“No?” Milton cocked his brow. “You did not enjoy my attentions last night?”
Her face heated. “That is not what I said. You are?—”
“I am attempting to ascertain the position of your argument, Elizabeth, though I can think of a few other positions I’d like to argue you into.” His eyes swept her day dress in a lurid caress.
She inhaled sharply. “Milton, please. I do not wish to continue a friendship with Lady Stanton now that she is no longer my neighbor. You know what she is like. Why insist that I?—?”
In two strides he hauled her from her seat and propelled her out the door and down the hall in a vice-like grip. “Must I remind you again, Lizzie, of how our marriage will work? As my wife, it is your duty to further my position in society. I married a well-bred young lady who would not dream of disrespecting her congratulatory callers. Lady Stanton must experience you blissfully wed, enamored of your husband. No,enraptured, I think.”
A maelstrom bubbled up in Elizabeth’s breast.
“You will play your wifely role, and if you play it well—if,my dear—I will reward you with more favors. Will that satisfy your persistent and perverse need forégalité, wife?”
“Fine,” she spat, her insides steaming like a Russian samovar. “But your favor had better be great, sir, because enduring Lady Stanton is a very tall order.”
“Oh, Lizzie.” He chuckled. “All my favors are great, dear. Huge, in fact.” He shoved her into his parlor and proceeded to fawn all over their horrid guest, who seemed delighted by the Baron’s attention, but most especially by his obscene wealth.
“Why, Elizabeth, I can scarce believeyouare now mistress of such impressive house as this!” Lady Stanton’s eyes had not stopped appraising Milton’s lavish decor, or the devil himself.
“Neither can I.” Elizabeth forced a smile while she sat upon the settee, taking her husband’s hand in her lap in order to crush it. “But I am very happy, Lady Stanton,mosthappy indeed.” She forced her smile wide, squeezing her husband’s hand as hard as she could.
“Let’s not get carried away, dear.” He squeezed back, painfully. “We wouldn’t want to give Lady Stanton the impressionallis milk and honey in our marriage, now would we?”
Elizabeth’s gut did a flip.
“Was it not just this morning, Elizabeth, that you questioned my authority and wished to dismiss your callers for the day?”
Elizabeth’s jaw locked before it twitched.
“Why, Lizzie.” Lady Stanton’s lips creased into a line. “Youmustreceive all callers. It isde rigeur. Did your mother not—?” She clapped her hand to her mouth. “Forgive me, of course she’d not have … That is, she left this world too soon, my dear. I ought to have seen more to you after your stepmother also passed. I ought to have prepared you and your sister better.”
“It is never too late, madam, for us to repair my wife’s shortcomings,” Milton chimed in.
Elizabeth would murder the bastard. She’d?—
“Quite right, Baron,quite.” The odious woman nodded her agreement.
“Oh look, Milton, darling.” Elizabeth longed to cuff her husband one. “Sir Wigglebottom has taken a fancy to your boot.” Sure enough, the pug was humping his hessian.
Milton tried to shake the creature off, disgust flitting across his handsome face, before Lady Stanton scooped her pet into her lap.
“Naughty boy!” she scolded. “Have you no shame?”
The pug merely licked her powdered cheek.
Elizabeth took advantage of the distraction. “Lady Stanton, did you know my husband has a wolfhound? An enormous, gorgeous, fellow. Perhaps your pug would like to romp with him while we chat?”
Lady Stanton looked appalled. “A dangerous wolfhound, here in your house? When you know Sir Wigglebottom accompanies me everywhere? I should have been forewarned.” She huffed as she stood. “I must take my leave at once, Lady Milton, before my poor boy getseaten.”
Both Elizabeth and Milton rose from their seats, though the Baron’s words stopped the lady at the door. “I apologize for not mentioning my hound sooner, madam, though I hope you will visit us again, perhaps sans pug? If only to assist Lizzie in completing her education. We wouldn’t want her failing in society where her deportment remains lacking.”
Elizabeth’s attempt to crush her husband’s boot beneath her heel failed.
“You may counton me to assist, Baron.” The pug squirmed in Lady Stanton’s arms. “I consider it my duty to see Elizabeth fully settled in her new role as Baroness. I should like to see her sister settled too, and soon. After all, we neighbors must look out for one another, mustn’t we, Lizzie?”
Elizabeth swallowed bile. “I should like nothing better, Lady Stanton.”
The moment the lady exited, Elizabeth whirled on Milton. “Is it your intention now to goadme, sir, at every conceivable turn? Because it certainly feels like it, inviting that woman to tutor me in etiquette when I have repeatedly expressed to you my distaste for her company.”
