Millicent started to pace back and forth, muttering,“Foolish, stupid boy.”
It was in that moment, with the lady’s face so drawn and pale, that Isabella realized something very important. She clutched Claudia’s hand andsaid, “Why don’t you go upstairs and wait for me. Last door on the left.” Her maid nodded wearily and climbed the stairs.
When Isabella was alone with Millicent shewalked toward the other woman andaskedquietly, “You’re his true mother, aren’t you?”
The lady’s head whipped around,and she pierced Isabella with a stare so direct that there was surely no denying the similarities now. “What makes you say that?”
Instead of answering, Isabella prodded, “It’s true, isn’t it?”
Millicent sniffed and turned her head, and although Isabella noted that she didn’t deny her claim, she was also stubborn enough not to admit it outright either.And thenanother thought occurred to her,promptingIsabellatowalk over and clutch the other woman’s arm. “This means that you also know his father’s identity as well, don’t you?”
Millicent lifted her brown eyes, the same ones that mirrored her son’s,thoughthey were filled with guilt anda sadnessso great that it caused Isabella’s chest to ache.
“You have to tell him,” she said softly.
The woman broke away from herand shook her head, a fist pressed against her breast. “I can’t.He would never forgive me.”
“Don’t you still think you owe it to him to tell him the truth?”
Her brown eyes flashed. “What good could it possibly do?”
“It would give him closure,” Isabella explained. “Ridge is good at hiding his emotions, but I’ve seen the faraway look in his eyes that he tries so hard to hide. He would never admit it, but there’s still that lost little boy inside of him. I believe that he could stop searching for something that isn’t there if he had someone to love. If he hadfamily.”
“I’ve always been there for him,” Millicent countered. “As for his father…”She trailed off with a sigh. “I never told him about Ridge, because Iknewit wouldn’t matter. It isn’t as though he could ever be acknowledged.” She shook her head. “We shared nothing more than a brief, torrid affair, but it was the most amazing time of my life.” Her expression turned wistful, but then she shuttered herself off. “However, once I found out I was with child, I immediately broke things off and he eventually did his duty and married another, someone suited to his class.” She looked at Isabella with that same, earlier determination. “I see no point in disrupting his life now.”
“Even if it means putting Ridge’s mind at rest?”
For reply, Millicent lifted her chinin defianceand turned away.
“I see.” Isabella sighed. It was apparent that nothing she said could sway her mind. But as the door opened and Ridge walked in, any further thought fled upon seeing him.
She rushed into his arms. “Oh, thank God! I was so worried something had happened.”
Ridge winked at her as he removed his eye-patch. “Rest assured, it would take more than that crew of inept sailors to do me in.” He glanced around. “Where’s Claudia?”
“I sent her upstairs to your room. No doubt she’s already asleep.”
Ridge cupped her cheek andgave her a light kiss on the lips.“Why don’t you head up and do the same?You must be exhaustedas well.”
“What about you?”she asked.
He glanced over her head. “I think I’ll stay down here for a bit and chat with Millicent.”
“Very well.”She looked over at the madame, but the woman refused to meet her gaze. With one last smile at Ridge, she took her leave.
