about your addition of quotes from Shakespeare at the beginning of your column each day. All good comments, I might add. Our readership is growing. We believe the success of your column is one of the reasons our circulation has increased. Congratulations on a splendid job. We hope you will continue your quotes from Shakespeare.
Yours very truly,
Thomas Greenbrier
Millicent looked up from the paper, feeling slightly starry-eyed. “It’s a success.”
“That is what he is saying, yes.” Her aunt laughed low in her throat. “I must admit I had my doubts when you first started helping me, but according to Emery and Phillips everyone on the street is talking about our column.”
Millicent didn’t like hearing the column referred to as hers. “But why?”
“From what I hear some people are squabbling over which play the quote comes from or what character has said it and other people are making a game out it. Sales are up on books of Shakespeare’s works. There’s talk that White’s will soon make it available to wager a bet on which work of Shakespeare you will write from next.” Her aunt’s smile beamed across her face. “It’s smashing, dear girl. The attention you have brought to Lord Truefitt’s column is simply smashing!”
Millicent couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She had overheard a few people mention the quotes, but paid it no mind. “I don’t understand. How can this be so popular that it’s talked about by everyone?”
“You have mixed the most beloved author of all time with what the ton loves most—gossip! And it has worked beautifully.” Aunt Beatrice laughed again. “You are all the rage.”
All the rage?
No, she was speechless! What would happen if her mother found out?—or Lord Dunraven?
Millicent forced those thoughts away and politely said what she knew her aunt wanted to hear. “Not me, Aunt Beatrice. You. Remember this is your column and you will return to it soon. If you are pleased, Aunt, then I am pleased and we will continue to give your readers what they want.”
“It was a brilliant idea, dearie. To think that all these years I have enjoyed Shakespeare’s works divinely but never thought to use his words in my own writings. That was most clever of you.”
“Thank you for letting me read this. You brought me here to help you, and I’m glad I have.” Millicent handed the letter to her aunt. Hamlet rose to sniff it briefly, but quickly settled back down.
“Shakespeare is all well and good, but it would be boring to most of our readers if we didn’t spice it with gossip. Scandal is such a delicious form of entertainment. We must have more, Millicent.”
Millicent wasn’t shy and she could handle herself at the parties. She just didn’t like writing about people’s personal and private lives.
“You have been doing this a week now,” her aunt continued, hardly catching a breath. “You must get more information on things like the meeting between Lord Dunraven and Lady Lambsbeth, who has danced with whom or who has made a match or who is thinking of making one. What is going on with Miss Pennington and Miss Donaldson? Our readers want to know who slips out into the gardens when no one is looking, which gentleman gets the kiss and which gets a slap. And of course, it always makes excellent gossip if a couple who is suited suddenly decides against marriage and why.”
Listening to her aunt talk with relish about the intimacies of other people’s lives reminded Millicent why she didn’t like what she was doing for her aunt. If anyone had seen her with Lord Dunraven in the draper’s shop and then wrote about it, she would be devastated. Suddenly she felt chilled. What would happen if someone had seen them?
Exactly what happened to your mother.
Before she lost her courage, Millicent said, “That brings up a subject I must speak to you about.”
Her aunt sat up a little straighter. “Suddenly you look serious. Tell me.”
Millicent clasped her hands together in front of her skirt and said, “Against my wishes, it appears that Lord Dunraven is pursuing me.”
“What’s this?” Her aunt leaned forward in the bed so fast Hamlet scampered to the end of the bed. “The Lord Dunraven of the Terrible Threesome and the missing raven?”
Is there another?
Millicent hoped she was doing the right thing in confessing to her aunt and seeking help. “Yes. I swear, Aunt, I’ve done nothing to encourage him.” Had she? “In fact, I’ve been quite the opposite and almost rude at times.”