the stakes weren’t so high, she would enjoy this question-and-answer game they were playing.
“I believe I do.”
“Do you have any idea how it came about that it was written?”
Millicent had to keep her wits about her and remain confident that he did not know she had anything to do with the writing of that column. She didn’t know what she was going to do, only that she couldn’t fib to him without her conscience bothering her and no doubt he would see through her attempts to blur the truth.
She worded her answer carefully, “What specifically are you referring to?”
“The fact that your name is linked with mine in the title-tattle.”
Maybe this is a good time to change the subject.
“Perhaps because we have danced together at the last two parties.”
“I dance with many young ladies at every party.”
On watery legs she walked past him and over to the window with seeming indifference. She brushed back a sheer drapery panel and looked outside to the street before turning back to him and saying, “How fortunate for you. You are quite the dashing dandy. I’m sure many ladies desire to dance with you each evening, Lord Dunraven.”
The furrow between his eyebrows deepened. Flattery was not going to work. She hadn’t expected that it would, but that maybe it would buy her a little time to figure out how to handle his questions. She watched him walk across the room with confidence born of knowing exactly what he wanted and expecting to get it. He stopped beside her at the window.
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
“Nevertheless, every eligible young lady and most of the widows seek your favor and attention.”
“Miss Blair, are you deliberately trying to compliment me again?”
His gaze never left her face as he challenged her, still she didn’t flinch.
“Lord Dunraven, I speak the truth. If you are flattered by it, then that is your problem or pleasure, whichever the case might be.”
“No, I think you are trying, unsuccessfully, I might add, to change the subject?”
“I didn’t realize the subject was changing.”
“Didn’t you?”
“We were and are talking about you and dancing.”
He stepped even closer to her. Millicent wanted to retreat, but there was no place for her to go except against the wall. She remained unmoving with her gaze held fast to his.
“No, we were talking about you and I being romantically linked in this column.” He dropped the paper to the rosewood table that stood against the wall near him.
She looked up at his handsome face, still marred by the frown of anger. “I’m sorry that it displeases you to have your name so closely linked to mine.”
“That’s not the problem and I think you know it. I’m not upset to have your name connected to mine.”
She made a point of taking a deep breath and a loud sigh of relief. “That is good to hear.”
“Millicent, it always displeases me when my name is stewed in scandalbroth, and recently it seems a daily occurrence. Tell me, how do you think Lord Truefitt found out that I blew you a kiss?”
“I suppose he must have seen you,” she answered with certain confidence.
“I don’t think so.”
“You seem sure of yourself.”
“I am. Have you forgotten that we were alone in that darkened hallway together when I blew that kiss? Just you and I and the candlelight.”
Millicent felt her eyes grow wide. Her heart slammed against her ribs. Angels above! She had been caught, and she had done it to herself.
“How can you be sure?” she asked.
“If anyone had seen us together that night it would have made the papers the next day or no later than the day after. So why has it suddenly shown up today?”
Millicent’s mind whirled. Perhaps there was still some way she could save herself and her aunt. She had to try. She couldn’t just give up without an argument.
“Perhaps Lord Truefitt is a spiritualist. That would explain why he knows so much.”
“A seer? I don’t think so.”
She hated to feel desperate! “It’s possible. There’s talk that the Mad Ton Thief is really Lord Pinkwater’s ghost.”
“I don’t believe that for a moment, and you are far too sensible and levelheaded to believe it.”
“Of course, I don’t believe the thief is a ghost. I’m merely pointing out there is the possibility of more than one way that Lord Truefitt could have known that you blew me a kiss.”
She moved to walk past him and away from the window where they stood. Chandler quickly stretched out his arm and braced his