Page 56 of A Lady's Lesson in Scandal
Philippa tapped her finger against her lip in false consideration. ‘As I said before, it’s a good thing you are mildly attractive, for your intellect certainly leaves one wanting more. I forget nothing, Lady Whittenburg. You might want to think on that.’ Philippa turned and walked away, perusing the paintings on a far wall.
‘Dreadful woman! If she wasn’t so closely tied to the Queen, I would cut her direct,’ Patricia fumed. ‘Oh, there’s Lady Bradford. I’d best speak with her about tomorrow’s activities.’ She left in a flurry of blinding-yellow silk.
Nora sipped her sherry, leaning closer to Millie. ‘He’ll never care for you the way he does me.’ Nora’s sweet smile hardened into something almost feral. ‘No matter what your duchess says. I am his one true love.’
Harsh laughter burned Millie’s throat. ‘You are nothing to him. He may have loved you once, but you threw it away for the hope of a title. You are his past. I am Beau’s future.’
‘Only because you trapped him into this sham of a marriage. What man would ever want a fat, lumbering giant of a woman?’ Before Millie could reply, Nora looked beyond her to where the men were re-joining their party. She walked away from Millietoward Drake and his brother. ‘Darling, I was just telling Miss Whittenburg about the time you and Beaufort almost came to fisticuffs over who would row me around the lake in your little boat when we were children. Do you recall?’
Millie refused to chase after the woman, but everything in her wanted to drag her back by her perfectly silky hair and show her what fisticuffs really looked like.
Damnation, I’ve become a violent creature.
Franklin St George walked into the room with Reynard behind him. He bypassed his wife, whose eyes lit up until he breezed by and joined Millie near the fireplace. Why Victoria still cared about the man was beyond her. The cheerful crackle and warmth of the flames no longer felt soothing to Millie in his cold presence.
‘What a wonderful party you’ve gathered.’ Franklin’s gaze strayed to her breasts before slowly returning to her face.
‘Hardly my doing, sir. Patricia is responsible for the guest list. Had I been given the task, we would have far fewer past acquaintances present.’
‘Patricia is a delightful hostess. We had quite an enlightening discussion over dinner. She seems devoted to your happiness. Willing to do almost anything to ensure your safety.’
Millie almost laughed, but the sharpness of his words set her on edge. He was making a play. She just wasn’t sure what his goal was yet. ‘I’m not sure I know what you mean.’
Franklin inclined his head to Lady Winterbourne. Philippa held a glass of whiskey despite the shocked looks of many ladies in the room. She was conversing with Lord Bradford and eyeing his moustache with a perfectly arched brow of censure.
Franklin moved, blocking Millie from the other guests’ view. He stepped forward, forcing her to back up until she hit the papered wall. She winced as the wainscoting pressed into one of her bandages.
‘Your sweet mother was quite scandalised to realise her daughter was engaged in an illegal and sinful relationship with another woman. I must say, Millie, it makes more sense now that you would reject my initial advances this afternoon. But never fear. I can be just as adventurous as you. There’s no reason we couldn’t include another member in our little game.’ He reached out and grasped her hand. Pulling it up to his lips, he pressed an open-mouth kiss on her knuckles, leaving a trail of spit between her fingers. Millie shuddered in revulsion. ‘Don’t worry, darling. Your secret is safe with me. As long as you’re willing to repay my favour.’
Damn Patricia and her loose tongue!
Of course her vicious stepmother would share her suspicions with St George, giving the disgusting man more ammunition in his war to claim Millie.
She ripped her hand out of his grasp, wiping it on her skirts. ‘Please maintain your distance, sir. My stepmother’s imagination is almost as wild as her taste in dresses.’
‘Truth rarely influences society’s judgement. Perhaps your mother is mistaken, but it matters not a whit once the beau monde gets wind of such a salacious story. Whatever you do, I wouldn’t upset your sweet mother.’ His fine grey eyes flashed in the firelight, the darkness in their depths turning Millie cold despite the heat from the flames. ‘Nor should you refuse me.’
She narrowed her gaze and contemplated the ramifications of punching him in his trachea. ‘Are you threatening me, sir?’
Franklin shrugged, the action causing his chin to disappear. ‘I’m merely giving you some good advice, Millie.’
‘Your threats are as empty as your soul, Franklin. You don’t scare me. I’m no longer the trusting young woman you took advantage of so long ago.’
St George twitched his lips in a cold smile. ‘I don’t recall you objecting when I threw up your skirts and fucked you like acheap harlot on the grass.’ Again, he focused on her breasts, his wet tongue swiping over thin lips.
Millie almost gagged. She let this man kiss her. Touch her. Defile her. All because of a silly misconception they were in love. What a fool she’d been. But no more. She wouldn’t let this little toad of a man intimidate or threaten her.
I hope he is guilty. Philippa need not bother with him. I’ll happily take care of Franklin St George.
Time to bluff and see what Franklin revealed. ‘You may plan on spreading lies about me amongst the peerage, but I have something far more dangerous to give them about you, Franklin. The truth. And while your fruitless falsehoods might cause a stir, my information will put your head in a noose.’
Franklin’s gaze sharpened, and his pathetic jaw flexed. ‘What exactly do you mean?’
‘Try to intimidate me again, and you’ll find out. Major General Drake is coming this way, Franklin. I think you’d better scuttle. You’re quite good at that, aren’t you? Slipping away when things get messy?’
Franklin gripped her arm, squeezing tight. ‘You’ve no idea how messy things can get, Millicent.’ His breath wreaked of stale wine and something rotten. Probably his soul.
‘Ah, there you are, darling.’ Millie pushed Franklin out of her way to join Drake’s side. ‘We were just discussing the wedding.’
