Chapter Twelve

“Engaged?”

Samuel chuckled as his friend rushed into the study, his eyes wide. “Good evening, Trenton. How are you this afternoon?”

“Astonished is what I am!” Lord Trenton exclaimed, a light dusting of snow on his shoulders. “How could you do such a thing without informing me? You did not once think to tell me that she had agreed? That there was consent and that it would then be announced to all of the ton ?”

Samuel waggled a finger. “I did not announce it!”

“No, but I am certain you told it to those who would!”

Seeing that he had no choice but to admit that, Samuel laughed and shrugged. “Mayhap that is true.”

Lord Trenton, finally, chuckled along with him. “I am delighted for you. Has it brought about the consequence you hoped for?”

Rolling his eyes, Samuel shook his head. “It has only been three days since we first broke the news. That is much too short a time!”

“But Lady Grifford has not come back to your side?” Lord Trenton asked, lowering his voice. “The ton have finished pushing their daughters to you?”

“I suppose in that regard, you are right,” Samuel agreed, “though time will tell as to whether or not I have been entirely successful. Now,” he continued, getting to his feet, “you must excuse me. Miss Millerton and I are to take a walk through the park.”

Lord Trenton blinked. “But it is very cold indeed out there! The snow has been falling for a few hours and, though it does not any longer, there is still a good deal of it on the ground.”

“And yet, when I suggested it to Miss Millerton, she accepted with great eagerness,” Samuel countered. “It seems as though she is not as afraid of the cold as you.” Opening the door of the study, he waited for his friend to walk out, only for Lord Trenton to hesitate, standing only a few steps away.

“What happens if you end up falling in love with her?”

The thought made Samuel snort, shaking his head briefly. “That is preposterous.”

“Why?”

“Because you know – as does she – that I have no intention of considering matrimony,” Samuel answered. That is why this betrothal works as it does. Neither of us wish to take it forward into fruition.”

“But all the same,” Lord Trenton continued, pushing the subject forward and still refusing to step out of the door, “there is still a danger of that, is there not?”

“No.” Becoming a little impatient, Samuel gestured for his friend to take his leave. “My heart will not allow it, I am sure. I have already fallen in love once and look how disastrously that turned out? No, I have every intention of remaining just as I am for many years, just as she is determined also.”

Lord Trenton chuckled as though he knew something that Samuel did not before, after another moment, obliged him by quitting the room. Samuel let out a heavy sigh of frustration before following after him. He did not need Lord Trenton to be asking him such things, not when his friend already knew of Samuel’s determination. What he had done was already more than foolish, was it not? He was certainly not going to add to it by letting his heart become affected.

“I shall see you this evening at the Christmas ball?” Lord Trenton put on his hat and then began to pull on his gloves as he stood by the front door. “Lord Dutton’s Christmas ball is usually an excellent evening and one that you do not want to miss.”

“Then I shall not miss it,” Samuel assured him. “I have every intention of being present and dancing with Miss Millerton also. I can have even three dances with the lady if I wish, given not only the Season but the fact that we are betrothed!” A sense of happiness began to flood him and he grinned as Lord Trenton finished pulling on his gloves. “Less time for me to stand up with any other young lady, so I can only consider that a good thing.”

Lord Trenton chuckled. “I suppose that is true. Until this evening, then. I do hope your walk goes as well as it can in this weather.” Just as he spoke, the door was opened and Samuel winced, seeing the thick, white flakes of snow falling to the ground. Mayhap Miss Millerton would not appreciate walking out in the snow though, he considered, it might then mean that she would simply stay in his carriage as they rode together for a while. It was all being done to make sure that the appearance of their connection was left strong enough for the ton to scrutinize. On the other hand, Samuel considered as he climbed into his carriage, he was looking forward to spending more time in her company.

That is only because she is an amiable young lady with a good deal of excellent conversation, he said to himself, attempting to convince himself of it. And not because my heart is in any way affected by her presence.

***

“I do not mind walking through the snow.”

Samuel looked at Miss Millerton, finding his breath hitching just a little as he took in her laughing green eyes, the warm smile on her face and the way her copper curls danced at the sides of her bonnet. Her cheeks were pink with the cold but she clearly was not at all concerned, given how she smiled.

“It is just as well it has stopped snowing, else we would both be covered in snow by the time we returned to the carriage!” he laughed, as she walked alongside him. “I did not think that they would be able to hold the Frost Fair this year but if it continues to be as cold as this then mayhap they shall!”

Miss Millerton’s breath frosted out in front of her. “I have only been once to the Frost Fair. I must confess, I found it a little disconcerting to be walking across the middle of the Thames with so many others!”

Samuel chuckled, recalling the first time he had stepped out onto the ice. There had been many stalls set up, each trying to sell their wares, while others had taken to ice skating. It had been both wonderful and unsettling, though to his knowledge, no-one had ever fallen through the ice. “It is a wonderful winter tradition and I hope it continues,” he said, just as the wind whipped up a little more around them, making Miss Millerton shiver visibly. “Now, you look cold. Shall we return to the carriage?”

“I confess, the thought of hot bricks is a wonderful one.”

Turning around, Samuel began to walk with her back to the carriage. “I believe there is hot cocoa waiting for us also,” he said, with a smile. “Your sister said she would have some prepared for our return.”

