In Good Company (34 page)

Millie drew herself up and suddenly looked rather fierce. “If you’ve forgotten, this is Caroline’s ball. She’s been looking forward to it for months, which means it would not be fair to her to have me anywhere near the ballroom. My presence would
only ruin her evening, and I’m sorry, but I won’t be responsible for that.”

Everything and everyone except Millie faded to nothing as Everett simply stared back at her.

She’d been soundly abused by Caroline ever since she’d met the lady, and yet she didn’t want to ruin Caroline’s evening.

She’d been badgered into playing tennis and then shouted at when she’d had the audacity to win.

She’d also been responsible for changing the children into complete darlings, but on her own terms, and . . .

A finger snapping in front of his eyes had him leaning back.

“Where did you just go?” Millie demanded.

“Nowhere. I’m still sitting in the same spot, aren’t I? But getting back to the subject of the ball. . . . You, as the children’s nanny, will be expected to be there, at least while they join me in the receiving line.”

“I am not going to be anywhere near the receiving line. You must know that Caroline would have my head if I even attempted such nonsense.”

“She does make a most excellent point,” Abigail said. “So in the interest of allowing Millie to keep that lovely head of hers, I’ll bring the children into Seaview, and I’ll stand off to the side and keep an eye on them while the guests are being greeted.”

“And while Abigail’s doing that,” Millie added. “Lucetta and I will retreat to the side terrace where the children can join us after they’re done doing whatever you need them to do.”

Abigail seemed ready to argue with that, but Millie held up her hand and smiled. “It’s not up for debate, so don’t even bother trying.”

As Abigail immediately began looking a little grumpy, Lucetta headed for the door. “I’d better go see about getting
the girls ready.” She made it almost through the door before Abigail’s next words stopped her in her tracks.

“I’ve left a nice little frock on your bed, Lucetta, and even though you won’t be actually attending the ball, I’d still like you to wear it.”

Lucetta arched a brow Abigail’s way. “Did you leave a little frock out for Millie as well?”

“Of course, and both of you will wear what I’ve laid out, given that I am an elderly, dear, dotty thing, whom both of you would surely hate to disappoint this evening, given the very great disappointment I’ve already suffered since you’re going to be spending the night on the . . . terrace.” Abigail’s look suddenly changed from grumpy to . . . pathetic.

Shaking her head, Lucetta blew out a breath. “You’re a bit elderly, Abigail, I’ll give you that, but I don’t think you’ve ever been dotty in your life, and I’m certainly not finding you dear at the moment—more like diabolical.” Lucetta’s lips curved ever so slightly. “I’ll wear that frock just to appease you, but don’t think I’m going to be happy about it.” She turned and stomped out of the room.

“Don’t forget the tiara I left beside the dress,” Abigail called. “Or the sparkly shoes that are right on the floor, dear.”

“I’m not wearing a tiara,” Lucetta yelled back.

Abigail grinned. “She’s such a dear, sweet girl. Possessed of such a quiet and delicate nature.” She looked at Millie. “Well, aren’t you going to go get ready as well?”

“It’s still two hours before the ball.”

“Hardly any time at all for you to primp.”

“I never take time to primp.”

“Yes, I know, it’s one of your greatest faults—slightly endearing, mind you, but still . . .”

Leaning closer to Everett, Millie lowered her voice. “Just
remember, this was your idea, and I’m telling you right now, it’s not a very good one.”

“It’ll be fine.”

“You say that now, when Caroline and all your friends aren’t around, but tonight could very well put a nail in the coffin that was once your social position.” Not bothering to wait to hear his reply, Millie marched from the room and disappeared, loud mutters about disasters trailing after her.

17

F
orgive me for complaining,” Lucetta began as she limped across the side terrace of Seaview and plopped down on a stone bench before sending a glare Millie’s way. “But why in the world did you insist on being let off clear at the end of the drive, instead of allowing Davis to drive us up to the front door?”

