Chapter 10
Milly should have been able to enjoy the following few days. She had an escort everywhere she went. If she left the house, he would appear. If she visited someone, he would not be far behind. If she stayed at home, he would visit.
It was driving her to distraction.
How cruel to have so much attention from the man she dreamt of every night and thought about from the moment she awakened; yet he was being so attentive out of obligation.
She had told Sarah the real reason Henry was staying in the area. She was sure of her friend’s confidence in anything she had to say.
“He should have considered the risk before asking you to provide the drawing!” Sarah had exclaimed.
“I suppose his motivation was more about the country’s security rather than the implications to me,” Milly responded realistically.
“He should have an army of men around you day and night.”
“That would certainly put a strain on mother’s resources,” Milly said with a smile at the lecture she had received only that morning from her mother.
“Well, at least he will be a good dancing partner for tonight’s ball. I do wish Mrs Connor wouldn’t try to Lord it over the town quite so much. We know she lives in one of the largest houses in the area, and yet she feels the need to remind us regularly just how important she is,” Sarah said with a sigh. “I’ve got more important things to concern myself with than her inflated self-importance.”
Milly smiled at the slight bulge in Sarah’s dress. It would not be too long before Sarah was confined to more sedate pastimes once she could no longer disguise the impending birth.
*
Milly prepared for the ball with care. Her hair was twisted into the tightest curls then fluffed to create a soft framing of her face. She wore a little black soot mixed with a drop of oil on her eyelashes, she applied the mixture and then took a corner of a cloth and removed the excess. The result was a darkening of the eyelashes that looked natural and enhanced the grey of her eyes. She had practised the procedure with Sarah since returning; Sarah was always at the forefront of the latest trends even though she did not frequent fashionable London. She claimed to be determined to avoid becoming a rustic and spent a considerable amount of money on magazines and fashion plates, receiving them far earlier than many of her contemporaries.
Milly then applied Rigge’s Liquid Bloom to her lips, a present from Clara. It gave her naturally rosy lips a transparent gloss, making them look fuller and drawing the eye to them.
Her dress was of a warm peach silk, a present from Charles. A matching peach overlay of fine organza was speckled with tiny cream flowers. The edges of the neckline, sleeves and hem were trimmed with deeper peach satin ribbon. She finished her outfit with cream satin gloves and a pearl necklace and ear rings. The jewels were paste, but it did not matter or detract from the overall effect.
Milly stood in front of her cheval mirror, running her hands down the length of her dress. For once she felt every inch the woman she could have been if circumstances had been different.
Not one for regrets she smiled at her reflection; picking up the cream silk shawl she wrapped it around her shoulders. She did not need her cloak tonight; Henry had insisted on escorting the mother and daughter in his carriage, promising hot bricks, rugs and warm drinks to help them on their short journey.
Henry felt his mouth go dry as he waited with Mrs Holland in the hallway of her house and watched Milly walk down the stairs. He had noticed that she was pretty when he had seen her in London, nothing compared to the diamonds of the season of course, but pretty and elegant in the way she held herself.
When they had been in Dorset, she had seemed to come alive a little. Whether it was because she had spent so much time out of doors, or if she was more comfortable away from the more formal role of being a companion, he had no idea, but she had certainly improved in looks. He had been moved enough to kiss her, although that had not been purely because of attraction, he acknowledged, which was to his everlasting shame.
Now though, as she walked confidently downstairs, she seemed to glow with good health and looks. The colour of her gown suited her perfectly, making her skin look warm, the material moving with a swish around her tall, slender figure. Her eyes seemed to draw him to her, as always looking at him as if she could see into his soul. Finally his eyes rested on her lips; they looked moist as if she had just licked them in readiness for being kissed and, once again, he had to swallow and try to focus so his body would move, ushering them out into the night. She would be his for the first two dances, and it was going to be hard to stop himself from touching her inappropriately.
Milly smiled at Henry, and he handed the two ladies into the carriage. He fussed over Mrs Holland, afraid of losing what little control he had over his faculties if he had to fuss over Milly. Thankfully, Milly was more than capable of tending to her own needs. They set-off, letting Mrs Holland lead the conversation until they turned into the drive of the Connor’s house.
“It will always grieve me to be a visitor in my own house!” Mrs Holland said, her mood unable to stay buoyant for long.
“Mother, we are here to enjoy ourselves; let us not go over the past now,” came the plea from the long suffering daughter.
“It could so easily have remained in the family!”
“Mother!” Milly said in a warning tone.
Henry noticed the exchange and, even in the darkened carriage, could tell that Milly’s cheeks had flushed in mortification. Not one to miss any signs, he was immediately alert that there was a part of the family history that had been omitted when Milly had told him their story. He determined to find out more.
*
Mrs Connor had put on as grand a ball as was humanly possible. As she had already informed the Hollands, no expense had been spared. The scent of the flowers that seemed to be tumbling out of every vase, jug and ledge almost overwhelmed the senses of the arriving guests. Garlands had been fixed to both banisters of the staircase, the amount of foliage wrapping around the newel hiding the wooden structure completely.
Candles blazed out of every sconce, chandelier and candelabrum, leading the way into the large double length drawing room, which was normally separated by large wooden doors for daytime use. A pianoforte in the corner was already being played by a hired musician, and a singer was singing an Italian melody, to which most guests were only giving passing notice, being more intent on speaking to friends and acquaintances.
Mrs Holland separated from Henry and Milly, seeing some of the elder members of the town who would be willing to give her a sympathetic ear. Milly continued through the drawing room, which opened onto the ballroom, a large room running across the side of the house.
