“A wedding dress and wardrobe, nothing of valueyoumight steal.”
His face flushed. “Elizabeth Winthrop, I did not raise you to be insolent.”
“Of course not, Papa.” She resumed eating her toast. “You scarce raised me at all.”
She ignored her father’s glare and Annabelle’s searching looks for the rest of breakfast, instead recalling Milton’s parting words from yesterday. He’d ardently pressed her hand to his lips at her doorstep to whisper, “You may wish to have a long, hot soak in your bath tonight, miss, lest your bottom still smart come morning.”
“Andyoumay wish to prepare yourself for pugnacious interview tomorrow with Lady Stanton, sir. I must warn you the lady’s twin siblings, the Mrs. R. and Mrs. M., are even more odious than her pug.”
He’d tapped her nose with the tip of one gloved finger. “I cannotwaitto enjoy their company, Miss Winthrop, and yours.”
At precisely two o’clock Milton stood upon a shockingly clean threshold, though he was ushered in by a different, more unkempt footman this time, who hollered crassly up the stairs, “Yer betrothed’s ’ere, miss!”
He rolled his eyes at a household in such disarray, then tossed a coin to the lowlife dressed in livery. Had Milton notjust forgiven Winthrop’s gaming debt and more than paid back the man’s losses with the sum settled on Elizabeth? Ample funds to keep a proper footman, pay off a leering butcher, and settle whatever other debts this lord had.
Unless Winthrop’s affairs were in even worse straits than Li assumed.
Milton heard steps descending the stairs and looked up to see Elizabeth wearing her new gold spectacles.One test passed nicely.His heart leapt.Now to see if she passes the next…
He took her arm. “Miss Winthrop, you are a vision. I gather my bouquet was better received today?”
“It was, sir.”
The small, blue cornflower tucked into her dark hair made him swallow. “Good.” He patted her arm and led her out. “Only tell me quickly all I must know before we sit down with the esteemed Lady Stanton. I should like to be prepared for conversation aspugnaciousas you warn.”
She pulled something from her pocket. “Before we embark, sir, Cook found this in her kitchen, and I could only presume?—”
“Thank you, Miss Winthrop, I have missed my kidskin. Though I thought, perhaps, you might have kept the glove, to remember me by?”
She blushed prettily. “I must warn you, sir, Lady Stanton shall undoubtedly ask how we met. We must have a story for her and her sisters to chew on, but it must not agitate.”
“Ah.” Milton squelched his grin. “What sort of story, do you think?”
His betrothed worried her lip again in such a fetching way he wished to hoist her back into his phaeton for another spanking foray.
“A slightly wicked story, sir.” Those lips cracked a smile. “TheTonlikes nothing better than a scandalous start to a marriage, though ours should not betoo scandalous, mind.”Her brow creased. “I’d hate to see my sister tainted by anything untoward.”
“Of course.” He patted her arm in reassurance. “I shall think of something appropriately wicked, Miss Winthrop, have no fear.”
She gazed at him with such newly trusting eyes he felt like a cad to deceive her. Instead, he brushed off the thought and bent his head to her ear. “And did you take that bath last night, Elizabeth, as ordered?” His arm dropped to her waist to slip low over her backside.
“Sir!”
“Did it soothe your aching bum?” He wanted his words to ignite her. “Because I admit I imagined you soaking in the water’s warm embrace. I imagined every inch of you naked in your bath, the liquid caressing your heated flesh. You’ve such a lovely, lush bottom, Lizzie...”
She let out a squeak as Lady Stanton’s footman opened the townhouse door and announced, “Baron of Milton and Miss Elizabeth Winthrop to see you, madam.”
Twenty minutes later, Lady Stanton’s parlor maid poured Elizabeth her third cup of tea. She’d been sipping for sheer nerves, thoughwhyshe was so nervous she’d no idea. She’d visited her neighbor’s home often enough.
Though never with her betrothed.
Portly Sir Wigglebottom panted at Elizabeth’s feet, the dog’s drool wetting her dress hem. She tried nudging him with her toe, but his squat little form would not budge. Milton sat close beside her, his masculine scent invading her nostrils in the cramped, stuffy room. Lady Stanton’s damask drapes suffocated, herplush carpet too dark and too dense. When the Baron’s hand promptly slid to Elizabeth’s lap, the weight of his palm traveled straight up her thigh, making her only more skittish.
Did he mean to soothe or unsettle? And had the man no sense at howimproperhis hand’s placement was?
“Lady Stanton, it is an honor, truly, to be welcomed so warmly into your home.” Milton’s teeth smiled, just not his eyes.
“Oh the honor is all mine, sir.” The lady’s lips pulled into a grin, her eyes flitting to her sisters, who stared stonily at Milton’s hand on Elizabeth’s skirt. “But now tell us,do, how it is you met our Lizzie, for she is not one to attend society’s functions often. One is more apt to find her tucked into a window somewhere, her nose squarely in a book.” Her laugh was shrill.
