Letter From a Rake: Destiny Romance by Sasha Cottman

carriage.
    ‘Come on, Lucy, Mama will wish to see you’ David said, taking his sister firmly by the hand.
    As the others headed toward the carriage, Alex turned and gave Millie an elegant bow.
    ‘Would you allow me to accompany you, Miss Ashton? I am sure my mother would like to make your acquaintance; she has heard a lot about you from Lucy.’ He offered her his arm and for a moment, she was tempted to tell him what he could do with his miraculously discovered manners, but she knew it would only disappoint her mother. She gritted her teeth and placed her arm in his. ‘Good,’ he replied and they set off, following the others.
    Millie hoped the Duchess of Strathmore was more like David than Alex in her treatment of newcomers. Millie was pleased to discover that instead of a fearsome society matron, the woman sitting in the barouche was a pure delight. As soon as the group approached, the Duchess registered the distressed look on Lucy’s face, and called out to her footman to let down the steps.
    The duchess did not fuss over Lucy; rather she spoke in a firm but tender way to her daughter. However, Millie did begin to suspect that quite a number of people were aware of the ‘chance’ meeting between the Ashtons and the Radleys in Hyde Park that afternoon. The arrival of the Duchess of Strathmore’s carriage at that very moment did appear to be rather fortuitous.
    After a short talk, and some head nodding on Lucy’s part, matters were resolved. Millie managed to catch snippets of the conversation, during which she heard the duchess tell Lucy to slow down and not suffocate her new friend. This was followed by some sage advice, counselling Lucy to allow Millie to get a word in edgeways.
    Alex stood quietly by Millie’s side as they waited for his mother to finish with Lucy. Then David introduced Charles and the obligatory pleasantries were exchanged all around.
    While her brother chatted with the duchess, Millie tuned her ears to listen to Alex’s breathing. Every so often, he appeared to struggle with his breath. It would catch in his throat and the muscles in his arm would firm just a little. He would then suck in a large amount of air and appear to hold it. She turned to him after he had done this several times, and she could see a look of pain on his face.
    Perhaps he really had injured himself; he certainly appeared to be suffering from some mysterious malady.
    I hope he was not telling me the truth, now that I have vowed to dislike him for eternity.
    Her musings were disturbed as both David and Charles stepped aside and Alex brought her forward to meet his mother. He gave his mother a bow, to which she responded with a regal nod of her head. Millie saw them both exchange a grin and realised the formalities were for her benefit.
    ‘Mother, may I introduce Miss Millicent Ashton, daughter of Mr and Mrs James Ashton, lately of Calcutta, India. Miss Ashton, my mother, Lady Caroline Radley, Duchess of Strathmore,’ Alex announced.
    He released Millie from his arm and she dipped into her best curtsy. ‘Your Grace.’
    When she rose, the duchess held out a hand and as Millie accepted it, she was drawn into a warm embrace. She felt a flush of red come to her face as the duchess placed a kiss on her cheek.
    ‘Miss Ashton, I am so pleased to finally meet you. Lucy has not stopped talking about you since the night of the ball at your uncle’s house.’
    Millie shot a glance at Lucy, who was staring at the ground as she dragged her slipper through the stones at her feet.
    ‘It was a pleasure to meet Lucy and I am sorry I have not been well enough to visit in the subsequent days. I think Lucy and I have much in common,’ Millie replied. Lucy’s head shot up and a smile lit her face.
    The duchess smiled. ‘I am afraid Lucy can get a touch overwrought when she finds a new friend, and some girls find her behaviour a little difficult to comprehend.’
    As Millie looked at Lucy, she realised how alike she and her new