A Woman Made for Pleasure (27 page)
Basil released a sigh. The team was starting to cooperate. Keeping a firm grip on the reins, he chanced another side glance. Lady Aldon was smiling. For the first time in weeks, he felt like smiling as well. “Seeing that you live in Mayfair, you have undoubtedly been to the fashionable location numerous times.”
Not numerous
, Millie thought.
Just once, and once was enough
.
, Millie thought.
Just once, and once was enough
.
The grays continued easing up on the reins and their pace slowed to a more genteel rate. Basil took the opportunity to regard his fortuitous companion more thoroughly. He had been intrigued yesterday when Lady Chaselton had suggested that a ride with Lady Mildred Aldon could solve all of his problems.
Lady Chaselton had come to his place of work in the City, very unusual for one of quality. Typically, men of affairs visited him, not the nobles themselves. Immediately, though, he realized the wealthy dowager was nothing typical. And although she did not give voice to his trouble, she seemed completely aware of its nature. She seemed undaunted by the fact that he was man of trade, a trait that, despite his wealth, was upsetting to many in the
ton
.
ton
.
Most men would have been compelled out of curiosity to meet Lady Mildred Aldon before agreeing to escort her, but desperation had prompted Basil’s agreement.
So far, his estimation of the petite, dark-haired lady was quite high. Lady Millie was surprisingly clever, and Basil quickly found himself fascinated and charmed by her. Her mannerisms and grace of movement indicated she was a lady of high birth, but her tolerance for many things Society believed improper was delightfully welcoming. Basil decided to test his theory.
“I am not sure whether Lady Chaselton relayed to you my background, but you should know that I am a cit.”
Although Millie had been in London for only four weeks, she was familiar with the term for merchants and middle-class residents of the City and disliked the negative connotation associated with it.
Millie pursed her lips. She didn’t know how to take his comment. “Are you always so self-deprecating, Mr. Eddington? If you are soliciting a companion for such depressing talk, I am afraid you are wasting our time.”
Basil could not help himself and laughed aloud. “Not I, my lady. Not I. I am proud of being a merchant. It is others who often find fault with a man who earns his blunt. And when such a man is successful, as I have been fortunate enough to be, they resent it all the more.”
Millie exhaled a telling sigh. “I wonder if Society will ever realize how much its rules of inclusion and exclusion only hurt itself,” she said, unconsciously waving her hand to accentuate her point.
“I believe one day it will, Lady Aldon. Unfortunately, however, that day has not arrived.”
Millie caught the change in his voice. The undertones of anger had been unmistakable, but just as she was about to probe, the horses turned onto a very crowded street.
“Mr. Eddington, may I ask where we are and where we are going?”
“Do not tell me you have limited your shopping tours to only those around Bond Street? Lady Millie! I have known you for only a short while, but you have misled me to believe you were of the adventurous sort.”
Millie laughed. “Why, I can promise you, Mr. Eddington, that shopping in Mayfair can be something of an adventure. However, I must admit I avoid Bond Street activity with one exception. Hookham’s.”
“Hookham’s Lending?”
“The very one. My friend cannot go three days without visiting a library to study its vast selection of books, and that particular place attracts a diverse group of people.”
“And are you not also taken with books?”
“To a degree, though I fancy the newer ones. My friend, however, looks for rare old books detailing England’s past,” Millie clarified. She paused and then added, “Mostly, I go with her to watch.”
“Watch?”
“People,” Millie answered, wondering if he would think her odd.
Basil surprised her. “Ah, an excellent pastime I enjoy myself, Lady Aldon. Cannot tell you how many successful deals I have entered into—and failed ones I chose to walk away from—simply by being observant.” He smiled at Millie and refocused his attention on the horses, which were becoming distressed with all the activity on the street.
A few minutes later, the curricle turned off Piccadilly and into Bath Gate, its occupants unaware of the eyes that had spied the couple’s jovial conversation.
