Page 168 of Harpy of the Ton
“I can’t,” Bella said. “I hate him! He’s nothing like…”
“Nothing like who?”
“No matter,” Bella said. “I’m on my way to London, b-but my horse threw me, and I hurt my foot. I…” She shook her head. “Forgive me. I made a mistake.”
The woman cast her gaze over Bella’s body. Then she took her hand. “Come with me.”
Before Bella could respond, Millie pulled her through a door into a hallway.
“Now, tell me what you’re about.”
“I told you—I’m running away,” Bella said. “Why don’t you believe me?”
“Because you’re a lady—and ladies never keep their word. Look what you did to my Lawrence.”
Bella blinked, and a tear splashed onto her cheek.
Millie let out a huff. “Not the tears, please. You might be able to win your duke over by sniveling, but I see you for the spoiled madam that you are—lookin’ down your nose at the likes of us.”
“I’m sorry,” Bella said. “I know now what it’s like to feel trapped—to be in the power of those who believe they have the right to treat someone with cruelty merely because of their birth.”
“And what about Lawrence?”
“Lawrence…” As Bella whispered his name, another tear fell. “H-he taught me so much.”
“I’ll wager he did,” Millie said. “How to cook and clean—and how to fuck.”
Bella flinched at the profanity. “It wasn’t like that. I believed he was my husband.”
“Husband, lover, customer—it’s all the same,” Millie said. “I’m not blamin’ you, your ladyship. A darn fine fuck he is—I’ve never had such pleasure between my thighs. Is that why it took you so long to leave him, because your duke can never give you such pleasure?”
Bella shook her head.
“Perhaps you’re thinkin’ he’d rut you again once you’ve tired of that lecher…”
“No.”
“Or you’ve come here to learn a thing or two about feigning pleasure for when the duke mounts you on yer wedding night?”
“Dear God, won’t you desist?” Bella cried. “It wasn’t like that, I tell you! It was an act of love.”
Millie snorted. “Your sort don’t know the meaning of the word. A good rutting—that’s what you’re after.”
Bella surrendered to her fury and wrenched herself free. She grasped Millie’s arms and slammed her back against the oak-paneled walls.
“Donotpresume to know me! It may be just rutting to you, but I’ll not have you cheapen what we had between us—what I had, with the man I loved.”
“You didn’t—” Millie began, moving forward, but Bella pushed her back against the wall.
“I did!” she said, thrusting her face close. “I did love him—and I still do. I’ll love him until I draw my last breath, no matter how much he loathes me.”
Millie’s eyes widened, and for a moment the two women stared at each other. Then Millie let out a small moan of pain.
Bella released her and stepped back.
“I’m sorry,” she said, awaiting a tirade of abuse. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
The tirade never came. Instead, Millie rubbed her arms and continued to stare. “Lawrence… Youlovehim?”
