Chapter Eighteen
"IT EXCEEDED ALL expectation," Mildred said after she had embraced Lady Katherine. Having completed her dress, she was finishing the last of her packing that Bhadra had begun last night. “It was a night I shall not forget.”
Lady Katherine took a seat. "I am thrilled to hear it. But tell me, if you will, who has made it so memorable for you?"
Mildred blushed. "You would not believe it, my lady, and I would not hesitate to tell you save that…he may wish to preserve his anonymity."
"You mean Andre?"
Mildred's eyes widened. "He told you?"
Lady Katherine straightened, but there was no vexation in her voice. "He scolded me, is what he did. He admonished me for bringing you here in the first place, then explained that he had to keep you safe from the other rogues and rakes. I gathered then that he must have been in your company for most of the night. And as you have revealed that it was an unforgettable night, well, my conclusion was an easy one to draw."
Mildred eyed Lady Katherine carefully, looking for signs of disapproval, but found instead a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "Did you know that he was going to be here?"
Lady Katherine drew in a breath. "In truth, I did. What he would do, I knew not. But I suspected he would not allow his cousin to fall in harm’s way."
"You would be the only person to hazard such a thing! I don't think anyone would have bet upon Alastair having a conscience."
Lady Katherine smiled. "Surprised you, didn't he? Well, I did see to the boy’s upbringing. I didn't do the best of jobs at it, but I don't think I was a total failure either."
Mildred did not know whether she ought to be sick to her stomach. Though she and Alastair were cousins, she was still much beneath his station. Would Lady Katherine truly condone a venereal relationship between them?
"I knew you would find your heart's desire at Château Follet,” her ladyship continued, “and I hoped it would be Alastair who provided it to you."
"Truly?"
"Are you appalled, my dear?”
"Not appalled but surprised."
“Are you so certain you would not have wagered upon his decency?”
“He wanted, at first, to act honorably.” Mildred sank onto the bed. “Till I browbeat him into feeling sorry for me.”
“Dear Millie, Andre does what Andre wants.”
“But I was quite insufferable! And a little inebriated. I cannot recall all that I had said. You would have been proud of his resistance. My behavior must have been monstrously intolerable and wore him down.”
Lady Katherine was quiet for a moment before responding, “Well, he deserved all of it. Had he been agreeable and granted your wish on the matter of the dowry, none of this would have come to pass.”
Now it was Mildred’s turn at silence. Now that last night had come to pass, she did not regret his rejection of her request. Would she trade all that had happened last night for freedom from an unwanted engagement?
She shook her head. It was madness that such a question should even find pause before an answer!
“What is it, child?” her ladyship inquired. “You appear pensive. What troubles you?”
“My cousin is convinced that I will come to regret what has happened.”
“Will you?”
Mildred shook her head. “Only if it irrevocably harms our kinship, but I do not see how, lest he suffers from regret and shame.”
“I cannot see those sentiments attaching themselves to Andre.”
“I shall not see us differently and shall continue to have the same regard as I have always shown my cousin.”
Only now she knew him intimately. She had seen him naked, had held his most private member in her mouth, had joined her body to his in congress.
“Well, it will be a little different,” Lady Katherine said.
Mildred grew warm. “Yes. I—I think I had consumed one too many glasses of port or I would never have considered—not with Alastair.”
“He may be a rogue, but he is a handsome one.”
“Without the port, I would not have had the courage! And it did not occur to me till last night to see him in that…that way.”
“No?”
“I think not, though…”
She wondered if she would ever forget how the look of ardor had sent such thrills through her, how she had lost herself in his kiss, and how she had bared her soul—her deepest, darkest desires—to him.
“And now that you have, you have fallen a little in love with him,” Lady Katherine pronounced.
Mildred shook her head. “He is my cousin.”
“Any woman who submits herself to Andre falls in love with him. You would not be mortal if you did not, my dear.”
“Perhaps a little then,” Mildred conceded.
