Chapter Two
As soon as her office door clicked shut, Margaret allowed herself a heavy sigh. She set her journal to the side, having re-read the same sentence at least five or so times while Mr. Boone glared at her from across the desk.
“Thank goodness he’s respectful to authority,” she mumbled under her breath.
If he wanted to, Margaret was certain he could snap her arm/limb with a simple twist of his wrist, but Mr. Boone showed incredible restraint time and time again, even though she knew full well how often he disagreed with her choices.
‘Men are truly an enigma.’
With a sharp exhale, Margaret sat upright in her chair, carefully running the palm of her hand across her hair in search of loose strands.
There was far too much on her schedule today, and she could hardly spend it thinking of a simple man.
She pulled a stack of documents toward her instead, readying her pen as her eyes scanned across endless paragraphs of legal jargon.
“More land claim submissions,” she said softly, twirling her pen absentmindedly between slender fingers. For a long moment, Margaret stared at the signature line, a strange twist beginning to form in her stomach.
“Ridiculous.” She pushed the paperwork aside, unconsciously beginning to tap her pen against the desk.
The storm growing in her head came to a halt at a knock on her office door, but before Margaret could speak, the person had already invited themself inside, sparking a note of irritation inside her.
He was clearly a gentleman of high standing, his vest and overcoat freshly pressed with a number of gilded buttons sewn neatly in place.
His expression, a pleasantly polite smile, hid a hint of smugness, something Margaret always found in the faces of those who held themselves in high regard.
His posture was pristine, and his moustache and beard were neatly trimmed.
More to Margaret’s interest, though, were his hazel eyes; a sparkling green to a casual observer, but muddy brown beneath the surface.
It took everything in Margaret not to give away her displeasure at the man’s presence. Instead, she adjusted her own posture and offered something akin to a warm greeting, had it been left outside in the dead of winter.
“Greetings, Nathaniel. What a surprise. I hadn’t expected to be paid a visit today.”
A rumbling chuckle escaped Nathaniel. “I simply couldn’t help myself. You know you’re my favorite of our cousins, Margie!”
Margaret resisted the urge to scowl at the unpleasantly infantile nickname.
“I am your only cousin, Nathaniel.”
His grin elicited further irritation. “Oh, I know. But even if there were well over a dozen of us, you would still be the highest on my list.”
She resisted the urge to grimace.
“Though in truth, I come to you today with the humblest of apologies.” Nathaniel’s smile fell terribly, as if he were genuinely overwhelmed with the weight of his dour feelings.
“I only recently received the news of dear Uncle Silas’ passing.
To think I missed his funeral due to the tardiness of my mail!
Shameful on my part, truly, to leave you alone in such a tumultuous time. ”
Margaret’s eyes threatened to roll out of her skull, but she kept them fixed on her cousin. “You should speak with your local branch about the matter.”
“An excellent suggestion, dear cousin! I shall store it away for a later date.”
Margaret continued to stare, the corner of her own lip threatening to twitch as she fought to keep control of her expression.
“Though I would enjoy sharing all Helena has to offer, I’m afraid I have quite a bit of work to do, Nathaniel.”
“Ah, yes. I imagine you do.” Nathaniel strolled further into her office, ignoring the wooden chair completely as he rounded her desk and peered over her shoulder.
Margaret’s hand instinctively moved to cover the details of the various documents, though her cousin seemed more interested in the signature line.
“Uncle Silas left quite a few unfinished projects in his untimely passing, I see.”
He had not.
“Simply the nature of my work, I’m afraid,” Margaret replied stiffly.
A patronizing gasp passed Nathaniel’s lips. “Goodness, but you intend to run the Montana office all by yourself, Margie? What did the higher-ups have to say about that?”
Margaret’s fingers curled slightly at the nickname, wrinkling the paper underneath her hand. “I’m afraid you’ll have to be more specific, Nathaniel.”
He leaned back on his heels, offering a casual shrug of his shoulders before explaining himself.
“Well, it was certainly no issue while your father was the de facto administrator, but his passing has left a rather large legal hole, hasn’t it?
After all-” He offered a sympathetic smile, one which set Margaret on edge immediately.