“Because all of Everett’s friends were gathered in that long receiving line, and I thought it might be for the best if we avoided a scene before the ball even began.” Millie glanced around the terrace. “I do think this will do very nicely this evening, especially since the weather seems to be holding.”

Lucetta completely ignored the last part of Millie’s statement. “You and I are wearing heels and Everett’s drive is remarkably long. My feet are killing me, as I’m sure yours are as well.”

“My shoes are in my reticule, along with my stockings, so my feet are feeling very well indeed.”

“Good heavens, I didn’t even realize you consider that bag you have slung over your neck a reticule. I thought you’d brought it along because it has things for the children stuffed inside it, but . . . it hardly compliments your outfit.”

Millie patted the bag that was hanging low on her hip. “While it’s quite clear you find my nonexistent sense of fashion appalling, I’m a nanny, which means ugly and large bags are something I cannot live without. Of course I have items for the children stuffed inside, such as a few changes of clothing, toy soldiers, a doll, paper and pencils to write with, and rags in case someone suffers an accident. Besides, Abigail didn’t leave a fancy reticule out for me to use this evening, so I didn’t think it was required.”

“Pure negligence on her part, and do remind me to point out that negligence to her after I get the feeling back in my feet and am able to track her down.”

Swallowing a laugh, Millie moved across the terrace and set her bag down on the stone bench Lucetta was sitting on, bending down to rustle around the contents until she located her shoes and stockings. Sitting beside her friend, she took a second to roll the stockings up her legs. Slipping into the sparkly shoes that she secretly found completely enchanting, she rose to her feet and shook out her skirts. “There, I’m put together once again.”

Lucetta smiled. “You look lovely, even if you did forget the tiara Abigail left out for you to wear.”

“I didn’t forget.”

Lucetta grinned. “I didn’t really think so, and a tiara would have looked downright silly in your hair, darling, especially with those lovely sprigs of flowers we added. As it stands now, you look exactly like a fairy princess, but a princess of the woods, something that suits you to perfection.”

Glancing to the house, Millie caught a glimpse of her reflection in one of the windows. Staring back at her was a slip of a lady, wearing a lovely gown of soft blue that reminded Millie of how the ocean looked around Newport when it was at its calmest. It was beautifully crafted, with lace framing the square neckline of the gown, a neckline that wasn’t overly modest, yet
modest enough to not draw attention to charms Millie didn’t possess in any abundance.

Pulling her attention away from her reflection, she settled it on Lucetta, shaking her head as she looked her friend over. “It really is a shame you and I have decided to limit ourselves to the terrace this evening. We’re looking remarkably well turned out, if I do say so myself. Poor Abigail’s efforts to see us looking spit-spot are sadly wasted.”

“I’d love to be able to claim I’m disappointed about that, but . . . hmm . . .” Lucetta said as three little bodies came flying around the corner of the house, bodies that belonged to Elizabeth, Thaddeus, and Rose.

“Where have you been?” Elizabeth demanded as she skidded to a stop right in front of Millie, looking completely adorable in a white dress of lace adorned with bows, the purple ribbon in her hair exactly matching those bows. “We’ve been searching every terrace for what seems like forever, and we were starting to get worried the two of you went back to Abigail’s.”

“Millie felt the need to stroll up the drive instead of being let off at the door,” Lucetta said as she scooped little Rose up into her arms and gave her a loud kiss on the cheek. “We would never leave the three of you here alone to deal with all this madness.”

Thaddeus nodded. “It is madness, Miss Lucetta, and it was strange, walking into Uncle Everett’s house and . . . Miss Dixon acting like we were guests.”

“Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to have you three get ready over at Abigail’s,” Millie said slowly.

“It
was
a good idea,” Rose argued as Lucetta set her back on her feet. “I heard Grandmother Dorothy talking to Miss Abigail in the receiving line, and she said Miss Dixon and Uncle Everett got into a big fight when he got back to Seaview.”

“Caroline must have gotten wind of what happened in the Reading Room,” Lucetta mumbled.

