Page 10 of Engaging Sir Isaac

He folded his arms over his chest and took her in, but not in a lewd way. His attitude was calculating, much as his sister’s had been on their first meeting. Yet he lacked the predatory mask his sister wore with such ease. “Olivia has put you up to something, has she not?”

Millie’s eyebrows shot upward. “Put me up to something? Whatever do you mean, my lord?”

“It is obvious she does not consider you a friend. Last evening, before dinner, she made a point of introducing you, yet the two of you have spent no time in each other’s company in the three days you have been here.”

Millie did not so much as blink at his observation. The man was cleverer than he let on. Yet she could not admit anything to him without betraying her promises to Lady Olivia.

“It has something to do with Sir Isaac. The deliberate way you two were put next to each other at the table was obvious to anyone paying attention. Sir Isaac could not help but see the slight against him was intentional, to seat so many gentlemen in more favored places. What, precisely, are you doing for my sister? And why are you allowing her to dictate to you? I am dreadfully curious.”

There was that word again. Curious.

“My lord, I am not at liberty to discuss this with you. Whatever it is you have perceived, you ought to speak with your sister.”

He waved that comment away. “I tried. She denied everything, as though I am foolish enough to believe her word on anything.” That hardly spoke well of their relationship as siblings. “Olivia is up to something, and you are playing along. I will agree to stay out of it, but only if you promise me a favor at a later time.”

This did not bode well. A favor, to a man known for acting the part of a charming rake? She had heard rumors of the way he flitted about society, from one lady to another, never settling into his place, a profession, or a marriage. Unsteady, some called him. A lay about, said others.

Yet all he had shown her, since the first moment of their meeting, was a begrudging sort of kindness.

“Why would you want a favor from me?” She did not see a way around it. Not really. But agreeing blindly would hardly be wise.

He shrugged, almost carelessly. “You seem to be an industrious sort of person. One day you might be in a position that I find useful, though you certainly are not in a favorable place now.”

Millie swallowed. “I will owe you a favor, my lord.” She did not want or need another person poking about while she attempted to fulfill the task given her by Lady Olivia. “But there must be conditions. I will do nothing that will harm my reputation,” she said quickly.

“What reputation?” he asked, one corner of his mouth going upward. He glanced at the maid in the corner, then back to her. “I think we both know you haven’t much of one to ruin.”

Millie felt the heat rushing into her cheeks. “Perhaps not. But it is a condition. I will do nothing disreputable.”

“Agreed. Anything else?” One corner of his mouth turned upward. Despite their conversation, she sensed no malice in him. Amusement, perhaps, but not even directed at her. The man was a puzzle, yet something about him eased her concern.

If only she could think of something else to ask of him. Then it came to her. “You know Sir Isaac better than I do. My other condition is that you must tell me how best one would get past his defenses. He is not eager to befriend me, and I would know how to change that.”

“Befriend him?” Lord Neil’s eyebrows rose, and he dropped his hands to his side, as though genuinely astonished. “Olivia does have something strange planned. I can agree to this condition. I could tell from watching last night that he had little enough interest in you. But you were going about it all wrong. Sir Isaac is a military man. If you wish to break through his defenses, attacking head on will get you nowhere.” He directed a grin at her that reminded her of a wolfhound. “Does that help you, Miss Wedgewood?”

She was sure it would. In time. “I believe we have reached an accord, my lord.”

He bowed. “So it would seem. Good luck, Miss Wedgewood. Whatever my sister has put you up to, I am certain you will need it.”

Lord Neil left without another word.

Millie turned to her maid; Sarah had her sewing at rest in her lap and was staring wide-eyed at her. “Was that a good idea, miss? Seems to me you just made a deal with a devil.”

“I do not think him a devil. His sister, perhaps.” Millie lowered herself into her chair again and rolled the pen upon the table, watching the nib twirl across the wood. “He said I should not attack Sir Isaac head-on. What do you suppose that means?”

“It’s like in battle, isn’t it?” the maid said, lowering her head back to her work. “You’ve got to sneak up behind him, find some way to infiltrate the ranks.” Sarah had three brothers in various branches of the military. All three had been called back to action when Napoleon had escaped Alba and began his war anew.

“Infiltrate the ranks.” Millie turned the idea over in her head, her eyes upon her artwork again. “Of course.” She stood abruptly. “Sarah, tomorrow morning we must pay a call on the Countess of Inglewood.” If she could ingratiate herself with Lady Inglewood, infiltrating the ranks of the family, she might have a better chance against Sir Isaac.

Somehow, everything would come together. This would be her way back into Society, the way to return her mother to the world she loved, and undo everything Emmeline had ruined by running off and jilting the grandson of a duke.

Chapter 5

Calling on a titled lady without notice was hardly good manners, but Millie had a purpose. Multiple purposes, in truth. Though she had searched the house high and low, nothing in the Alderton home would suit for her project. There were no suitable boxes, and no suitable ink for working upon wood. With Lady Olivia ignoring Millie for the most part, and no one else in the house but the marchioness and Lord Neil, Millie passed the hours with difficulty.

The art room had become her haven, more so than the bedroom assigned to her during her stay.

After Lord Neil’s visit, and his hint at how best to get around Sir Isaac’s defenses, she had hit upon the perfect place to begin.