Chapter 2
Chapter Two
“You’re up early.” Miss Millicent Witcher waltzed into the breakfast room. As was typical of the eighteen-year-old girl, she wore a bright smile on her face, and there was a skip to her step that matched her always pleasant mood.
“Ought I not to be?” Edward Witcher, the Duke of Blackthorne said. He smiled when he saw his niece, not forced, but as natural as breathing.
“I don’t know,” she shrugged as she made her way to the seat one place down from him. “I thought you might have been tired after last night.”
“I was not home late.”
“So, it was boring then?” She fell into the chair. “Or maybe you are the one who is boring?”
He laughed. “Let us go with the second option. You know how much I detest balls and societal functions. The sooner I can stop going to them, the better.”
“Not too soon though.” She looked at him pointedly. “You promised, Edward. You better not go back on your promise.”
“A promise…” He frowned as if he did not know what she was speaking about. “I don’t remember making any promises.”
“What? No!” She sat up and looked pleadingly at him. “You… you said… you swore!”
“Oh, yes…” He exhaled as if only just remembering.
“That’s right. Something about escorting you to functions and galas when you come of age.
” He rubbed his chin. “To be honest, after how dull last evening was, I might have to reconsider – I am joking, Millicent,” he hurried when he saw the look of abject misery on her face. “Just a joke.”
“You better be.” A warning glare. “One more month, Edward. One more month and you and I will be attending every single event possible!” She started to shake with excitement.
“Oh, I cannot wait! I already have my first gown selected. And my second one! And I have been practicing my dancing, too! It is going to be so…” Her eyes turned wistful. “So romantic. It will be like a dream!”
“Let us hope you never wake up.”
Only Millicent could make Edward act so kindly and optimistic when it came to discussing societal functions. And only Millicent could make him smile at the notion of having to drag himself to what would likely be dozens of such events before the Season was through.
As only she knows the real me, the one that doesn’t make men shiver and women weep when I walk into a room.
Millicent was Edward’s seventeen-year-old niece, soon to be eighteen, which meant that she would soon be a lady ready to make her debut in the ton. And, as the previous conversation might have implied, she looked forward to it like nothing else.
Oddly enough, Edward looked forward to it just as much.
Millicent was his entire world, and there was little he would not do to please her. He wanted everything for the young woman, just as he was prepared to do whatever he must to see that she got it.
And if she needs proof of this, what I mean to do once I break my fast should put such conversations to bed.
“Seeing as you are here,” he started as he put down his knife and fork and pushed his plate away. “You should know that I will be spending the morning out. I am sure you are capable of entertaining yourself.”
Millicent stopped her daydreaming and looked at him. “Where are you going?”
Edward was supposed to keep it a secret, just in case it did not work out. But he loved so much seeing his niece excited and happy that Edward found himself speaking before he was able to stop.
“If you must know, I met a young lady last evening.”
Her eyes widened. “No?”
“I did,” he said. “And I intend to call on her this morning to follow up what was a rather pleasant moment shared.” Despite himself Edward smirked, as ‘pleasant’ was not the word he would use to describe that particular exchange.
“Who is she?” Millicent asked eagerly. “She must be special if you are going to see her.” She was up on her feet, shaking from head to toe. “Oh, can I come? Can I meet her?”
“Of course not.”
“I thought…” Her brow furrowed. “I thought you told me that you had no intention of courting anyone. Remember? Last Season when I asked you, you said you would rather…” She laughed. “You would rather pull your hair out and live a life as a monk.”
He chuckled at the memory. “Yes, well, things change.”
“She must be special,” Millicent said. “To change your mind like that. Who is she? Please, tell me. Please!”
What Millicent said was true, and for more reasons than she knew.
Indeed, just last Season, Edward was content to live his life alone, as he had no desires or intentions of ever marrying. He did not believe in the concept, and he especially did not believe in such fantasies as love and happily ever afters.
But things had changed since last Season…
“I will let you know everything later.” He rose from behind his place, stepped into Millicent, and kissed her on the forehead. “Be good while I am away.”
