“Neville has quirks, too.”
“I don’t doubt he does,” Cassie said with a knowing glance. “It’s beentorturouswatching the poor man struggle to contain himself around you.”
Millie’s eyes widened. “Since when?”
“Since that first dinner at Lady Asquith’s.”
“What?”
“Youknow. He was practically tripping over himself to get your attention.”
“I didn’t know!” Millie put her hands on her hips. “Why did everyone but me see how he really felt about me? I heard only the complaints.”
“Complaints that only started after you gave him that dressing down. And in front of Asquith, too.” Cassie pursed her lips disapprovingly. “Men have their pride, too, you know.”
She’d been so angry at his presumption, she’d never actually considered that what she’d said to him might have hurt him. She could only hope they wouldn’t continue to set accidental traps for one another.
“Speaking of quirks,” Cassie continued carefully, “is there anything about the wedding night you would like me to explain to you?”
Oh, heavens, no. Not Puritanical Cassie! “Don’t worry,” she quickly assured her eldest sister. “Before Eliza left last night, she and I had a chat.”
Cassie frowned. “I don’t remember the two of you going off together.”
“You’d left to get me another blanket.”
“That’swhy you were blushing! I’m, er, glad you and she had the chance to talk.”
Cassie appeared so vastly relieved, Millie almost laughed. But she couldn’t have agreed with Cassie more.
“Millie.” Cassie met her gaze in the mirror. “Do you mind that only Harbury, Sarah, and I will be here to witness the wedding?”
“No,” she replied. “While I’d like all my sisters present, Harbury is supposed to be too ill to receive anyone but select family. It would be odd if everyone was suddenly welcomed in.”
“I know, but still!”
“How would we choose between them? Just Eliza, Nettie and Lenora, without Adrain and Emily? Emily without Mrs. Vane? Mrs. Vane without Jonathan? Asquith without Lady Asquith? And then there’s Neville’s good friend Blackwell.”
“You do have a point.”
“Besides, your large wedding was an anomaly. It’s quite common to marry in front of only a few witnesses.” She made a haughty expression. “Selectivity isde rigueur, don’t you know?”
“Yes, that’s you.” Cassie wrinkled her nose. “Worried first about fashion.”
“I think I have excellent taste.” She ran her hands over her tightly fitted bodice.
Cassie frowned. “Didn’t you just wear this dress the other night?”
“It’s my favorite.” Millie shrugged, suppressing a smile.
She’d sent for the dress just after Neville had left, and she could not wait to see his expression. How well she remembered his face when he’d saidI’d noticed your dress and thought it memorable.
What better dress to choose for their wedding?
And if he wanted to undress her piece by piece, this gown certainly had enough layers to keep things interesting….
“Of course, Millie.” She rolled her eyes. “It emphasizes your breasts.”
Millie grinned. “Jealous?”