Feeling better than she had since the fire, she washed her face and took her pets down to the kitchen for food then asked the kitchen boy Teddy to take them out for much-needed exercise. Teddy was happy for a chance to run outside, and the cook smiled indulgently.
Millie went upstairs, brushing fur off her dress and hoping the rest of the guests were out enjoying the good weather. If she could manage a few minutes to herself, she would write to Uncle Francis and make more notes about the ladies. Preston had wanted to tell her something about Beatrix. She would have to meet with him that evening and find out what he’d learned. Doing her job as an Everton Lady was the most important thing, and now that she’d had a little sleep, her mind was clear. She would not be tempted by Preston again.
In the foyer Mrs. Waxby, the housekeeper, rushed over. She was petite and looked like a good wind might blow her over. Her gray eyes were lit with excitement. “Miss, we have even more company. One of the neighbors has come to call. Oh, I do hope His Grace will have more such parties. So much excitement at Brookhaven these days.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying all this fuss, Mrs. Waxby. I know it’s a lot of work for you and the staff.”
Mrs. Waxby waved off the concern. “It’s nice to have work besides polishing the silver. The entire staff is of a mind. They are in the grand parlor if you’d like to join them. I’m just running to find His Grace.”
“Thank you.” Millie walked to the double doors leading to the parlor. Double-checking her dress for fur, she waited for the footman to open the door and stepped into hell. Gordon Merrifield’s broad chest and knowing smirk blocked the view of the room. Millie waited for her heart to beat again before she fumbled a curtsy. “Mr. Merrifield, this is a surprise.”
“Miss Edgebrook, I didn’t realize you were a member of this party. I only heard that His Grace had guests and thought it would be nice to pay a call.” She was the only one who noted the narrowing of his eyes or his twisted grin.
Trapped between him and the door, she sidestepped and circled around a group of chairs. “I didn’t realize you and His Grace enjoyed a friendship.” The slightest tremor vibrated her voice.
“My estate is only eight miles from Brookhaven.” He had not confirmed a friendship but avoided the implied question. Typical.
“He did not mention your propensity to pay house calls.”
Preston’s warmth infused her from behind, and her panic eased. He must have used other means of entering to have appeared out of nowhere. Brookhaven was full of surprises, as was its owner. His arm brushed her shoulder as he moved to stand beside her. “That is because we have only met a handful of times. Nice of you to call, Merrifield.”
Whatever the two men said to each other was lost in the buzzing inside Millie’s head. Disaster had struck. This was far worse than the incident by the Serpentine. Gordon was in the house, and Preston knew of their history. Soon her secret would be exposed, and she would be finished. No good society would have anything to do with her, and even the Everton Domestic Society would have to abandon her, as they would be unable to send her on assignment.
“I wonder that you have never called on me before and why the sudden interest in my guests?” Preston’s voice was not polite but not quite rude either.
Gordon shifted on his feet and crossed his arms over his chest. “It seemed a perfect time to alter that fact.”
Jacques leaned quietly against the wall only feet from them. He stayed in the shadows like a wolf ready to strike.
The other guests chatted among themselves, and as the host’s voice remained low and nonthreatening, no one else paid them any mind.
“Did you? Well, isn’t that nice. I’m sure my guests will be happy for the distraction of an additional gentleman. May I make any introductions for you? Lady Beatrix Jacoby, perhaps?”
The turn of the conversation had Millie’s head spinning. Then Bea wandered over, and Millie realized Preston must have seen her approach and wanted to be sure she suspected nothing was unusual. Her heart expanded knowing that even after her rejection of him, Preston would still protect her just as he had protected Elinor from scandal years before.
Gordon had no choice but to smile his agreement with the lady standing so close. “It would be my honor.”
Preston plastered a smile on his face, but it never reached those mesmerizing eyes. “Lady Beatrix, may I introduce my neighbor Mr. Gordon Merrifield. He has come to pay us all a call.”
Gordon bowed over her hand. “How do you do, my lady?”
A warm blush colored Bea’s face. “A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Merrifield. You have a home nearby?”
“Yes.” The two made talk of nothing but estates and how well the roads had dried after the storm.
Millie backed away and noted a piece of the wall slightly out of line with the rest. Preston must have used one of the secret passages to arrive with such speed and stealth. Part of her wanted to slip through that door and didn’t care where it led. But how could she risk Gordon ruining her name in her absence. She leaned against the wall, shutting the secret door.
Preston approached. “I left it ajar for you to escape.”
“I’ve decided I’m not the kind of woman who looks for an easy way out. If he wants to ruin me, he’ll have to do so with me in the room.” She drew a deep breath and tried to be as brave as she sounded.
“Do you suspect that is why he has come?” Preston narrowed his gaze at Gordon, who laughed and fawned over Bea.
“I cannot think of another reason.”
“Can you not?” Preston asked with one eyebrow raised. “In any event, he will find himself in dire straits should he harm any of my guests. Though I suspect his purpose is less grim.”
“Oh?”
He shook his head. “You really have no idea how lovely you are, do you, Millicent?”
