Page 21 of A Brooding Christmas Promise
“I would need to convince Miss Millerton to agree,” he said slowly, as Lord Trenton shrugged. “You think that it would be that easy?” A laugh broke from his lips. “I hardly think so. She was already upset with me for suggesting that to Lady Grifford, I cannot imagine that she will take well to the thought to the entirety of thebeau mondebeing aware of it!”
“I am sure you could convince her,” Lord Trenton said, dismissing Samuel’s concerns with a few words. “All you need to do is ask.”
A little interested at how nonchalant his friend appeared to be – and how simple he thought the solution was – Samuel looked away and let his gaze rove around Whites. Yes, he considered, it would be very easy indeed forhimto be engaged to Miss Millerton for a time and it would be an excellent thing also given what it would do to thetonand their expectations of him. For Miss Millerton, however, it would do precisely the opposite. She might find herself in yet more difficulty with Lady Foster and even her stepmother! What of her family? Would they understand what had happened? Would they accept that this pretense was justified or would there be an unhappiness about it all?
“All you can do is suggest it and see what she says,” Lord Trenton said again, as Samuel continued to think hard about what he ought to do. “Have you any other solution?”
Samuel scowled. “You know that I have not.”
“Then?”
Closing his eyes and letting out a long, slow breath, Samuel shook his head. “I do not want to suggest this to her, Trenton, not after how much I have already upset her but it seems that I have no choice.” Letting out a sigh, he swirled the remaining brandy in his glass, his heart heavier than it had been before. “I shall ask her if this engagement can continue until she returns home with the full expectation that she will refuse.”
“Excellent!” Lord Trenton beamed, his eyes gleaming with evident delight that Samuel had taken on his solution. “And if she refuses, then we shall meet again at Whites and come up with another solution. Though, however, I do not think that you will need to.” He chuckled. “I think she will agree.”
“We shall see,” Samuel muttered, doubtfully. “We shall have to wait and see.”
***
“Miss Millerton, thank you for letting me call on you.”
The lady nodded but did not smile, settling herself back into her seat. “You will not mind, I hope, if my sister sits with us?”
Samuel looked to Lady Hesterway who was, it seemed, entirely at a loss as to why this meeting was taking place, given the strange look she sent her sister.
“No, not in the least.” He managed a smile but then let it fade, looking back at Lady Hesterway. “Might I ask what you know of the situation?”
Alarm clouded her expression. “Situation?”
“At the ball last evening,” he continued, only for Lady Hesterway’s eyes to widen, a quiet gasp escaping her.
“Did something happen with Lady Foster? Something I did not know about?” She made to rise, evidently going to sit near her sister but Miss Millerton quickly shook her head, gesturing for her to sit down again.
“No, Lady Foster had nothing to do with this,” she said quickly, just as the tea tray was brought in. “Do not be alarmed.”
“It was all entirely my own doing,” Samuel said, waiting for the maid to depart the room and close the door before he continued. “I spoke hastily, making a situation a good deal worse than it needed to be and I confess, brought your sister into it.”
Lady Hesterway blinked, just as Miss Millerton rose to pour the tea. “I do not understand.”
Samuel closed his eyes briefly, feeling the knot of pain in his heart as he thought of Lady Grifford. “Last evening, I was surprised by an unexpected presence. Lady Grifford came to speak with me. As you might well be aware, Lady Hesterway, shewas once my betrothed – well, almost my betrothed. I had every intention of marrying her.”
“Yes, I am aware of that story,” Lady Hesterway said, looking almost a little guilty as she glanced away from him. “I believe she wed Lord Grifford, a gentleman who was nothing but the very opposite of you.”
“You are quite correct there,” Samuel answered, not in the least bit surprised that she knew the details. “Lord Grifford was a rogue and a charlatan. Whether he believed himself truly in love with Lady Grifford, I do not know but he certainly convinced her to trust him.”
“Was?” Lady Hesterway looked confused, a line forming between her eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
Setting the teacup down in front of her sister, Miss Millerton spoke up. “Lady Grifford informed us that he had died. I believe that was one of the reasons she came to speak with Lord Crestwood.”
“Oh.” Lady Hesterway’s eyes flared. “Oh!”
“Yes, your thoughts turn the same way as my own,” Samuel answered, quietly. “However, given the shock of coming face to face with the lady who had caused me so much difficulty and then to hear of Lord Grifford’s passing, I found myself in a very strange frame of mind. The truth is, I was not certain what to think and even less certain as to what to say!” Resisting the desire to tug at his collar with one finger, Samuel looked to Miss Millerton. “When Lady Grifford asked to speak with me alone, when her desire began to wind its way towards me, I am afraid that I introduced Miss Millerton as my betrothed.”
Silence filled the room, ballooning outward as Lady Hesterway stared at him and Miss Millerton looked away, her cheeks pink. Samuel could not move nor find a single word to say, holding his breath as he waited for Lady Hesterway’s judgement to fall upon him.
“You told the lady that you were engaged to my sister?” Lady Hesterway’s whisper finally broke the silence but did not make Samuel feel any better, still uncertain as to what her reaction was to this statement.
“I did and I am sorry for it,” he said, putting one hand to his heart. “I did not think clearly. I was much too confused, afraid that Lady Grifford was attempting to insert herself back into my life when that was the very last thing that I wanted. In wishing to make that desire clear to her, I used Miss Millerton as an excuse and for that, I am truly sorry.”
