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.As Millicent watched Emery and Hamlet, her thoughts faded back to what Earl Dunraven had said last night just before he returned her to Viscountess Heathecoute.A sudden expectancy filled her.Millicent was shocked, and her aunt would be mortified if she knew the earl had indicated he was going to pursue her.She must stop his interest in her, but for some reason she was reluctant to do that.Even though he was a High Society rake, she found her attraction to him was too powerful to ignore.She had tried.Her only hope was that he would soon tire of her and go on to pursue some other young lady.A smile lifted the corners of her lips just thinking about how gently yet commandingly he’d touched her while they danced.She loved the feel of the strength in him when he caressed her hand.Oh, and he was so handsome and debonair.He was intriguing and as fascinating a gentleman as she had ever met.But, and it was a huge but, she had to remember that was exactly how he had earned his reputation for being one of the Terrible Threesome.He knew how to enchant young ladies and make them desire to see him again.She had to remember he liked the chase and to pay suit to young ladies only to go no further than a few dances and paying a call or two.Her smile faded.She was not one he could trifle with for two very good reasons.Aunt Beatrice had brought her to London to safeguard her position at The Daily Reader, and it was a man comparable to Lord Dunraven who had made her mother an outcast in all of London.If the dashing earl approached Millicent again, she would have no choice but to rebuff him—no matter that she wasn’t inclined to do so.She would not end up like her mother.Millicent looked out at the lush garden again.It was too beautiful a day to stay inside.Maybe a leisurely stroll among the flowers and shrubs would free her mind of Lord Dunraven.She should join Emery and Hamlet outside in the fresh air and spend a little time thinking up new quotes from Shakespeare to use in the column.She could always resort to looking through her aunt’s books on Shakespeare’s writings, and reading his works was never a chore, but she rather liked the idea that she could remember so many of her favorite lines without lifting a book or turning a page.She finished off her tea, then headed toward the rear door.Millicent stepped out of her aunt’s house and into the lovely formal garden.She’d been told that her aunt’s flower garden was one of the largest and most beautiful in Mayfair, and looking at the splendor before her she could believe it.The enclosure was alive with color.Tall, thick yews formed a hedge that was at least eight feet high and completely surrounded the garden on three sides.Separate beds of flowers had been arranged so that there would be some flower or shrub blooming from early spring until late in the autumn.At the end of the garden stood a larger-than-life-size statue of Diana, the Huntress.The goddess held a cluster of arrows in one hand and her trusted dog stood by her side.It was easy to figure out why her aunt picked that piece of statuary, given her love for her own pet.Emery and Hamlet met her at the bottom step on their way back inside.“Good afternoon, miss.” Emery greeted her with a pleasant smile.“And the same to you, Emery,” Millicent said, peering down into the maid’s basket.“You picked beautiful flowers for Aunt Beatrice.”The maid’s eyes brightened at the praise.“You think she’ll like them?”“I’m sure of it.”Emery smiled and said, “Thank you, miss,” then headed up the steps to the back door.Millicent turned to the spaniel who was still looking at her with curious eyes.“What about you, Hamlet? Would you like to stay out here in the garden with me for a while?”The little dog barked once.Millicent thought that meant he would stay outside with her, but as soon as Emery opened the door, he scampered up the steps and rushed inside just before the maid shut the door.So much for trying to make friends with him, Millicent thought as she made her way along the stone path that led to the back of the garden.It was a beautiful day bright with sunshine, with a clear blue sky and a gentle breeze to rustle the leaves.The foliage was a lush shade of green from the early spring rains and their wet winter.Millicent’s modest afternoon dress swished across the tops of her satin slippers as she bent down to smell a pretty pink flower.“Millicent.”Rising up, Millicent thought she must be going daft [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]