“Happily married.”
“I-I am pleased for her.”
He didn’t want to have this discussion with her. Didn’t want to find himself asking, like a pathetic fool, if she’d thought of him also.
“Then you can stay with your aunt.”
“I disgraced my family by fleeing. My aunt would have no wish to see me again, even though she told everyone I was sick.”
“She loved you as you loved her. I’m sure after you have explained, she will forgive you.”
“Is she well?”
“Very, and terrorizing society as she always has done.”
Just a small tilt of her lips, but Joseph saw it. She had loved Lady Mowbray very much. In fact, he remembered his sister telling him that Milly had confided that her aunt was more a parent to her than her father.
“I will take you to London and you can read what your father left you. Once we have done so, then you can make your decision as to what you wish to do.”
“No, I have no wish to go to London.”
“Those papers were important enough that your father had them sent to me, Milly. You need to come to London and read them.”
“I want no one to see me.” She shook her head vehemently.
“They need not if that is your wish. We will drive to my doorstep, you can read the papers, and then I shall take you where you wish to go.”
“B-but why would you do so? You care nothing for me now. No. If I go to London, I will make my own way there on the stage. You can instruct your staff to hand me the papers when I arrive. There is no need for you to leave now.”
“It matters not, my intention was to return to London soon anyway.”
She shivered, and he knew that she had been sitting out in the weather for too long.
“Come, we will leave today.”
“I do not take orders from you, and after the shame I caused you, I cannot understand why you wish for this... for me to go with you to London.”
Even bedraggled and beaten, she was not giving in. This Milly, Joseph realized, was a very different person than the previous one.
“Because,” Joseph said, deciding on part of the truth. “I want the truth of what happened four years ago, and you are not leaving my side until I have it.”
Her teeth snapped together, and he was unsure if that was anger or cold.
“It is pride, isn’t it? That is the only reason you are doing this.”
There was more to it than that, but for now he merely said, “I am sorry for your loss, and you were right in that I should have told you sooner, Milly.”
If she heard him she showed no sign. Instead, she stomped from the church and through the churchyard. He reached her side and took her bag, and then her arm.
“I cannot outrun you, so have no fear on that front, my lord.”
“No, but as you do not know where my horse is, I will show you.”
She muttered something that Joseph was fairly certain was unfavorable toward him, and let him take her to the stables. He lifted her onto Monty, and climbed up behind.
As he left for Greyton, Milly sat upright, her back rigid to ensure no part of it touched him. The distance was not great, but by the time they finally arrived, the tension between them was thick. They rode up the driveway to the front door instead of going to the stables.
“I will wait in a parlor until you are ready to leave for London, my lord.”
