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“AND HOW LONG DO YOU intend we stay at Edenmoor?” Kittredge asked as he and Alastair rode on horseback toward Katherine’s estate.

“Not more than two days and a night, I think,” replied Alastair, who preferred riding over the bumping and jarring of a carriage. The confinement did not suit his temperament, and the autumn air pacified the agitation that had come upon him ever since his encounter with Devon.

“What? All this way for but two days?”

Alastair thought of his sisters and shuddered inside. Katherine’s son would be there as well with his family. He did not mind Edward as much but still he had no desire to make conversation with him or his wife, Anne. Their young sons, aged six to twelve, could be quarrelsome with each other and far too boisterous for his taste. He did not think his cousin Harriett and her family would be present, and Mr. and Mrs. Abbott were too intimidated by him to require much of his attention. Nonetheless, he wondered that he could tolerate even two days in such company.

“Is the hunting that superb?” Kittredge inquired.

“It is more than adequate.”

“Then say again why we are headed there?”

“I did not say before, but you may content yourself that my aunt keeps a decent cellar.”

“Will your niece, Emily, be there? She had her come out last year, did she not? She is quite the tempting armful.”

Alastair returned a stern gaze.

“Worry not,” Kittredge laughed. “I have no designs upon your family. I prefer you as friend and not kin. Good God, I should hate to have you for a brother-in-law. Will your uncle be there?”

“Traveling aggravates his joints.”

“I do like Herbert. And his clarets even more.”

Alastair could not bear the company of Katherine’s brother any more than he cared for the company of his sisters, whom he would now have to suffer for at least a full day.

He cursed himself. Selecting Millie to fulfill Katherine’s birthday request had become a much greater task than he had ever envisioned. He could have waited till Millie returned to London to speak to her, but he worried what Katherine might say or do. He would never have guessed that his aunt would take Millie to the Château Follet, though she had orchestrated the coincidence well. Who knew what other absurdity the two women might attempt?

Having discovered that Millie harbored such wanton and dark desires, he understood why Katherine, who had introduced him to Follet, had brought Millie there. Nevertheless, it was a risky proposition and remained so. He doubted Millie could handle herself with the likes of Devon. He could not chance Millie returning to Château Follet, and he would not now be surprised if Katherine would encourage just such a thing.

“Well! This is a most welcome surprise!” his aunt exclaimed when they had arrived at Edenmoor.

“I pray you had received the notice of our coming?” Alastair asked.

“I did, and have prepared rooms for you, though your notice only said that you might come. Where are your valets and baggage?”

“Not far behind. You remember Kittredge.”

His friend doffed his hat and bowed.

“I do,” Katherine responded. She put aside her reservations. “Welcome, good sir.”

“Are my sisters arrived?”

“They come tomorrow, but Edward is here with his family. And the Abbotts.” To Kittredge, she explained, “They are relations of my late husband, Richard.”

“I look forward to making their acquaintance,” Kittredge said.

Alastair looked about, expecting to see the Cheswith boys tearing through the halls. “Where is everyone?”

“Millie is out back playing with the boys.”

He found it interesting that she had responded with regards to the one person he had come to see. His gaze came to rest upon a large painting of Richard and Katherine from some years ago. The two had met at Château Follet and fallen in love there. Alastair hoped that was not what Katherine expected for Millie.

Feeling the study of his aunt, he turned to her. “Kittredge and I will greet the others after we have changed out of our riding clothes.”

“Let me show you to your rooms then.”

She could have had a servant see them to their rooms, but Alastair suspected she offered so that she could speak with him. And he was correct. After seeing Kittredge settled, she walked Alastair down the corridor.

“What prompted your decision to join us for Michaelmas?” she asked.

He had anticipated this question and had no reservations about being candid with her. “Millie.”

Katherine’s countenance brightened.

“I came across a rogue, one she became acquainted with while at Follet, and I mean to warn the both of you that he may seek her out.”

She frowned. “That is against the etiquette of Château Follet.”

“He is quite taken with Millie.”

“That is hardly a surprise.”

“For reasons you should find troubling. He thinks her a virgin.” He turned to face her. “I hope you do not entertain any notions of returning Millie to Château Follet.”

“I had not considered it.”

“I pray you do not.”

“Why not?”

“I cannot always be there to protect her against unsavory characters.”

Katherine beamed. “How grand that you take such an interest in her welfare.”

“Madam, I bid you consider the matter with seriousness. Do not take Millie back to Château Follet.”

“Andre, if she desires to return, why should I not facilitate her happiness?”

“Has she expressed a desire to return?”

“Not explicitly. We have not been in each other’s company of late, and I hope she and I will have more occasion to speak now.”

“You ought to discourage any thoughts of returning.”

Katherine sighed.

“You are partial to Millie,” he continued, “and if you care for her, you will want to see her unharmed. You cannot let your affections for Château Follet cloud your judgment. I bid you be the responsible party.”

