Page 55 of Engaging Sir Isaac

Though not intimately familiar with the Alderton house, Isaac knew enough to find the guest quarters. He had barely stepped into the corridor when a door opened, and Sarah stepped out. He greeted her with a smile and tip of the head, hoping to set her at ease.

She did not seem to need his reassurance. “All the way down the hall, sir. Last door on the left. I’ve been watching it all evening. Mr. Weston’s man is downstairs, enjoying a drink.” She wrinkled her nose in distaste.

Isaac gave her a nod of understanding before making his way to the indicated door. She followed, a few steps behind. Then she took out a little box of sewing needles. “You go on, sir. If I see anyone coming, I plan to drop the box and make a fuss over picking up the pieces inside. The servant’s stair is there.” She pointed to a nondescript door down a small turn in the corridor. “No one will think it strange for me to be here. If you need to hide, I’ll be especially clumsy.”

Isaac gave her an appraising glance. “You sound as though you have done this before.”

“Not at all, sir. Merely thought it through.” She pointed to the door. “You better get a move on.”

Bossy little thing. He did as she said, impressed by the servant yet again.

The guest room had a lamp burning low, which he immediately turned up to chase away the shadows. He shuddered, hating the confined, unfamiliar place. He had almost rather return to the gathering of people, though crowded rooms bothered him. Somehow, it was not as terrible as usual.

Millie made it bearable.

He paused, staring into the open drawer of a table, that thought catching him by surprise.

Yes, he had found himself attracted to her. Yes, he wanted to help her. But had she, somehow, helped him instead?

Isaac turned his search elsewhere. What sort of man traveled with any secrets he might possess? He doubted there was a thing in Mr. Weston’s room that would be useful to anyone wishing to threaten him. But perhaps, as an honest man, it was naive of him to believe such a thing.

After going through the room, even checking beneath the pillow, mattress, and bed itself, Isaac admitted defeat. He stepped out into the hall to find Sarah still waiting, box of needles in hand.

“Nothing?” she whispered.

“Not a thing.” Isaac gave her a reassuring smile. “Never fear. We will think of something.”

The servant nodded thoughtfully, then dipped a curtsy and started to walk away. She paused after a few steps and turned. “Would you be willing to play lookout for me, sir, while I check Lady Olivia’s room?”

What a brazen suggestion. But not a bad idea. Isaac considered, then removed his watch to check the time.

“Not this night, but perhaps another. I cannot be gone any longer.”

“Of course, sir.” She curtsied again and went to the door where she had been waiting for him, slipping inside. Was that Millie’s room? Most likely.

He found his way back to the main room, where people mingled, laughing. Most now had cups of wine in hand. Millie stood by Esther, as he had instructed. He approached with a broad grin and shook his head the tiniest bit when she questioned him with no more than the lift of her chin.

Her shoulders drooped, but otherwise her disappointment did not show.

Somehow, Isaac would extract her from the situation. And enjoy her company all the more after.

Chapter 19

Isaac arrived in an open carriage at eleven o’clock in the morning. He had every intention of whisking Millie away with him and not returning her until absolutely necessary. The more time she spent with him, the better. He needed to study her more. He wanted to determine what quality she possessed that so put him at ease.

Yet that was not entirely the case, he reflected, as he waited in the foyer for the servants to locate Miss Wedgewood. He was at ease with her, yet sometimes when he thought on her, when they had kissed, it was as though he had been through an explosion a second time.

Things were changing, all because he had met Millie.

“Sir Isaac?”

He turned on his heels and rocked back, tone dry. “Lord Neil.”

The lordling smirked. “Always a pleasure to see you.”

The two had decided, long before Lord Neil’s advances upon Esther, to tactfully dislike each other. It was not a spoken agreement, merely understood. They had exchanged more words between them in the past week than in the previous ten years together.

Isaac barely inclined his head. “Kind of you to say.”