There were fewer flowers in this room, but it was still decorated extravagantly. A three-piece orchestra were seated at the far end of the ballroom, playing quietly before the dancing started. Milly smiled when she saw Sarah and her husband Peter, making their way through the crush to them.
“I’m sure there aren’t this many families normally in town at this time of year,” Sarah said, looking flushed and using her fan vigorously.
“No one wants to miss this event,” Peter said good-humouredly after the introductions with Henry had been made.
“It’s seems an event that is determined to make a statement,” Henry said observing the signs of wealth from the number of footmen serving drinks to guests and the number of plates of food that could be seen already laid out in the dining room. Far more food would be distributed before the end of the evening; the platters already available were only for those who could not wait for the main dishes to be served. The morning room and the breakfast room were reserved for those who wished to play cards.
“It is the highlight of the year. Apparently!” Sarah said mischievously.
“Which you wouldn’t miss for the world,” Peter responded.
“Unfortunately this year I won’t be dancing, unlike Milly who is sure to be the belle of the ball.”
“Mrs Connor rightly holds that title,” Milly said, looking warningly at her friend.
“I think tonight Mr Connor might be experiencing a pang that probably feels a lot like regret and with that I shall go and sit with the older ladies; thankfully I will be rejoining the dancers next year,” Sarah said airily before leading her husband to the edges of the ballroom where they were soon surrounded by friends.
“Your friend is a force to be reckoned with,” Henry said pleasantly.
“I thought marriage and motherhood would have mellowed her, but it appears to have made her even more outrageous,” Milly admitted.
“Shall we?” Henry asked as the orchestra prepared to start the first dance.
“I’d be delighted,” Milly responded honestly. How could she not welcome the opportunity of dancing with the most eligible man in the room? His dark frock coat, cream breeches and shining boots, all combined to make him stand out above everyone else. His figure filled his clothing, making the material appear to be straining against the muscular body. Yes, Milly was going to enjoy the next hour.
Milly was surprised when they were joined by Mrs Connor. “My Lord, you must join us at the top of the set,” Mrs Connor said, almost rounding them up as she chivvied them up the line of people already taking their places. “No one could ever say I don’t know how to give rank it’s precedence.” She hurried them along, her dress edged in some feather-like material which made her slightly rounded figure look decidedly rotund.
Milly would have rather started the set lower down as she was now in a set of four with two people she would have preferred to avoid. Some of the pleasure had been taken out of the next hour, but she could not help returning the smile that Henry was giving her.
They started to move through the dance, and Henry saw that Milly was uncomfortable every time she had to make contact with Mr Connor. It was very interesting. There was obviously some history, and it did not need a genius to work out why Mrs Holland berated her daughter about no longer living in the home. Mrs Holland had clearly wanted Milly to marry Mr Connor.
Henry felt the smile on his face slip as he thought that Mr Connor might be the person who had shared Milly’s first kisses. He frowned darkly as the gentleman passed him in the set, looking at Henry in surprise before a glance at Milly caused him to flush. Henry glowered at the man; he had obviously guessed correctly.
The remainder of the dance passed in discomfort for three of the set of four. Only Mrs Connor seemed oblivious to the undercurrent that was making the two dances pass inordinately slowly. Finally, when the second dance came to an end, Henry bowed to Milly and the Connors before taking Milly’s hand and placing it firmly on his arm in an act of possession. He walked through the milling crowds until they reached the edge of the ballroom.
“My Lord?” Milly asked a little puzzled at the change in behaviour. She had been so wrapped up in her own discomfort she had failed to notice the change in Henry until the end of the second dance. True, there had been little conversation during the dance, but she had presumed that was on account of herself not wishing to enter into any chatter; every word she could have uttered would have been overheard by the Connors, and she wanted to avoid that at all costs.
“You’ve kissed that man!” Henry hissed at her; although he was angry, jealous and nettled, all rolled into one confusing swirl of emotions, he kept his voice low. He was not about to expose her to anyone else’s censure, apart from his own of course.
Milly could not prevent the flush spreading across her cheeks, but she faced Henry her head held high. “I did.” His angry reaction to the knowledge was baffling to say the least, but she was not going to deny something she had done in the flush of youth when she had been engaged and believed herself to be in love. Kissing the man she should have spent the rest of her days with had not been wrong then and she was not going to feel shame for it now.
Henry would swear afterwards that someone had kicked him forcefully in the stomach, the pain was so intense. Some indication of the pain he felt flashed across his face before he schooled his features into a more appropriate one. “And can I ask when these kisses occurred and why you would kiss a man who is now married to another?”
The censure and condemnation in Henry’s voice brought tears to Milly’s eyes. Angrily blinking them away, she wondered what it was about Henry that turned her into a watering pot. She rarely cried and yet, here she was, the second time in not too many weeks wanting to cry over the opinion that Henry had of her. Was it bitter regret that he could not see her in a different light? Probably, she mused, trying desperately to get herself back under control.
Milly thrashed about in her mind for how best to respond. She could not storm away from Henry; a scene was the last thing she wanted to cause. Eventually, she stood straight and looked Henry directly in the eyes. “You are here to protect me from the perceived threat of Joshua Shambles. Keep your impertinent questions to yourself, My Lord; I am under no obligation to explain my actions now or in the past to you or anyone else. Please excuse me.”
Milly turned and left Henry at the side of the ballroom. The next dance was underway; no one noticed Henry balling and releasing his fists as he tried to calm himself. He wanted to pummel Mr Connor into at least the next century, but he could not. He had no right to feel so insanely jealous, but his reasoning did not ease the intense feeling he was suffering from. Outwardly, the only indication of his turmoil was a muscle twitching in his cheek.