“I’m working with Doulton on it, of course, and I’m working with someone else on the thefts, too,” he said, as thoughts of Millicent returned to his mind as easily and gently as a late summer breeze.
“Who?”
Chandler picked up his drink as Fines nodded to a gentleman who walked by. “I’d rather not say.”
“Since when?”
“In working with this person secrecy is most important.”
“More important than friendship? There was a time we told each other everything.”
“There was a time we did a lot of things together that we no longer do.”
“Yes,” Fines smiled wickedly. “Staying out all night drinking, gambling, and enjoying our latest mistress, then racing our horses most of the day.”
“It’s a wonder we didn’t kill ourselves.”
“Oh, hell, Dunraven! What’s wrong with us? We don’t do those sorts of thing anymore. Are we growing into our dotage already?”
“Yes, so right you are. Forgot about that.” Fines finished off his drink and glanced around for someone who could bring him another.
Chandler looked at his friend and it struck him that what he’d said so carelessly was true. The reason he didn’t want to spend as much time with his friends anymore was because they’d grown up. He had finally grown up.
The undisciplined life he’d once lived no longer appealed to him. He was tired of Town with its crush of people on the streets, the smells, and the carriage congestion. He was tired of the endless parties where people went only to eat, drink, to see and be seen. He wanted to spend more time at one of his estates and ride his horses, not race them. He wanted to sit down to dinner in his own home and eat with his beautiful wife by his side, not dine at the clubs with his friends.
Chandler’s thoughts were brought up short when he realized the lovely wife at his side had the face of Millicent Blair.
Andrew must be feeling the call of family responsibility, too, for he’d all but come right out and said that he was looking to make a match before this Season was over. Fines was the one who still seemed to be content as a bachelor.
It also struck Chandler that he didn’t want to be sitting here with Fines. He’d rather be dancing with Millicent Blair, which was specifically why he’d avoided the parties tonight. He had to come to some kind of conclusion about her.
He had to think about this logically. He’d never been seriously attracted to a young lady for more than a few days before another would strike his fancy. That gave him reason to believe that his obsession, for that was all it could possibly be, for the surprising Miss Blair would be over within the next week or two.
Yes, he would go back to the parties, dance with her, call on her despite her insistence that he not, and take her for a ride in Hyde Park and St. James, too. In short order he would grow tired of her as he had all the other young ladies who had caught his eye over the years. There was no reason to think that Millicent Blair was different from any of the other beautiful ladies in his past. Absolutely none.
Yes, that idea had merit. Given her employment, he couldn’t possibly consider her for a wife. He’d see as much of her as possible and, no doubt, the attraction would wear off quickly. It had to, because right now he wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms and kiss her again.
***
She hadn’t seen him all evening, thought Millicent, as she climbed into the carriage behind Lady Heathecoute. She had danced with several charming young gentlemen and she had enjoyed the parties, but she was constantly searching the dance floor, the supper table, the refreshment table, and the front door for any sign of Lord Dunraven. He had never arrived.
The thought of him drove her to distraction.
Not that she was ever in any doubt, but her infatuation with him confirmed she was her mother’s daughter. Even thinking about the earl was madness.
Lord Dunraven had proven himself time and time again to be a rake, following her, kissing her so intimately in the shop and again in her aunt’s home. He amazed her. He thrilled her. And she was hopelessly smitten by him. She