feet and feeling gratified as both men rose in
unison. “I shall leave you to your brandy and cigars.” Seeing a
strange and unreadable expression in her father’s eyes, Maggie
experienced a moment of doubt “Am I not correct, Papa?” she asked
and knew instantly that she had spoiled her exit. Her eyes darted
to their guest. Then Maggie’s heart seemed to stop, missing only a
single beat before it began to thunder as Hunter Maguire bowed
slightly, and smiled.
    “Good evening, Miss Downing,” he said in his
deep, resonant voice. “And I thank you for the pleasure of your
charming company this evening.”
    Maggie was not certain how to respond to
that and felt it best not to respond at all. And so, blushing
madly, she curtsied and fled the room.
     
     
     

CHAPTER 3

    Maggie Downing slept little that night and
what sleep she did manage to get was fitful at best. In the morning
she had no desire for food and fussed over her appearance during
the time she would normally have spent eating breakfast.
    Deciding she had best not push her luck,
Maggie plaited her hair into a single braid. The style was
practical and more adult than the twin braids she normally wore,
yet not adult enough to earn her a scolding. Satisfied that her
hair would do, she donned an emerald-blue day dress that she had
been told flattered the light blue of her eyes, wishing once again
that she could wear full-length skirts. But wishing was fruitless
when it came to her father’s strict code and, feeling she passed
muster as she exited her room, made her way quietly down the
corridor toward the guest room.
    And just in time!
    Anna was ascending the back stairs, tray in
hand, and walking toward her. Ducking back into her own room,
Maggie closed the door all but a crack and watched as the
housekeeper knocked once on the door to Hunter’s room before
leaving the breakfast tray on the floor in the corridor. Maggie
thought it rude that their guest would not be served properly in
his room, but the priggish Anna would never enter a room occupied
by a male guest. Later she would straighten the bed but not until
Hunter Maguire was well away.
    Maggie eased her head around the doorframe
and watched until the top of Ann’s head disappeared from sight.
    Once she was certain the corridor was
deserted, she darted the few paces to Hunter’s room, knocked on the
door vigorously and stooped to pick up the tray of coffee and warm
cinnamon rolls.
    *
    Hunter groaned softly, his face half buried
in his pillow as he became aware of a knocking at the door.
Normally he was up and cheerfully greeting the dawn, the best time
of the day. But this morning he was reluctant. He cautiously opened
one eye to stare out the French doors. The sun was already high and
bright. He must have been more tired from his journeys than he
realized.
    The sound came again.
    No help for it; he could not lie abed all
day. Reluctantly, he turned over, propping a pillow behind