“Ah, this is much better, is it not?”
Millie smiled at Basil, enjoying the new scenery. “Better than what? The clatter of the street back there or the Grand Strut of Hyde Park?”
Basil smiled. “Now, Piccadilly Street represents blokes like me. It’s named for a tailor who owned a shop selling pickadils.”
“Pickadils! Why, those have not been in fashion for . . . oh my, at least two hundred years!”
“It seems your friend is not the only one who knows her history.”
“Not exactly. Jennelle really is the expert. She can be completely consumed by a subject for weeks, often relaying odd bits of information. For unknown and bizarre reasons, some tidbits stick.” Millie watched as Basil masterfully handled the horses. Though she felt no attraction to him, she was extremely comfortable in his company. Their easy repartee reminded her of conversations between a brother and sister; more specifically, Aimee and Charles. “How does that busy street represent a gentleman such as yourself?”
“Ah, well, the pickadil merchant was fortunate to be wise in business and soon became very wealthy. So much so, he was immortalized by a street, a now very pivotal street in west London.” His reply had not exactly answered her question, but it did convey that he enjoyed the idea of a main thoroughfare named after a successful merchant, running through the heart of the
haut ton’s
residential neighborhood.
haut ton’s
residential neighborhood.
Refusing to release even one hand on the reins, Basil used his chin and pointed at their surroundings. “How do you like Green Park? Or do you miss Society’s promenade of gawkers?” Basil asked with a strong hint of enmity. No longer was he containing his dislike for Society and the nobles who belonged to it.
“I like Green Park well enough,” Millie agreed thoughtfully. “But I must say that I miss the affable gentleman with whom I left Hembree Grove. Can you tell me where he went, Mr. Eddington? Or would you just like to disclose why I have earned the brunt of your sudden hostility?”
Basil brought the horses to a stop and looked ahead at the meadows. “My deepest apologies, my lady. My only excuse is that you are looking at a wounded man, and your very nature pains me with memories.”
“My nature?” Millie asked incredulously. “I readily admit I am often difficult, but I doubt I have the ability to create wounds.”
“Do you by chance know Miss Lilith Moreland?” Basil asked bleakly.
Millie thought for a second before the name registered with a face. “Yes, I believe so. Tall, fair, dark eyes? If I remember correctly, she is one of the few ladies I have met in Society possessing wit. However, I have not seen her for some while. I believe the last time I saw her in passing was at Sadler’s Wells Theater. Why? Are you acquainted with Miss Moreland?”
Basil sighed. “Not acquainted. In love. And the reason you have not seen her lately in Society is that she is avoiding me.”
“You? Why would she wish to avoid you?”
“Because Lily is afraid of being in love and marrying a merchant.”
“But I thought her father was in trade,” Millie half asked, half stated.
“No. Lily’s
grandfather
was in trade. He made a good deal of money in spices. Since then, the Morelands have lived not extravagantly, but well.”
grandfather
was in trade. He made a good deal of money in spices. Since then, the Morelands have lived not extravagantly, but well.”
“Oh. So Mr. Moreland is not titled, but he likes to act and think of himself as such.”
“Bluntly stated, but correct,” Basil replied. Realizing he had been unconsciously twisting the reins in his hands, he let go of the straps and smoothed them out, hoping she had not detected his emotional state.
Millie had noticed but chose not to say anything. She understood what it was like to be both angered and hurt by love. “What does Miss Moreland think?”
“It is difficult to know. One moment Lily and I were in love and all seemed perfect. Then I met Lily’s father and suddenly her interest in me waned.”
Millie’s brows came together. “That is odd. I assume she knew of your position when you first met?”
Nodding, Basil asked, “My lady, can you help me? I know it is an odd request, but Lady Chaselton seemed to think you would be in a position to solve my heartache. At first, I thought she meant to lure my attentions away from Miss Moreland. But after meeting you, I believe Lady Chaselton thinks you might be able to discover what happened.”
