His Wallflower White by Tammy Andresen
Chapter Thirteen
Millie slidthe large wooden box out from under her bed.
Night had fallen but she’d stayed in her room, taking a tray for dinner.
She didn’t trust herself to be around her family and, honestly, she was embarrassed by her behavior in the carriage. She’d never meant to cry in front of her brothers.
Crying was a weakness and not one she indulged in very often. Especially with them. Oddly, she hadn’t minded so much with Patrick. It had felt…natural. Still, she didn’t wish to see her brothers. Not yet.
Everyone would retire soon. And then she’d leave her room.
She cracked open the lid of the box, staring down at the collection of winking jewels. Many were dear to her heart.
The sapphire necklace and earrings had been her grandmother’s gift to her mother and then to Millie. She remembered her mother holding them up to Millie’s ears, she’d been only a toddler, but she could still feel the softness of her mother’s skin, her lavender scent filling Millie’s nose. “These will be yours someday.” It was her only memory of her mother.
A ruby necklace, set in gold and encrusted with diamonds sparkled up at her. She ran her hands over several more.
And then she picked up the last piece in the set.
A large diamond.
For all Millie knew, it was the most valuable in the case. But to her mind, it was the one piece that she’d happily toss away. It had been a gift from her father to her mother, which, in her mind, made it the least worthy of them all.
Closing her hand around the ring, she closed the box and slid it back under her bed. Rising, she started for the door.
Chloe had told her Patrick had been moved from the carriage house and into a guest room, which made him far easier to talk to without anyone being the wiser.
If he’d already blown out his candles, she’d likely not be able to find him. But if he still burned a light, she’d figure out which room he was staying in.
She crept up the stairs to the third floor, making her way down the hall. Sure enough, light slipped from under the door of the third room on the left.
Raising her hand, she gave a soft knock. It was time for her and Patrick to have a talk. There was so much to discuss and nearly all of it…private.
He opened the door at once, filling the doorway, blocking the soft light from his room. “Millie.”
“I…” she started. “I wanted to speak with you about today.”
He pulled her into his room without a word. The moment the door closed behind her, his lips descended over hers in a kiss that filled her with such passion, she forgot to breathe, to think. Instead her arms wrapped about his neck and as her empty hand spread out, the press of the ring pushed into her other palm. She loosened her fingers about the stone to better feel the skin of his neck.
He must have felt the stone pressed into his flesh. “What’s that?” he said the moment his lips left hers.
She sighed. Couldn’t they just keep kissing? Had she come here to talk? Suddenly, it was the last thing she wished to do. She looked into his eyes, his crinkled at the corners as he considered her. “What?”
He took a step back and reached her hand, pulling her closed fist between their bodies. She slowly uncurled her fingers, allowing the diamond to come into view. Even in the dim light, it sparkled.
His breath sucked in. “What is that?”
“It’s what I promised you for helping me,” she answered. “With it, you could go anywhere, buy anything you wish.” The words hurt. She didn’t want him to leave but she also couldn’t allow him to stay. She would only set herself up for hurt if she did.
He sucked in his breath as he pressed her fingers closed again. “You’re going to buy me off?”
“What?” she asked, her head cocking to the side. “What does that mean?”
“You want me to leave that badly that you’ll pay me off?”
She heard the bitterness in his voice and her mouth dropped open. “Pay you off?” She shook her head. “It’s you who doesn’t want to marry me, remember?”
“I never said I didn’t want to marry you.” His jaw hardened as he assessed her.
“You said you didn’t wish to marry…you said…”
“I said, which I’ve already restated, that I didn’t know if I could support a wife. I’d not commit you to poverty, Millie. What kind of man would I be if I couldn’t provide for you?”
She drew in a deep breath. “I see.” The ring still rested in her palm. She stared down at its many facets. “But today my brother forced you into the match.”
Patrick touched her cheek, his thumb skimming her skin. “He didn’t have to press because I am unwilling to wed. If he had to force me, it’s because you deserve better than me.”
