Page 64 of Engaging Sir Isaac

“Not in such clear terms,” she acknowledged. Then she groaned and placed her face in her hands. “What do I do?”

“I haven’t the least idea.” He sounded pleased with himself, the villain. “But if I were you, I would not continue on in a course doomed to make you spend the rest of your life entertaining people whose company you do not even enjoy and whose morals you cannot respect.” He executed a low, taunting bow. “Good day to you, Miss Wedgewood.”

Millie glared at him as he left, then sighed and rubbed at her temples again. “It is not so easy as that,” she whispered to herself and a passing bumblebee. “There is too much to consider.”

But if she gave up her mother’s ambition, if she lost Lady Olivia’s favor, that would free her. Free her to look at Isaac as more than a friend.

Would he still want her, if the powerful people of Society ruined her family completely? Millie could only think on one person who might be able to advise her.

Emmeline.

Chapter 23

An evening of entertainment at the marquess’s house had once filled Isaac with dread. Yet Millie would be present, and even if she did not return his love, being near her soothed his soul. She needed him. That would be enough. It had to be enough.

Silas rode in the carriage with Esther and Isaac, grumbling the entire time. But the marquess had extended a personal invitation, and that meant Silas had to come or risk insulting a powerful member of his political party. Due to his brother-in-law’s ill humor, Isaac said almost nothing on the drive to the Alderton estate. Esther did all the talking, and all the soothing of her husband’s mood.

When the carriage stopped, Isaac exhaled gratefully.

“Mind your manners,” Esther said to her husband once more. “It will all be over soon. We can return home early.”

“Not if Isaac has his way,” Silas muttered as he exited the carriage, ready to hand his wife down. He glared pointedly at Isaac. “He will want to stay the whole of the evening to spend time with Miss Wedgewood.”

Isaac hesitated before he stepped out. “Essie told you about that?”

“Of course I did,” Esther said plainly. “There are no secrets between a married couple.”

“I think you two are the exception, not the rule. Given what I have seen of Society.” Isaac looked up at the large house, lights blazing from nearly every window. “I can find my own way home, if the two of you find yourselves fatigued before the end of the evening.” He turned a crooked smile to Silas. “Bachelors tend to stay out later than old married men, I am told.”

Silas tucked Esther’s arm through his before he responded. “If Esther is right, and she usually is, I am inclined to believe you will not be a bachelor long. I look forward to the spectacle you will make this evening, lavishing your attentions on Miss Wedgewood.”

Isaac shrugged, unbothered by the teasing. He meant to pay attention to no one else, as he had agreed with Millie. But he would not be playing a part so much as indulging his aching heart.

They entered the house, and Isaac prepared himself for a difficult evening.

* * *

Millie knew the moment Isaac entered the room, though she had her back to the door. Impossibly, she sensed him, and turned to meet his stare. At her side, Lady Olivia snorted.

“I did not think it possible. But he does appear enamored by you, Miss Wedgewood. However did you manage it?”

The woman made everything that passed between Millie and Isaac sound cheap and farcical. How wrong she was. How blind Lady Olivia was to the truth of the matter.

“I am myself with him,” Millie admitted quietly, watching as Isaac paid his respects to the marchioness and marquess, his eyes continually finding hers as he spoke.

“How droll.” Lady Olivia sniffed disdainfully. “I grow weary of waiting for you to do my bidding, Miss Wedgewood. And you have yet to satisfy Mrs. Vanderby’s request in regard to Mr. Weston. Your abilities are proving to be of little use to us.”

Millie’s hands went cold from the chill in Lady Olivia’s voice. “I may have overestimated my talents, my lady, but it was not done purposefully.”

Isaac had started to wind his way through the crowded room to speak to her but another neighbor stopped him for a word.

“I wonder what Lord Carning will say to that,” Lady Olivia hissed. She bent closer, whispering in Millie’s ear. “He has told me such a fascinating tale of the night you came to him in London, wearing barely more than your shift and a robe. How you pled with him to help you. To save your sister from her grievous mistake.”

Millie’s heart lurched, and she felt her stomach roll unpleasantly. “Did he tell you how he drunkenly attacked me?” Her tone matched Lady Olivia’s. Cold. Quiet.

Lady Olivia’s smirk was plainly visible from the corner of Millie’s eye. “Is that what happened? That is not the story he tells. Not at all.” Lady Olivia placed a finger beneath Millie’s chin and forced Millie to turn her head to face her. “Mr. Weston says you are a vixen, tempting him only to push him away again. What is the truth of your character, Miss Wedgewood?”

Millie’s eyes burned with angry tears. “You know the answer to that, Lady Olivia.”