“Good day, my lord.”
“Lord Wimplestow, Howard.”
Milly heard Joseph greet the men as she reached the piglet. Dropping to her haunches, she reached out a hand and scratched its back. A little snuffle came from the animal, and then she had it in her arms.
“Well done, Milly!” Apple-blossom cried.
Throwing Lord Ellsworth a triumphant look, she ignored his nod, and moved to replace the piglet in its sty. Small victories, Milly realized, were often all a person had. Throwing the handsome man a final look, she met his steady gaze before making her way inside to wash.
“We shall go for a ride, Milly. I don’t want to see that man again.” Apple-blossom stormed into her room minutes later.
“Excellent idea,” Milly said. She had no intention of running into Lord Ellsworth either.
Bundling Apple-blossom into her coat and outer things, Milly had them outside as soon as she had pulled on hers.
“Are you in a hurry, Milly?” Apple-blossom said as they once again headed to the stables, this time by way of the rear of the house, thereby avoiding Lord Ellsworth and Mr. Howard.
“The weather is turning?”
Looking skyward, Apple-blossom shook her head. “No, it isn’t.”
“Your mother is expecting us back for tea in an hour.”
“No, she isn’t. You want to leave here as much as I do, and I would like to know why.”
“I have no idea what you mean. Now come along.”
Only when they were mounted and walking through the gates of Wimplestow Hall did she feel the tension ease inside her.
“Is it the earl you do not want to spend time with?”
“I am not dignifying that with an answer.”
“The earl is my guess. I noticed how uncomfortable you seemed with him. Did you know him in London?”
Milly spluttered, and then coughed as the cold air hit her throat.
“I am a governess. How can I possibly know an earl?” Milly nudged her horse forward and into a trot, Apple-blossom did the same.
“He is handsome.”
“He is an earl.”
“Are all earls handsome, then?”
“And I am to know this how?”
“You’re defensive, Milly, which is a sign that you are agitated, and I repeat, why does the earl make you feel that way?”
“I’m not defensive, what I am is a mere governess, so there is no point to this conversation.”
“We are not people who stand on ceremony.”
“Yes, thank you, Apple-blossom, I believe you tell me that frequently.”
“Just as you tell me you are a mere governess often, Milly.”
“You have a smart mouth, Miss Wimplestow.”
