The Mischievous Bride (14 page)

The beautiful lady, with her blond hair and ruby lips, stood beside the general.

“Who is she?” Gabby asked in awe. “A princess?”

Milli regarded the tall, elegant lady with a shrug. “Just some lady.”

Marcus and the general exchanged a few words. Miss Canton stood there smiling like a complete idiot, Milli thought. A minute later Marcus entered the carriage, sitting across from them.

As the vehicle rolled along the cobblestone streets, Gabby looked at her uncle. “That lady was prettier than anyone I know. Except my mama.”

Milli’s throat began to close up. She felt small and insignificant next to Miss Canton. Why should Marcus look at her when he had a Venus in his midst?

Hot tears sprang to her eyes. She dropped her gaze to the carriage floor as the vehicle rumbled down the street.

She knew her plain gray eyes were too wide to be beautiful. Her face was too elflike to be elegant. Her figure was too childlike to be attractive. And her height was too short to be alluring. She looked like a rat next to the general’s daughter.

 “Yes,” Marcus said to Gabby, his voice warm, “she is rather pretty, is she not?”

“If you like that sort of thing,” Milli mumbled. The man’s nearness was more disturbing than she wanted to admit.

Marcus bent toward her. “What did you say?”

Milli realized Gabby was listening, and she lifted her face, staring hard at Marcus. “I said you if like that sort of ding.”

“Ding?” Marcus asked confused.

“Yes,” Milli said with a brittle smile. “Ding. As in ding dong dumb!”

Gabby laughed. “Is that a new song?”

Milli arched a delicate brow. “A new song indeed.”

Chapter Ten

A
week had passed since that terrible day at the milliner’s. Milli sat in a wing chair in the duchess’s bedchamber while warm sunshine filled the room. Jane rested on a sofa beside her, near an open window, reading a book. A soft wind lifted the curtains, letting in sounds of chirping birds residing in the tall oaks.

The doctor had just left, and Jane was more somber than ever. Although the duchess seemed to be gaining strength every day, Milli’s heart turned at the sadness that lurked in her friend’s pale blue eyes.

Milli had to wonder if the young duchess was only pretending to read. She seemed so far away.

Milli had been staying with Jane while Lizzie had returned home. Lady Emily had left as well, and Marcus had moved back to his apartments. Milli hadn’t seen him since that horrible day with Lord Hughmont.

Lord Hughmont had been called out of town on family business, so she hadn’t seen him either. Lord Knightengale had visited once. But he was not her only suitor. Lord Breadford, Lord Valford, and Lord Buntington had all made their appearances.

Stephen had made it quite clear that she was not to accept any invitations outside the duke’s home until she returned to his townhouse. That way Stephen could look over the suitors themselves and ask them about their intentions. But he would allow the gentlemen to visit at the duke’s home, as long as Roderick knew it.

Milli grimaced, folding her hands in her lap. Goodness, the entire courting scenario that Stephen suggested seemed so archaic. But at the moment, with Jane and Roderick in such need, Milli didn’t want to start any more trouble. So, she had agreed to Stephen’s highhanded edict. But it didn’t mean she had to like it.

Milli turned her gaze toward Jane and frowned. It was obvious the lady needed her, because the duke was no help at all. He secluded himself in the library most of the day.

 “You seem better today,” Milli remarked. “Would you like to take a stroll outside?”

Jane closed her book and shrugged. She traced a finger along the window sill, then turned a watery gaze toward Milli. “What am I going to do?”

The lady’s brilliant blue eyes shimmered with sorrow.

Milli’s throat clogged with emotion. “You are going to get better and have another baby, that’s what. Don’t you dare give up.”

Jane shook her head, her bottom lip trembling. “I can’t have any more children.”

 Milli stood walked over to her. “How do you know?”

“The doctor . . . said as much.” Jane fell against Milli’s chest and sobbed.

Milli felt Jane’s pain as if it were her own. She drew her hand through Jane’s blond hair, soothing her. “What do doctors know anyway? We shall have another opinion.”

With a delicate sniff, Jane lifted head. “He talked . . . to the most noted surgeon in . . . London. They both agree. I cannot . . . should not have any more . . . Ever.”

Milli patted her back. “There, there, Roderick will love you no matter what. You know that.”

