Chapter 9
Somerville Estate
Milton and George casually strolled the grounds near the lake at the Somerville estate on an unusually warm and sunny day.
After receiving an invitation to stay at Normanton House, Milton had urged George to accompany him in order to have reinforcement to hopefully convince Josephine that they would suit.
While George had muttered his displeasure, he finally gave in to Milton’s demands.
Not that George was of much use, nor had Milton made any headway even in spending any quality time with the fair lady.
Milton had spent some time with Robin Somerville this morning, telling him of the robbery north of Brighton and how he wanted to somehow find the necklace that Josephine lost. Robin had mentioned the trouble that had been happening on the road and how there were apparently two highwaymen.
One was named Captain Moonlight, but Robin didn’t think he went as far afield as the highway north.
This left Milton feeling even more at a loss over how to possibly recover what Josephine had lost.
His thoughts turned back to the lady who was a constant in his mind.
It was difficult to make any sort of an impression with Josephine, when the lady and her chaperone spent all of their time either with the other ladies who were present for the festivities or with Viscount Upton, as she was now.
Jealousy reared its ugly head as he saw the lady who owned his heart laugh at something the viscount said from the other side of the lake.
It was hard to dismiss that, over the past two weeks of being here, they had seemed to grow closer while Milton was forced to keep his distance.
“Perhaps we should return to the house,” George suggested, as Milton continued onward. If they continued in this direction, they would eventually meet up with Josephine, unless the couple changed their current path.
Milton finally halted his steps. “And do what? I’m only here because I learned Josephine would be attending. There is nothing of interest inside the manor unless Josephine returns there as well.”
A snort left George. “You’re becoming a melancholy fool, chasing her around as you have for the past two weeks. Get out of your current mood and do something, old man, before you lose her completely.”
“Unless I make a spectacle of myself, what more do you want me to do?” he complained bitterly.
“Maybe that’s exactly what you need to do. You’ll never win the lady watching her from across a lake or a dining table. I thought you were made of sterner stuff, my friend,” George suggested with a smirk.
“I’m a guest here. Making a scene will hardly win the lady over.”
“You’d better resort to better tactics, then, unless you’d rather be offering your congratulations to the happy couple,” George taunted him. “There are rumors circulating among the women that they’re expecting an engagement announcement during tonight’s ball.”
Milton cursed. “How the devil did you hear that horrible news?”
George shrugged. “I have ears. Besides, servants talk, and the women here are hardly keeping quiet over the matter. Seems as though love is in the air at Normanton Hall. Luckily, I’ve stayed far away from any temptation that the single ladies think might sway me to consider one of them for a wife.”
“Josephine can’t marry Upton. She doesn’t love him,” Milton groaned, as he once again swept his gaze toward the lady.
“Then you’d better make your case to her fast, otherwise you’re going to lose her.”
“Come along, then. Perhaps, besides berating me about what I should be doing, you can be of some help and keep Upton and Julia busy while I talk with Josephine,” Milton declared, as he picked up his stride.
When they came up to the lady and gentleman, Josephine’s hand appeared to tighten on Upton’s arm, or so it seemed to Milton.
After the formalities were offered, George persuaded Philip to walk with him to the edge of the water, and Julia automatically followed.
Not that this left Milton completely alone with the lady, but it was as much privacy as he would be allowed… at least for now.
“Can we walk?” he finally asked after the awkward silence became too much.
She turned her hazel eyes up at him, and he could see the torment laying just beneath the surface of the calm facade she portrayed. “Why?” she finally asked.
“I’m only asking to have a few words with you, Josie,” he began, holding out his arm.
“I don’t see what purpose this will serve, my lord,” she stated firmly. “We have already had this discussion, and anything further you wish to say will not persuade me from the course my life will now lead.”
He looked around and saw a nearby tree well within the sight of her chaperone and the others. He nodded, and she finally took his arm as he led her a few feet away.
“Tell me you are not planning to marry a man you don’t love?” he burst out, even though this was not how he thought he should begin this conversation.
A sharp laugh left her. “And what if I am? It’s certainly none of your business. You are not my brother nor my parent who can tell me who I can or cannot wed.”
“You shouldn’t settle into a marriage with someone you don’t love! That’s no way to lead your life, Josie.”
“It’s my life to live, Milton! Besides, I love Philip,” she said raising her chin in defiance.
Milton stepped closer. Her breathing became elevated. Her eyes dilated, and he watched in satisfaction as the pulse in her neck began to beat rapidly. “Then why is your body reacting to mine in such a fashion, sweet Josephine,” he said in a husky whisper.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she declared in a shaky voice. He could see that she was just as affected as he was that she was almost in his arms.
“Yes, you do. If you would only allow me the opportunity to spend some time with you, you would remember what we once had between us.”
“Past tense, Milton. Apparently I must remind you yet again. You are my past. Philip is my future.”
“You and I are meant to be together, Josephine. Let me prove to you how sorry I am for the mistake I made last year. I should have never left like I did, and I promise I will make the loss up to you,” Milton urged.
He reached out to caress her cheek, and for the briefest moment he thought she might give in to his suggestion. Instead, she stepped away from him.
“Please leave me alone, Milton. Falling into you… in love with you last year, was our one chance at happiness, and you failed me. I cannot take the heartbreak loving you will cause me again,” she pleaded with tears threatening to race down her face.
“I love you, Josephine, and I’ll prove myself to you before this house party is over,” Milton vowed.
She shook her head. “You don’t have enough time.”
Milton watched her walk away and return to Philip who escorted her from the lake and back to the house.
Josephine was right about one thing. With the ball this evening, he didn’t have a lot of time left to convince her that she would make a mistake by marrying the wrong man.
He might just need to do something extremely drastic to prove to her once and for all that they were meant to be together.