Miss Millerton smiled, shivered again and moved a little closer to him as they continued to walk – and Samuel’s heart warmed. It was not just the thought of the cocoa but also the company that was present with him. This was only the first sennight since they had announced their engagement and yet, in getting to know her, Samuel found himself delighting in her company all the more. How strange it was, he considered, that he had not thought about the Christmas which had torn him apart in some days. He had expected that, in seeing Lady Grifford again, he might then be filled with thoughts of her, might find himself considering what pain she had settled upon him all over again but instead, the opposite had occurred. He had not thought of her once – and, much to his relief, she had not approached him again either.

“There is someone waiting at the carriage.” Miss Millerton’s voice broke into Samuel’s thoughts and he looked directly ahead, seeing a figure standing by the door. They were much too far away for him to make out clearly, however.

Miss Millerton glanced at him. “Is it the coachman?”

Samuel shook his head. “No, I do not think so. I told him that he could shelter from the cold within the carriage if he wished.”

“You did?” Her voice was filled with surprise and Samuel glanced at her, heat filling him.

“I did. I know that it is not the done thing but I could not bear to leave the poor fellow sitting in the cold. The horses are tied and secured and –”

“How wonderfully kind of you!” Miss Millerton exclaimed, her hand going to his arm as they continued to walk together. “Very few of the gentry would think of such a thing or have such a considerate heart. How generous you are.”

Dismissing the compliment as best he could – though he was grateful for it – Samuel directed his attention back to the figure by the carriage. “If it is not my coachman, then I wonder… oh, look! Another carriage is beside it.” His eyebrows began to pull together in confusion as he made his way towards the carriage, wondering who could be foolish or bold enough to stand out in the freezing cold waiting for them to return.

His question was soon answered by Miss Millerton’s gasp and by her feet pulling them to a stop.

“It is Lady Foster!”

Samuel’s frown grew heavier and though he sensed her reluctance, began to walk again, tugging her along with him. “You have nothing to concern yourself with, Charlotte. She cannot hurt you.”

“She will rail at me, I am sure of it. Though,” she continued, sounding a little upset, “I did not tell her that the betrothal was only a pretence. Mayhap I should, for then she would not think otherwise.”

Samuel turned to face her, despite the cold wind now blowing between them. “I do not think that would be wise, though I can understand your reason for considering it. She will, no doubt, tell everyone that it is a pretence and then we shall both be mortified.”

Miss Millerton closed her eyes, her fingers tight on his arm. “It is foolish of me to have reacted to her presence with such fright. I have already told myself that I am not going to permit her to affect me in any way.”

Smiling in what he hoped was an encouraging way, Samuel gestured to the lady in question. “Then now is your chance to prove it.” He watched as Miss Millerton nodded, pulling in a long breath though, much to his delight, there came a spark in her eyes as well as a lift of her chin as she turned back to face Lady Foster. Nothing more was said between them until they reached the lady, though Lady Foster immediately strode forward, ready to meet them.

“What is this?” she demanded, her face red with the cold but her eyes dark with anger. “You informed me, Miss Millerton, that you had no intention of engaging yourself to anyone only for me then to hear that you are to marry Lord Crestwood? What can you be thinking?”

Samuel bit back his retort, leaving it to Miss Millerton. Much to his delight, she spoke firmly and with it, offered a long, hard stare towards the lady.

“I believe that such matters are mine and mine alone, Lady Foster. Now, if you will excuse us, we are to return home.”

“But you cannot!” Lady Foster reached out and grabbed Miss Millerton’s arm, yanking her back from where she had been making to step towards the carriage. “Do you understand me? You gave your word and –”

Miss Millerton pulled her arm away just as Samuel had been about to step forward, angry that the lady had thought to act in a physical manner all over again. “Do not think that you have any rights over me, Lady Foster! I have never been forced to make any decision, having only ever been requested by my father to do such a thing but that does not mean that my heart cannot change!”

Lady Foster moved closer to Miss Millerton but she did not flinch and nor did she move away. Instead, she held Lady Foster’s gaze, her chin tilted up.

“You must be dedicated to my sister,” Lady Foster hissed, her hands now clenched into tight fists. “You have made your promise.”

“I have given my word, indeed, but if I decide that my life is much too sorrowful when I have, instead, the chance of happiness, then it may be that I break that word.”

“You cannot!” Lady Foster screeched, throwing up her hands, making Samuel step forward, fearing that she would injure Miss Millerton in some way given her anger. “It must be this way, else she will lose – ”

Much to Samuel’s astonishment, the lady came to a sudden stop. She spluttered for a moment and then, without so much as another word – and in a very calm manner – turned on her heel and made directly for her carriage. It was not only Samuel who stared after her but Miss Millerton also, her eyes wide and her whole body trembling.

“You are cold,” Samuel murmured, gesturing for her to make for the carriage. “Come, let us return you home. That was a most unfortunate encounter.”

“I – I do not understand.” Miss Millerton did not move but instead stared up at him, one hand going to his chest, leaning on him as though she needed his support. “What did she mean?”

Samuel shook his head. “I do not know but come, into the carriage. It is much too cold to stand about and you should discuss this with your sister.”

It took a moment but eventually, Miss Millerton nodded, her gaze still holding his. “You will join us, will you not?”

“Of course I shall.” Samuel kept his voice gentle though he found himself a little concerned at the whiteness of her cheeks. “Please, let me take you home.”

It took yet another moment but eventually, Miss Millerton climbed into the carriage and, coming in after her, Samuel rapped on the roof immediately, suddenly urgent in his desire to return the lady home. What had started as a lovely but cold walk in the park had ended in confusion and upset, and Samuel was both concerned and upset for the lady. Reaching for her hand, he held it in his as they were taken home in silence, never once letting her go until they arrived back at Lord Hesterway’s townhouse.