Her pulse pounded in her head. It wasn’t possible. “You think he’s come to court me. Dear God, I hope you are wrong.”
A loud laugh burst from Preston. It was so out of character that everyone turned to see where the joyous noise had come from. Several of the party were still resting above stairs. Tea would be served soon, and everyone would gather for that. Now it was only Bea, Jacques, Miles, the Earl of Passelmark and Helena, but they all focused on Preston and, since she was beside him, on her as well.
Jacques eased over, his warm grin a constant. “You did not invite this Merrifield, I assume?”
“No but let him flirt a while. If he acts the gentleman, I see no reason to remove him.”
Eyes wide, Jacques whispered, “Have you reason to believe he would act in any other manner?”
Millie’s skin crawled, and her stomach turned in knots. Leaving the country was sounding better and better. She exhaled with relief as Mrs. Whimple walked in. Millie rushed over to her friend and away from all the men who she’d have been better off to have never met. “Doris, do not leave me.”
Scanning the room, Doris’s eyes went wide when she spotted Gordon. “Tea will be served in a few minutes. Would you prefer to take it in your room?”
“No. I cannot leave him alone to do his damage.”
“He’s walking this way.”
Bile rose in her throat, but Millie held her ground. She plastered a smile on her face and met Gordon’s gaze.
“Millie, I wonder if I might have a word with you in private?” Had she imagined his smirks and leers before? He acted the perfect gentleman with no hint of malice.
“I do not see why that would be necessary, Mr. Merrifield.”
“Just a few minutes, and then if you wish, I will go.”
She scanned the room but found no place that would be safe from prying ears. That she should have flat out refused crossed her mind, but curiosity got the better of her. Narrowing her gaze on him, she said, “The veranda, and you have exactly three minutes.”
“Of course.” He followed her and held the door for her.
She sensed Preston watching as she went but kept her eyes focused on anything but him. Once they were safely away from the others, she put a few feet of space between them. “I cannot help but be curious. What can you possibly have to say to me?”
Tugging on his coat, he shifted his feet again. “I have much I should say to you, Millie.”
“Miss Edgebrook, if you don’t mind. You lost any privilege of using my familiar name nine years ago.” Lord, it felt good to say that. Perhaps she had other things she could get off her chest with regard to Gordon.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. Miss Edgebrook. My behavior all those years ago was unforgivable, and that is why I wished to see you alone. I know you cannot forgive me, but I want to apologize just the same.” He toyed with a leaf lying on the stone wall that surrounded the veranda.
“You are right. I cannot forgive you. However, you should know that I hardly think of you. Our romance was from my childhood. I’m a grown woman now. It has been a long time since I had considered you at all until we met at the Serpentine. You may put your mind at ease, Mr. Merrifield.” It wasn’t accurate, but close enough, and she despised the idea of him thinking she pined for him. Her anger had long overcome any desire where he was concerned.
He crushed the leaf in his fist. “I see. I’m happy to hear you have suffered no long-term injury. If you don’t mind telling me, why did you never marry?”
There it was again, that smirk she had noted when she first saw him in the parlor. She wished she could smack that look off his stupid face. “I have other plans for my life.”
“I see. And is Middleton part of those plans, Millie?” A bitter twist filled his voice.
“I told you not to call me that. My plans are none of your business, but in the interest of making you go away, no. I have no designs on His Grace. He is a friend, nothing more. Now if you are done with your pitiful apology, you should go and leave this party in peace.”
He stepped closer. “You’re even more lovely than you were at sixteen, Miss Edgebrook.”
With the house behind her, she had nowhere to run. She narrowed her eyes. “Keep your distance or…”
“Or what? You’ll yell and bring the party out here? What a scandal that would be, and then you’d be forced to marry me. Though for my part, I wouldn’t mind the obligation.” That same smile had charmed her into complete stupidity nine years earlier. Now, it lost any positive effect.
Edging over to the stone wall, she wrapped her hand around a carved frog from the pair that sat watching the veranda. “I am a grown woman and have no need to scream. If you get too close, I will bash you on the head with this stone and simply walk away. There are plenty of other ways into this estate. Perhaps someone will help you and you can tell them whatever you want. I could not care less. At five and twenty, my reputation is of little interest, and you cannot threaten me. For the briefest moment, I thought you might have changed. It did not alter my dislike of you, but I still hoped for your sake you have grown up. I see that is not the case. Go home, and do not return with stupid ideas that I would ever marry you.”
He gazed from her face to the frog lifted to shoulder-height. “I believe you would do me harm if you could. Perhaps I was mistaken to come and offer myself as compensation for the wrong I did you all those years ago.”
Arm shaking from the strain, she was forced to lower her weapon. “Is that what you’re doing? If that’s the case, let me be perfectly clear. You are the last person in all of England I would ever marry.”
“I see.” He stepped closer.
Millie lifted the frog. “Do not test my mettle. I am not a woman to be toyed with, and I dislike you enough to bash that stupid skull in should you threaten my safety.”
Halting, he nodded. “I believe that you would. I will leave you with this: I remember our days together as pleasant. I made a youthful mistake and have regretted it for nine years. I realize I should have come to you long ago with my apology, but I was ashamed.”
