Kathleen E. Woodiwiss(212)
Milly braced her feet apart and leaned forward from the hips, her finger pointing to her own chest as she sneered haughtily, “I—got—meself—wid—a—babe.”
Each word was accentuated heavily, and all thought of humor fled Ruark. This suddenly became a serious matter. He knew her next words before she spoke them.
“An‘ you,” she jabbed her finger at him, “are goin’ ter be its pa.”
Ruark’s lips became a thin, angry line as his eyes sparked with cold, piercing lights. He flung out a hand. “Milly, do you think I’d let myself be rooked in so easily?”
“Nay.” She stood back and leaned again, chewing a straw in supreme confidence. “But I gots me a friend what’ll say ‘tis so. An’ I knows all about ye and Miz High and Haughty. Her pa won’t take ter a bondsman sleepin‘ wid ’is pet. ‘At should be worth a foin penny or two from ’er, and I wouldn’t be so picky as to say ye’d not see ‘er at all. She might even pay for it, come to think. Could make us an easy livin’, dearie.”
Ruark stared at her, realizing she meant everything she had spoken, and his scowl grew black as thunder.
“I am not easily coerced, Milly, nor will I be father to some sailor’s brat for your comfort.” His voice was low but bore a whiplash in it that stung more than the words.
“I’ll swear the babe is yours,” she challenged.
“You know I’ve never touched you. You would speak a lie and ‘twould soon be out.”
“I’ll make ye wed me!”
“I will not!”
“Trahern, ‘imself, will see to it.”
“I cannot wed you,” he growled.
Milly stared at him in wonder.
“I already have a wife.” It was the only thing he could say that would stay her. Her mouth sagged open, and she staggered back a step as if he had struck her.
“A wife!” She gave a short, humorless laugh. “A wife! O‘ course, ye could’ve ’ad one in England. A wife! An‘ wee ones, too, I’d wager. Won’t Miz High and Haughty be took aback wid ’at.” She glanced around wildly and began to laugh, loud and insanely. “A wife!” Half sobbing, half mewling, she fled in distress.
Shanna was riding Jezebel back to the stables and was just about to enter the open door when the mare shied and reared back. Milly, bursting out of the place, almost ran beneath the horse’s feet. When she saw the pawing hooves above her, the girl screamed in terror. Jezebel pranced away, and it was all Shanna could do to stay in the saddle. When she had quieted her mount, she turned her attention to Milly who stood staring up at her, a weird half smile twisting her face.
“What the devil are you about now, Milly?” Shanna snapped, angry at the girl’s carelessness.
“There she is!” The frightened Milly sobbed as tears flowed unheeded down her cheeks. She skittered sideways in the dust away from the stable and Shanna as if they were both something to be avoided.
“Miz High and Mighty! Miz Shanna Trahern Beauchamp! So ya got yerself a man, do ya? Ye always gets the best, don’t ye? And now, ye gots the ‘andsomest man crawlin’ ter yer bed. Well, I got some news fer ya. ‘E don’t need ya. ’E can’t wed ya. ‘E’s already got a wife.”
Horrified, Shanna attempted to calm the raving girl. “Milly! Milly! You don’t know what you say. Be quiet!”
The girl would hear none of it. She spread her hands wide and rolled her head, laughing loudly all the while.
“Oh, wait ‘til they hears this!” she wailed. “All them high fallutin’ folks who thinks ye’re so lily white and pure. Wait ‘til they hears it.”
Shanna slid from Jezebel’s back. “Milly, don’t!” she implored. “You have no idea what this is all about. Milly!”
The girl danced around in a circle, kicking up a small cloud of dust and sending Shanna’s mare prancing again.
“Be still, you nag!” Shanna jerked on the reins angrily.
“Oh, lawsy me!” Milly trilled. “Mis Shanna, taken in by a bondsman. An‘ folks frettin’ so for fear them pirates ‘ad raped ’er. Oh lawsy, wait’ll they hear.”
“Milly!” Shanna’s voice took on a warning note.
“You, Miz Got-it-all! Never worked for a thing. Never wanted a thing. Got herself a man now. She ain’t no better’n me. Honkin‘ it wid a married man. Betcha she’ll have a fat belly, too.”
Shanna’s face flamed crimson with Milly’s last comment. She could bear the insults no longer and flared, “Just who do you think he’s married to, anyway?”