Page 10 of A Gentleman Never Surrenders
“Congratulations, Hadley.” Leo’s twinkling eyes held far too much delight at his expense for Owen to be happy.
“Yes, yes, have a good laugh,” he muttered.
When Ivy shot a confused look between the two of them, Leo chuckled.
“Owen has never liked Mildred, and the same goes for her with him. Like a pair of tomcats in a sackcloth, hissing and biting.” Leo’s open mirth soured Owen’s mood.
“You know full well I had other intentions.”
At this Ivy scowled. “Yes, Leo mentioned that to me. Mr. Hadley, take my advice. Your taste for scandal has forced you to pay a high price. I suggest you take that lesson to heart.” Her slightly almond-shaped eyes, so warm and dark with their Gypsy look, had once enchanted him. But they didn’t any longer. Now when he pictured eyes, all he saw was blue flashing with fire and rebelliousness.
“Milly is sweeter than you realize, Mr. Hadley,” Ivy continued, leaning into him as though not wishing to be overheard.
“Oh? That would surprise me.” His reply was a little too sardonic because Leo harrumphed in disapproval. “What?” he challenged. “You aren’t married to the woman. We’re likely to kill each other before we even get to our honeymoon.” While he was curious about Milly’s behavior as a seductive challenge, he was not entirely ready to deal with the woman as a wife.
“She’s very independent, Mr. Hadley. Don’t cage her or she’ll snap at you.”
Cage her? That sounded like an impossible task. He shoved his hands into his trouser pockets and frowned.
“I have no intention of doing such a thing. She’ll be perfectly free to do as she likes so long as it does not interfere with my affairs.”
Leo rolled his eyes. “How romantic of you, Hadley. Come, Ivy dear, let’s eat some cake.” Leo steered her away as her face flushed and her lips parted as though she had something more to say. She’d likely have lectured him further if not for Leo’s timely intervention.
Owen attempted to make small talk with the guests, but the niggling sense that he was somehow an outsider made him feel on edge. He wanted to fit into this world, the close community of the Hamptons and the Pepperwirths. Yet not a single person at the wedding aside from Leo had been here as his guest. Since his parents had died, he’d felt more alone than ever. Sure, he had a few distant cousins on the Hadley side, but none so close he could have invited to the wedding. It did not help matters that Milly seemed to be purposely avoiding him.
She’d come down after she’d changed, wearing a white blouse tucked into a sensible tweed skirt. The back and front panels of her skirt had buttons and trimmed braid along the hem. It displayed her small waist and the flare of her womanly hips in an elegant and all too pleasing style. Milly hadn’t dressed to look risqué, yet he couldn’t help but entertain delightfully wicked thoughts about getting his hands under her skirt. Even if she was flashing those blue eyes at him in anger, he’d do his best to tempt her to passion.
With a silent curse, Owen had to admit the woman was twisting him in confusing knots. He thought he didn’t like her, but she kept making him change his mind—even when she seemed determined to frustrate him. One moment he wanted to drag her to bed. The next he wanted to go straight back to Brooks in London and avoid her until they learned to live together amicably. Was that even possible with Milly? He chuckled softly, drawing several confused looks from guests nearby. He cleared his throat and focused on the breakfast. All he wanted to do was get this over with and leave so he could sort out how he felt about his wife in private.
He’d secured a room at the White Rose Inn for a night’s stay and it was going to be difficult enough getting Milly not to throw a fuss. But he was going to insist they share a room and a bed as man and wife, even if they did not consummate their marriage. At this rate that would likely take years. Not that he wouldn’t do everything in his power to convince her that sharing a bed with him would be pleasurable. But no doubt in his first attempt to woo her, she’d want to strangle him. He knew she didn’t want this marriage and she had quite a temper when she was riled.
He groaned. It would be sheer luck if his new wife didn’t smother him with a pillow tonight while he slept.
Chapter 5
Milly hugged her parents goodbye and gave Rowena a kiss on the cheek. Rowena wiped tears from her eyes.
“Oh, Milly, you’ll let me come visit you? Mama says once she’s hired a lady’s maid for me, she’ll let me come and see you.” Rowena hugged her again, her little nose turning red as she sniffled.
Milly glanced at Owen, who stood by the hired cab. “I’m sure that will be fine. I’ll write to you and let you know once I’m settled.”
“Good.” Rowena stepped back, clutching her hands together, trying to smile, but it wobbled. Milly wanted to stay here, with her family, in a place she was familiar with and comfortable. She was heading off to the unknown tonight and not having any control was terrifying. She was married to a stranger, going to a town she’d never been to before, and she was so alone. Her stomach clenched in tight knots and her heart ached as she realized her life would never been the same.
“Ready?” Owen called out a little loudly from behind her. She flinched and gave her parents one last smile.
“You’ll be fine, Milly. Write to us as soon as you can,” her mother said, blinking away a suspicious sheen of tears in her eyes.
Milly pulled her coat tighter about her as she turned and walked over to the cab. She paused before she climbed inside, her heart clinging to one last moment of the life she’d known, and then with a sigh she entered the vehicle. The driver in the front seat had already loaded their travel cases and they were ready to leave. Milly scooted over to allow Owen inside. He sat down and told the driver to leave.
As the cab pulled away from Pepperwirth Vale, she turned in the seat to peer through the small window. The shrinking view of her former home shattered her heart. She was leaving everything and everyone she loved behind for a forced marriage. If she had been marrying a man she loved, and one who loved her, she still would have felt sad at leaving her home. But leaving it while being tied to a fortune hunter who would never see her value, never care about her heart or her mind or love her? It was too much to bear. Her bottom lip trembled and she bit it to keep it from showing. As she turned back round, she noticed Owen watching her, a solemn expression on his face.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
She blinked rapidly as her eyes burned. “Yes, quite fine,” she replied crisply.
“Very well,” he responded gruffly, and focused on something outside the cab window.
She regretted her tone, but it was too late to do anything about it. They had a long ride ahead of them. She fluffed the fur of her coat collar up higher on her neck and settled in to watch the passing scenery. She closed her eyes, only for a moment…