“Of course I would not wish to place her in harm’s way, and because I esteem your display of consideration for another human being, I will honor your request.”

He turned to enter his room, but he was only partially satisfied. He would not wager all that he had that Katherine would do exactly as he wanted. And there was also the matter of Millie. He would not be wholly surprised if she dared return to Château Follet without Katherine’s participation.

*****

MILLIE WAS WRONG. THOUGH she had protested that the nature of their relationship would not change, it had.

Dressed in fresh clothing, Alastair found her outside playing Blind Man’s Bluff with the Cheswith boys and a few servants’ children. Millie had the blindfold, and the children scurried around, laughing and calling out to her. Alastair watched for several minutes, but when he saw her headed toward a pit in the ground, he strode over. He was too far to reach her in time, and she seemed not to hear him call out her name. She stumbled to her knees, but he caught her before she tripped on her own skirts in her attempt to rise.

It felt pleasing to hold her.

When he had righted her, she lifted the blindfold, saying, “Goodness, I had not—”

Upon seeing him, her face reddened. She had rarely blushed with him before. He released her with some reluctance.

“M-My lord,” she greeted, “you—you’re here.”

He saw that she had on a much nicer bonnet than he had seen her in last. It suited her.

“Lady Katherine had not said...”

“I had not confirmed my coming with her,” he explained.

She seemed to collect herself. “Your presence must please your family greatly.”

He wanted to ask it if pleased her, but he could ascertain this soon enough. The children complained about the stall. She glanced at her dirt-covered skirts, brushing them off.

He addressed the eldest Cheswith boy. “Thomas, take Miss Abbott’s place so that she can tend to her gown.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Millie said. “I can continue. ’Tis but a little dust.”

He took the blindfold from her and gave it to Thomas. To Millie, he said, “I will walk you to the house.”

“Truly, I am not injured.”

He raised a brow. She gave a sigh as if relenting to a persistent child and walked with him. They were silent at first, before he asked, “You do not intend to ask why I am here?”

“Are you inviting me to pry?” she returned with a grin.

“No, but most would be curious to understand my motives.”

“You do as you please. It is not my place to question or judge your motives.”

He wondered if her reasons were because she knew that he preferred not to be questioned or because she was indifferent to what his answer might be.

“And most would inquire as to how you found the roads, or how your hunting fared,” she observed, “but you would disdain these sorts of tête-à-têtes.”

“You know me well, Millie.”

She smiled. “You are not complicated, my lord.”

“Nevertheless, I find most people unable to refrain from their own inclinations, regardless of my preferences.”

“Does it trouble you that others do not always grant you what you want?”

“As the only son of a marquess, I have been quite spoilt and accustomed to receiving what I want.”

She chuckled. “Yes, you are.”

He stopped. “I did not seek your agreement of my statement.”

“No, but you have it. As I do not think we often agree on anything, I thought it a special occasion to take note of.”

He shook his head. His cousin could easily earn both his approbation and his vexation. He wanted to forbid her return to Château Follet, but she would balk at such an arrogant attempt to control her. They resumed walking.

“Whilst in town, I came across your friend, the Viscount Devon,” he said.

“Indeed?”

He frowned at her apparent interest. “He is not a man worth your attention, Millie.”

“So you have said before.”

“I would stay your distance from him.”

“I doubt my path will cross with his.”

“But if it should, you will heed my cautions?”

She studied him before replying, “You need not worry that I shall lift my skirts upon meeting him.”

“And what if he should attempt to seduce you?”

She seemed amused by the idea. “I am certain there are far better conquests for him.”

“You need not demean yourself so. You have many qualities to recommend you.”

This time, she stopped and looked at him. There was a brightness to her eyes he found quite fetching.

“You are kind, my lord,” she said.

He was about to decry being fixed with the trait when Kittredge appeared.

“There you are, Alastair. I have reviewed your aunt’s cellar—”

Upon seeing Millie, he bowed. Alastair made the necessary introductions. After a brief dialogue of politeness between Millie and Kittredge, Millie said that she would head to her room.

Alastair had little opportunity to speak alone with Millie, for Edward engaged him next with details of a hunt for the following morning. He could not speak to her during dinner, and she made no effort to seek his company afterward. Quite the contrary, she seemed to stay her distance from him, choosing to speak with Anne mostly. He did see her glance his way, however, when she thought he wasn’t looking.

When Anne and the Abbotts chose to retire for the evening, Millie said she would do the same. Alastair stayed with Edward and Kittredge till the two men had had their fill of sherry and port. In his chambers, Alastair remained awake, considering how he could speak with Millie in private before or after the hunt.

But he need not have waited till the morrow. An hour after everyone had gone to bed, he heard footsteps pass his chambers. Even before he opened his door, he suspected it was Millie.