Page 26 of A Brooding Christmas Promise
“I did. I know that it is not the done thing but I could not bear to leave the poor fellow sitting in the cold. The horses are tied and secured and –”
“How wonderfully kind of you!” Miss Millerton exclaimed, her hand going to his arm as they continued to walk together. “Very few of the gentry would think of such a thing or have such a considerate heart. How generous you are.”
Dismissing the compliment as best he could – though he was grateful for it – Samuel directed his attention back to the figure by the carriage. “If it is not my coachman, then I wonder… oh, look! Another carriage is beside it.” His eyebrows began to pull together in confusion as he made his way towards the carriage, wondering who could be foolish or bold enough to stand out in the freezing cold waiting for them to return.
His question was soon answered by Miss Millerton’s gasp and by her feet pulling them to a stop.
“It is Lady Foster!”
Samuel’s frown grew heavier and though he sensed her reluctance, began to walk again, tugging her along with him. “You have nothing to concern yourself with, Charlotte. She cannot hurt you.”
“She will rail at me, I am sure of it. Though,” she continued, sounding a little upset, “I did not tell her that the betrothal was only a pretence. Mayhap I should, for then she would not think otherwise.”
Samuel turned to face her, despite the cold wind now blowing between them. “I do not think that would be wise, though I can understand your reason for considering it. She will, no doubt, tell everyone that it is a pretence and then we shall both be mortified.”
Miss Millerton closed her eyes, her fingers tight on his arm. “It is foolish of me to have reacted to her presence with such fright. I have already told myself that I am not going to permit her to affect me in any way.”
Smiling in what he hoped was an encouraging way, Samuel gestured to the lady in question. “Then now is your chance to prove it.” He watched as Miss Millerton nodded, pulling in a long breath though, much to his delight, there came a spark in her eyes as well as a lift of her chin as she turned back to face Lady Foster. Nothing more was said between them until they reached the lady, though Lady Foster immediately strode forward, ready to meet them.
“What is this?” she demanded, her face red with the cold but her eyes dark with anger. “You informed me, Miss Millerton, that you had no intention of engaging yourself to anyone only for me then to hear that you are to marry Lord Crestwood? What can you be thinking?”
Samuel bit back his retort, leaving it to Miss Millerton. Much to his delight, she spoke firmly and with it, offered a long, hard stare towards the lady.
“I believe that such matters are mine and mine alone, Lady Foster. Now, if you will excuse us, we are to return home.”
“But you cannot!” Lady Foster reached out and grabbed Miss Millerton’s arm, yanking her back from where she had beenmaking to step towards the carriage. “Do you understand me? You gave your word and –”
Miss Millerton pulled her arm away just as Samuel had been about to step forward, angry that the lady had thought to act in a physical manner all over again. “Do not think that you have any rights over me, Lady Foster! I have never been forced to make any decision, having only ever beenrequestedby my father to do such a thing but that does not mean that my heart cannot change!”
Lady Foster moved closer to Miss Millerton but she did not flinch and nor did she move away. Instead, she held Lady Foster’s gaze, her chin tilted up.
“You must be dedicated to my sister,” Lady Foster hissed, her hands now clenched into tight fists. “You have made your promise.”
“I have given my word, indeed, but if I decide that my life is much too sorrowful when I have, instead, the chance of happiness, then it may be that I break that word.”
“You cannot!” Lady Foster screeched, throwing up her hands, making Samuel step forward, fearing that she would injure Miss Millerton in some way given her anger. “It must be this way, else she will lose – ”
Much to Samuel’s astonishment, the lady came to a sudden stop. She spluttered for a moment and then, without so much as another word – and in a very calm manner – turned on her heel and made directly for her carriage. It was not only Samuel who stared after her but Miss Millerton also, her eyes wide and her whole body trembling.
“You are cold,” Samuel murmured, gesturing for her to make for the carriage. “Come, let us return you home. That was a most unfortunate encounter.”
“I – I do not understand.” Miss Millerton did not move but instead stared up at him, one hand going to his chest, leaning on him as though she needed his support. “What did she mean?”
Samuel shook his head. “I do not know but come, into the carriage. It is much too cold to stand about and you should discuss this with your sister.”
It took a moment but eventually, Miss Millerton nodded, her gaze still holding his. “You will join us, will you not?”
“Of course I shall.” Samuel kept his voice gentle though he found himself a little concerned at the whiteness of her cheeks. “Please, let me take you home.”
It took yet another moment but eventually, Miss Millerton climbed into the carriage and, coming in after her, Samuel rapped on the roof immediately, suddenly urgent in his desire to return the lady home. What had started as a lovely but cold walk in the park had ended in confusion and upset, and Samuel was both concerned and upset for the lady. Reaching for her hand, he held it in his as they were taken home in silence, never once letting her go until they arrived back at Lord Hesterway’s townhouse.
Chapter Thirteen
“What happened?”
Charlotte managed to smile as a cup of tea was pressed into her hands. “I am quite all right, Amelia. You need not hover.”
Amelia, who had been at Charlotte’s elbow ever since Lord Crestwood had ushered her back into the house with a murmur about Lady Foster, finally sat down though her eyes were fixed to Charlotte.
