When he’d vowed to protect her, he hadn’t known how much he would be called to wager. Now, he knew—he’d wagereverything.His name. His own reputation. His future. His family. Hislife.She was the only choice for him.
But washethe right choice for Millie?
Why should she choose him? Because he had vowed to protect her? Because, at least in the carnal sense, he had never wanted anyone more?
Just because he cared?
She had only admitted she was attracted to him. In every other way, she might still hold him in contempt.
“We’ll find a way, Millie,” he assured her, even though he was unsure how, other than they must be wed. He was also fairlyconvinced she’d be devastated. But if wed she must, he had to believe she would choose him over Willard.
“I swear,” he pledged again, “wewillfind a way.”
“Willard is most to blame, of course…”
She did not appear to have heard either of his grave, heartfelt vows.
“But I shouldn’t have accepted his invitation, should I?”
No, she shouldn’t have.
He closed his eyes and shook his head. Even though she could not see, he had to give his frustrations vent. He’d tried to warn her just this afternoon. Had she known, even then, Willard was to be her escort tonight?
“When did Willard invite you?” he carefully excluded his exasperation from his voice.
“In the square in front of Harbury’s,” she replied. “Just after you left.”
Yet another devastating fact uttered blithely as-you-please.
“He came upon me alone in the park. You might have seen us, if you’d just looked up. But you were lost in your own thoughts.”
Guilt joined his frustration. He swallowed roughly. At that point, he’d thought his most pressing problem was John.Damn his pride.
“I cannot believe Harbury granted his permission for you to attend without consulting Asquith!”
“Asquith couldn’t be found. And I didn’t go to Harbury. I thought I had a better chance of getting permission from Adrian.”
Of course, she’d strategized to make sure her visit was not prohibited! Again, he shook his head. Adrian would be more likely to grant his permission, especially since Millie had a way of making the absurd sound reasonable.
“Besides, Willard had said he and Asquith were old friends.”
Neville sucked in sharply. “They arenotold friends!”
“I’ve since come to that conclusion myself. But how could I have known then? Asquith acknowledges him with a nod.”
Neville felt sick again.
How could he explain the rules of power and influence that guided men’s lives and actions? Rules that allowed men like Willard to act without consequence, so long as he confined the harm to women Society deemed unworthy of protection.
Social niceties that had always seemed necessary—the cost of being civilized, of preserving the greater good—had, because of what had almost happened to Millie, been revealed to Neville in their ugly truths.
“Adrian and Eliza were hesitant to let me go at first,” she continued. “But Lady Eltenham agreed to chaperone. And, it turned out, Adrian had known, liked, and respected her brother, Willard’s deceased maternal uncle. Adrian assumedIliked Willard, and…”
“And?”
“This part does not make me proud…I let Adrian believe I did. I thought a light flirtation might allow me to rusticate in the country where I belong. The whole idea seems silly, now.”
She’d swung and hit with that cricket bat again. Neville nearly doubled over.