“Actually, I saw one in a shop window we passed.” Millie glanced back the way she and Tibby had come. “Just a few doors down, I think.”
“Excellent.” Winston dipped his head. “Thank you, Miss Davies.” He touched the brim of his hat. “I am forever in your debt.”
“Oh, my.” Tibby sent Millie an amused look. “I look forward to hearing how you decide to collect.”
Millie’s breath caught as a decidedly inappropriate image filled her mind—one that involved a kiss with the handsome marquess. “It is no trouble,” she managed, shoving the vivid thought from her mind. “You don’t owe me anything. I only hope she likes it.”
“I insist.” A teasing glint lit his eyes, making them sparkle. Be still her heart. “And I look forward to repaying the favor.”
Millie opened her mouth to protest, only to feel Tibby nudge her. She turned to see her friend send her a warning look as if to suggest she remain silent. Millie pressed her lips tight and returned her attention to Winston, uncertain what else to say.
“We wish you luck with your shopping, Linford,” Tibby said, saving her.
“And to you, as well. Good day.” With a dip of his head and a lingering look at Millie, no doubt wondering what was wrong with her, he continued on his way.
Millie drew a relieved breath, realizing just how tense she had become from the encounter.
Tibby took her arm and drew her toward the modiste’s shop door only to halt before it. “Millie, I do believe you have some explaining to do. What is going on between you and Linford?”
Chapter Two
“I-I don’t know whatyou mean,” Millie said, continuing into the shop with the hope Tibby would be distracted by the beautiful fabrics and gowns on display and forget her question.
Millie hated to think her regard for Winston was obvious. Heaven forbid, as that would mean Winston had noticed it as well. Perhaps Eliza, too.
Either would be mortifying, and both...
She nearly shuddered, finding it too terrible to contemplate.
“I think you do,” Tibby whispered as she tugged on her arm, turning Millie to face her. “Tell me everything.” The avid interest in her brown eyes made breathing difficult as panic took hold.
Millie suspected Phoebe and Tibby might have noticed her interest in Winston last summer, but neither had mentioned him by name. Surely that meant she could continue to pretend she wasn’t infatuated with him.
“There is nothing to tell.” Millie shifted her attention to a swath of fabric draped over a nearby wickerwork mannequin.“Oh, isn’t this pretty?” She reached out a gloved hand to touch it only to have Tibby grab her wrist, demanding her attention.
“Don’t evade the subject.” Tibby tightened her grip, her excitement palpable. “I ask again, what is going on between the two of you?”
“Nothing.” At her friend’s skeptical look, Millie shook her head. “Truly.”
Tibby’s eyes narrowed in disbelief as she studied her. “Hmm. You seem rather familiar with one another.”
“It was that ridiculous wallflower wager last summer.” She pulled her hand free to reach for the silk, feigning nonchalance as best she could. “You remember. A group of rogues, including Linford, made a wager to see who could be the first to dance with twelve wallflowers at twelve different balls. We had several conversations during that whole affair.”
“I thought you put an end to the wager.”
“Not precisely. Viscount Winstead won, but only because the wallflowers all agreed to support him when they realized he and my cousin, Prudence, were truly in love. It was a sweet ending to the whole affair.”
Millie moved farther into the shop, more than ready to change the subject before she confessed everything. She paused before a striped muslin in shades of blue. “Isn’t this nice? Blue becomes you.”
“Why do I feel as if you’re not telling me the whole of the story?” Tibby asked as she joined her, ignoring the bolt of fabric Millie studied.
The temptation to spill the truth washed through her. No one other than Prue knew how she felt. But what purpose would telling Tibby serve?
There had been two or three occasions last summer when she thought Winston might return her regard—before she knew of the wager and realized that was the only reason he had paidher any attention. She had merely been an easy target since he was already acquainted with her. No formal introduction was required to dance with her, and she was most definitely considered a wallflower.
Now she knew better. She was only a friend of his sister’s just like the rest of the league members. Of course he was friendly towards her, just as he was with Tibby. There had been no difference in the way he’d treated her. Nothing special, no matter how much she wished otherwise.
“Linford is pleasant to everyone.” There. Hopefully that satisfied Tibby.