“What?” She came to a stop once she landed in the foyer and her eyes widened with more excitement than she was already showing. “Oh! It is the gown I plan on wearing to my debut nextmonth. Do you like it?” She held out her arms and twirled on the spot. “What do you think? Be honest.”
Edward did not bother hiding his smile. It came naturally and was he a different type of man, it might have been paired with a tear leaking from his eyes. She looked beautiful. Truly, as elegant and regal as any princess might wish to be.
She is turning into a woman… no, she is a woman.
“You look perfect,” he said to her. “Your mother would be so proud.”
Millicent flushed as pink as her dress and looked away shyly. Her mother was Edward’s sister, and rarely did they speak of her as to do so brought more pain than either he or Millicent liked to show. And the fact that Millicent looked just like her too made it all the harder to forget just how much Edward missed her.
“I still need to decide on what jewelry to wear,” Millicent said, still looking away as if embarrassed. “And how to wear my hair. But I wanted to make sure it fit. Also…” She grinned. “I just like to wear it.”
He chuckled. “Careful now, you might grow bored of it before the big day comes.”
“Never!”
Her excitement was like a tonic that Edward did not even know he needed. If he’d had any doubt at all about what he was doing, seeing Millicent in her gown, positively ready to explode at the mere thought of her debut, was enough to quell those doubts.
Not that he had such doubts… which itself was a small problem.
Today had been a little too easy. Oh sure, Miss Celestine was argumentative and purposefully aggressive when she saw her chance to be. She tested him. She pushed him. And she was accusatory to a point of absurdity. But that was to be expected.
What Edward had not expected was how much he’d enjoyed her company. Yes, he was playing a role. And yes, he was exaggerating his feelings as he knew he must. But beneath the theatrics, there was an air of truth that niggled at the back of his subconscious and refused to leave him be.
Who would have guessed how well he and Miss Celestine might get along? When they were not bickering, their conversation was free-flowing and natural. When they were not mocking, their words were carefree and real. The day had not dragged. It had not been a chore. And most surprising still, Edward found that he almost looked forward to seeing her again…
“So!” Millicent rounded on him. “How was today? Tell me everything!”
He rolled his eyes. “I did not hear a please in there.”
“Please,” she pleaded. “I want to know! No!” She looked at him with excitement, her eyes wide, her body shaking. “I want to meet her. Why have you not brought her home yet? She must be special. I cannot believe you are already engaged.”
Edward smiled at his niece, truly touched by her enthusiasm.
Yes, there was a little bit of guilt added to the mix, because it was all lies. But he did this for her, and one day, he was certain that she would thank him for it. Better if she never knew at all…
“Did I even tell you how nosey you are?” he said to her.
She grinned. “Almost always.”
“My day with Miss Celestine was pleasant, and that is all I will tell you.”
“But –”
“Upstairs,” he cut her off. “You wear that gown much longer and you might wear it out. Take it off, ready for supper, and maybe then I will answer your questions.” He raised a commanding eyebrow at Millicent.
She just giggled and hurried back up the stairs.
Edward was not the monster everyone thought him to be. As he had said to Celestine, he was rather good at pretending. Sogood in fact that he often forgot himself entirely. That was why he needed Millicent, to remind him of who he could be, if only things were different…
“Your Grace…” A footman rushed into the foyer. “I do apologize but I am afraid you have a guest.”
Edward blinked. “I do?”
“I tried to ask him to leave, Your Grace, but he would not hear it. He is in your office right now…” The footman grimaced. “As I believe he is helping himself to a glass of your brandy.”
Edward shook his head and this time it was not paired with a smile. He knew who the guest was, because only one man would dare treat Edward’s hospitality with such contempt.
“It is perfectly fine,” he said. “I will be supping with Millicent this evening, ensure everything is ready.”
