A Dash of Scandal(102)

“I quizzed your mother at length, thinking if she knew, she would tell me, but it became clear that she knew only that you were a companion to your ailing aunt and that you had no other mission in London.”

“Good.”

“It wasn’t good for me. I was convinced someone was forcing you to write for the gossips and it was driving me insane. I couldn’t bear the thought that anyone had that kind of control over you. Then, on the carriage trip back to London with your mother, I figured it all out.”

Millicent stiffened again, but tried not to let it show. Did he really know or was he only trying to bluff her into telling him what he wanted to know?

“You figured out what?”

A satisfied smile settled on his mouth. “Not what. Who I know who is forcing you to write for Lord Truefitt.”

Millicent spoke softly, “Chandler, you need not worry on my behalf. No one is forcing me to do anything.”

“You’re doing it because someone asked you to?”

“Yes.”

“Someone very close to you that you care about?”

“I’m not prepared to say any more on the subject.”

“You don’t have to. Your aunt is Lord Truefitt, isn’t she? The lord is really a lady.”

“Yes. How did you figure it out?” Millicent let out a deep breath of relief. It actually felt good to admit the truth to him.

“It was the only logical answer. Lady Beatrice was obviously ill and couldn’t attend the parties and events, so she had you attend for her and gather the information.”

Millicent leaned close to Chandler. “I must ask you not to tell anyone, Lord Dunraven. After Aunt Beatrice fell and hurt herself, she sent for me to come and take over until she recovered. I didn’t want to do it, and I wasn’t very good at it.”

“Don’t be modest. I thought you very good at it. You had me fooled and you had Andrew ready to find you and expose Lord Truefitt.”

“Do not make light of this for my aunt’s sake. I couldn’t refuse my father’s sister. I don’t care about my reputation. It is ruined anyway, but if the information about her gets out she will lose her employment and be forced to leave London in shame. I don’t want that for her.”

“Millicent, you don’t have to ask. Your aunt’s secret is safe with me.”

Her breaths became shallow. She believed him. Millicent wanted to melt into his arms. He knew how to calm her with just his expression. “Thank you,” she said, then asked, “How exactly did you convince my mother to come to London with you?”

“Oh, that was easy.”

“I know my mother, sir, and it would not have been an easy task. What did you tell her?”

“Not tell her, ask her. I asked for your hand in marriage.”

“Oh, no. Chandler, why bring my mother into this? She will not force me to marry you, I assure you. I refuse to marry you simply because we had that short time alone together in your parlor.”

“I don’t want you to marry me because of that, although that is reason enough.” His voice lowered. “I want you to marry me because you love me as I love you. You do love me, don’t you?”

Millicent opened her mouth to speak, but for a few seconds no words came out. She was too stunned, too elated, too confused. “Yes. Oh, yes, I love you, but I’ve written for the gossip sheets, and now they have written about me and my reputation has been ruined. I’m not a suitable wife for you, Chandler.”

“Yes, you are. None of the things you mentioned concern me, I love you.”

She bent closer to him. “I never thought to hear you say such words. Are you sure you love me?”

“I’m not in any doubt about my feelings for you.”

“You aren’t just saying this because you feel obliged because of what happened between us, or about what was written in Lord Truefitt’s column?”

“I love you, Millicent.”

He couldn’t have said it any plainer, but still she couldn’t believe him. She couldn’t believe such an impossible dream could come true. “How?”

“How do I love you? Must I count the ways?”

“How do you know you love me when there have been so many women in your life?”

“It’s true, I’ve never been in love before—not really in love the way I feel about you. You are the first woman I’ve wanted to be with night and day. I not only want you in my arms and in my bed, I want you in my home living with me, having my children.” His eyes looked deeply into hers. “Millicent, just trust me when I say that you are the lady I want forever in my life.”