Was she seeking shelter from the cold? Did she need help with something? Perhaps she was running away again? No, she did not have her bag or ugly dog with her.
What is her story?A Marquess’s daughter was not meant to be a governess.
“Joseph!”
Dragging his eyes from Milly, he settled them on Charles this time.
“What?”
“Who is that woman you are looking at?”
“What woman?” Joseph could lie very well. It was a honed skill after years of dealing with three siblings.
“That one.”
Joseph made a show of looking around them, even though he knew Charles was pointing at Milly.
“I have no notion. My mind was on more weighty subjects, like running estates, and making sure my two spendthrift brothers do not run the earldom into the ground.”
“I do not spend a great deal, a fact evidenced by the poor state of my curricle when you have a new phaeton.”
Joseph rolled his eyes at Rory’s words.
“It is barely a year old, so spare me the theatrics, brother, please.”
His brothers fell silent as their apple and cinnamon pies were placed before them, which allowed Joseph to look for Milly once more.
She was drinking tea now, and nibbling on something. He’d noticed she did that when she ate, and wondered how hard it was to eat when your cheeks were stuffed with… something.
Looking down at his pie, he tried to dismiss her as he took his first mouthful of deliciousness. Only when he was finished did he let himself look at her once more. She’d gone. His eyes swept the tavern; when he did not locate her, he got to his feet before he thought better of it.
“Excuse me, I shall return shortly. I have just seen someone I need a word with.”
He left his brothers and walked outside before they could utter a protest. Looking first up, and then down the street, he found her heading for the woods that led to the river. Joseph struck out after her. He didn’t aim to catch her until they were off the main street, and she was walking the path down to the water. Then he took the left fork as she headed right. Lengthening his stride, he walked the circle along the river so he would meet her coming the other way. Joseph didn’t question why he was doing this, only that he had to. She was in his head once more, the woman who had turned his world upside down when she’d walked away from him.
“And you are a fool to have let this happen.” Joseph muttered the words as he closed the distance between them. He should have told her he knew her identity, the night he met her on that road, and made arrangements to hand her the papers the late Marquess had left in his possession. Because his doubts had multiplied. Doubts that he likely should have had four years ago.
Her head was down, shoulders hunched, and he felt it again, the worry. Millicent Lawrence had always been surrounded by people who wanted to be close to her. Not vulnerable, huddled into her worn coat as she battled the wind.
“Milly.”
He saw the flash of fear before she lowered her eyes.
“How are you?”
“Very well, thank you, Lord Ellsworth.” She walked off the path he stood on, as he was blocking her way, and struck out again, so he turned and had soon drawn alongside.
“Is this your day off?”
“No. Lady Wimplestow has taken Apple-blossom to visit an old friend, and had no need of me, so kindly gave me the time to purchase a few items I required, and have some time to myself.”
She raised her voice on the word myself. Joseph ignored the less-than-subtle hint.
“And how are you settling in?”
Lord, the anger was back, but part of that he now realized was frustration. Where had she been? Had he been wrong all this time about her reasons for leaving?
“Very well, thank you, my lord. Now if you will excuse me, I shall be on my way.”
