Page 22 of Mail-Order Millie (A Mail-Order Mystery #1)

Twenty-Two

B ram went to the window, peeked out, then took Millie by the elbow. “I want you to hide in here. I’ll tell you when it’s safe to come out.”

“What?” She didn’t argue further as she was shoved into the bathroom. She heard the scrape of his chair as he retook his seat and likely pretended to work.

Her heart hammered in her chest as she listened for the office door to open. It didn’t, and she wondered if the man stopped following her at some point. She tried not to look over her shoulder. Instead, she would stop, gaze at something in a shop window for a second or two, then continue. She caught sight of him a couple of times as she cut through downtown but hadn’t looked to see if he followed her further.

Millie waited a long time before Bram stepped into the bathroom and closed the door “What are you doing?”

“My guess is he’ll come back. I’ve locked the office door. It’s lunch time, after all. He’ll think I’ve gone somewhere to eat.”

She looked up at him. The room was small, so they were standing close. “I… I’m sorry about this morning.”

Bram looked into her eyes. “Ah, Millie, so am I. So sorry.” He tucked a finger under her chin and tilted her face up to his. “Can you forgive me?”

Tears stung the backs of her eyes. She’d fallen for this man and hard. Her heart in her throat, she couldn’t answer.

“Millie.” He put his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.

She stiffened in his arms. “Don’t do that.”

He sighed, let go of her, then peeked out the door. “Come with me.” He pulled her from the bathroom, took a few steps down the hall, and took her into a small storeroom.

“What are we doing in here?”

“I’m not going to tell you the sort of things I need to say in a bathroom.”

She stared at him, perplexed. “Wh-what do you need to say?”

Bram pulled her into his arms again. “That these last few days have been torture.”

“And whose fault is that?” she shot back.

He laughed. “Yours, if you must know.”

“What?!”

He nodded. “It’s true. You make it hard for me to eat, to sleep, and the most horrifying of all, to put together a coherent thought.”

Millie blinked, trying to process what he was saying. “I don’t understand.”

Bram cupped her face with a hand. “My precious, Millie. I’m trying to tell you I love you.”

She sucked in a breath as her knees wobbled. “Wh-what?!”

He said nothing. Instead, his lips were suddenly on hers, melding their mouths together in an incredible kiss. His arms tightened around her so possessively she thought she might swoon, his kiss full of hunger she couldn’t begin to describe. And he was igniting the same sensation within her. But no, she couldn’t let him fool her! He didn’t really mean it, did he?

When Bram broke the kiss, they were breathless. “Millie,” he gasped. “I’ve thought about this for two days. I can’t give you up.”

She tried to catch her breath. “What did you say?”

He lowered his face to hers again. “I can’t, no… won’t give you up. I know it sounds completely loco. But I’ve fallen for you these last couple of weeks.”

Her lower lip trembled at his words. “You… love me?”

“Yes, honey, and I want you to become my wife. Not Bill Krantz’s.”

“But… what about your assignment?”

“As soon as it’s done, which thanks to you, I believe it will be soon, then you and I are getting married.”

“But… your job…”

“I can settle in one place. I have a home in Washington, not far from work.”

“As in, the president?”

“Yes, honey.”

“And… you… love me?”

He laughed. “I do! Quincy told me to marry you and be done with it. Because if I don’t, I’m going to go loco.”

“But you’re a… a spy!”

“Not if you don’t want me to be.” He ran the back of his finger down one cheek. “I can work close to home. I have a rather nice one. But if you don’t have any feelings toward me, then I understand. Especially after all the deception.”

She continued to stare up at him. “You love me?”

He gave her a gentle smile. “Yes, honey. I love you.”

She sucked in a breath. “I-I love you too.”

He grinned ear to ear. “You do?”

She nodded and laughed. “I do!”

He held her tight. “Ah, Millie. You’ve just made me the happiest…” he pulled back and grinned again. “We have to make this official.” He got down on one knee and took her hands in his. “Millie Scott, will you make an honest man out of me and become my wife?”

She almost choked as she laughed. “Oh, goodness. You’re serious?!”

“Of course, I am. Marry me. Become Mrs. Bramford Henry.”

Her heart pounded in her chest as she realized he was indeed serious! “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you!”

Bram stood, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her soundly. When he broke the kiss, he rested his head atop hers. “By the way, honey. I don’t gamble. I don’t really drink either.”

Her shoulders shook with silent sobs. “Thank you for telling me.”

She didn’t know how long they stood in that storeroom holding each other, but in those moments, her fears began to disappear. Things made sense now, and though she was angry with him for his deception, she could also see the man he truly was. He worked for the president, for Pete’s sake! That meant he was trustworthy, good at his job, a man of good moral character. He was steadfast, protective, and she could go on. But right now, she just wanted Bram to hold her.

Eventually he let go, and she told him about the man she confronted across the street from the Ruggles’ house.

“I’ll let Quincy know tonight, and he can send a telegraph message to send for help. Once we apprehend this Crafton, we can find out more about his involvement with Sal.” He smiled at her. “What you did was very brave, but also very foolish. Promise me you’ll never do anything like that again.”

“But did it help?”

“You have no idea.”

“I think he was at the ball,” she said. “I passed a man that looked like him when I went to the ladies’ lounge area. He and some other men surrounded Verity. I thought they were looking at her gown.”

“No doubt it was him, and no doubt I missed seeing him take Verity from the ballroom when I ran into Monty. By the time I went downstairs to find you, a fancy carriage was pulling away. That might have been Crafton.”

“Some elderly women and men were at the general store while I was there. They were going to see Verity earlier. They said they got Verity away from this Crafton the night of the ball. They can tell you what happened.”

“And after hearing all that, you decided to pay her a visit too?”

She blushed. “To find out information for you.”

Bram gave her a wide smile. “I appreciate it, darling, I really do. But don’t do it again.”

She gave him a sheepish shrug before he pulled her into his arms again and kissed her senseless.