Without hesitation, Millie made up her mind. She knew exactly how to help Basil. She also hoped the lighthearted adventure would focus her mind and energies on something other than Chase and his upcoming marriage announcement. “Mr. Eddington, it will be a grand and glorious day when fathers realize it is better to have an agreeable gentleman like you, who can support their daughters in a way befitting them, than a penniless man with the title of lord. Until then, you have me. Now, I must make some preparations. We will need to meet again in two days’ time. Have you been invited to Lady Castlereagh’s ball this coming Saturday?”
“Two days?” Basil asked, more to himself. He mentally reviewed his schedule. “I will make myself available for our next meeting; however, obtaining an invitation to a ball hosted by
the
Almack’s patroness may be more difficult.”
the
Almack’s patroness may be more difficult.”
Millie bit her bottom lip in deep thought. “Hmm, it may take a little more finessing than normal to obtain you an invitation, but it should not be insurmountable. Yet, it would be better if you could get one on your own merit.”
“I will do what I can, Lady Millie.” Basil picked up the reins, suddenly feeling a spark of hope about his future. “Would you enjoy taking a ride around Green Park before we return? Unlike its famous northern neighbor, it has no lakes nor any statues or fountains. Yet its wooded meadows are some of the loveliest you will see in Town.”
“Yes, I would enjoy it very much, and do not frown so, Mr. Eddington. If what you relayed to me is true, then you and Miss Moreland will be back together before this week’s end.”
“Thank you, Elda Mae. You may go now,” Millie said quietly as she sat in front of her dressing table, staring at her reflection. The figure in the mirror seemed drained of emotion, a mere shell of the woman that used to stare back with strength and purpose.
Elda Mae nodded at her longtime charge, saddened to see her in pain. Just as her old but nimble fingertips touched the doorknob, she turned around. “My lady, I’ve known you since you were a halfling. I know who you are, the good and the bad. And believe me when I tell you that whoever has broken your heart does not deserve you. My three girls are the best in England, and any man that doesn’t recognize that fact upon meeting you is muttonheaded for sure.”
Millie turned and looked at Elda Mae with tears brimming in her eyes. A few days ago she had hidden her sorrow, but after meeting Basil Eddington and then Lily Moreland the following afternoon, Millie realized she could no longer suppress the truth. Basil and Lily were both depressed at being separated, and they loved each other very much. They had hope. Something Millie wished for, but did not have. “Thank you and good night, Elda Mae,” Millie said as she wiped the falling tears from her cheeks.
Distressed to see the most fearsome of the Three crying, Elda Mae ran over for a final hug and whispered, “There now, my lady. Broken hearts mend. Give it time, and I promise you, yours will as well.”
Millie patted the old woman’s hand, not trusting herself to say another word, and turned back to look into the mirror. Hearing the door click, Millie dried her tears again and began brushing her hair in long, steady strokes. Aimee and Jennelle were due to arrive back at Hembree Grove in a few hours, and it would be impossible to avoid their inquisition.
She sighed, laid down the brush, and rose to disrobe. But before Millie could pull the strings loose from her wrapper, she collapsed on her bed crying. It had been four nights since she had learned of Chase’s intentions to announce his banns. Four nights of no sleep.
Millie abruptly awoke, sweat pouring off of her. She should have expected to experience a nightmare in her exhausted state. They always claimed her when she was most vulnerable. She leaned over and reached for the portrait of her mother on the nightstand, but hesitated at the last moment. Without analyzing her reasons, she got out of bed and went to where she hung the amulet along with her other jewelry.
Finding it missing, she remembered that Chase had it and she wanted it back more than ever. It was a piece of Wentworth jewelry, the only piece she was ever likely to own. All other gold and gems would go to Chase’s new wife.
But the pendant was hers. And when it was back in her possession, she intended to wear it every day to remind Charlie of her unique bond with his father.
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