A Dash of Scandal(96)
“She is very plump, my dear. It is to be expected. What has that got to do with the cut on your head and the unforgivable lateness of the hour? Forget starting at the beginning, I’ll need smelling salts before you get to the ending. Give me the high points and you can fill in the details later.”
As carefully and as quickly as possible Millicent relayed the events of the evening to her aunt, starting from the time she and Lord Dunraven went with the viscountess out to the carriage. She left out the hour she’d spent at Chandler’s house, accounting the story as if she had spent all the time with the authorities, telling them how she and Chandler had pressed Lady Heathecoute to show what was beneath her skirt.
Beatrice pulled Hamlet up to her chest and lay back against her pillows when Millicent finished. “Merciful heavens. This is an unbelievable story. The poor woman a thief? The Mad Ton Thief? I keep thinking it’s impossible.”
“I assure you it is all true.”
“And you say the authorities took her away.”
“I watched them put her in the carriage. Her husband went with them, too, but I do feel he knew nothing about what she had been doing.”
Aunt Beatrice brushed Hamlet’s coat with her hand. “I knew she wanted to take over the column, but I thought it was for the excitement and control of it, not because she needed to obtain money to live.”
Something tugged at Millicent. “But that’s why you do it, isn’t it, Aunt? For the money, to help with your living expenses?”
Beatrice’s eyes widened and she hurriedly said, “Oh, yes, my dear, yes. I’ve said so, haven’t I?”
Millicent studied her aunt. She wasn’t so sure she believed her anymore.
“Forget that. Tell me what Lord Heathecoute had to say.”
“He suggested to the authorities that it might be a sickness with her, and that it was quite possible she was unable to stop herself from doing it.”
“Hmm. I have heard of such a thing. No doubt the authorities will sort it out.”
“How did it come about that you took her into your confidence?” Millicent asked.
“Oh, it was Mr. Greenbrier from The Daily Reader who introduced us. Apparently she had intimated to someone at the newspaper that she was available to obtain information if there was a need. He felt it would be good if I had an assistant, so naturally I was obliged to take her into my confidence when he approached me with the idea.”
“Her reputation is ruined and she will no doubt end up in prison. Do you think she will tattle that you are Lord Truefitt?”
Beatrice screwed up her face in a worried frown. “There is that possibility. When Phillips delivers the column this morning, I’ll have him give a letter to Mr. Greenbrier and ask him to call on me. Perhaps he can speak to the authorities and the viscountess and work something out to help her so that she would have good reason to stay quiet about me.”
“I’ll make sure Phillips gets the letter delivered.”
“Oh, get your quill, Millicent, we’ve so much to do and no time to waste. We must get our column to the newspaper and be the first to tell Society that the Mad Ton Thief has been captured.”
***
When her maid brought Millicent tea that afternoon, she had a note on the tray from Lord Dunraven saying that he wanted to call on her later that day. She hastily wrote a note back telling him she was unavailable and to please not disturb her again.
It hurt her greatly to refuse him, but she must make sure he knew that she had no intentions of marrying him just because she took him as a lover. It was best they end their affair as quickly as it had begun. Millicent couldn’t bear the thought that he would marry her because of duty and honor or because he believed she’d tricked him.
As much as it devastated her to reject his appeal to see her, Millicent had to deny his request. They must go their separate ways. Their partnership was dissolved because the Mad Ton Thief had been caught. She had all hope that the raven would be found unharmed and returned to him without further delay.
She also refused a call from Lady Lynette. She knew her friend wanted to gossip about the events of the previous evening and find out all Millicent knew about the capture of the Mad Ton Thief, but she wasn’t ready to start talking with anyone about what had happened. She sent Lynette a note suggesting that she call on her later in the week.
Late that afternoon, unable to stop herself, Millicent walked out into the back garden, hoping that Chandler had not listened to her request to be left alone. She wanted him to burst through the hedge and announce his undying love for her and ask her once again to marry him.