Maggie looked over at David and Freddie and winked. “Like that” and not “like that,” she thought. David winked back. After all, Chuck and Nigel, not to mention Ernst, didn’t know David’s secret.
Nigel refilled everyone’s champagne, and Chuck served bread and apple pudding, with mock cream. When the plates were cleared, Chuck smothered a prodigious yawn.
“I think,” suggested Mrs. Greene, “we should leave the young parents now. I’ll take care of the dishes, my dear,” she told Chuck. “You go and lie down while you can.”
“Miss Hope,” John said to Maggie, rising.
Oh, so we’re back to “Miss Hope” now. Maggie nodded. “Mr. Sterling.” Well, at least that’s over with, she thought, her heart thudding.
She realized that the champagne, on an empty stomach with only a few bites of cake, had gone to her head. The room was tilting at an odd angle. Stop it, room.
In the foyer, everyone kissed Chuck and Nigel goodbye. “Here are your things, Maggie,” Chuck said, handing Maggie her hat and gloves.
The group made it through the front door, and then with more goodbyes, to David’s parents and Ernst, it was just David and Freddie, and Maggie and John, left standing on the pavement. “Rose and Crown, anyone?” David asked, to break the silence.
“Why, David Greene, I do believe you’re trying to get me drunk!” Maggie said with forced gaiety. She sounded like a tipsy Scarlett O’Hara.
“Since I can’t drink for a while, due to my still-healing liver, someone should do the honors for me.” David offered her his arm. “Shall we?”
At the Rose and Crown, their haunt when they’d all worked together at Number Ten, David ordered drinks. Maggie downed her half-pint, then reached over for David’s and downed that as well. She set the glass down with a thump. Her head was spinning. “Get me another, love?” she said to David. Then, to the group, “I think I’ll just step out for a moment—get a little fresh air.” Freddie, David, and John all rose as she stumbled to her feet.
“Would you like some company, Maggie?” Freddie asked.
“Oh, no, Freddie darling, I’ll be fine. Just need a minute or two. A bit stuffy in here is all.” She put her arm on his. “Have I ever told you how happy I am for you, Freddie?” she slurred. “Love—it’s so lovely to see people in love. I love love.” She kissed him noisily and then, carefully, made her way to the entrance.
There, on the bench outside, sat Hugh.
“You!” Maggie exclaimed, managing to sit beside him without falling. “What are you doing here?”
“It’s my business to find people, remember?” he replied. “And I wanted to talk to you before you left. I heard about Scotland—wanted to say goodbye is all.”
“Well, well—it seems that everyone in London now knows I smoke, have a bullet lodged somewhere inside me, and that I’m going to Scotland.”
He studied her closely. “Are you all right?”
“I’ve just had a bit much to drink. Not enough food …”
“A deadly combination,” Hugh said, putting his arm around her and pulling her close.
Maggie knew his having his arm around her was wrong. It was also wonderful. She didn’t know how she felt about him anymore. If she encouraged Hugh, it would give him the wrong idea. She still had feelings for Hugh, but she didn’t want to use him to feel better about John’s breaking things off with her. She was, in a word, confused.
“Maggie, please,” he whispered in her ear.
He smelled good, like bay rum. And it felt good to be held. But, still, it wasn’t fair to him. She was broken. She was damaged. She was of no use to anyone.
“Please,” Hugh repeated, his arms around her, holding her closer.
“No, Hugh,” Maggie said clearly. She was beginning to feel nauseous. The edges of her vision began to blur. My mother, Elise, Gottlieb, that German boy, the little Jewish girl …
“I love you, Maggie.” Hugh’s lips touched her cheek, then moved to her throat. Maggie felt a sudden panic. She realized how drunk she was, how out of control the situation was getting. This was not going to end well.
“Hugh, I said no!” Maggie pushed him away.
Suddenly, there was a tall figure standing beside her. “The lady isn’t interested.”
It was John, glowering. Hugh stood and met his gaze.
Maggie couldn’t take any more. “I think I’m going to throw up,” she announced. Her stomach contracted sharply, and she doubled over. She stayed leaned over, not sure if she could right herself without passing out. Not sure if she ever wanted to right herself. Then her stomach contracted again.