Page 85 of A Lady's Lesson in Scandal
Drake stepped closer to her. ‘I would still like to speak with you privately. Please.’
Millie glanced at him, struck again by the heady contrast of his handsome features and violent scars. ‘Tonight. I shall send Penny to bed early.’ Her body warmed and her core melted even as her mind despaired. How could they possibly find a way forward when they fought for justice on opposite sides of a silent war?
19
Drake felt the moment called for whiskey rather than lawn games. He convinced the guests to return to the house, to enjoy their luncheon before the men indulged in cigars and billiards while the women organised a rousing game of whist. As the weather was beginning to turn, the entire party agreed to such a capital plan. All very civilised. And boring as hell. Perfect for Drake, Killian, and Reynard to slink away and reconvene in his study.
‘Who is speaking to Lady St George?’ Drake poured three fingers for each of them.
Reynard took his glass from Drake with his left hand and sipped. ‘I’m having his valet give her a note. St George was called into town for business. She is to stay here until the wedding. He will return as soon as he is able or meet her back in London once the wedding party ends. It buys us a few days.’
‘I feel sorry for her. This will be a great shock.’ Killian settled himself on Drake’s leather couch, warming his whiskey in his large hand.
‘Or a great relief.’ Drake took the wing-backed chair. He tried not to think of what he and Millie had done in this room onlya few days prior. He tried not to think of her at all with so much left unsaid between them, but it was impossible. ‘What are we going to do with these women? I don’t believe they are completely wrong. And they have the blessing of Queen Victoria, who is our sovereign.’
‘But they do not have the blessing of the prime minister, who is our direct commander,’ Killian pointed out.
‘Do you think Russell knows the Queen is working against him?’ Reynard joined Killian on the opposite side of the couch.
‘Perhaps. One doesn’t confront the Queen, even if you are the prime minister. It is a fine kettle of fish we find ourselves in, gentlemen.’ Killian sipped his whiskey. ‘I haven’t even congratulated you on the wedding yet. Major General Beaufort Drake falls prey to his worst enemy. A woman.’ Killian’s eyes sparkled with mischief.
‘Ah. Here it comes. I knew you didn’t come here to support me. You just wanted to rub this in my face.’ Drake clenched his jaw.
‘At least you found a woman who is your equal, Drake. Her knife-throwing skills will come in handy when you need to rid yourself of pesky mothers-in-law.’ Reynard laughed.
‘I recall being told on many occasions – by you in fact – that hell would freeze before you married. I hope you’re wearing woollen smalls, Drake. It looks like you might lose your bollocks to frostbite.’
‘You are a bastard, Killian,’ Drake growled.
Killian’s smile was bright enough to blind him. ‘It’s good to be back with friends.’
Millie, Ivy, and Hannah sat in a close huddle while Philippa, Lady Bradford, Patricia, and Victoria played whist.
‘Millie, are you really going to marry Drake? I can hardly believe it. The man despises women. And you were dead set against marrying. Do you need help escaping? I’m sure Philippa, Ivy, and I can arrange something.’ Hannah looked to Ivy, who nodded.
‘I don’t know.’ She wished they were alone in her room without Patricia’s sharp glance raking over her every few minutes. ‘I love him.’ Saying the words aloud shook something loose in her core. ‘I love him, but is that enough? I won’t compromise my goals. If he wants me, he’ll have to accept my need to work with Philippa, to continue our mission. Killian has done that with you, right?’ Millie was desperate for some kind of reassurance. She looked at Hannah hopefully.
‘He accepts me, but I think it’s still a struggle. Men don’t want to admit they aren’t needed to keep us safe. Because safety is a lie in this job. None of us will ever have that security. So, if we don’t need them to keep us safe, they worry we might not need them at all.’ Hannah squeezed Millie’s hand. ‘The truth is, I don’t need Killian to survive, but I want him. And having him in my life allows me to thrive in ways I wouldn’t without him. The question is, do you feel the same about Drake? Do you want him? Does he help you thrive?’
Ivy shook her head. ‘I won’t depend on anyone for my happiness but myself.’
Hannah nodded. ‘And that’s wonderful for you, Ivy. Some souls are meant to remain single and free. Others are only free when they find their partner. The question is, which one are you, Millie?’
Millie shook her head. ‘I’ve no idea. Can we focus on something a little less complicated? Like how we’re going to get St George to reveal his accomplice. The masked man I woundedis still out there somewhere. Watching. Waiting. I can feel it.’ She rubbed the goosebumps breaking out on her arm. ‘That is one problem we can solve.’
‘I think you have the best chance of getting him to talk, Millie.’ Ivy nodded, her fair hair catching the dying sunlight through the window and shining like gossamer strands. ‘He knows you. You have a history together. There must be something you can leverage.’
His pride.
‘Franklin cares about his reputation more than anything else. If I can convince him betraying his brethren will save his skin, I think he’ll tell me. But it won’t work unless we’re alone. He would never take such a risk with anyone else watching.’ Millie bit her lip, trying to imagine how she could weasel the truth out of a weasel.
Ivy tapped her fingers on her skirt. ‘I agree. He always wants to look superior. Lead him down that path.’
‘Yes. Tell him he’s better than the other Devil’s Sons. Far more worthy of pardon. Appeal to his vanity. You can do this, Millie. In actuality, you may be the only one,’ Hannah agreed.
Millie nodded, feeling the truth of their words in her bones. ‘I’ll go before dinner. Will you make my excuses if I’m late? Whatever happens, keep the men at the table.’
‘Consider it done.’ Hannah smiled.
