by Wendy Vella
All seemed to be going well; the group she stood in swelled in number to include a few young men. Milly watched Mr. Howard enter the room, his eyes searching for and finding Apple-blossom. Seconds later he was striding across the room, weaving around people to get to her.
He then greeted everyone in her circle, before holding out his hands to Apple-blossom. The girl’s smile would leave no one in doubt of where his affection lay. Soon they were dancing.
Milly found the Wimplestows, and they had both watched the scene and were also smiling.
Excellent. She did not want to leave here, but would do so happy that her charge was settled with a man who would love and understand her.
“Well, I have to say that match has our endorsement, wouldn’t you say, Edith. That Mr. Howard is a splendid fellow. Has wonderful legs too. Never saw a man besides the Earl of Ellsworth fill a pair of breeches so splendidly.”
Milly spluttered at the mention of Joseph, and then coughed.
“We may be old, dear, however we are not dead,” Agnes said.
“Old,” Milly managed when she had herself under control. “Neither of you are old.”
They seemed happy with that, and continued their discussion on the guests.
Letting her eyes wander once more, Milly looked for familiar faces, and found Lady English. She would make sure to stay well clear of that woman. Her eyes kept moving until she encountered him. Joseph was standing with his brothers, having just arrived. Several people were rushing forward to greet them. The great earl, Milly thought. Did he hate all the fawning?
She had never given the matter much thought, but perhaps the man she now knew did not like aspects of what came with his title.
Evening dress suited him. Broad shoulders encased in deep blue, white shirt and necktie. White trousers, and black shoes. As he was facing her, she could also see a flash of gold and blue in his waistcoat.
The man was far too handsome.
Pulling her eyes from him, she found Apple-blossom, and was pleased that she was no longer dancing with Mr. Howard, but with another gentleman. While the girl could never be termed graceful, there was a certain beauty in the way she romped about the floor. Her partner certainly seemed to think so. A smile lit his face as he watched her.
Switching her eyes back to the earl, she found him looking directly at her. For a few heartbeats she was caught and held, and then she broke the contact.
“You cannot simply stand here with me all evening scowling, Joseph. It is not done, you will scare all the pretty woman away.”
Joseph gave Charles what he liked to call the Ellsworth eye. He didn’t flinch.
“You are the Earl of Ellsworth. It is expected of you to smile and dance with women.”
“I know who I am, thank you, Charles.”
“He is a hunted species, Rory.” Charles looked to the middle Haddon brother for support. “A man of noble birth, tolerable looks, and a handsome income.”
“Like you,” Joseph said.
“Ah, but I am not an earl, and thankful for it.” Charles clapped him on the back.
“Stow it,” Joseph snarled.
“That had more bite than normal, Joseph. What appears to be the problem?”
“Nothing is the problem, Rory. Perhaps I merely wish to stand with my brother for a while.”
Was she here? Joseph let his eyes sweep the room, and when that yielded nothing, he looked to the corners. He located her standing with the Swinton sisters. He could not see a great deal, as it was dark, but the jolt of awareness when he looked her way confirmed that the woman was Milly.
“It’s that woman... the governess,” Charles said, watching the dancers. “She has had you tetchy since meeting her.”
“I am not now, nor will I ever be, tetchy. Furthermore, I have no idea what you allude to, and would ask you to keep your mouth shut.”
“No, you are definitely not yourself,” Charles added. “In fact, I would go so far as to say you are agitated.”
“Earls do not get agitated,” Joseph said slowly.
“Of course they do. Father was continually agitated when I beat him at chess.”
“I miss him,” Joseph said softly.
“As do we all,” Rory added. “But you more so at this precise moment, because Charles is right, you are agitated.”
“Not one more word from either of you.”
“You are excessively touchy for someone who is supposedly not agitated.”
“Enough, Charles, stop stirring the pot,” Rory cautioned his younger brother.
“I was not stirring the pot!”
“You were, and you had best hurry, as your Miss Bailey has arrived, and Lord Cropper is circling.”
“What? Where?” Charles had started walking before Rory had finished, much to Joseph’s relief.
He watched his brother move in on Miss Bailey, and felt Rory step to his side.
“I’ve been thinking about Miss Higglesworth, Joseph.”
“I thought we just discussed this matter, and it is closed.”
Joseph’s gaze found Milly again. He couldn’t read her expression from this distance, but was certain her eyes were on him. He’d dreamed of her last night. Imagined her gloriously naked and wrapped around him, and the visions had not been conducive to a restful slumber, especially as he was no closer to a decision as to what he should do about her.
“The thing is, Joseph, there was something about her that seemed familiar.”
“No, Rory, there was not.”
“There was, and you know how I am with faces. My memory is far superior to yours, and I have come to the conclusion, after giving the matter a great deal of time—”
“You have the memory of a fish, Rory.”
“Harsh, unless it is a trout. Superior creatures, trout.”
Joseph snorted.
“But we digress.”
“Which I am more than happy to do.”
