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Just a touch. But he resisted.

His gaze traveled back up to her sleeping face. Her lips were puffy, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

Could it have all turned out differently?

If by some miracle she’d fancied him when they were young, and they’d married then, could they still have been happily married now? Or would their marriage have turned bitter just like his and Abigail’s did? He supposed there was no way to know for sure and no reason to dwell on the past.

But was there a way to make their marriage different now? Rhys closed his eyes and lowered his head to the pillow. Those boyish dreams had not escaped him completely, it seemed. Deep down, he was still a naive young boy, dreaming of love.

But he should know better. Isabel did not love him, just like Abigail never did. And loving someone invited pain, misery, and regret. Rhys knew himself all too well. He could not let emotion into his heart. He could not go through heartbreak again.

He had Millie to love, and that should be enough. Because the last time he’d experienced heartbreak, he had neglected the only person that mattered, and he could not let that happen again.

Chapter 21

The house was bustling with preparations for the upcoming house party. Isabel had decorated the house in mild, light tones, and she also filled the entire house with flowers.

Flowers made everything better.

Everything in life was running smoothly for the first time since Isabel had married Vane. Well, almost smoothly.

Millie now regarded them coldly for hiring a governess. Isabel thought she’d be happy because she seemed to be getting on nicely with Mrs. Pemberley, but the girl said a few times that she did not like her new governess and she did not want to spend her days studying. She even pleaded with Isabel to stop the lessons, but Isabel insisted that Millie needed to know the etiquette before the guests arrived.

And truthfully, there was nothing Isabel could do. The house party was approaching, and not only did Millie need to know the etiquette rules, but she also needed someone to look after her during the party.

When huge house parties took place, the children were always separated, and Isabel knew she would see Millicent even less than she did now. Isabel made certain to take Millicent out of the classroom and spend an hour or two with her every day. They usually spent the day in the garden, selecting flowers for the house. Once Isabel took Millicent to a fair, and the latter ran around, looking at all the stalls in excitement.

Now, Isabel had decided to take Millie with her while she took a jaunt to the village.

Isabel put on a bonnet. “Mrs. Ainsworth. Have you wrapped the salted almonds for the trip?”

“Yes, I did.” The woman nodded.

Ever since receiving the recipe, Isabel had asked her cook to make a few batches of the salted almonds daily. Eventually, the cook perfected the recipe so that now the almonds tasted even better.

“Good.”

Isabel found she was quite fond of the new concoction, and she planned to serve a few batches during the house party as well. But mostly, she asked her cook to make some every day so she could bring them with her upon her visit to Lilian.

Lilian was busy with her five children and all her duties, so the only thing Isabel could do to help was supply her with treats she enjoyed.

A moment later, Millicent walked cautiously down the stairs. Isabel could barely stifle her smile. Millie was dressed like a little lady, and now she walked like one, too. Mrs. Pemberley was working miracles with the girl!

Although, if Isabel was frank, she rather missed Millie’s galloping strides down the stairs.

Most days, Vane took Button to the fields with him, so Isabel understood Millie’s foul mood. Her pup was taken away, and she was forced to stay indoors when the weather had just started turning warm.

“Are you ready for our trip?” Isabel asked.

Millicent fiddled with the ties of her bonnet. “Yes.”

Mrs. Pemberley appeared behind her. “Have a nice trip, my lady.”

Isabel nodded and bundled Millicent into the carriage.

Millicent looked out the window during the entire trip.

Isabel felt guilty for Millie’s sour mood. They had just started to bond, and now she felt like they were back to strangers.