“Goodness knows if I were not his aunt and were a few years younger, I should like nothing more than to have that man take a flogger to me.”
“Lady Katherine!” Mildred gasped.
Her ladyship chuckled. Mildred smiled.
“Thank you, my lady,” Mildred said. “Thank you for the most marvelous adventure I will know.”
“Do not make such a sweeping proclamation yet. Who knows? Perhaps you can entice Haversham to pay a visit to Château Follet?”
The suggestion struck Mildred as ludicrous, but then, Alastair must have had a similar impression of her, and she had astonished him a great deal. Perhaps she should not be so quick to judge her fiancé?
Mildred smiled. “Perhaps.”
* * * * *
After taking lunch with Madame Follet, Mildred and Lady Katherine readied themselves for the continuation of their travels. Their carriage had been sent for, and as they received their coat and gloves, Mildred heard her alias called.
“Miss Abbey!”
She turned to see Lord Devon. Lady Katherine was engaged in speaking with Madame Follet, and Mildred decided not to interrupt them with introductions.
“Lord Devon,” she greeted.
“It is a shame you have to leave already,” he said. He lowered his voice. “I searched for you last evening.”
“Your pardon. I had had every intention of returning—I did return to the assembly room, only to find it empty.”
“I had given up hope that you would return and was fairly convinced that you had chosen other company.”
Before Mildred could respond, a voice intervened. “She did.”
They both looked in the direction of Alastair. Devon frowned as her cousin approached them.
That would not be quite true, Mildred thought to say.
“My loss then,” Devon said. He bowed to Mildred. “I hope you enjoyed your visit to Château Follet—enough to visit a second time.”
Alastair looked as if he would very much like to give Devon the boot, but the Viscount withdrew.
“I still do not understand why you dislike such an amiable fellow,” she said to Alastair but was glad to see him before she left. “Have you come to admonish or warn me one last time?”
He drew in a long breath. “I came to tell you that I have reconsidered your request.”
“My request?” For a moment, she thought she had asked him for more of what had occurred last night.
“Concerning your dowry. I have decided to add the condition that I must approve any engagement, as well as any settlements, for the dowry to qualify.”
She stared at him. Did he jest? No, he was not the sort of man given to jesting. When she was fairly certain that she had heard correctly, she said, “My lord…thank you, but I am engaged already.”
“I fear any misunderstanding was my error. I had not made my condition known to your father but will make it now. Have your father bring Mr. Haversham, whom I met but briefly, to meet with me once more.”
“And you will…?”
“I have a better understanding of the sort of man who would make Miss Abbott a suitable husband.”
She had the urge to embrace her cousin. “Thank you! Thank you, Alastair!”
He bowed.
“Well, Andre!” Lady Katherine declared. “Are you riding with us to Bath?”
“Only to see you safely to your destination, m’lady, as you have no other escort.”
“Fabulous! We will wait for your horse to be sent for.”
Alastair bowed again and went to make arrangements with his valet.
“Mon dieu! He is not quite the scoundrel in your presence,” Madame Follet remarked first to Lady Katherine, Then to Mildred, “Nor yours, mademoiselle.”
All his more tender moments flashed before Mildred.
“It is lovely to see how our sex can inspire the better parts in men,” Madame Follet added.
“I can claim no credit,” Mildred replied, looking at Lady Katherine. “I think his aunt must have all to do with it.”
“I?” Lady Katherine responded. “I merely acquainted you with the wonders of Château Follet. The rest was up to you.”
They did not have to wait long for Alastair. Soon Mildred and Lady Katherine were ensconced in the carriage, with Alastair astride his horse beside the vehicle.
Mildred looked out the window at Château Follet. It was a place that held great significance for Lady Katherine, for she had met her husband here, and for Mildred, it would occupy a special place in her heart and mind as well. Within its walls, she had been taken to such heights as she could not have imagined.
As the carriage pulled away, Mildred considered that perhaps Lady Katherine would prove correct. Perhaps this was not to be her last adventure.
THE END
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