Jane sobbed more, her shoulders shaking. “But he needs an heir. I am his duchess. He is the duke.”

Milli stared over Jane’s head into the gardens, watching a robin fly past the window. “An heir. He has brothers. What do you care?”

Tears streamed down Jane’s face. “I . . . I w-want a baby. I want something to call my own. A little person to love. A little piece of heaven. Something for Roderick and me to love the rest of our lives.”

Milli’s gaze blurred with unshed tears. Words failed her. What could she say? What should she say?

“Let’s take a stroll in the gardens, dearest. You’ll feel better if we do. And then maybe we will have some tea and cakes and get fat.”

Jane nodded. “Very well.” There was a small smile beneath her frown. “Give me a few minutes to gather myself.”

Milli agreed to meet her in a half hour.

In the meantime, Milli intended to go straight to the library and confront the duke. He and Jane were miserable, and it was getting worse every day.

“We’ve got a problem,” Roderick said to Marcus.

Marcus didn’t know why Roderick was staring at him instead of addressing the entire group of men. Clayton, Stephen, and Stonebridge were all seated in the duke’s library as well. They had gathered to discuss William Shelby’s death.

Marcus bristled. The entire group was staring at him now. “Do I have a wart on my nose or something?”

Stephen scowled. “No.”

“Roderick?” Marcus asked, his gaze piercing his brother’s cool facade.

“It’s about Milli,” Stephen put in, clearly agitated

Marcus frowned. “She is safe, is she not? You told her not to venture on any drives and such.” He clenched his fists. “Did the female disobey your orders?”

“She cannot stay in this house forever,” Clayton put in.

Stonebridge stood and paced about the room. “The Home Office believes her father’s murderer is still at large, most likely waiting for a time to have Milli alone.”

Marcus narrowed his gaze on his brother-in-law. “We guessed that. What else?”

Stonebridge shrugged. “Seems about a year ago someone broke into the solicitor’s office where Shelby’s will was held. It also included his papers regarding the inheritance.”

Stephen looked shocked. “And why was I not told of this?”

Stonebridge sighed. “There are other things. His house was robbed weeks after his death.”

Stephen shot from his seat. “The devil you say? Who are your contacts in London? I demand to know””

 “The point is,” Roderick said. “Milli has been safe here. I have not let any suitor take her beyond the premises. I have asked Jane to help, even though she is still recovering. All my wife knows is that some suitor wants Milli’s money, and for now, we are trying to figure out who it is.”

The duke’s face darkened. “However, Jane has no idea about Shelby’s murder. And I will not involve the women any more than that.”

Marcus’s lips tightened. “I take it the suitors have been allowed to be entertained by Milli, then?”

Roderick nodded. “I cannot very well send them away without suspicion. Of course, it seems all of London knows of Jane’s predicament.” A frown marred his brow as he spoke. “But I have made certain a servant has been with Milli while her suitors have made their visits.”

“Has Hughmont been here?” Marcus asked, annoyance filling him.

“Probably,” Stephen said in agitation. “But having two women to care for is taking a toll on my sanity. I don’t want them hurt. But confound it, a murderer! This is far worse than Fennington invading our grounds.”

Clayton smothered a groan. “Don’t mention that fool, please.”

Marcus recalled the quizzing glass Milli said she still had. Fennington was easy to deal with. William Shelby’s murderer was as dangerous as giving Napoleon another army at Waterloo. 

Marcus felt his heart race at the thought of Milli in the murderer’s grasp. He stared across the room at the bookshelves, recalling the tiny female and the devastating kiss that had turned his world upside down. He was fond of Milli, but she was young and foolish. She was also a flirt like Lady Madeleine. Marcus didn’t need that complication in his life. And he blasted well didn’t need love.

 Marcus grimaced. “Elizabeth may handle the facts better than Milli, but neither should be involved in their father’s case.”

Stephen frowned. “Heaven help us. If Milli discovered the culprit, she might put cherries in his drink and kill him.”

Marcus could not help but chuckle. The story of Milli putting cherries in a certain lady’s drink, a lady who had been very mean to Elizabeth, was something he could not forget. Milli had been a child, but she had almost killed the lady who had a high sensitivity to cherries. But there was a lesson to be learned. Milli acted first, thought later. She was a lady of impulse, and in a murder case, that was a dangerous thing.

