Chapter Four #2
“Yes. I mean, at first, I was afraid to admit that my mother’s workload was becoming too much.
An unfortunate oversight on my part, but I thought she and Father enjoyed all of it.
Yet, after considering the amount of time my parents have to deal with charities, committees, and businesses my mother has been tending to all by herself, well…
I’m afraid I should have been aware of the workload.
” He shook his head. “I should have hired her a personal secretary ages ago.”
Belle blinked slowly and Samuel was sure that she was rearranging her thoughts.
“Well, this one should be fairly easy then,” she mumbled to herself as she held her hand out for him to take.
He did so and they entered the parlor room where at least twenty guests stood, mingling and laughing with one another.
His mother and father were in the company of Mr. Graham McKinnon and his wife, Hope.
The couple had been given Lismore Hall not long after their marriage, an act more symbolic than anything considering that they still allowed Lady Belle to come and go as she pleased.
As the great-aunt of Hope and her sisters, Faith and Grace, Lady Belle had lived in Lismore Hall for nearly thirty years, ever since the death of her lover, King George IV.
Rumor had it, Lady Belle had won the ancient Scottish estate in a card game, but Sam had privately never allowed himself to believe it.
Who would be foolhardy enough to bet their home in a single hand of cards?
A number of redheaded men and women were mingling with the Harrises, no doubt the infamous McTavish clan who were well known in these parts.
Laird McTavish himself appeared to be arguing with another older gentleman by the fireplace, while out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the more severe-looking Atherton sister, standing as close to the opposite wall as possible, as if trying to blend in with the painting that hung behind her.
She was no longer dressed in dark colors, and Samuel was stunned at how much more inviting she appeared now that she was in a light evening gown.
Her beauty was really incomparable, and he felt his insides tighten just at the sight of her, but she didn’t appear to notice him.
Jane was staring at her sister and Arabella, who were locked arm in arm with one another, giggling about something only they knew.
Goodness, they did appear almost identical, he thought as he made his way toward Jane. He approached her with a smile, though she didn’t mirror his expression.
“Hello again,” he said with a slight nod. “You’re looking lovely this evening.”
She curtsied at once. It was still peculiar to him when ladies of certain standing showed him such courteousness.
With him growing up outside Gallowgate, a fine woman would sooner step away from him than acknowledge him, and he always reminded himself of that when fine-bred ladies crossed their ankles around him.
They were only curtsying for a single, undeniable reason.
He was unimaginably wealthy.
“Thank you, Mr. Milton. Faith, er, Lady Harris was kind enough to lend me one of her gowns for tonight.”
“It suits you.”
Jane’s cheeks did not blush, however. Instead, she leveled him a cool gray stare. “I did not think to see you here.”
“I assure you, Lady Belle is not stingy with her invitations.”
“So I’ve heard,” she said as he gave her a tight smile.
Right, he thought. Of course, he shouldn’t have expected anything but the usual from her.
But then, she appeared worried and shook her head.
“Oh no, it’s not… What I mean to say is, Lismore Hall is rather far from Glasgow and from what I’ve heard, you’re a devoted city dweller. ”
That caused him to relax a bit.
“Who told you that?”
“Well,” Jane said, glancing around. “Sir Logan mentioned it when he learned about your hospitality in lending us your carriage.”
Samuel chuckled.
“It’s true. As beautiful and as peaceful as the country can be, I’ve never truly been someone who can bear it.”
She tilted her head as a wayward pale curl that hung from behind her ear sloped to the left, brushing over her exposed shoulder. Not a particularly significant sight and yet, Samuel felt the familiar pangs of attraction.
“You cannot bear beauty and peace?”
“Not in the country, I’m afraid,” he said assuredly, ignoring the curve of her heart-shaped face. “There never seems to be enough to do, while I’m constantly busy in the city.”
“You like to keep busy then?”
He shrugged.
“It’s not that I like to keep busy. There’s just so much to accomplish.”
“Such as?”
He blinked. Such as? There were always about a half a dozen projects that needed his attention at any given time and yet, he couldn’t seem to remember a single one at that moment.
Goodness, she really was rather stunning in this setting, dressed in a cream-colored tiered gown with horizontal cornflower blue stripes.
Her pale hair had been plaited and pinned in the current style, yet several strands appeared to have been pulled out on purpose. She was as radiant as a spring day.
A vague pink rose to her cheeks when he didn’t answer, and for the first time in a long time, Samuel was at a loss for words.
Thankfully, Graham McKinnon appeared.
“Milton, good to see you,” Graham said, shaking his hand, with a nod to Jane. “Miss Atherton. I heard Mr. Milton here came to you and your sister’s rescue at the train station in Glasgow a few weeks ago.”
“It was nothing,” Samuel said.
“Oh, but it was,” Jane interjected. “And I’m afraid I haven’t thanked you properly for your service.”
“There’s really no need…” he tried, feeling slightly embarrassed.
“Mr. Milton, there aren’t many people who would help a stranger, not to mention multiple strangers. My sister and I are incredibly grateful for your kindness. I shan’t forget it any time soon.”
Samuel swallowed, not particularly enjoying the praise, or the grin on Graham’s face. He nodded once and glanced around in hopes of escaping, but then Lady Belle came hobbling toward them with his mother in tow.
“It was my pleasure,” he said. “But if you’ll excuse—”
“Here she is, Roberta, the young lady I wrote to you about,” Belle said, before frowning at Samuel and Graham. “Gentlemen, Mrs. Milton and I require a private audience with Miss Atherton. If you will.” She jerked her head to the side, indicating they should depart immediately.
But Samuel’s feet suddenly cemented to the floor.
“What audience do you require with Miss Atherton, Mother?”
But she waved her hand at him.
“Nothing to worry yourself about, dear.”
Usually, Sam wouldn’t care one bit about what his mother did. She had operated as an extension of Milton Enterprises for years and had never done or said anything to hamper the business. Yet, this particular inquiry seemed to draw him in, like some sort of magnet to metal.
Then, he remembered. Lady Belle had stated in her letter about having the perfect companion.
He looked between Jane and his mother, then at Lady Belle, whose wrinkled face was as innocent and unaware as a child’s. He frowned.
“Mother, I—”
“Graham,” Belle interrupted. “Didn’t you have something to show Mr. Milton? Something to do with the confectionery?”
Graham’s brow lifted.
“I almost forgot. Milton, if you wouldn’t mind accompanying me to my office. Logan and I had an idea that we thought you might consider.”
Samuel hadn’t come so far in the business world without instincts and right now, his instincts were telling him that if he left these three women alone, well, they’d conspire about things he wasn’t readily excited for.
“Of course. Ladies,” he said with a nod as he followed Graham across the room and out into the hall. His tension might have been obvious, for the next thing Graham said caught his ear.
“I wouldn’t worry about whatever Lady Belle has you worrying about,” Graham said as they turned into his office. “She’ll have her way, and there’s no use trying to stop her.”
“What does she want exactly?” he asked as he came around the large desk. He paused and looked back at the door they had just entered through. “She only needs to ask. I’m not fond of games.”
“What does she ever want except to tell everyone what to do and how to do it? Lady Belle is always meddling in something or other.”
“There’s an odd sense of secrecy with her, isn’t there?”
“Always.”
“I wonder why.”
“Well, as the former mistress of the monarch, I suspect secrecy is her normal state.”