She shook her head. “Better? Who could possibly be better? It’s you who—” she stopped afraid to say more.
“What?” He moved closer again, his arm hooking her waist and pulling her close
She flattened her palm against his chest. “You should have a woman who is…lovable.”
His brow pushed together. “And you’re not?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“Why would you think that?”
One of her shoulders rose up. “No one I’ve loved has ever stayed.”
His mouth opened and then closed. Then he cupped her cheek with his palm. “Millie, I’m not going anywhere. Not even for a diamond ring. You, my love, are stuck with me.”
And then he kissed her again.
His lips moved over hers, stealing the air from her lungs as he swept her mouth open and touched his tongue to hers.
She moaned as sensation vibrated through her.
But she couldn’t lose her senses now. She pulled back. “Wait.”
“What about…” She tried to clear her mind. “What about your business?”
“That has been taken care of.”
Those words should have been a comfort, but they were like that bucket of water she’d tossed on Justice. No wonder he wished to wed her now.
* * *
Millie had stiffenedin his arm.
He’d said something wrong. But what? “Millie,” he said, tightening his grip.
She turned her face away. “He gave you what you wanted. Didn’t he?”
And then he understood. He relaxed, nuzzling her neck as he spoke the next words. “No. I gave him every penny I have in this world and a share in the business for the next twenty years for the privilege of your hand.”
She melted. That’s the only way Patrick could describe it. Her body relaxed into his. “Patrick.”
He kissed her again. Soft and tender. “Millie,” he whispered against her lips. “I know you didn’t want to marry either, but I swear to you, I’ll make a good husband.”
The ring clattered to the floor as she brought both her hands to his face pulling him back to look in his eyes. “No, it’s not true. I do want to marry. You. Only you. I was only angry today because they forget to ask me what I wanted. They assume.”
He nodded, relief making his breath hiss from his lungs. That, he could understand. Their lips came together again, desperation making them cling together. Patrick was afraid he’d been so close to losing her again.
“Patrick.” She pulled back. “I need to tell you something else.”
He gave her a quick kiss, his insides clenching. “You can tell me anything.”
She swallowed. “It’s just that I…” she took a breath. “I love you.”
He turned to jelly and then he grinned. He likely looked like an idiot. “You love me?”
She nodded. “I do.”
He picked her up, spinning her about, his heart threatening to burst from his chest. “I love you, too.”
She looked at him then. “You do?”
“Of course I do.” He rubbed his nose against hers. “Millie, you’re strong and smart and so beautiful. How could a man resist?”
She slid her hands down his neck and over her shoulders. “Resist me? What woman could resist you? No man has ever been as strong and yet so understanding.”
He widened his stance, to lower her feet to the ground. Under his boot, he felt the ring. Gently, he set her down and then he let her go, reaching down to pick up the valuable. “We can’t break this.”
Millie waved her hand. “It was a gift from my father to my mother, back when he was attempting to impress her, I’d guess. So like him. A showy display of wealth with no kindness or understanding to actually prove his worth.”
“Still.” Patrick gently set the ring on the dressing table. “It’s worth something and someone in this family will surely need it.”
“That is an excellent point,” she said as she looked at it. “Any of my brothers may need help in the very near future. Though, I should likely make them apologize before I give it to them.”
He chuckled at that. “They’ll see your worth in time, Millie.” He grabbed her again, pulling her close. “I, for one, am so glad to be marrying a woman who can help me navigate my business. Please tell me you’ll help me keep the books and use your insight to make purchases. Though if you could stay out of trouble, that would help me out.”
She raised a brow, but her arms slid back around his neck. “I don’t go looking for trouble…”
He laughed again as he kissed her. This time, one of his hands slid down the front of her dress, palming her breast as they kissed again. She arched into the touch.
He felt her nipple tighten, as he slid his hand down to flick the sensitive skin with the pad of his thumb.
She moaned into his mouth.
Patrick tightened because all of a sudden, he realized that she was about to be his. All his.
And that was a wonderful feeling.