Page 30 of Engaging Sir Isaac

He cast her a look filled with supreme arrogance. “I am everything a man of my station ought to be.”

Millie hastened her walk to draw up alongside the man as they stepped out of the other side of the stables, into the open air. He made his way to the kennels.

“Lord Neil,” she said, daring to place her hand on his arm to pull him to a stop. “I actually believe that. You are what a man of privilege and high birth should be. Your kindness to me, though you certainly try to mask that part of your character, will never be forgotten. Thank you.”

For a moment, his eyes widened as though she had surprised him. “There are few enough who would accuse me of kindness, Miss Wedgewood.”

“There is more to you than I think you let on, Lord Neil.” Millie released his arm and offered up a smile. He appeared confused, then his jaw tightened. Rather than continue on the subject of his character, Millie changed the subject with haste. “As to what Lady Olivia and I have planned, I believe you are right. I wanted to speak to your sister this morning, in fact. To tell her our agreement must come to an end.”

His expression returned to one of smugness. “Ah, it is unfortunate I am not a gambling man. I seem to have a knack for predicting the future.” Lord Neil swung the half door open to enter the kennels, where several dogs barked and bayed the moment he came into view.

Millie eyed the animals distrustfully, but as all were behind sound doors with slats in them, she kept pace with Lord Neil.

He stopped before a door that led into another room of the kennels and turned to face her. “What will Olivia do when she learns of this end?”

“I imagine she will send me packing.” Millie forced the lack of concern into her voice, though she knew her mother would certainly punish her for the failure. “As that will likely be the case, that is why I wished to thank you.”

His expression turned to one of amusement. “Completely unnecessary, Miss Wedgewood.”

She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “You are the only member of the family who has bothered yourself with me at all. The art room. Your conversation. Even the warning you offered. So. Thank you.” She dropped into a curtsy and then turned on her heel, eager to leave the loud barking behind her.

“Miss Wedgewood,” Lord Neil’s voice called, louder than the dogs. She paused and turned around, curious. He came toward her at a quick, determined pace, his eyebrows drawn down and his mouth in a hard line. When he drew even with her, he spoke earnestly. “When you speak with my sister, send me word. Livvy will not be pleased with you going back on any agreement she contrived. If I am there, perhaps I can keep the situation from becoming disagreeable.”

Millie considered the offer, and the complete seriousness with which he made it, before giving a nod of agreement. He bowed and went back about his business, leaving her to make her way out of the kennels alone. As all the barking receded, her thoughts cleared. If Lord Neil offered her protection from his own sister, what sort of unpleasantness awaited her?

She kept walking, taking herself out to the road. With nothing else to do, retracing the steps that had brought her into Sir Isaac’s path would amuse her for a time. If she should come upon him during her walk, perhaps he would not mind her company.

She certainly would not mind his, now that her mind was fully made up she could more easily enjoy his wit.

But to her disappointment, no baronet appeared to enjoy the fine sun or the lovely summer breeze. After a quarter of an hour, she turned back, resigned to another day alone.

“Of course I am being silly.” She spoke softly, but hearing the words aloud helped firm them up in her mind. “And why should I wish to meet him again? We are only friends. Hardly that.”

She was partway up the drive to the marquess’s estate, still nursing her unreasonable disappointment, when she saw a gentleman coming away from the house, on horseback.

Sir Isaac.

It was easy enough to recognize him, with his soldier’s posture. What was he doing here? Now? Millie’s heart lightened, the day somehow growing brighter around her. She waved at him.

He hadn’t seemed to see her right away, his head lowered. The movement alerted his horse, and when the animal nickered, Sir Isaac looked up.

His somewhat stern expression changed into a smile of greeting, and he rode closer before swinging down from his horse. He accomplished the trick without pause, despite having only the one arm. Her eyes flicked to where the missing appendage ought to be, then up to his welcoming expression.

“Miss Wedgewood, I was told you were not at the house,” he said. Did she imagine the warmth in his eyes? He could not possibly be as pleased to see her as she was to see him.

“I was out walking,” she said, though the explanation was unnecessary. She stepped closer to rub the nose of his mount, attempting to distract herself from the delight of seeing him. Withdrawing from Lady Olivia’s demands might make her situation more complicated, but it did allow her to relax the tight grip she had kept upon her admiration for the former soldier.

“I am come to press the invitation upon you to join our friends tomorrow evening. My sister has instructed me to be absolutely charming so that you will not be able to resist saying yes.” He chuckled and tipped his hat further back on his head. “Though why she thinks my charm will have any draw, I do not know.”

Millie slanted a look at him from beneath her bonnet. “I cannot understand Lady Inglewood either. But you had better make the attempt at charm, I suppose.”

He grinned and then comically pursed his lips, lowering his eyebrows. “Miss Wedgewood, would you please consider attending the bonfire night with our friends? My sister and I would consider it a great honor.”

She laughed. “That is what you believe your sister meant by charm? I am afraid I cannot qualify your brooding scowl as something that would entice me to accept an otherwise appealing invitation.”

He folded his arm over his chest as he had the day before, cocking his chin upward. “No? Whatever else could my sister have meant by charm? Or by sending me as messenger instead of another? I am naturally charming.”

“Perhaps she thought I would pity you.” Millie narrowed her eyes at him. “Pity Sir Isaac, who cannot abide to even be flirted with and so does not know how best to use his charm. You must not have very many female friends.”