Caught in a Cornish Scandal by Eleanor Webster (top novels of all time .txt) 📗

is more on helping poor people with apprenticeships. Not a lot of Greek and Latin.’

‘You would like to teach children Greek and Latin?’ Millie wrinkled her brow, as though slightly sceptical.

‘Diogenes said that the “foundation of every state is the education of its youth” and I am quite certain he did not mean just the youth who go to schools like Harrow. Diogenes was an odd individual. He slept in a jar sometimes, but he was right about that.’

Millie gave that warm, wonderful laugh. ‘A jar?’

‘Yes, it was ceramic, “a pithos”.’

‘That makes it better?’

He laughed as well and then there was that moment of silence, where the camaraderie became suddenly awkward. ‘I wanted to let you know that I sent a note to my man of business to talk to Harwood. I will let you know what he learns.’

‘Thank you.’

‘I...the reason I wanted to talk to you is to ask—will you come to London?’ he blurted.

‘What?’ She startled, her expressive eyebrows rising.

‘I need you to come to London. Frances needs you.’

‘Lillian will go up with her. And you have a relative, an aunt.’

He stood, pacing in front of the fireplace. ‘Your sister is wonderful and I am happy she will go to London and, yes, Lady Wyburn is lively and eccentric.’ He stopped, going to the window and looking out towards the grey of the ocean. ‘But Fran needs you. I need you.’

Sam threw himself heavily into the chair opposite, leaning towards her. His gaze was intense. The firelight made his eyes darker, highlighting the shadows of fatigue juxtaposed to the lean strength of his jaw. He needed her. She felt a pulse of something close to exaltation.

‘You cannot marry Edmunds. There must be another option. Indeed, I am certain my great-aunt could figure something out,’ he said.

She stiffened. The exaltation turned to lead, anger tightening her belly. ‘By “something”, I take it you mean that she might introduce me to a more suitable husband?’ she said.

He shifted, looking uncomfortable. ‘Well, yes, something like that.’

‘Then you will be glad to know that this is not necessary. I am not marrying Mr Edmunds.’

‘You’re not?’

‘No,’ she said. ‘He is buying our land and Mother can stay in the house. I decided that if I could survive this last week, I could find an alternate solution to marriage to Mr Edmunds. Indeed, I aim to find an alternate solution to marriage to anyone. Therefore, I do not need to be introduced to some suitable London gentleman. It is totally unnecessary. Besides, I do not like London.’

‘You wouldn’t have to live there. You make it sound as though I want you to go into purgatory,’ he said.

‘Not purgatory, just a location with no great appeal. I do not want or need you to save me from my life.’

‘I am not trying to save you from your life,’ he said, his voice rising.

‘No?’

‘I am trying to save Frances from her nightmares.’

She looked at him and again noted the shadows under his eyes and the heaviness in his lids. It was clear he had not slept properly. She thought of her love for Lil and how she had tried to save Tom.

‘Lillian said Frances was doing better. I thought last night was a turning point for her?’ she asked more gently.

He shook his head. ‘She had a dream this afternoon. She thinks too much about the victims. She blames herself. She hears them. I need to get her away from here.’

‘Yes,’ Millie said. ‘I agree and Lillian will be a good companion. She has a natural enthusiasm, an ebullience. She will be as good as, if not better than, me.’

‘Fran trusts you. You make her feel safe. Come up for a couple of weeks.’

Millie felt a mix of emotions. She looked towards the sea. It was not the smells or crowds of London that bothered her—although she found neither pleasant—it was that feeling of discomfort. She never knew what to say. London felt like an unknown land filled with people alien to her.

And then there was this man. She glanced at him. It almost hurt to look at his broad shoulders, perfectly outlined in his impeccable jacket, with that dark lock of hair falling forward, the one she always wanted to smooth back.

They lived worlds apart with little in common. To spend more time with him would prolong the inevitable pain she would experience when they parted.

He shifted forward in his chair, pushing back the lock of his hair. ‘I have let her down twice already. I should have come sooner. I should have known something was wrong. You heard last night how Mrs Ludlow thought I was a drunk who did not care.’

‘She was wrong and mad.’

‘I cannot let her down again,’ he said.

Millie inhaled. ‘Fine. I will go. To London. For Frances. But no soirées and limited chit-chat.’

‘All chit-chat will be kept to the bare minimum. And, thank you.’

Chapter Fifteen

Frances, Millie, Lil, Noah, Marta and the nursemaid were conveyed in two travelling coaches and arrived in London just before teatime five days later. Sam remained in Cornwall to supervise issues regarding Manton Hall. Mrs Lansdowne had also remained, with considerable reluctance, as she needed to make final arrangements with Mr Edmunds regarding the house. Flora stayed also, ostensibly to help Mrs Lansdowne, although she saw herself in a supervisory capacity. Millie was thankful for Flora. Her mother was much improved, but Millie still worried she might again take to her bed as she had in the days following Tom’s death.

The time prior to their departure had been hectic. Millie had spoken to Sir Anthony and had written several statements. Frances had done so also and found the experience so distressing that Millie again worried for her health.

Jason Ludlow’s return to life had created a vast variety of rumours and curiosity which was both irritating and exhausting. Therefore, despite her love of Cornwall, Millie had felt relief when the travelling coaches pulled away and, even more so, when the cumbersome vehicles had neared