“It’s one thing to allow his unwed daughter to help with secretarial matters, but do you think your signature holds as much weight as his once did? ”
Margaret’s face remained as stiff as ever, even as the knot in her stomach tightened. “No one seems to have had a problem with it thus far.”
“Oh, of course not! I pity the man who’d interrupt a poor woman’s grievances.
” It was barely perceivable, but the slightest flicker of malice crossed Nathaniel’s well-to-do smile.
“But the time for mourning will soon pass, dear cousin, and business will have to continue onward. Montana needs a Federal Lands Administrator, one with as much legal sway as Uncle Silas once had.” He brushed an unseen wrinkle from his coat, his smile widening considerably.
“That’s why I’ve traveled so far today! I can’t imagine you’ve had time to look for a proper successor to your father’s legacy, and as such, I’ve taken it upon myself to offer my person on the metaphorical chopping block.”
“How…courageous of you.” Margaret swallowed a considerable amount of venom, though she noted a drop had still managed escaped into her tone.
She took a calming breath, forcefully pushing the documents aside as she stood to speak with her cousin eye-to-eye.
“But I’m afraid your considerable sacrifice is not so simply accepted, dear cousin.
Claiming a position based solely on one’s hereditary ties works wonders in England, but alas, we find ourselves in the United States of America. ”
Her cousin’s expression brightened as if Nathaniel had been waiting for her to say those words.
“Oh, of course, Margie! And what a wonderful country we are part of, so dedicated to ensuring the proper people are put into power.” He then produced a large envelope, visibly bulging from the number of papers tucked neatly within.
“Before I traveled westward I had a few of my closest investors and political associates transcribe testimonies of my service to them. I’m certain your board of directors will find them quite satisfactory.
Each is as glowing a recommendation as the last!
Margaret stared at the thick envelope for a beat longer than she should have.
Her hands moved instinctively, taking the documents from her cousin without thinking of the consequences.
As she pulled the folder to her chest, Nathaniel took it as an invitation to close the distance between them.
His smile registered to her as that of a predator who’d just cornered his prey.
“How old are you now, Margaret?”
Her mind went uncharacteristically blank.
“Given that I’m nearly into my forties, you’d have to be close to thirty yourself, yes?
” Nathaniel’s eyes gleamed hungrily, venomous green shimmering through the typical veil of mud.
“Goodness me. I can’t imagine you’re content with spinsterhood, correct?
A lady with of your background should be out in society, not chained to a working man’s desk. ”
Margaret’s heart threatened to crash through her ribcage.
He was close–entirely too close–and every instinct screamed at her to shove Nathaniel firmly in the chest, to put a reasonable distance between them once more.
But she couldn’t. He’d win if she showed even a hint of discomfort.
Instead, Margaret tilted her chin upright, keeping her eyes locked onto her cousin’s as she tempered her tone.
“Your concern for my social life is greatly appreciated, Nathaniel. However, I’m afraid the tardiness of your mail has once more inconvenienced you.”
The pressure Nathaniel once had dissipated slightly.
“Is that so?”
Margaret straightened her posture, daring to lean forward, and delighted to see her cousin pull away. “It’s such a shame, too. I thought the letter I wrote made my point quite eloquently, but I suppose spoken words will do just fine.”
Nathaniel stepped back, crossing his arms loosely over his chest as genuine curiosity slipped across his face. “Well? Don’t tease me, dear cousin! Have you exciting news to share?”
Did she? Margaret had spoken without clearance from her mind, but she was once more on equal footing with her cousin.
It was terrifying– even strangely exhilarating–but she didn’t dare lose hold of the advantage she’d unintentionally given herself.
And so she spoke without consideration one more, allowing herself to say the very first thing that came to mind.
“I do, as a matter of fact. Your favorite cousin was proposed to not long ago, and that cousin happened to accept the gentleman’s terms.”
A moment passed between the pair, allowing Margaret the chance to fully process what she had just said.
She kept her expression neutral, knowing full well that if Nathaniel noted any sign of panic on her end he wouldn’t hesitate to strike.
The silence stretched on, and Margaret clenched her teeth, still holding her expression.
Then, finally, Nathaniel’s expression broke into a wide grin.