Page 3 of Miss Millington's Unexpected Suitor
“There is nothing to speak of since nothing took place.”
The young woman finally lifted her eyes to his and, for a moment Adam could do nothing but stare into them. The green and soft hazel shades within them were so vivid, they were so unlike the eyes of any other young lady he had met thus far that he was startled. With a small frown, he took in the redness beneath her eyes and the way that her lips turned slightly down. Was she sorrowful over some matter or other? Had something happened to make her feel so?
Dismissing the thought, for it was not his business to know or to even enquire, he quickly returned his attention to the older lady.
“I can only, once more, apologize and beg you for your forgiveness.”
The young lady tutted aloud, catching both Adam and her mother’s attention.
“You have no need to apologize so profusely. Nothing at all occurred!”
“Be that as it may, I will openly admit that I should have been taking more care. I was quite lost in my own thoughts and not at all considerate, as has been stated so clearly.” He was not about to explain the reasons behind his strangeness of mood but, when the young lady’s gaze met his, an overwhelming desire to tell her everything flared with him. Attempting to quench such an idea, he turned his head and looked away from her, breaking their connection and finding himself relieved when the sensation passed. “I will endeavor to take much more care in the future.”
The older lady lifted her chin, a spark of victory in her eyes.
“That is most pleasing. Might I enquire as to your name? We are certainly not acquainted for I have an excellent memory and do not ever remember being introduced to you.”
Fearing that she was going to take his name and then gossip about what had occurred to her friends and acquaintances, Adam shrugged inwardly. After all, it was not as though he could refuse to answer.
“The Marquess of Seaton, my Lady.”
Clearing his throat gently, he bowed low and then straightened, seeing the lady’s eyes widen just a little. Mayhap, upon hearing his title, she now viewed him with a little more consideration, and might decidenotto gossip about him to her friends.
“AMarquess,” she remarked, sending a pointed look towards her daughter who, much to Adam’s surprise, huffed a little, rolled her eyes and turned her gaze away in a very obvious fashion. “How very pleased we are to make your acquaintance! Permit me to introduce myself and my daughter - I am Lady Hayman and this is my youngest daughter, Miss Constance Millington.”
“Delighted.”
Miss Millington’s voice held no genuine happiness and whilst she curtsied and said the correct things, Adam could not help but wonder at the way Miss Millington had rolled her eyes. Was it that she found this new connection to be of very little interest? Or perhaps it was that her mother’s obvious eagerness had frustrated her a little - but even that in itself was surprising. Surely every young lady in London had the intention to acquaint themselves with as many highly titled gentlemen as they could, in the hope of snaring one of them. Why, then, would she be so obviously disinterested?
“I do hope I will have the pleasure of standing up with you very soon.” He spoke before even the thought had come to mind. “It would be a pleasure to dance with you, Miss Millington, I am sure, and perhaps, might allow me to make up for my lack of consideration this afternoon.”
“You need have no need to concern yourself in that regard,” she answered quickly, only for her mother to laugh loudly and grasp her daughter’s hand.
“What my daughter means to say is that yes, she would bemorethan delighted, Lord Seaton.”
When the mother quickly covered her daughter’s first answer with one of her own. Miss Millington remained silent, her gaze now pulling away from her mother, away from Adam, and towards the other side of the street, indicating, he assumed, a complete lack of interest in any further conversation.
Adam was not at all insulted, however. Instead, he simply found a sense of curiosity that began to twist around his heart. This young lady was quite remarkable, given that she was so obvious in her expressions. Why any young lady would not wish to stand up with a gentleman such as himself, with his title, was quite beyond him and, despite the awareness that they had only just met, Adam was eager to discover the answer.
“I must take my leave of you both, and again, I beg your pardon for my lack of consideration.” He inclined his head again. “There is much I must do before the evening arrives.”
“Oh, and what occasion are you to attend this evening?”
With a small smile. Adam spoke to Lady Hayward but continued to glance at Miss Millington, who was still looking away from him.
“I am bound to Lord Buckston’s soiree,” he answered, only for Lady Hayward’s face to light up with obvious delight, whereas her daughter remained entirely stoic.
“I am delighted to hear it,” she said with a broad smile. “We shall be in attendance also, with my husband, Viscount Hayward. Idohope that it will be an excellent evening and mayhap, we might have the pleasure of talking with you again.”
Adam nodded, smiled, and stepped away. The moment he was gone from Miss Millington and her mother’s company, however, the thoughts of Lady Margaret returned, and his spirits once more fell low.
He had declared himself, and she had done nothing but laugh at his profession of love. Questions began to nag at him and, as he strode in the direction of his townhouse, Adam’s jaw set tight.
Had her mockery been deserved?
Was what he felt truly a heart filled with love, or was he nothing more than a fool for ever believing that such an emotion could be real?
Chapter Two
