Marry Me, Millie by Jo Ann Ferguson

Author:Jo Ann Ferguson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BelleBooks
Published: 2014-06-05T00:00:00+00:00

Eleven

“WHERE DO YOU want these, Miss Dunsworthy?”

Millie looked up from the chemise she was folding to see Jane holding two shawls. “Put them in the larger box. I think there is still room in it.”

“Plenty.” Jane placed the shawls in the box and her hands on the side. “Miss Dunsworthy, I need to say something.”

“Say it.” She picked up a shoe and sought its match under the bed.

“You should not let Lady Quinley send you away from here.”

“What?” Millie stared at the maid.

“That is all anyone in the house is talking about.” Color raced up her face. “Not Lord Marlesquin. He has no use for whispers, but everyone else thinks you are leaving because of Lady Quinley’s miff.”

Rising, she asked, “What do you think?”

“I told all of them that you are not hen-hearted.” Jane stiffened her own shoulders. “I told all of them that you had planned to leave as soon as the doctor gave you permission to travel to your cottage. I told all of them that you were full of pluck.”

“Thank you.” She sat on a chair. “I appreciate your confidence in me, Jane.”

“Good. So you will not think I am carrying tales if I reveal what I happened to overhear.”

“You just happened to overhear?” She raised a single brow.

Jane giggled. “I was eavesdropping, because I saw Lord Marlesquin’s carriage stopping in front of the house as Lady Quinley was taking her leave. I wanted to know what she was going to tell Lord Marlesquin about you. She listed all your faults, as well as his.” Her face clouded. “She kept denigrating both him and his father. She should not speak to him about his father that way.”

“Jane...”

The maid put her fingers to her lips. “Pardon me, Miss Dunsworthy. I know it is not my place to tell my betters how to behave. It just made me so... so mad—as mad as hops—that she would dress him down like that. He is such a kind man. A truly good man.”

Millie knew she should chastise Jane for what could become a bad habit of judging her employer and his family. Instead, she found herself nodding. She agreed. Quinn was a kind man and a good one.

“And,” Jane continued, “she did not mention a peep about what you explained to her about Miss Wallace.”

“Not a word?”

“Nary a one.”

Pushing herself to her feet, Millie sighed. She should have guessed as much. Lady Quinley would not have said anything to put Millie in a good light when she was leaving the house in a rage.

“I will be back in a few minutes, Jane,” she said. “Finish emptying the cupboard. I should return before you are done.”

“Yes, Miss Dunsworthy.” She turned to retrieve the last garments from the cupboard, but not quickly enough that Millie saw a hint of a smile.

The imp! Again Millie knew a scold would have been appropriate, but how could she scold Jane when the maid was only concerned with her well-being?

As Millie left the room and went down the stairs, she noticed how quiet the house was.

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