“I knew word about that would travel fast,” Millie said before she frowned at Elizabeth. “But speaking of the receiving line, why aren’t the three of you still there? I thought that was the plan. Abigail was supposed to escort you into the house, and then the three of you were supposed to stand with Everett and greet the guests.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Miss Dixon didn’t want us to join them. She shooed us away after we said hello, but there’s no need to look angry about that, Miss Millie. It’s not fun to have to stand still for so long, and we really just wanted to come find you and Miss Lucetta.”

Pushing aside the anger that had begun to bubble up inside her, Millie summoned up a smile. “And Lucetta and I are completely delighted about that, since I’m sure we would have begun getting rather lonely out here.”

Elizabeth, for some reason, took to looking a little shifty. “Now that we’ve found the two of you, we need you to come with us into the cottage. We didn’t get a chance to greet many people, and you’ve told us before that we shouldn’t forget our manners.”

“While it is true that manners are incredibly important, darling, I’m afraid I can’t come with you into the cottage. This is Caroline’s night, and it wouldn’t be fair to her to do something that I know will annoy her.”

“But . . . she’s clinging to Uncle Everett’s arm like he’s the best gentleman in the whole world, and that means they’ve made up from their fight. And she’s dripping in jewels, wearing a gown that’s very lovely, and . . . what if Uncle Everett goes ahead and does something . . . awful?”

“Like ask Miss Dixon to marry him,” Thaddeus whispered. “We don’t want that to happen.”

Millie’s heart gave an uncomfortable lurch she tried her best to ignore. “Your uncle is a grown man, children. If he decides he wants to marry Miss Dixon, I’m certainly not the lady who is going to be able to change his mind.”

“If he sees you looking like that, you might be,” Rose argued. “You look just like a fairy princess tonight, and Uncle Everett likes you, Miss Millie . . . likes you a lot . . . and we’d really rather have you as our aunt than Miss Dixon.”

The sight of the three sets of eyes gazing at her so hopefully had Millie smiling even as she shook her head. “I’m just the nanny, children, and that means I’m the least-suitable woman on the planet for your uncle.”

Elizabeth plunked her hands on her slim hips. “But . . . he likes you and . . . you like him.”

“Your uncle and I have become friends of a sort, but . . .”

“She’ll send us away to boarding school,” Elizabeth whispered.

“Did someone mention something about boarding school?”

Spinning on her sparkly heel, Millie discovered Caroline standing on the edge of the terrace, and couldn’t help but wonder how long she’d been standing there. “Miss Dixon, don’t you look lovely tonight?” she forced out of her mouth.

Fluttering a jeweled fan in front of her face, Caroline inclined her head, a head that had a huge tiara attached to it, one that seemed to match the diamond stomacher that was placed over her bosom, and matched the five strands of diamonds strung around her throat.

“Thank you, Miss Longfellow. I do believe I look rather nice indeed, as do you. Although I must admit I’m a little confused as to why you’re wearing . . . a ball gown. Surely you weren’t expecting me to invite you to
enjoy
the ball, were you?”

“I think we both know I would never expect that, Miss
Dixon—which is why I’m spending my evening on the terrace. As for why I’m wearing this particular gown, well . . . Abigail purchased it for me, and the children thought it would be great fun if Lucetta and I dressed up, so . . .”

Caroline stiffened and swung her attention to Lucetta. “I wasn’t aware you were coming tonight, Miss Plum.”

“Believe me, I’d rather be anywhere else, but . . . Everett insisted I attend, and it would have been churlish to refuse his kind offer.”

“My Everett certainly can be kind when he sets his mind to it. Misguided, but . . .” Caroline drew in a deep breath, slowly released it, and then smiled. “Well, no matter, the two of you
are
here, and it would be churlish of
me
to insist you leave. However, I’ve come to fetch the children, to introduce them around, so you, Miss Longfellow, will be expected to accompany us, walking the required three feet behind me, of course.”