Page 38 of A Brooding Christmas Promise
His friend’s hand fell away. “You are hesitant, I understand.”
“I am not hesitant!” Samuel protested, only to see Lord Trenton’s eyebrows lift. Sighing, he shook his head and let out a hiss of breath, unwilling to admit what he knew his friend already understood. “Yes, I suppose that I am. It is because that in telling her about Lady Grifford, I will have to also speak of my own heart.”
“Which you have recognised now holds an affection for the lady, yes?”
Samuel nodded.
“Then I am glad to hear it!” Lord Trenton declared, firmly. “I am sure that she will be glad to hear your words.”
Not having the same certainty, Samuel looked away. “She has still the burden of her father’s demands on her shoulders. The matter has not yet been made clear, not as yet anyway.”
Lord Trenton tilted his head just a little. “You may find that your declaration brings about more than you had ever imagined,” he said, his voice dropping just a little. “Now, if am not mistaken, your betrothed approaches!”
A little confused as to how his friend might know of this, Samuel turned around quickly, only to see Miss Millerton smiling up at him, flanked by both Lord and Lady Hesterway. The flush of pleasure he felt upon seeing her warmed him right through and all he could think about was catching her up in his arms as he had done at the previous ball… and stealing yet another kiss.
“I am afraid that my mask is not very substantial this evening,” Miss Millerton laughed, gesturing to the very simple mask which did hide some of her features, but not enough to make her unrecognizable. “Although I am astonished at some of the masks I have seen this evening. There are so many feathers!”
Samuel laughed aloud at this, relieved that there was no tension between them. After he had kissed her and then taken himself to the card game, he had begun to be concerned that there might be some sort of strain here, only to see now that there was nothing whatsoever. “I think your mask is quite superb,” he said, as Lord and Lady Hesterway melted into the crowd, leaving the two of them together. “I am glad that you were able to find me so easily.”
Miss Millerton’s cheeks lit to a gentle pink. “It was not difficult to recognize you, even with your mask.” There was a softness to her voice now, a tone which he had not expected to hear, and a sudden thrill ran up his frame. “Lord Crestwood, I know that you will be very busy indeed this evening hosting this magnificent Christmas masquerade, but I was hopeful that we might speak together for a short time? There is something that has come to light and I would like very much to share it with you.”
Instantly, all of Samuel’s attention went to her. “This is about your father’s will?” When she nodded, Samuel offered his arm to her and then quickly walked to the side of the ballroom, lowering his head so he might hear her speak. “Tell me whatever you wish. I am eager to support you in this, where I can.”
Miss Millerton’s eyes searched his for a moment though Samuel did not know what it was she was looking for. When she spoke, there was a heaviness there, as though her heart carried a great deal of pain.
“It seems that the will was not lost, as we were told,” she began and Samuel’s heart began to clamor, aware of the possibilities that this statement held. “And the part of the will which stated I was to be companion to my stepmother was not lost with it.”
All of Samuel’s hopes suddenly faded. “You mean to say that there was such a clause?”
It took a moment but Miss Millerton dropped her head, paused and then shook it. “I am unsure on that matter. The solicitor did not know to what I was referring.”
Samuel’s heart jumped up furiously, his eyes widening. “Then it was never there?”
“There is a good deal of confusion, I have to admit,” Miss Millerton told him, a rueful smile on her lips, “and I have felt a great many things as I have considered all that has taken place.I am determined to find the truth and, therefore, hope to hear from my brother very soon as he must give permission to the solicitor to go through the will with my sister and me again.”
Samuel nodded slowly. “And if that part of the will is not there, then…?”
“Then I must find out how it was that I read those words which were then signed by my father before I can determine what to do next,” she answered, quietly. “I do hope that you understand.”
Nodding slowly, Samuel turned so that he faced her rather than standing alongside her and, thereafter, took both of her hands in his. His frame trembled lightly for a moment as he considered his next question, fully aware of what it was he wanted – nay,needed,to ask. “What if you discover that it was not your father’s desire for you to do as you have been?”
Miss Millerton closed her eyes for a few moments, her jaw tightening. “I will have a good many questions for my stepmother, I confess it, for I now believe that my unwed state must benefit her in some way, given what Lady Foster said.”
“Of course!” Samuel’s heart beat furiously, coming a little closer to her. “Lady Foster stated that youhadto remain unwed, otherwise your stepmother would lose something.”
“Precisely.”
Hope began to flood through Samuel’s heart and he pressed her hands a little more. “But you would be free to make your own choices, yes?”
She smiled at him, her eyes holding something that he could not quite make out. “Yes, that would be so.”
Samuel opened his mouth to say more, to say that he wanted her to consider what they might be to each other, should that freedom be granted, but he snapped his mouth closed before anything was spoken. She had enough to contend with already. It would not be fair of him to say more.
“I will do whatever I can to help you, I promise.”
“I am grateful for that,” she answered, releasing his hands as her gaze went over his shoulder. “I should also tell you that I believe my stepmother and mayhap Lady Foster also, will be present this evening.”
Surprise caught Samuel’s expression. “How can that be? I did not invite them and I thought your stepmother was at the estate for Christmas.”
