Augusta was surprised and pleased by the strength of Maisie's passion. This was working out perfectly, despite the bad beginning. "What are you going to do?" Augusta asked.
Maisie struggled not to cry. "I shan't see him anymore. You may yet destroy him, but you won't have my help."
"He might come after you."
"I shall disappear. He doesn't know where I live. I'll stay away from the places where he might look for me."
A good plan, Augusta thought; you'll only need to keep it up for a short while, then he will go abroad and be away for years, perhaps forever. But she said nothing. She had led Maisie to the obvious conclusion and now the girl needed no further help.
Maisie wiped her face on her sleeve. "I'd better go now, before he comes back with the doctor." She stood up. "Thank you for lending me your dress, Mrs. Merton."
The housekeeper opened the door for her. "I'll show you out."
"We'll take the back stairs this time, please," Maisie said. "I don't want--" She stopped, swallowed hard, and said in a near-whisper: "I don't want to see Hugh again."
Then she went out.
Mrs. Merton followed and closed the door.
Augusta let out a long breath. She had done it. She had stunted Hugh's career, neutralized Maisie Robinson, and averted the danger from David Middleton, all in one night. Maisie had been a formidable opponent, but in the end she had proved too emotional.
Augusta savored her triumph for a few moments then went to Edward's room.
He was sitting up in bed, sipping brandy from a goblet. His nose was bruised and there was dried blood around it, and he looked somewhat sorry for himself. "My poor boy," Augusta said. She went to his nightstand and damped a corner of a towel, then sat on the edge of the bed and wiped the blood from his upper lip. He winced. "Sorry!" she said.
He gave her a smile. "That's all right, Mother," he said. "Do carry on. It's very soothing."
While she was washing him Dr. Humbold came in, closely followed by Hugh. "Have you been fighting, young man?" the doctor said cheerily.
Augusta took exception to that suggestion. "He certainly has not," she said crossly. "He has been attacked."
Humbold was crushed. "Quite so, quite so," he muttered.
Hugh said: "Where's Maisie?"
Augusta did not want to talk about Maisie in front of the doctor. She stood up and took Hugh outside. "She left."
"Did you send her away?" he demanded.
