Lady Neville turned her face away and started to blink.
“I can change,” Millie offered. “If you think—”
“Do you love him?” Lady Neville interrupted.
Millie opened her mouth, but she couldn’t bring forth a single word. She stared at the woman who would, in just a few moments, become her mother-in-law.
She’d been without a mother for so long, she almost didn’t recall how that particular look—the eyebrows, raised, chin down,I want the truthlook—could cut to the chase and force the revelation of any secrets.
Didshe love Neville?
He certainly loomed large in her mind from the first flutter of her heart to the fateful stumble, to his tender kisses, to the passionate embrace, to the meek and hopeful way he’d offered her, not only himself, but everything he valued.
She loved his loyalty. His steadfastness. His thoughtful care.
But love him?
Just the idea made her heart stutter to a stop. In less than an hour, she would be fully, legally in his power. Then, she would become his physically. Was she not permitted to hold on to some privacy, even in her own mind?
“I can promise you I will take good care of him,” she replied carefully. “Then, thinking of how polite Neville had been, she added, “Ma’am.”
Lady Neville’s eyes reddened the same way her son’s did. “I can see that you love him, even if you don’t yet know yourself.”
Millie stared blankly.
Lady Neville sniffed. “You love what’s good in him, and you understand what is…less than easy.”
“Yes.” That much, Millie could admit. “I understand what’sless than easy.”
“That will have to be enough to put me at ease.” Lady Neville sighed deeply. “In my heart, however, I believe that you, my dear, are the answer to my prayers.”
The wistfulness in Lady Neville’s voice—wistfulness weighted with the purity of a mother’s love—left Millie wishing she could set aside her qualms. But so much had changed in so short a time, she couldn’t.
She trustedNeville. She’d pledged to him her own fierce protection. Still, all of this was too new for her to place any faith in something as ephemeral as afeeling. As badly as her mother had been treated, Millie’s mother had professed to “love” her father, too.
Another knock sounded on the door.
“Come in,” Cassie called.
Cassie’s maid peeked inside the room. “I’ve just shown the Vicar into the duke’s bedchamber.”
“Well!” Cassie smiled, drew her in and shrugged in an excited fashion. “It’s time. Are you ready?”
Millie looked into the mirror and pinched her cheeks.There. “As ready as I can be, considering. But you two go in first.”
“Are you sure?” Lady Neville asked. “I know your father isn’t present.”
Cassie and Millie exchanged a significant glance.
“And Harbury is supposed to be in no condition to stand up for you. I know it would be most unusual, but I could walk you in myself, if you like? Then, give Harbury your hand to present to Neville for the ceremony proper?”
“How kind of you to offer.” she kissed the lady’s cheek. “But Lady Sarah has agreed to the honor.”
And then, of course, there was the matter of making sure everyone inside had taken their places so she could focus on Neville’s reaction to her dress.
“Aunt Jane.” Cassie slid her arm through that of her husband’s aunt. “You must prepare yourself. Harbury is not truly sick, but you must act as if he is extremely unwell. I’ve powdered Harbury’s face. He actually does look quite gray.”
Lady Neville laughed. “Oh, I well know how he can put on an act. Especially if that act gets him out of trouble.”