Page 4 of A Lady's Lesson in Scandal
‘Not even you would be so vicious, Patricia.’ Another lie. Her stepmother was cruelty in curls.
Patricia’s bell-like laughter rang out, mocking Millie. ‘Silly girl. Of course I would.’
‘Why are you so hateful? Truly?’
Patricia’s pretty mask slipped, and Millie glimpsed the terrifying creature beneath. ‘You’ve been the light in your father’s eye for far too long. I am his wife. His loyalty belongs to me. As does his title and his money. With you married off, when your father comes to his end, nothing will stand in my way. He has no heirs, no distant relatives waiting to inherit. I’ll be taking a page out of your dear duchess’ notebook. Everything that was his will come to me. His poor, devoted widow.’
With Patricia’s master plan laid out, Millie felt ill. Since the beastly woman married Lord Whittenburg, she had patiently and meticulously thrust a wedge between father and daughter.Insidious little lies, manipulations of truth, contrived scenes designed to place Millie in an unflattering light.
And her father wasn’t innocent in the horrid affair. He’d never been the same after her error with St George, but since Patricia came into their house, things had gotten significantly worse. At every turn, he chose his young, nubile wife over his devoted daughter. The divide was now so deep, Millie’s relationship with her father had fractured completely.
Game, set, match, Patricia.
‘Mark my words, Millicent. A madhouse is your future unless you marry the viscount. I don’t care how disgusting he is. I don’t care how old. I don’t care how perverted his proclivities. Given your own behaviours, you might actually enjoy it.’ Patricia’s pointed little nose tilted toward the ceiling as she laughed again, a delicate, tinkling melody juxtaposing her venomous words. ‘He’s probably the only man here who won’t care that you are no longer intact. No need to thank me. I just want what’s best for my sweet girl.’
Anger roused Millie from the pain of betrayal. ‘You will pay for this, Patricia.’ But it was an empty threat, and they both knew it.
Before Patricia could respond, their gazes were drawn to the striking figure of Lady Philippa Winterbourne, the Duchess of Dorsett, as she strode across the ballroom floor. A wave of relief washed over Millie.
Reinforcements.
Lady Winterbourne cut through dancing couples, sharp as a blade and without a hint of hesitation. She wore a blackberry gown dripping with crystals that caught the candlelight as she swept through the crush of people. Philippa was a dark star shining in a bright sky. Lords and ladies scrambled to get out of her way.
The duchess intercepted Viscount Tread as he turned slow circles, still scanning the crowd for Millie. His ruddy complexion darkened close to scarlet when he saw Philippa. He almost tripped over himself attempting a gallant bow. She gestured with her fan in the opposite direction of where Millie hid in the shadows. His bushy, grey brows furrowed as he squinted at a young lady in the far corner whose only resemblance to Millie was the cream colour of her dress. Relief washed over his face as he smiled wide at the poor girl and blundered off. Lady Winterbourne continued her graceful journey toward Millie and her stepmother.
Patricia’s lips hardened, and she lowered her voice to a harsh whisper. ‘Viscount Tread is your future, Millicent. No one, not even the Duchess of Dorsett, can save you from your fate. Accept it, or I will make sure you suffer beyond your worst imaginings.’
I’d rather accept a knife in my belly.
Millie refused to be a pawn in Patricia’s game. She would carve out her own future. One free of her malicious stepmother’s stratagems.
Tonight. It must happen tonight.
As quickly as wiping clean a chalkboard, Patricia adopted a cheerful expression and turned toward the duchess. Her voice was too loud, her smile too wide.
Why had her father made such a horrific choice? Were men so blind? Their logic and loyalty turned by a pretty face, a small waist, a nice pair of… eyes? It was horrific! A father should always fight for his children. But Lord Whittenburg deferred to Patricia at every turn. Millie grieved his loss as though he were dead. Because the man she knew from childhood was gone.
Men are inconstant, fickle fools.
One more reason why she wanted nothing to do with them.
Except tonight, a man will save me from the hell Patricia has planned.
‘Lady Winterbourne! You honour us with your presence.’ Patricia’s shrill voice cut through the musicians playing a lively waltz.
Millie looked over her stepmother’s head at the Duchess of Dorsett and reminded herself she was far more powerful than Patricia would ever know. Even if her stepmother seemed to hold Millie’s future in her sharpened claws.
Lady Philippa Winterbourne’s beauty was fierce rather than delicate. A jaw almost too square, lips stained only a few shades lighter than the deep purple of her gown, hair blacker than sin and just as luscious, boldly streaked with silver and piled high in an intricate coiffure. She was a visual force and everything Patricia Whittenburg would never be in both poise and power. Millie watched her stepmother’s eyes narrow with envy.
Lady Philippa lifted a perfectly arched brow. ‘It’s lucky you are so pretty, Lady Whittenburg, as your personality leaves much to be desired. At least your face will recommend you for a few more years, though I would limit your consumption of wine. It dulls the wits and complexion, two things you can’t afford to lose any more of, wouldn’t you agree?’
Patricia’s mouth fell open. Air rushed out in a strangled squeak. ‘Pardon?’ She hastily deposited the empty wine glass she was holding into the potted palm.
‘Pay attention, please. I do not repeat myself. I came to speak with Miss Millicent. Excuse us.’ She nodded at Millie and turned to walk away, her command impossible to refuse.
Before Millie could follow in the duchess’ impressive wake, Patricia once more grabbed her arm, pulling her close.
The cloying scent of lilies invaded Millie’s nostrils. She fought not to gag as Patricia hissed in her ear. ‘The viscount is expecting to dance with you before the announcement of your engagement. You will not disappoint him.’