“Using my considerable brain capacity, I have come to the conclusion that Miss Higglesworth is in fact your ex-fiancée, Lady Millicent.”
“Rory, keep your voice down.”
“Lady Millicent Lawrence,” Rory said softly. “Daughter of the recently deceased Marquess.”
Joseph loved his siblings, but if he was to trust one to keep a secret, it would be the man at his side. Rory could hold his counsel when required.
“She is Millicent Lawrence,” Joseph confirmed Rory’s words.
“She seems puffier somehow, and with the glasses I was not certain, and her face seems different.”
“I think she has something stuffed in her cheeks, and other places on her person.”
“Really? Well, that’s ingenious, but I should imagine uncomfortable when taking tea.”
“Idiot.” Joseph found Milly again; she was talking to the sisters.
“How did you come to make her acquaintance again?”
He told Rory his story and felt relief at being able to do so.
Rory whistled when he finished. “Why was she walking about on the road at that hour?”
“That, I do not know.”
“This must be hard for you after your history with her. Although, I remember thinking at the time that something was off.”
“Off how? I never told anyone why she left me.”
“Off, because I have never known a woman more in love with a man than she was with you. She once told me that she feared one day she would wake from the dream you had placed her in. She laughed at the time, dismissing her words as silly, but I saw the fear that you would not wed her.”
“I loved her,” Joseph rasped.
“Yes, you likely thought you did. But to be fair, her love was much more.”
As his brother’s words had an uncomfortable ring of truth to them, he said instead, “She sent word to meet her early the last morning I saw her. I was then led to believe she was leaving me for another man. A man she loved a great deal more than she could ever love me.” He wasn’t sure why he was telling his brother this now, but f
elt relief to have shared what he’d held inside since finding Milly again.
“Good God, you kept that quiet.”
“It was not something I wanted to speak of, Rory. I was devastated, angry. Then Father passed, and I put her out of my head.” Far too easily, Joseph realized now.
“I miss him.”
“As do I,” Joseph said.
“It was all lies, of course. Millicent Lawrence loved you desperately. One only had to look at her when you were in the room to see that.”
Christ! he could finally see that now with painful clarity. Her declarations of love to him, the small things she’d done to make him see how she felt. She would never have left him unless she was forced to. Joseph had been a fool to believe otherwise. His anger had clouded his clarity.
“What do you plan to do?”
“I don’t know.”
“If she does not already know, then you must tell about her about her father, Joseph.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Lady Millicent has obviously lived a different life for some time. After all, it has been—what? Four years since you last saw her. The changes have been dramatic, and not for the better. I would also stake your stallion on there being no other man.”
“Why are you staking my stallion and not yours?”
“I own a mare. However, the point here is that you need to do something to bring this to a resolution, Joseph, before someone else recognizes her. Especially if you intend to bring her back into society.”
“That decision is not mine alone.”
Joseph felt his brother’s eyes on him.
“You’re still angry with her,” Rory said softly.
“I was angry that she left with another man, but if that is not true, then I am angry that she did not come to me with her reasons for leaving. I could have helped her, stood beside her, or done what needed to be done.” Whatever that was.
“Which suggests that the reasons she ran from you, the man she loved, were very powerful, and indeed life threatening.”
“I think we’ve discussed this enough,” Joseph said, not wanting to continue, because the thought of Milly forced out in the world alone was not an easy one to contemplate. How had she suffered? Had Milly cried alone? Had she been abused and mistreated? The thought made him furious. Had she thought about him?
“As least she is safe for now with the Wimplestow family. They may be unorthodox and....”
“Grubby,” Joseph supplied.
“The very word. But they are kindhearted, and will treat her as part of their family. They have no notion how to treat servants other than as one of their own.”
“It is a trait to be commended.”
“Do you know, Joseph, I believe it is.”
“Keep this information about Milly to yourself for now, Rory. I am unsure how to proceed at this point.”
“Find the truth, Joseph. Should she wish it, she could return to society, especially if she has support from people. Even if it is her ex-betrothed.”
He didn’t add anything to those words, because Joseph had mulled these details over also and come up with no definite solution to the problem.
“Go and dance with Apple-blossom now, brother.”
Rory’s sigh was loud. “If I must. I only wish I had placed reinforcements in my boots.”
Joseph watched his brothers for a while, but knew he would not be alone for long, and so he moved. He walked slowly around the room until he came up on Milly from the right; as luck would have it, her head was turned to the left. She was standing alone, looking like an outcast while around her people chatted and laughed.
“Do you dance, Miss Higglesworth?”
She turned to face him and then took a step backward, placing a good distance between them.
“Good evening, Lord Ellsworth.”
“Do you dance?” he said again.
“I do not. Nor will I, and please leave at once, before someone should see us talking.”
“Why can we not talk?” Joseph knew the answer but didn’t give a damn about it. She was still wearing her disguise. Glasses, padding in the cheeks; it was remarkable how unattractive those things could make her, and yet Joseph still felt a stirring inside him as he looked at her.
“Because we cannot. Now please go away.”
