Page 81 of A Lady's Lesson in Scandal
While they waited, Cook put a kettle on to boil.
‘Tea’s what’s needed,’ she said stoutly.
Lucy was given a steaming cup of strong, black tea, while Billy’s was more milk and sugar than anything else.
Mrs Hammond bustled into the kitchen, her starched apron white as a dove, salt-and-pepper hair swept into a perfect bun, and grey eyes taking in every detail. Penny was right behind her.
‘Master Bright!’ Mrs Hammond clucked over him, her steady hands feeling his head for injuries. ‘Ice, Margaret. Now.’ She glanced at Cook, who nodded and quickly left the kitchen, taking a steep staircase into the darkness of the cellar.
Millie turned to Penny. ‘Please help Lucy to one of the guest rooms. You can have the lads bring up a bath and warm water. She’ll need help bathing, and then have Cook send up a tray. Eggs, toast, porridge, I think.’
Penny nodded. ‘I’ll find a fresh nightgown she can wear.’ She turned to Lucy. ‘Don’t worry, little miss. We’ll tuck you into bed snug as a bug until the doctor arrives.’
Millie smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. ‘Thank you, Penny. You’re a dear.’
Drake’s heart thumped painfully. God, she was beautiful. And calm in the chaos. And confident in her care of Lucy. And fearsome against her enemies.
She’s a goddamn wonder.
Penny helped Lucy from where she sat at the table, put her arm around the girl, and helped her out of the kitchen.
‘We should find Philippa. She can help us with St George. We might not be able to wait for Reynard to return.’ Millie chewedon her lip, distracting Drake. He wished desperately this mess was over so he could retreat with her into the safety of his room, strip her naked, hold her in his arms, and forget everything except her soft skin, her tart mouth, her lemon and cotton scent.
But first, they must apprehend a killer. Or, at the very least, a kidnapper.
‘Mrs Hammond, will you have the duchess meet us here, please.’ Millie’s husky voice was calm and soothing. It was easy to imagine her leading armies with her confident command and cool composure. She would have made a fierce lieutenant general.
Mrs Hammond squeezed Billy’s shoulder before nodding at Millie. ‘At once, my lady. Of course.’ She turned and took the servants’ stairs to the right of the kitchen table.
Drake sent a boy to the village to inform Lucy’s family she had been found and was safe at Alder House. They were welcome to come immediately and be with her until the doctor allowed her to be moved. Another lad rode like the Devil to collect the doctor. A third was told to find Reynard Renquist and have him return to the house post haste.
Cook arrived with ice.
‘Perhaps we should pour another dish of tea for the duchess,’ Millie murmured, taking the ice from Cook to hold it against Billy’s head.
‘The Duchess of Dorsett? In my kitchen?’ For a moment, Cook looked ready to faint. ‘I can’t have a duchess down here amongst the chicken feathers and pig intestines.’
Millie put a staying hand on Cook’s thick forearm. ‘Have no fear. She’s seen much worse in the ballrooms of the beau monde, I’d wager. This kitchen is clean, well-organised, and a credit to your skills. Chicken feathers and pig guts are all part of the charm.’
Cook ducked her head, and Drake couldn’t stop his smile.
Millie turned to him with a fiery brow raised. ‘What?’
‘Billy was right about you. You’re a corker, Millicent Whittenburg.’
Her cheeks darkened. Drake lifted his hand to feel the heat of her blush against his fingertips.
‘Please don’t tell me I was summoned to the kitchen to watch you two acting like idiots.’ Philippa entered the room, her sharp glare catching Drake like a barb.
‘Philippa.’ Millie turned away from him and quickly updated the duchess.
‘You went after the girl alone?’ Philippa’s black brow arched like a scorpion’s tail, readying to strike.
‘I didn’t have time to find you, Philippa.’
‘You trained her well, Your Grace. She saved the girl and wounded the masked blighter with her blades. You would have been proud.’ Drake jumped to her defence.
Millie looked over her shoulder at him, her full lips parting in surprise.