“I-I-I… You only think of yourself. You must have learned that I have an inheritance, and that is the only reason you are here. May I further venture to guess that you have some financial problems that you hope my dowry will alleviate? You’re far past your allotted three minutes. You can either leave the veranda or be bashed over the head with a very heavy stone frog. Won’t that be a fine story to explain.”
He looked surprised she had figured out so much with so little information from him. But he forgot how well she knew him in the past, and he had shown that he hadn’t changed. “I will not risk you injuring me or yourself with that carving. I’ll go, but keep in mind, Millie, that you and I were good together once, and I can give you a home and children. When you realize that you will not be the next Duchess of Middleton, call on me and I will come. Good day.”
His arrogance was the stuff of legend. She considered bashing him just for how smug he was. Instead, she waited until he was back inside, and she put the frog down. Her upper arm ached from holding the damn thing up for so long. Perhaps she should carry a knife. She’d read a novel once where the heroine kept a knife sheathed and strapped to her thigh. If she was going to travel, she would need to be able to defend herself. She would look into the notion when she returned to London and perhaps someone to teach her how to use the knife.
Too riled to return to tea, she stepped off the veranda and walked along the path of the upper garden. When she came to the wall of the kitchen garden, she found the door and let herself inside. After the encounter with Gordon, she deserved to hide away for a few minutes. No one would look for her, and even if they did, it was unlikely they would find her skulking around the cabbage.
Men and their stupid notions. It was incredible that Gordon thought himself so irresistible that he would offer without a thought to their past. He’d cast shadows to the fact that he’d broken her young heart and ruined her for another man. She’d been young, but she knew no man wanted a woman who wasn’t a virgin. So, she’d changed her goals and found happiness without anyone ordering her about or demanding her time. Not that Gordon could ever understand such a thing, which was why she hadn’t bothered to explain.
“Am I intruding?” Preston stood only ten feet away. She hadn’t heard him enter, and her pulse drummed wildly at his appearance.
If she was honest with herself, she was glad to see him. “No.”
He sat next to her but left enough space that he was not touching her. “Are you all right?”
“Yes. I just needed a few moments to calm my nerves.” A bird landed on the grass a few feet away. His red feathers caught her attention while he pecked away at the ground for bits of seed.
“Shall we talk of something besides your encounter with Merrifield?” The strength of his voice eased her strained nerves.
“Yes, please. What would you like to discuss?” She angled so she could see him better and folded her hands in her lap.
“After my ride with Lady Beatrix, I do not believe I can marry her.” He spoke as a matter of fact.
Millie squashed the spark of joy bubbling up inside her. “Why not?”
Eyes narrowed, he looked at his hands as if the answer might be there. “How do I explain this? She has almost no conversation to offer. The idea of spending a lifetime having to drag words out of my wife is tiresome. But that’s not all. She seems to lack basic feelings. I know I said that love was not critical for a marriage, but this is more than that. She told me that she doesn’t like to write letters. That in itself is not terrible, but when she receives letters from friends, she can’t be bothered to respond. Not to mention that she cannot understand why those friends eventually stop writing to her. I knew going in that she was no great mind, but this lack of care for others’ feelings seems a character flaw that I cannot overlook.”
There was no arguing in Bea’s favor. If w
hat Preston said was true, and she had no reason to think otherwise, Beatrix Jacoby was not the woman for him. “Anything else?”
He stared at a point over her shoulder before capturing her gaze again. “I don’t particularly like her.”
The joy returned, welling up inside Millie until she thought she might burst with it. “Then we will strike her from the list. There are many other women in England, and two more in this house alone.”
Frowning, he watched her longer than was comfortable. Whatever he wanted to say, he kept to himself.
Torn between wanting to know and not, she kept the subject in safe quarters. “At the end of the week, several of the guests will tour the Peaks by carriage. I have arranged for you and Lady Helena to be in the same carriage without escort. If the weather holds, it should be enjoyable, and you will have a chance to get to know her better. I have found her good company. Perhaps you will like her better than Miss Jacoby.”
“Perhaps.” His frown created a crease between his brows, and Millie longed to smooth it with her thumb. “May I ask if Merrifield’s visit upset you or if he said anything that he should be taken to task for?”
It had been too much to hope that he would leave the subject to die. “He said he wanted to marry me.”
Preston’s hand closed over her arm tighter than was comfortable but not so hard that he hurt her. “Tell me you told him to go to hell.”
“Not in those words, but I did not agree to marry him. I’m sure he needs my money and land, and the women he’s chased all these years have either not been willing to have him or don’t have the funds he needs to live in the style he’s accustomed to. Whatever his reason for trying to reacquaint himself with me, he can never succeed.” She patted his hand.
Easing his grip, he kept the contact. “Because he hurt you so badly.”
“No. I have long been over any injury. I will not marry him because I have other plans for my life. Though even if I did wish to marry, it would not be to the kind of man who does what he did. I know Gordon Merrifield well enough, and he will continue to take what is not his without regard to whom he might harm. I could never align myself with that kind of man.”
A Lady's Escape Page 23
