“But truly, I did not,” she insisted. “When we were dancing, it wasn’t at all like—” Briefly, she covered her mouth with her hand. “No,” she continued more slowly. “I didn’t like Willard. It’s just that he only tempted me with something I wanted. There were times he truly seemed to understand…” her voice faded.
“What did he seem to understand?” he softly prompted.
“Oh, I don’t know. How strange this all has been. London seasons, balls and rules and social courtesies. How trapped and confined I’ve felt ever since I had to leave Willowhurst.”
Another swing and crack.
“Oh, Millie…” How hadhenot realized she was sad? How had he not known she was suffering? She always seemed so strong. So certain.
“Neville!” She gripped him by the shirt, urgent again. “Do you think those of thetonwho had seen us together tonight are likely to come to the same conclusion? That I ‘like’ Willard? That I would welcome a courtship? Perhaps even anofferfrom him?”
“I am afraid they might.” Theton, damn them, were likely to think far worse. She might have escaped being openly caught, but she’d been compromised just the same.
“Oh, what have I done?” she murmured.
Neville covered her hands with his own. “I won’t let anyone harm you, Millie. Not him, not anyone. Do you understand?”
“Cousin?” The question came from just beyond the door exiting to the theater’s rear.
His whole body flooded with relief. “Lady Sarah?”
“Are you still inside?” he heard Sarah ask. “Is Millie with you?”
“Yes. And thank God you’ve come.”
The door cracked open, not on the corridor side, where Millie had come in, but from the direction of the private passageway through the backstage chambers. The passageway that eventually let out onto Hart Street.
Sarah opened the door. The light from her lantern started them both. Immediately, he and Millie jumped apart.
Lady Sarah’s gaze moved back and forth between them, calculating. “Well, now I know why I couldn’t find you, Millie.”
Millie frowned. “How did you know I needed finding?”
“Well, Mr. Harris came to me in the lounge with an urgent, private message. My good friends Lord and Lady Pennington followed me backstage. But Harris took me aside privately and told me of your plight. He said I was to find you and bring you here, where Neville wished to speak with you. I tried, but youhad gone missing.” She paused to send a significant glance to Neville. “Apparently, you made your way here on your own.”
“She did,” Neville gravely confirmed.
“My friends are still backstage with Harris. He’s delayed the second act. He hadn’t much choice after Lord Willard caused such a fuss. Meanwhile, since I couldn’t find either of you anywhere else, I came to the rendezvous point, just in case Millie had found her way here on her own.”
“You’re a godsend, Sarah. A positive godsend. Take Millie home, please.”
“Neville!” Millie’s frown turned into a scowl. “I’m not baggage to be handed from one person to the next!”
“Certainly not,” agreed Lady Sarah. “But, I think, feminine company would not be amiss?”
“Yes, I suppose.” Millicent blinked a few times. “I seem to have become…separated from my chaperone.”
“So I’ve heard. Harris has been of excellent help there, as well. Lady Eltenham was unwell. Lord Willard’s friend took her to a seat in the second level lounge, but then, perhaps because of the commotion, forgot to escort her back to her box. So, Harris brought her round to the rear stairwell, where she is waiting with my friends. Shall we find her and return you both to Lord Willard?”
Neville sucked in. “I don’t think—”
Lady Sarah interrupted his sentence with a quelling look. She turned toward Millie. “Doyouwish to return to Lord Willard? He appears to wish to be reunited with you.”
Millie shivered. “No, I don’t believe I do. But I have something that belongs to him I would like to give back.” She reached into her pocket and retrieved a long, thin bit of ivory. “Do you think Harris would return this to Lord Willard?”
Sarah and Neville froze in almost comical shock. If anyone had come in at just that moment, they would have thought them acting out a tableau.
Sarah recovered first.