Clayton snorted. “Shame Milli is a girl. We could use her. A loose cannon would bring out the villain sooner than later.”

“Don’t even think about it,” Marcus snapped.

Roderick sighed. “Of course, she isn’t going to be part of this investigation. But we must consider the facts. Our little Milli is in danger. I am thinking about her safety. We could marry her to some gentleman who will protect her while we find the culprit. Have the man take her away for a while. What do you think?”

Marcus clenched his hands, not liking the scenario at all.

“Marrying that little firefly off and finding the murderer won’t be easy,” Clayton put in.

Roderick leaned back in his chair. “I’ve been thinking about what you said before, about having a party in the country. We could gather a list of gentlemen whom we believe may have had reason to kill Shelby and invite them.”

Stonebridge nodded. “Those that may have owed him a good sum?”

“And those who may have some attachment to Milli and are biding their time to marry her,” Stephen added, his face grim. “Sounds rather dangerous.”

“Too dangerous, if you ask me,” Marcus remarked, his anger mounting. “I don’t like it.”

Roderick tapped a hard finger against his desk. “What else are we to do then? Wait for the murderer to marry the girl? We cannot. I have a great fondness for Milli. But one never knows what she might do.”

Stephen toyed with the ink well in front of him. “The girl is stubborn and unpredictable.” He looked up. “I have no idea if she might venture to Gretna Green and marry, just to spite me or any of us. I admit I was quite surprised she took my edicts so well. In fact, her calm demeanor frightens me to death.”

Roderick walked over to the fireplace, where a small flame danced in the hearth. “It’s obvious. She is looking after Jane and does not want to make matters worse, so she surrendered to you without a fight.” He glowered at Marcus.

Marcus straightened, wondering if the duke knew about their kiss. “Confound it, why do you keep staring at me? I didn’t do a thing.” Liar, he thought.

“I heard from Gabby that you were very mean to her at the milliner’s last week,” Stonebridge announced bluntly.

Marcus’s jaw dropped. “Mean? Hell’s teeth. Hughmont snatched her arm like a mad dog reaching for a bone. I merely intervened.”

“The man grabbed her?” Stephen shouted. “Why the devil didn’t you mention that before?”

Marcus poured himself a drink from the sideboard. “I believe I took care of the matter. We have no notion if Hughmont is our man. It could be Graveland, Pickford, or Reardon, for all we know. Of course, Breadford, Valford and Bennington are circling Milli as well.”

Roderick sat down at his desk and picked up his pen. “Who else? Let’s make our list of the possible culprits now and add to it.”

Clayton pursed his lips. “Knightengale. Yardley.”

“Knightengale?” Marcus repeated. “The man may have kissed Milli, but I can assure you, as my good friend, he would do nothing to hurt her or her father.”

“Kissed her?” the men said in unison.

Marcus scowled. “Our little princess enticed the man into the gardens. What was he to do? She is rather fetching.”

The men regarded him with a keen eye.

Roderick smiled. “Rather fetching, is she?”

Marcus felt his cheeks color. He took a long swallow of his wine. “You know what I mean. Not that I am interested. She is not what I would want in a spouse.”

Stephen glared at him.

Marcus fumbled for words. “Well, confound it. I am quite fond of the girl, but she is too bold, too forward for my taste in a wife. And too blasted young. When I marry, which will probably be ten years or more, I want a wife who will not be jumping head first into trouble. And I certainly do not want a wife who wants to try a man’s kiss, then move on to the next one.”

Roderick frowned. “Next one?”

Stephen’s eyes flashed with worry. “Milli is high strung, but she is still an innocent. Blast it all, this is going to be more difficult than I thought.”

Marcus scoffed. “Difficult? King George, of course it’s going to be difficult! If you think we are going to have some grand party and not let the women know why, you have another thing coming.”

Roderick looked at his list. “Who else?”

Stonebridge pursed his lips. “Emily mentioned a few suitors. I may have to ask her.”

Stephen sank into the nearby sofa. “Hell’s bells. No husband for Milli until we find the man. This is getting too complicated.”

 “I agree,” Marcus put in. “Why involve a husband before we know who the villain is?”

Clayton looked thoughtful. “They do have a point, Roderick.”