Page 59 of Holly & Folly

Millie stared at her. “Why?”

Nell shrugged, annoyed to find her eyes stinging again. “It has run its course.”

“Nell.” Millie stepped toward her, her gaze keen and watchful. “What has happened? You can tell me.”

A lump rose in Nell’s throat. “I cannot bear to.” She worked to gain control of her emotions, but with each second, the threads began to unravel. “I have been so very stupid, Millie. Again.”

Millie pulled her over to the bed, and they sat beside one another while Nell recounted what had happened, tears slipping down her cheeks.

“Oh, Nell,” Millie said, pulling her into her arms. “I am so sorry. I still think you underestimate Lord Dalmeer’s affection for you, though. Indeed, I do not think he offered for you out of duty alone.”

Nell shook her head as a fresh wave of tears spilled over. “Don’t you see, Millie? Don’t you see how selfish it would be to accept his offer when he has been nothing but frank with me about his plans and intentions? He will marry for duty—but not duty toward a disgraced woman. Duty toward his family and their legacy. His feelings for me, whatever they might be, cannot erase that I am the furthest thing possible from that. He will see soon enough that someone else can give him everything he deserves.”

Millie let out a sigh. “You love him dearly.”

It took Nell time to respond. “That is why I cannot marry him.”

Millie’s lips pressed together. “What a very strange thing to say.”

Nell gave a watery laugh and wiped at her eyes. “Perhaps you should go to breakfast without me. I am unfit for company.”

“Breakfast is just what you need.” Millie rose and went over to the basin. She dipped a clean rag into it, then squeezed it out and brought it over, wiping Nell’s tear-stained cheeks. “Life always seems brighter with a full stomach.”

Millie stayed with her until her tears had dried, her cheeks were no longer red, and she felt more able to face the day.

She might not have the earl, but she had the dearest of friends.

Eighteen

ARCHIE

Jeffard tapped a stack of papers on the desk to organize them. “Is there anything else you wished to discuss, my lord?”

Archie rose from his seat. “Not today, Jeffard, but at our next meeting, I hope to discuss the topic of the succession and marriage settlements.”

The steward paused in the act of putting the papers in his satchel. “My lord?”

Smiling, Archie pointed at him. “That is precisely the face I had expected.”

“Are you…contemplating marriage?”

“I am,” Archie replied brightly, ignoring the stitch in his chest.

There was a pause.

“I felicitate you, my lord. May I ask to whom you are contemplating such a joyous union?”

“You may, but you will have to wait for an answer until I have one to give. That is one of the details I have not yet settled.”

His brow knit. “I see.”

Archie ignored the tone of the words and strengthened his smile. A deliberate smile was all that stood between him and spending the next fortnight at the nearest public house.

Not until Nell had refused his offer of marriage had he realized how very much he wanted her to say yes. He had been ready to give everything to her, including the heart he had been keeping safe.

She had rejected him.

Perhaps he should be glad. What if she had accepted? They might have married, only for her to reject him once he was even more assuredly in love with her, even more reliant on her for his happiness.