She leaned down so her bosom was on full display. “Your loss.”
With that she moved away, ignoring him completely. And, as if the serving girls had received a signal that he was useless, they all stopped bringing him drinks. Finally, Milly arrived carrying more ale and a plate of food.
“Milly! My angel.”
She snorted. “Eat. You’re drunk.”
Sam pulled out some coins and said, “Please give this to the serving girl who was waiting on me. I may have offended her.”
Milly laughed. “You humiliated her. I’m not sure there is enough coin in all of Liverpool to make up for that.”
Sam sighed. He was a mess. He squeezed his glass as he thought of Clara at the Ball of Sin. Milly leaned over and snatched the ale from him, having a drink. “What is bloody wrong with you?”
He sighed before taking a bite of the chicken leg in front of him. Ahh...it was good. Perhaps he was drunk. The food Milly served at the tavern was good but tonight it seemed of a higher caliber.
“Sam?” she asked.
Sam sighed. “My wife, who I barely know, has decided to attend a ball of ill-repute.”
Milly gasped. “The Ball of Sin?”
Sam’s brows shot up. “How do you know about the Ball of Sin?”
She laughed. “Every lord who has entered this tavern this season has had something to say about it. Full of all types of debauchery.”
Sam scowled. Milly tilted her head and studied him for a moment. “What do you care? Didn’t you say this marriage was a practical arrangement?”
He was quiet but then finally said, “Our union was unexpected and not a choice she would’ve likely made willingly. I wanted to give her freedom but I’m not sure this type of freedom is what I was thinking of.”
Milly snickered. “You’re a bloody fool. You need to go back to London and bed your wife.”
Sam flushed. “We are not from the same ilk.”
“What do you mean not of the same ilk?”
“She is a lady. I grew up on the streets and was delighted to be taken into an orphanage most considered a hellhole. Sorry, I’m not sure why I am talking about it.”
She snorted. “You need to move past this fixation on your differences. If you want the lady, pursue her. I am tired of watching you sit here and sulk every night.”
He twirled his glass in his hands. That was the damn problem. He wanted her more than anything he had ever desired before and it terrified him. He’d always enjoyed a good time, but he knew nothing about being a husband, and even less about being a husband to a lady. Still, he knew that wasn’t really what made him stay in Liverpool every night. It was pride that she may not want him. That she would at some point realize she had made a terrible mistake. What lady didn’t regret giving up a title or the life that came with it?
He sipped his drink and said, “I have things to do here. I will return to London when I am ready.”
Milly sighed and shook her head causing her brown curls to bounce around her head. She was truly a beautiful woman. If Sam weren’t such a mess about Clara, he would make another play for her.
“What of you, Milly? Have none of the gentlemen who pass through Liverpool ever won your heart?”
She snorted. “I would take none of them. All spoiled and entitled.”
He looked at her, amused. “No one has caught your fancy?”
“Maybe one or two, but I love my freedom,” she said with a wink before standing.
He smiled and watched her sashay across the room, every man following her figure. If it were any other woman, Sam would be worried about her, but he had seen Milly handle men much bigger than herself.
Chapter 15
Clara sat with Mercy and Annie on a blanket in Hyde Park, watching Sophia walk with the Viscount Landers. Sophia batted her eyelashes at him, outlandishly, and Annie started to snicker. Mercy glared at her. “Shush. She is smitten.”
