Page 74 of Engaging Sir Isaac

A loud knock at the front door reverberated through the house, causing Cadoc to pause in the doorway. He looked over his shoulder at his wife.

“A bit early for guests, love?” He had a lilt to his voice Millie had always liked, up until the moment he ran away with her sister. She found she rather enjoyed it again.

“A bit. But we do seem to be lucky in our unexpected guests just now.” She smiled warmly at Millie. Cadoc waved the maid away and went to answer the door himself. The house was not especially large, but no one could call it cramped, either. They had a maid, a cook, and a man-of-all-work. Emmie ruled them all with kindness.

The sound of Cadoc’s greeting traveled back to the ladies, who sat quietly, listening.

“Please forgive the intrusion. I am Isaac Fox. I was told I might find Miss Wedgewood at this house.”

Millie covered her mouth and exchanged a look with Emmie. For her part, Emmie’s entire countenance changed, her eyes widening and her mouth parting in a gasp. Millie’s stomach fluttered. Her sister grabbed her hand and tugged her up.

“Go to him, you ninny,” she whispered, hands on Millie’s shoulders to propel her from the room. “This very moment. Go.”

Millie’s feet finally caught up with her sister’s commands. She stumbled out of the dining room, into the main corridor. Cadoc still stood beside the open front door, and there, holding his hat beneath his arm and wearing an uncertain expression, was Sir Isaac Fox.

He caught her gaze with his, and they stared at one another. Millie’s heart thudded like a hammer against her ribs. Vaguely, she heard Cadoc say her name. But it was Isaac’s look that unbound her at last. The light in his eyes softened, one corner of his mouth came up almost sheepishly, hopefully.

She stepped forward, slowly, but then her feet flew, and her arms reached for him.

Isaac dropped his hat—What other choice did he have, really?—and scooped her up with his arm, holding her tightly against his chest. Millie kept her face buried in his cravat, hardly believing it was him. He had come looking for her. How had he known where to find her? She kept her arms around his waist, drinking in his scent, allowing the warmth from his body to seep into hers.

Isaac’s lips brushed her forehead, his arm not loosening its hold upon her, and he breathed deeply. Content.

“I take it you know the gentleman.” Cadoc’s lilting words made Millie laugh as she leaned back, only enough to face her brother-in-law.

“This is Isaac.” She lifted her gaze to the baronet’s again. “I am going to marry him.”

Isaac stared at her, his shock at her pronouncement quickly replaced by a grin. “Are you?”

Cadoc chuckled and stepped aside. “Perhaps you two ought to come inside. Settle the matter where the neighbors will not be privy to what you decide.”

Millie felt her cheeks warm, but she tossed her head, uncaring. Isaac gave her waist one last squeeze before he bent to retrieve his hat and follow her through the door.

Cadoc bowed them into the front sitting room. “We will worry over introductions later,” he told them, giving Millie a wink before he left them alone. Door open.

Isaac put his hat down on a table and held his hand out to her, and Millie did not need more of an invitation. She stepped back into his embrace. He kept it gentle, his arm looser, but no less full of his adoration. She laid her cheek against his chest.

“Isaac. How did you find me?”

* * *

Isaac parted from Millie enough to stare down at her, incredulous. “The box.” She blinked at him, uncomprehending. “You left a letter in the box, and the direction for this house. I hoped you would be here when I arrived, but I was not certain—”

“The box was empty,” she said softly. “I wanted to write to you, but I could not. I sent the box instead.”

Somewhat reluctantly, Isaac released her, much to her disappointment judging by the tiny frown that appeared. He withdrew a well-worn piece of paper from his coat. Millie accepted it from him and unfolded it. After a brief glance at the words, she raised her gaze back to his.

“I did write this.” A pretty pink stained her cheeks. “But then I left it, and Sarah—” She broke off and her eyebrows rose. “Sarah.”

Isaac did not bother to hide his amusement. He quickly drew her to him again. “Your little maid is clever. She knows what you need better than you do. I would be willing to wager she left the paper with your destination, too.” He glanced around the house. “Where are we, exactly? Whose home is this?”

“It belongs to my sister, Emmeline, and her husband.” Millie took his arm and tugged him to the couch. “Oh, Isaac. I have so much to tell you. I am sorry, so terribly sorry, that I ran away before. But you see, it has all been for the best. Emmie has told me everything about how happy she is, how much she loves her husband, and they have two children.” Millie beamed with genuine pride.

He listened, trying to pick out the bits that made the most sense to him. He had so many questions. But what did they matter? Millie was safe, happy, and had declared her intention to marry him. He could want for nothing more.

She broke off in her cheerful prattle and squeezed his hand. “Isaac. Why did you come? You do still care for me, do you not?”

He lifted her hand to his lips and brushed a kiss across her skin. “Always, my heart. I will always care for you. I love you.”