If Eliza had arrived a few minutes later, they wouldn’t have come upon one another. Unfortunately, she didn’t believe for a moment that Eliza would approve of their relationship, not that Millie and Winston had one.
Perhaps Eliza’s visit had nothing to do with him. Yet Millie held faint hope that was the case.
Luckily, Millie’s mother had yet to join them. Millie loved her mother, but her presence during visits like this one changed the course of the conversation.
As they settled into the chairs near the window, Eliza smiled. “I’m so pleased you were at home.”
The sun had yet to make an appearance, but Millie preferred to sit by the window regardless. The spot provided a pleasant view of the small garden and the street, not to mention better light to read or do needlework.
Eliza absently touched a gloved hand to the perfect curl that rested on her shoulder.
“You look especially lovely today, Eliza.” Millie released a quiet sigh of envy. Her friend was beautiful, but happiness made her even more so. Her confidence had slowly increased since her marriage to the Duke of Trentworth, and the pair were obviously devoted to one another.
“How kind.” Her eyes lit with appreciation. “Thank you.” Eliza leaned forward as if imparting a secret. “It has been a challenge to attempt to look the part of a duchess yet satisfy my preference for simple designs. But I don’t want to embarrass Philip.”
“You have no need to worry.” Millie would never have Eliza’s fashion sense, or her poise. With each day that passed, pushing Millie toward spinsterhood or a loveless match, her confidence withered a little more. Not even the interludes with Winston could change that when she feared they were only temporary.
“You are too sweet. I do hope you will take me aside if you feel I am making a misstep. With my aunt the only close relative to guide me, I worry whether I am doing the right thing.” She frowned, clearly concerned a mistake was possible.
Millie couldn’t imagine offering her friend advice on any topic, because Eliza was the sort of person Millie aspired to be.Kind, considerate, and...happy. Funny how that last bit felt the furthest out of reach.
“You have nothing to be concerned about. I promise.” Millie felt ridiculous to even think of offering a duchess suggestions, but she would pretend Eliza’s request was nothing out of the ordinary.
“Thank you. I know my true friends as they are few, but I count you and the other members of the literary league among them.” Eliza held her gaze, the warmth in her expression undeniable.
“I feel the same way.” A wave of pleasure rushed through Millie. She truly felt as if she could rely on the league members for anything. Almost.
As she watched Eliza, she realized this was her chance. She could confess her long-time feelings for Winston and ask for advice. Eliza knew her brother better than anyone else and could guide Millie to make the right bold move—or moves—going forward.
“Eliza, I wonder—”
Eliza held up a hand with a small smile. “Before we speak further, I must apologize.”
“Whatever for?”
Her friend closed her eyes briefly as if gathering her resolve. “If Winston has overstepped in any way, I am truly sorry.”
“Winston?” Millie’s entire body flushed. “No, he hasn’t. Why would you think that?”
Eliza shook her head and lifted a hand only to let it fall. “Something about the look in his eye yesterday in the bookshop made me think he might be giving you the wrong impression.”
“I’m sorry?” Millie wasn’t following the conversation, but a sinking sensation in her stomach suggested she wouldn’t like it.
“He is incorrigible at times. I don’t know a better way to describe it.”
“Oh?”
“It’s impossible to get him to take anything seriously. He avoids responsibility as if it were the plague. If anyone tells him to do something, he often goes out of his way to do the opposite.” She shook her head, her gaze focused on a carriage passing by on the street. “I wish I knew a way to convince him to become more involved in the estate.”
“How troubling.” Millie shifted in her seat, holding back the urge to come to his defense. After her conversation with him the previous day, she tended to think part of that was due to the steward. Had the man made a young Winston feel inept and perhaps even embarrassed him when Winston had tried to take the reins of management?
“It is beyond frustrating,” Eliza continued. “Our relatives write letters asking me to intervene or to bring things to his attention because he doesn’t respond to their requests.”
Millie’s heart ached for Winston. How did Eliza not see what was happening?
“At any rate, I didn’t want his behavior to upset you in any way.” Eliza smiled at her. “Ignore him as best you can, and he will soon turn his attention elsewhere.”
Not for a moment did Millie think she truly had his attention. The temporary interest he’d shown in her was nothing.