felt his body heat through her clothing. She had plenty of room to move away from him in the carriage seat, but had no inclination to do so.
She popped open her delicate parasol, which was trimmed with tiny yellow ribbons that matched her dress and pelisse, and held it with one hand over her shoulder. Chandler looked over at her, winked, and smiled that roguish grin that melted her heart and made her wish things could be different between them. If he were not a rake and if she were not a gatherer of tittle-tattle, then perhaps affection could blossom between them.
“I fear you are a rogue even in church.”
“I have been. ‘Pray you, stand farther from me.’”
Shakespeare again. Chandler delighted her.
She let her gaze stray over his strong profile and dark-lashed eyes. “Indeed, sir. And when we first met you tried to make me believe that all I had heard about you wasn’t true.”
“It wasn’t. At least, not all of it,” he amended. “But, no matter, that’s in the past now. Since meeting you, I’m trying to mend my ways.”
“Heavens above. You can’t convince me that is true.” She sighed and shook her head indulgently. “I cannot believe that you were once worse than you are now. It’s simply unbelievable.”
“Scandalous, but true. Perhaps it’s best we don’t talk about my misspent youth today.”
“I think that is probably a good idea.”
“For a change, let’s talk about you.”
No, let’s don’t.
She turned toward him. His eyes were so clear, so blue, and looking directly at her. “Me?”
He smiled faintly. “Yes.”
“That’s not a good idea.”
There was something challenging in his gaze, and he met her stare-for-stare. “I think it is. I think it’s time.”
“You already know more than most,” she hedged.
“But not enough.”
Millicent turned away from him and remained quiet. It was awful, but she couldn’t tell him the truth.
She would love to tell him everything about her so there would be no secrets between them. There was nothing about her family or childhood she would keep from him, if not for her aunt. How could she tell him anything about her life? If he knew her father’s name, it would be only a matter of time before he discovered that Lady Beatrice was her aunt.
Millicent knew of her aunt’s fear of being exposed and losing her employment. Millicent couldn’t take the chance that Chandler might follow a snippet of information that would lead him to Lord Truefitt’s door.
“Tell me about your family, Millicent. Who was your father—other than the man who married your mother?”
“The person who is employing me thought it best if no one knows about me. For many reasons I can’t explain, I must keep it that way.”
Chandler nodded to an acquaintance and a few moments later waved to a friend in military uniform who passed them on horseback before giving his attention back to Millicent.
His expression was composed as he said, “You plead a good case.”
“It’s not just for me. There are others I must consider.”
“Do you know what the rumor is in Town about you?”
Millicent looked at him and laughed softly, playfully. There was no doubt in her mind that Chandler Prestwick, the earl of Dunraven, captivated her. If only he wasn’t so charming, she would allow herself to be completely entranced by him and allow him to take her heart. If only she weren’t working for her aunt. If only he wasn’t a rogue. Oh, if only there weren’t so many if onlys where Chandler was concerned.
“Of course I know what people are saying about me. I wouldn’t be very good at my employment if I didn’t know the answer to that. I’m considered a poor young lady from the country whose ailing mother imposed on an old acquaintance to give her daughter a Season in London in hopes of making a good match. Did I cover everything?”
“You are in the know.”
“It’s not difficult.”
Millicent slowly twirled the handle of her parasol between her hands and looked at the people and the buildings they passed. How could she not enjoy this sun-drenched afternoon riding in a carriage with Chandler?
“What do you think about what is being said about me? Do you think any of it is true?” she asked with a flirtatious lilt lacing her voice.
He looked at her with a mixture of amusement and cautious insight in his blue eyes. “I think you would marry only for love, not just to make a suitable match.”
She laughed again, more sweetly than before. “You are so very good at