Page 38 of A Lady's Lesson in Scandal
Her loving father became distracted, distant, and disapproving of the child he once deferred to in all things. It broke her heart. Shattered her soul. Poisoned her faith in constancy.
Franklin St George had been equally fickle. He came to her like a prince in some children’s tale. If his chin was a little weaker than Sir Galahad, or his shoulders were padded instead of carved from granite, who was she to criticise? She was tall and plump and stronger than Franklin, even as a child. Clearly, she had her own flaws, but Franklin never pointed them out to her. Or at least, not often and always with the aim to correct her behaviour. Love painted over his imperfections like snow covered the fields and turned everything into a sparkling fairyland.
The fateful afternoon when Franklin St George asked her to join him in a picnic at the ancient folly between their two estates, Millie was thrilled. He didn’t have to coerce her to lift her skirts. She wanted Franklin to be the one who took her virtue. After all, he already had her heart. And he promised her forever. Whispered it frantically in her ear as he thrust once, twice, a third time before shuddering and letting his weight fall upon her. The pain was a small price to pay for her lover’s unending devotion.
The next day, Franklin St George arrived at her estate. Not to take her on another outing as her silly heart wished, but instead to confront her father about her actions. Forever must mean something very different to men. Millie stupidly thought it meant always.
If her father’s love was so easily lost, and Franklin’s was just a lie, how could a man like Major General Drake ever hope to convince her of faithfulness?
No. It was far better she stay the course. She wasn’t going to convince Drake to break the engagement, but at least she could keep her heart safe and secure in the depths of her chest. Where it belonged. Where it couldn’t be shattered like crystal glass or a girl’s hopes or dreams of castles in the sky.
Creatures can’t survive without a heart, so I won’t be giving mine away. Never again.
Penny helped Millie don a sprigged muslin day dress with tiny, green leaves embroidered into the skirts. It was a simple pattern, but the cut set off her figure, and the neckline was just low enough to let the girls peek out while still remaining modest. Drake seemed rather impressed with her breasts. Well, let him look his fill. He’d certainly seen far more than that the previous night.
Just thinking about his hands on her bare back was enough to make her shiver. She ruthlessly shut down that avenue of thought while Penny piled her red curls high on her head in an artfully messy bun. Spirals spilled down her neck, tickling her skin.
She pinched her cheeks a few times, bit her lips, then rubbed beeswax on her eyelids and mouth, popping her lips together once more for good luck.
‘Right, well. This is as good as it gets, Penny. Thank you. You’ve done a marvellous job of my hair.’
Penny’s cheeks grew pink as she ducked her head. ‘It’s no bother, miss. You have such beautiful hair. I can’t imagine it ever looking bad.’
Millie laughed. ‘Well, lucky you didn’t know me as a girl. It was a frizzy, tangled mess back then. Thank goodness Cocoa Glycerine keeps it contained. Right. I believe I’m ready to facethe fray.’ Smiling at Penny, she rose and swept past the maid to her door.
Millie carefully descended the curved staircase leading from the family wing to the Alder House’s entrance. Beeswax, roses, and lemons scented the air.
Just as she was about to seek out a maid to discover where Major General Drake and the other guests were, the young lad she had met when she arrived came skidding into the entryway.
‘Oh. Hullo. I didn’t fink any toffs were ’round. The major general says everyone was getting a tour of the grounds.’ He stuck something into his pocket and gave her a charming smile despite the smudge of dirt on his cheek.
‘Master Bright, am I right?’
‘’Oos askin’?’
Millie hid her smile. ‘I am. I’m soon to be the mistress of this house, young man. It’s important I know who I can trust with important tasks.’
‘Cor blimey, miss. If you’re lookin’ for a bloke whose can get things, deliver things, or keep things under me cap’ – he doffed an imaginary cap and gave her a jaunty wink – ‘then I’m yer man. Even the major general trusts me, and he don’t trust no one.’
‘Doesn’t trust anyone,’ Millie corrected gently.
‘That’s wot I said, innit? Don’t tell me you’re one of them barmy toffs ’oos always going on about the proper ways to say things. I says things ’ow I sees them and that’s good ’nuff for me.’
‘A wise mantra to live by, Master Bright.’
‘I don’t know nuffink ’bout no man trays, nor no mont rahs neither, but I knows quick feet’ll get you out of trouble, and a quick tongue can get you into it. That’s what me mum says, and she’s never wrong.’
‘She sounds very wise.’
Master Bright blinked his large eyes, tilting his chin up as if to take her measure. ‘Too right, she is.’
Clipped steps echoed down the hall. Before Master Bright could make a quick exit, Patricia swept into the entryway. She wore a pink, frilled monstrosity. Her corset was laced so tightly, she could barely take a full breath without her breasts spilling out.
‘You!’ she screeched at the boy.
Instinctively, Millie stepped in front of him, blocking him from Patricia’s view. Master Bright clung to Millie’s skirts, his little hands shaking. She didn’t need to glance down to know her dress now carried twin handprints from Master Bright. Well, she was bound to stain the thing herself before the end of the day. The dangers of wearing white could not be overstated.
‘What on earth are you yelling about?’ Millie put her hand behind her and grasped the lad’s shoulder, squeezing softly to reassure him.
