“I said please, and I wouldn’t need to speak that way if you acted like one.” She almost spat the words at him.
“I would like to address the issue you raised after I kissed you.” He heard the strangled sound she made. She shot him a look, and then she was suddenly still. So still he almost checked she was still breathing.
“What’s wrong?”
“N-nothing. Please excuse me.”
Before he could respond, she’d skirted around him and fled. He started to follow, but had to stop when someone stepped into his path.
“Lord Ellsworth, how wonderful it is to see you this evening. Of course you know my dear Lydia.”
Joseph followed Milly with his eyes until she disappeared, before turning to face Lady Lyon. The woman was a predator, and stalked prey most evenings, hunting for the right man for her daughter. Which, Joseph was determined, would not be him or either of his brothers.
“Lady Lyon, Miss Lyon.”
“Really, my lord. I have seen you with that woman a few times. Surely she can have nothing to say that you wish to hear. Very plain little thing, and as she is Miss Wimplestow’s governess,” she gave a shudder, “well, I believe that is enough said on that front.”
He had to be careful here. There was no way he wanted this viper to know who Miss Higglesworth really was.
“I was just on my way to ask your beautiful daughter for a dance, Lady Lyon, and walked into the Wimplestow governess. My foot connected with hers, and I fear I am a great deal larger. I was merely asking if she was unhurt.”
She trilled, and gave her daughter a look that Joseph could not interpret. In her day she would have been considered a beauty, but no longer. Her personality was etched in each brittle line of her face now.
“Well, of course she would be happy to dance with you,” the woman cried with far more false enthusiasm than was required. The daughter said nothing, just smiled at him in a silly way that made Joseph want to gnash his teeth.
The dance was as boring as he had known it would be. But at least it gave him time to think. What had put that expression in Milly’s eyes? Had he somehow given himself away? Joseph didn’t think so, but something had shocked her. To find out what, he had to locate her.
Twenty minutes later, he was sure she had left, and he had the feeling she was running again—only this time, he would be there to stop her.
