Page 35 of A Winter’s Romance

M iles had turned at the first sound of the music. Louisa had hardly been out of his sight all night, although he had managed to refrain from approaching her apart from to say hello. He noticed her pale complexion, and something niggled deep within him. What was she still not telling them? What had happened to make her leave everything she had ever known behind? There was something still to add to the puzzle, but since she had told him a little of her background, he had struggled with unexpectedly strong feelings when thinking about her. He wanted to protect her, to be the one who made her feel safe.

That, more than the disappointment he had seen in his father’s expression, had sent him scurrying away from the house. How could he want to protect a person he did not trust? His feelings were so intense, it seemed like he had been gripped by some form of madness. He watched her now, conscious of her fragile beauty, and felt drawn to her more than he had to any other woman.

When the piece came to an end, one of his father’s friends approached her and begged for a song. Her cheeks pinked, and she shook her head, but she conceded when he offered to accompany her on a duet. Miles was angered that the man could not see her discomfort and frustrated that her needs were being ignored.

“It is good that she is being encouraged to come out of her shell a little,” Lord Hindley said quietly, approaching Miles.

“She is performing under duress.”

Lord Hindley smiled. “She is, but I admit being glad of it. Listen to that voice; it is perfectly delightful.”

Miles could not argue against his father. Her flushed cheeks and hesitant but perfect voice pulled on him like nothing ever had before. He tried to look away, but his eyes dismissed the commands from his brain and continued to take their fill of her.

By the end of the song, she glowed from the praise and the embarrassment of being the centre of attention. Beseeched to continue playing, this time she stood firm and begged to be released. Lady Florence took pity on her and invited another lady to take over.

Louisa stood to the side, against a wall, and it was not long before one of the male guests approached her. Miles’s hand tightened on his cup as he watched the discomfiture flicker on Louisa’s face. He struggled to restrain himself until the gentleman touched one of Louisa’s curls. Placing his cup on a side table, he tried to appear nonchalant as he approached them, but his teeth were gritted so hard his cheeks ached.

“My dear, my father has asked that you show me the artwork you have been studying,” Miles said smoothly, not even glancing at the man standing in front of Louisa. If he had, he was in danger of punching him .

“The artwork?” Louisa asked.

“She is busy.”

“As you are a guest in my father’s house, I would suggest that you watch your tongue, Mr Bleasdale,” Miles snarled at the guest.

“Why, you young wastrel….”

“Of course I will accompany you. Please excuse me, Mr Bleasdale,” Louisa said, dodging around the bulk of the man and taking Miles’s offered arm.

Miles led Louisa out of the room and into the library. He did not close the door completely, but there was none of the animosity in the air there had been the last time they were in that room. He led Louisa to a chair in front of the fire and indicated she should sit.

“He had no right accosting you,” he said gruffly. “Do you wish me to have him removed?”

“Oh no!” Louisa started to rise, but Miles put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“He was in the wrong.”

“I do not wish to cause a fuss. I know you have a low opinion of me, but please, the last thing I wish is to spoil this evening.”

Miles closed his eyes for a moment. How had this woman got under his skin so quickly? Every time she spoke, more feelings came alive within him, and he did not know what to do about it. Deciding he needed to put some distance between them before he did something rash, he sat opposite her.

“You are not responsible for the actions of a man who should know better. If a fuss was caused, it would be because of him, not you.”

Louisa shook her head. “But it would not be seen as that. I am the interloper; you have been clear about that. ”

“I am sorry.”

“What for? Pointing out the truth?”

Rubbing his hands over his face, he looked at her, eyes serious. “I am sorry for how I treated you, for what I said. I am not usually so bullish.”

Louisa smiled slightly. “I must bring it out in you.”

Miles chuckled. “My own pig-headedness does that. I am truly sorry. I will admit there are still questions I wish to ask, but I will not. Father is correct about one thing, this house should provide the safety you long for.”

“Your parents have been so kind.”

He could tell she was wary, and he could not blame her. “My parents are good people, and I hope one day you will come to realise that I am not the nodcock I seem to be.”

“I have seen so many different sides to you.”

“Any of them good?” Miles needed to know that she did not think him completely obnoxious. His heart felt lighter when she smiled at his question.

“You were very kind to Billy and extremely amusing when you were foxed.”

Grinning at her, he winked. “In that case, I should be constantly foxed around you.”

“Your parents would not thank me for that. I appreciate that you rescued me, but why did you bring me here? Will our absence not be commented on?”

