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Finally, he understood the true hurdle in his path.
Asquith heard a noise in the doorway and turned. Neville had arrived.
And from the look on Neville’s face, he felt the same spike of jealousy Asquith had battled when he’d seen Preston and Lenora together.
“You have another visitor.” He patted her hand. “I’ll be just outside, Mil.” As Asquith passed by Neville, he gave a significant glance. “Don’t muck this up,” he said under his breath.
He held himself to the same exhortation.
One more day.
***
The prior night, Adrian and Eliza had returned to D’Acre House very late. Millie had not returned at all.
Eliza had roused Lenora, Nettie, and Emily from sleep. She’d told them Millie was safe, but that they should not expect to see her for a few days. Then she said she couldn’t answer any further questions because she did not yet know the answers.
Lenora wanted answers, nonetheless. And she’d been waiting for them ever since the sun rose, though Eliza, for some reason, had chosen to linger in bed.
Unable to bear her impatience any longer, Lenora rushed into Eliza’s room.
“What do you mean by bursting in?” Eliza asked. “What if Adrian had been present?”
“He couldn’t have been.” Lenora shut the door behind her. “I just passed him on the stairs.”
“Well?” Eliza lowered her chin. “What terrible urgency made you so bold?”
“Oh, I don’t know...” Lenora laced her voice with sarcasm. “Maybe I’m just the tiniest bit concerned that Millie has not returned? I don’t know how you can rest, nor how Adrian can stride down the stairs whistling.”
Eliza smiled a secret smile. “Didn’t I tell you last night everything would be fine?”
“But you didn’t say when. Or how. Or why.”
“That’s our Lenora, always needing to know why. Reasons aren’t always justifications, you know.”
“Eliza!”
“I couldn’t inform you because I was still unsure of how events would unfold.”
“What events?”
Eliza pursed her lips.
Lenora growled. “Am I to just accept that Millie simply vanished? Nettie heard from Emily, who heard from Mrs. Vane, that you and Cassie left her stepmother’s gathering after the duke had fallen ill.”
Lenora paused to take a breath. The gossip chain had been dizzying.
“Harbury falls ill, and then Millie goes missing on the same night, and you think the next morning is perfect for lingering in bed?!”
Eliza arched a brow. “I wasn’t lingering.”
“I’m sick with worry.” Lenora stomped her foot. “And I cannot stand to wait another minute. A scandal of some sort must have taken place, or, at least, come very close! You must tell me what’s going on at once.”
Eliza sighed. “Very well, since you insist. A scandal did almost take place. Harbury is feigning illness. And according to a message Adrian’s valet only just delivered, Millie is, as we speak, reviewing settlements. She is to wed Neville this afternoon at Cassie’s.”
Lenora gasped. “Neville?!” What in heaven’s name...? “But, last night, Millie went to the theater with Willard. How did Neville get involved? And marriage?” She frowned. “Millie?”
Eliza gave a slow, exasperated shake of her head. “As I understand, Millie and Willard went to the theater. Neville happened to be at the theater as well. Neville and Sarah came up with a plan to remove Millie from the theater because Willard’s intentions were...” Eliza paused. “Untoward.”
