Kathleen E. Woodiwiss(206)
Suddenly the three of them were startled by a loud crash which came from the porch, unmistakably the shattering of glass. With a bemused frown Shanna turned and stepped out onto the veranda in time to see Milly skittering around a chair in her haste to leave an overturned planter which had been displaced from its perch near the drawing room doors.
“Milly! What are you doing?” Shanna inquired. She realized with amazement that the girl had to have been eavesdropping to be behind the chair in the first place. But then, she had done that before in the stables, and Shanna could only wonder what she was up to now.
Milly was caught and wheeled about, immediately defensive. “I didn’t break it. Ye can’t blame it on me!”
“Aye, the breeze is a bit strong today,” Shanna quipped with a hint of sarcasm. “But never mind that. What do you want here? Have you brought fish?”
“I—uh—I—” Milly glanced past Shanna into the drawing room then blurted, “I heard Mister Ruark was hurt, and I come to see if ‘ere was aught I could do for him.”
“You’re a trifle late, but come in. He’s here.”
Shanna led the girl into the room and waved her into a chair beside Ruark, avoiding his questioning glance. Despite his assurance that nothing was between them, Shanna felt a prick of ire at Milly’s apparent inability to leave him atone. Sir Gaylord had risen at the entrance of the newcomer, and the girl bobbed a quick curtsy.
“Milly Hawkins I be, gov’na,” the young woman boldly introduced herself before wiggling her small fanny into the chair. She eyed Ruark boldly. “Hear ye got it in the crotch, Mister Ruark. Hope ‘tweren’t nothing serious.”
Shanna closed her eyes as if to blot out the sight of Milly while Ruark struggled to contain his mirth. When he regained his poise, he grinned across to Shanna.
“ ‘Twas Madam Beauchamp’s attentions that brought me through, Milly, none other’s.”
“Oooh?” Milly queried, turning wide, dark eyes to Shanna. “Why, she must ‘ave sweetened to ye a mite since the last time I seen ye together. She lowered ’at collar on ye pritty good.”
Gaylord’s interest perked smartly. “Eh? Collar? What do you say?”
“Never mind,” Shanna said quickly. “Would anyone care for tea?”
“Berta promised to bring me a tray in here,” Ruark rejoined. “I’ll have a cup when she comes.”
It suddenly occurred to Shanna why the housekeeper had left in such haste. No doubt she had seen Ruark entering the dining room from the foyer.
As it was, Sir Gaylord pondered on much the same topic. Berta barely managed to serve him with civility, yet she catered to the injured bondslave. The hulking Pitney spoke no word to him other than the least required to a knight of the realm, but the fellow seemed to hang on every phrase uttered by this colonial miscreant. Even Orlan Trahern, though certainly no disrespect could be awarded to that fine man, was a trifle reserved, and sought after the advice of this bondsman, who had proven no more than a stone in the porridge of the brave Sir Billingsham.
Berta was once more her cheerful self as she helped Milan serve Ruark his morning fare and Sir Gaylord stood apart from the group and fretted. He felt as if he had just heard a joke whose point had escaped him while others chortled in glee. It was almost more than a proper gentleman could bear, and, to make matters more intolerable, he could not even gracefully question this bondsman’s presence in Trahern’s parlor.
“Well!” Milly slapped her hands upon her thighs after a long pause of silence and got to her feet. “I didn’t mean to stay long. Just to see ‘ow ye were doing, Mister Ruark. ’Sides, I can’t rightly chitchat with ye when ‘ere’s so many folk about.”
The young woman rolled her hips as she took herself to the door, giving Berta cause to shake her head as her blue eyes followed the gyration. The housekeeper bustled out on the heels of Milan, and Milly turned in the open portal leading into the foyer.
“I’ll see meself out the front here,” Milly announced to the three remaining. “Daren’t go along the porch. Might cut me foot.” She wiggled her bare toes as everyone’s attentions were drawn there. “I forgot me sandals again.”
Leaving them with that, she sauntered out, sending back a coy wave to Ruark and closing the door firmly behind her. Shanna almost breathed an audible sigh of relief but caught herself just in time as Gaylord faced her abruptly, folding his huge hands behind his back and bending slightly forward.
“Now, Madam Beauchamp, about that stroll—”