A Dash of Scandal(18)
Millicent turned around from the darkened corner of the buffet room and faced a tall, buxom, dark-haired lady. Millicent’s eyes were immediately drawn to a brownish-red disfiguring birthmark that covered the lower half of her left cheek and spilled just under the line of her jaw.
Not wanting to stare, Millicent quickly focused on the young lady’s pretty green eyes and asked, “What makes you so sure it won’t work?”
“Oh, I’ve tried it.”
Millicent wasn’t sure exactly what this young lady thought she was doing, so she merely stated, “You have?”
“Oh, mercy, yes. Many times.” She sighed heavily. “I finally gave up and you should, too.”
“And why is that?”
The young lady walked closer to Millicent. Even though she was a large young woman, she moved with the regal grace of a lady of breeding.
“You can fill in names on all the blank spaces but sooner or later the other ladies in attendance will talk about why your dance card is always full, but you are never seen on the dance floor.”
Relief. She thought Millicent was filling in gentlemen’s names on her dance card. Thank goodness. For a moment Millicent had thought the lady might actually have some idea of what she was writing.
“I’m sure you are right about that,” Millicent said. “Thank you for the warning.”
“I am perplexed about something, though,” the young lady continued as she looked down at Millicent’s card.
“What is that?” Millicent asked as she slipped her dance card into her reticule.
“There should be no need for you to have to write down gentlemen’s names. I’ve seen you on the dance floor a respectable number of times this evening. And you are much too pretty to end up a spinster like me. Why would you be adding names?”
Millicent relaxed and smiled. She liked the friendliness she saw in this young lady’s eyes and didn’t want to mislead her, but there was no way she could be completely honest with her or anyone else.
“That’s most kind of you to say, but I guess we all want to be more sought after than we are. Human nature, you know.”
“I used to feel that way, too, but I don’t anymore,” the young lady said with resignation. “After four years I realized that no man was going to marry me because of my birthmark. The few gentlemen who danced with me only asked me to please their mothers, who felt sorry for me, or to show other young ladies they were nice enough gentlemen to marry because they would dance with someone who looks like me.”
Millicent wanted to dispute what she said but knew she probably spoke the truth. She didn’t understand it, but she believed beauty meant more to a man than loyalty and love.
“I’m sure you are shortchanging yourself unduly.”
“No, I’m not. But I’ve found other things that give me pleasure. I enjoy reading and writing poetry. And I’m very good with a needle.”
“Those are good things to do. Perhaps you didn’t give the gentlemen in your life a chance to get to know you.”
“You are just being kind,” she said wistfully, “and that is very nice of you.” She smiled sweetly at Millicent. “Let’s break the rules and pretend we’ve been properly introduced. Do you mind?”
“No, of course not.”
“Good. I’m Lynette Knightington, the youngest daughter of the Duke of Grembrooke.”
Millicent curtsied. “It is my pleasure to meet you, Lady Lynette. I’m Millicent Blair.” Millicent didn’t add that she was the daughter of an earl. It was Aunt Beatrice’s desire that her true identity not be revealed. No one was to know her heritage, and considering what she was doing, that was the way Millicent wanted it, too.
“I’ve not seen you before.”
“Lord Heathecoute and his lady have graciously agreed to sponsor me for the Season,” Millicent said with ease. “And I’m the houseguest of Lady Beatrice.”
“How very generous of them. I’m not surprised, since they never had children of their own. Lady Beatrice is usually at all the parties, but I haven’t seen her recently.”
“I’m afraid she had a rather bad fall and is laid up. She won’t make any of the parties this Season.”
“That does sound serious.”
“She should be fine soon,” Millicent answered just the way her aunt had instructed.
“Please tell her I asked about her.”