CHAPTER 1
Early December
Millie couldn’t decide if she was excited or worried as she made her way down the long hallway to her father’s study at the back of the house.
The last time he’d summoned her for a formal chat was just before the start of the season last spring. She’d been looking forward to the trip to London, thrilled that she would be out in society and able to enjoy all the entertainments she’d only heard about secondhand from her friend Sarah.
As the sister to a viscount, Sarah’s family visited London every year. And while she too had to sit out many of the formal events because she was too young to attend a ball, she had a closer vantage point to the social whirl.
Millie’s father was the second son to a baron and so did not have a duty to visit London when Parliament was in session. And since her father disliked traveling away from home, they’d never made the trip.
But instead of speaking to her about the impending season, her father had called her into his study that morning to explainthere would be no season for her that year. But he’d promised to make it up to her next year.
She couldn’t help but remember that promise now as she reached his study. Christmas was almost upon them, and the news they’d be heading to London in the spring would make the perfect gift. It was the only thing she wanted.
She was in time to intercept her mother rushing from the room.
“Millie,” her mother exclaimed before drawing her into a quick hug. “I’m so happy today, and I’m sure you’ll be too when your father tells you the news.”
Her spirits rose at Mama’s good mood. “We’re going to London in the spring?”
“Millie.” Papa’s deep voice cut into their conversation. “Come inside and close the door.”
Her mother’s smile widened. “Go and speak to your father. He’ll explain everything.” Mama hurried off without another word.
Her mother’s optimism had banished her lingering fear that this would be another disappointing discussion about London. She was finally going to have her season.
She hurried into the study and closed the door behind her. When she turned to greet her father, her smile was so wide it almost hurt.
He was leaning back in his chair, beaming with satisfaction.
“You wanted to see me, Papa?”
He stood and moved to stand before the desk. A distracted part of Millie’s mind took in the fact that the surface was strewn with small piles of paper. She noticed only because her father was normally fastidious when it came to organization.
He leaned back against his desk and folded his arms across his chest. “I have happy news for you.”
Millie clasped her hands together at her waist, but she was unable to wait for her father to speak. “Is it true? We’re going to London in the spring?”
Papa chuckled. “That’s what I wanted to speak to you about. We won’t need to go to London.”
She froze. Surely she’d heard wrong. Why was her father smiling when he was delivering such horrible news? “But you promised.”
“Yes, yes,” he said, his grin still in place. “I promised we’d go to London so you could find a husband. But that isn’t necessary now.”
The ball of nerves in the pit of her stomach returned in full force. She was almost afraid to speak, but somehow she forced out the question. “Why not?”
“Because I’ve already received an offer of marriage on your behalf.”
“You’ve what?” She imagined that she could feel the color drain from her face. She’d read novels where the heroine claimed to experience that sensation, but she’d never expected to experience it in real life.
That bundle of nerves had turned into an all-consuming dread. “You accepted an offer without speaking to me first?”
Her father frowned. “Watch your tone, Millie.”
She tried, she really did. Her father hated it when people raised their voice, and it wouldn’t serve her cause to make him angry. But in that moment, she was too upset to care. “You promised I’d be able to go to London for my season, and now I learn you’ve accepted an offer without considering my wishes?”
She began to pace. Who did they even know who would make her an offer of marriage? A clear image entered her mind of one of father’s friends who’d recently lost his wife. On his last visit, she’d overheard him telling her father that he planned to marry again.