“I needed to apologise. I should have done it last week, but I was too cowardly to admit that I was in the wrong. I beg your forgiveness and hope that we can start again.”

“I would like that. ”

Four little words that meant the world to him. How had he never realised that something so simple would make him feel whole for the first time in an age? “Thank you.” Miles stood and offered her his arm. “Come, let us return to this party, but if you need rescuing, just glance my way, and I will immediately be at your side.”

“That is very kind.”

“It is the least I can do, and your comfort is very important to me.” He was not surprised that she shot him a confused look, and he squeezed her hand. “I speak the truth, which probably surprises me just as much as it does you, my beautiful nymph.”

For the remainder of the evening, Miles kept his eye on Louisa and Rosie. She was having a great time with the men in the party but was drawing a few disgusted glances from the women. He would need to speak to his mother about cautioning her. It seemed he cared about all the waifs his parents had taken in.

It was a relief when the party ended, and Miles could escape to his chamber. He was glad that he had cleared the air with Louisa, but every time she smiled at him, he wanted nothing more than to go to her and kiss her there and then. He could only hope he would not spend the whole night dreaming about her.

A thumping on his chamber door drew him out of his slumber, and he croaked a “Come in.”

The butler, looking unusually dishevelled, entered the room. “I am sorry to disturb you, sir, but an express has been delivered.”

Miles was immediately out of bed. He took the folded parchment, his hand shaking a little. Breaking the seal, he read and then looked at the butler. “Send word to the stables. I need my horse. ”

“Yes, sir.”

He ran to his father’s chamber and burst in, still in his nightshirt. “Father! They think they have found her!”

Lord Hindley sat up in bed, blinking himself awake. “What?”

“I have received an express. Bow Street thinks they have found Melissa.”

Lord Hindley sank back against his pillows. “Thank God.” Recollecting himself, he started to get out of bed. “I must go to her.”

“No,” Miles said. “Let me go first; we do not want to overwhelm her. I will send word as soon as I can.”

Lord Hindley nodded. “You are right. As soon as you know anything…”

“I will send word, I promise.”

“Godspeed, Miles, and thank you.”

Miles was already on his way to his chamber. Dressed quicker than ever before, he was soon in the stables and mounting his horse. He tossed a coin to the sleepy stable hand, who was trying to suppress his yawns but reacted with lightning speed to catch the coin.

Within twenty minutes of receiving the note, Miles was on the way to what he hoped was his sister’s address.

Louisa awoke and knew there was something amiss. There was no sign of Rosie, which was unusual since they had a safe place to sleep, as she was not an early riser. As Louisa pulled back the covers, a piece of paper fluttered to the floor.

“Oh no,” Louisa muttered as she bent to pick up the note .

Louisa,

I have found the person who has promised to give me what I want. I did not want to go without saying goodbye, but he did not wish to cause a fuss. I will see you at the balls for I am to be a lady!

Take care of Billy,

Rosie

Louisa slumped after reading the scrawled note. The writing might be of the standard of a child, but the words were most certainly not. She was about to ring to get dressed when Lady Florence entered the bedchamber.

“Oh, thank goodness, I thought you had left us,” Lady Florence said. “Where is Rosie?” Louisa handed her the note, and after reading it, Lady Florence looked at her. “Did you know?”

“No! I would have tried to stop her,” Louisa said. “She was talking foolishly last night, but I just thought the attention had gone to her head. I never thought for a moment that she would act on her plans, especially not last night.”

“She is an innocent fool,” Lady Florence said without malice. “She will be turned out when they are sick of her, and she will be no better off than she was. Oh, Rosie, what have you done?”

“I think her innocence was lost a long time ago,” Louisa said, blushing furiously.

“I do too, but that does not stop her being taken advantage of. Oh poor Rosie, I wanted her to have a comfortable life, and this will be such a precarious way to live. She could find herself back on the streets at any time. I know his lordship will want to track her down, but she knows where we are and, if she needs us, she will come back to us for help. There is no point in trying to force her to remain here.”

Louisa agreed that chasing Rosie would only push her further away. “I am sorry for Billy; he will be upset.”

“I will tell him, along with Cook,” Lady Florence said. “We will make it right for him. There has been more excitement overnight.” She went on to tell Louisa of Miles’s departure.

“Oh, I hope it is her, and she can be returned to you,” Louisa said, her heart aching for Miles. She hoped he would not be disappointed, and it was a shock to realise just how worried she was about him.

“As do I, but we must continue as normal until we hear further.”

Louisa had a feeling that for the Hindleys, every minute would seem like an hour until they heard from Miles.