“I will be,” she said. “And Edward…” She looked up at him, her smile impossible to ignore. “I am so happy for you. That you found someone.” Her smile grew. “You deserve it, so much.”
He had no response to that. Millicent might have thought the world of him, but there were many who did not, and even more than that who thought such bad things that Millicent might not believe it if she was told.
Most of it was not true, but that did not stop people from talking.
And while Edward had never minded people talking the worst of him, he had come to realize lately that he ought to do.
He liked to pretend that he was alone in this world and his life was all which mattered, but Millicent was proof against this belief.
“I’ll see you later,” he said as he strolled from the breakfast room. “And please, keep your lips sealed until I return home. I don’t want you getting ahead of yourself.”
Edward walked quickly from the room, projecting an air of confidence as if what he meant to do was the most wonderful things. The truth of it was that a small part of him was terrified… more than a small part.
It was lucky then that he had seen Millicent before leaving because thoughts of her, and her future, were needed to help him get through this most arduous and unexpected of tasks.
Edward arrived at Fairbrook Estate less than an hour after leaving his own estate. He rode his horse, as it was a faster mode of transport than a carriage, plus is gave the staff of Fairbook Estate a chance to see him coming in advance and prepare accordingly.
Riding through the gates and down the driveway, he smirked knowingly as he watched them scatter. No doubt his arrival had caused untold chaos in the manor, and he wondered just what treatment he would receive.
Nothing good, if my reputation is what I believe it to be…
Indeed, as he pulled his horse up by the front doors, he took not of the footmen and how cautious they appeared. None dared to meet his eyes, and they all stayed back as if he was a wolf and they were sheep who had found themselves in his sight.
“Please inform Lady Fairbrook of my arrival,” he announced as he climbed from his horse and tossed its reigns to one of the footmen. “I will wait until she is ready to greet me.”
“Your Grace!” The footman who took the reigns kept his head bowed as he led the horse away, while another sprinted into the manor.
Although Edward had earned his reputation, he was not proud of it.
He knew the things that people said of him, just as he knew how he was looked down upon and even feared.
That he was a rake and a philander was not true; rumors he had happily leaned into so that he might avoid being approached by ambitious lords eager to hand off their daughters to him.
As for the gaming hell that he owned? That was true, but it was far more complicated than most believed.
For so many years, Edward had cared less about the opinions of others. Alas, Millicent was who concerned him now, and he only wished that he had considered her future when he had started to make a name for himself.
She was who he did this for… the only reason he was there.
“Your Grace!” The door to the manor opened and the same footman appeared. “Lady Fairbrook will see you now.”
“Wonderful.” Edward strode forward and he shook his head with distaste to see the look of fear in the footman’s eyes at his approach.
He was led inside the manor, through the foyer, and toward the morning room. The doors stood open, light poured from within, and Edward saw from a distance that Lady Fairbrook had her daughters with her.
That was a good thing, as it would save him time. Better to do this quickly before he got cold feet and changed his mind.
“Your Grace…” Lady Fairbrook swept toward him when he entered the morning room. “This is a most unexpected surprise.”
“A welcome one, I pray.” When she reached him, he took her hand and gave it a kiss. He noticed how she flinched at his touch and he had to withhold the urge to sigh.
“Of course,” she said, keeping her gaze averted. “It is an honor.”
Lady Fairbrook’s three daughters stood deeper in the room.
The youngest two, Miss Isolde and Miss Marigold appeared terrified.
They stood together, their heads bowed, their postures withdrawn as if they hoped he might not notice them.
They were both beauties, with their dark hair and fair skin and curvaceous bodies.
But they were not who he was there to see.
Miss Celestine stood in front of them as if in protection.
Unlike her sisters, she held his gaze and he saw the fire in her eyes that had been there the previous evening. There was fear there too, a hint of worry, but she smothered it the best that she could. She was brave, was the point, and not one to back down.
Good. Last night was not an accident…
Edward met Miss Celestine’s eyes as he entered the room further. He would not be cowered by her rancor, and he wanted her to know that she could snap and snarl all she wished, as it would not make a difference.