Her eyes were flitting from him to the room and back.
“I’m not sure you should be speaking to me, an earl, like that.”
“I said please, and I wouldn’t need to speak that way if you acted like one.” She almost spat the words at him.
“I would like to address the issue you raised after I kissed you.” He heard the strangled sound she made. She shot him a look, and then she was suddenly still. So still he almost checked she was still breathing.
“What’s wrong?”
“N-nothing. Please excuse me.”
Before he could respond, she’d skirted around him and fled. He started to follow, but had to stop when someone stepped into his path.
“Lord Ellsworth, how wonderful it is to see you this evening. Of course you know my dear Lydia.”
Joseph followed Milly with his eyes until she disappeared, before turning to face Lady Lyon. The woman was a predator, and stalked prey most evenings, hunting for the right man for her daughter. Which, Joseph was determined, would not be him or either of his brothers.
“Lady Lyon, Miss Lyon.”
“Really, my lord. I have seen you with that woman a few times. Surely she can have nothing to say that you wish to hear. Very plain little thing, and as she is Miss Wimplestow’s governess,” she gave a shudder, “well, I believe that is enough said on that front.”
He had to be careful here. There was no way he wanted this viper to know who Miss Higglesworth really was.
“I was just on my way to ask your beautiful daughter for a dance, Lady Lyon, and walked into the Wimplestow governess. My foot connected with hers, and I fear I am a great deal larger. I was merely asking if she was unhurt.”
She trilled, and gave her daughter a look that Joseph could not interpret. In her day she would have been considered a beauty, but no longer. Her personality was etched in each brittle line of her face now.
“Well, of course she would be happy to dance with you,” the woman cried with far more false enthusiasm than was required. The daughter said nothing, just smiled at him in a silly way that made Joseph want to gnash his teeth.
The dance was as boring as he had known it would be. But at least it gave him time to think. What had put that expression in Milly’s eyes? Had he somehow given himself away? Joseph didn’t think so, but something had shocked her. To find out what, he had to locate her.
Twenty minutes later, he was sure she had left, and he had the feeling she was running again—only this time, he would be there to stop her.
Chapter Twelve
He knew! Milly wasn’t sure why she believed this now, but the idea had taken root inside her head and she could not dislodge it. Thinking back over the time she had spent in his company, suddenly everything made painful sense.
Had he been toying with her? The incident with pigs, the kiss; it had all been intended to unsettle and humiliate her.
“He has been deliberately taunting me,” Milly whispered as she hurried out a set of doors and onto the deck.
She couldn’t think clearly. Thoughts tumbled around inside her head like leaves down a road. Dear Lord, she had to leave at once, before he told others he knew she was Lady Millicent, as surely he would as his final act of vengeance. She walked and collected herself, letting the cold air clear her head. Only when she had a plan formulated did she reenter the ballroom.
Locating Lady Wimplestow, she began to put that plan in motion.
“Milly, are you well?”
She looked concerned, and Milly realized the shock must still be written all over her face.
“I must admit to receiving word from my cousin earlier today. It seems my dear aunt is gravely ill. I-I had believed I could wai
t to see her, wait to go to her, but I fear she does not have long, and I wish—”
“Oh, my dear, then you must go to her at once.”
The guilt was so thick she had to swallow before speaking. She did not like deceiving this woman who had welcomed Milly into her home.
“I am so sorry to leave you at such a time—”
“Think nothing of it. Now, I will have the carriage take you home, so you can pack your things and get a good night’s sleep. Where is it you must go to, dear?”
“Sh-Sheffield.”
Lady Wimplestow patted her hand and made soothing noises, which sank Milly deeper into a pool of guilt.
“The stage leaves early in the morning. We will ensure you are on it.”
“I am so grateful to you and your family, my lady. You have been so kind to me... I am unsure if I will return.”
“Then if you do not, we shall miss you dearly, Milly. But know this, my dear, it is we who are grateful to you. You have taught us all so much. And even though it seems a match between my daughter and Mr. Howard is imminent, you have given her the confidence to be the wife she wishes to be.”
Milly swallowed back the tears. She was lying again, lying and running. She was so tired of running away; it seemed to be all she had done since leaving London and Joseph.
“Th-thank you.” She kissed one of Lady Wimplestow’s cheeks
It was really rather easy after that. Lady Wimplestow bustled her outside, and she was then bundled into their carriage and soon heading home.
After she had drunk the cup of warmed milk and brandy Lady Wimplestow had insisted would help her to settle, she lay in the darkness, thinking about what she was once again leaving behind.
“Milly?” Apple-blossom’s head appeared around her door.
“Come in, Apple-blossom.”
She closed the door, and walked in the darkness to sit on the bed beside Milly.
“Mother told me you are leaving, as your aunt is sick.”
“Yes.”
“Is that really the reason?”
“No.” Milly said the word softly, and grabbed the hand that clasped around hers.
“I cannot stop you from going, Milly, and know you have secrets. But will you promise me one thing?”
“Anything.”