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Rhys swept the hair out of Millie’s face and kissed her forehead. “As soon as I can. I would never leave you for longer than I have to.”

* * *

Days without Rhys were somehow empty. Isabel had not spent much time with him during the day when he was at the estate, but she found herself thinking of him constantly now that he was gone.

The nights were the worst.

She’d gotten used to having him in her bed as she fell asleep. She missed their conversations every night before bed. She missed his teasing smile and his ferocious frown. She missed staring at his broad shoulders outlined by the moonlight.

Quite simply, she missed him.

Isabel didn’t know how she’d grown so attached to her husband and when that had started happening. She only knew that now that he was far away, she wanted him by her side.

It was quite a strange feeling, missing one’s husband. She had not imagined it would ever happen. Yet, here she was. He’d been away for less than seventy-two hours, and already there was a gaping hole in her heart.

To cover up the ache somehow, Isabel decided to spring Millicent from her studies and take her on an unscheduled walk. She dressed in her beautiful day gown and ascended the steps. They could pick some more flowers for the house or perhaps even go for a ride. Millicent’s pony sure missed the exercise!

“What are you doing, you useless child?” Mrs. Pemberley’s harsh voice sounded in the corridor.

Isabel’s mouth gaped open. Was the governess chastising Millicent so rudely? She crept toward the door, not willing to believe her own ears and needing to see what was going on for herself.

“Turn around!” Another harsh command sounded from behind the closed door.

“One!” A crack sounded in the air and then whimpers.

“Two more! Stand still!”

Isabel rushed toward the room and threw the door open.

The picture before her turned her mute with horror.

Millicent was bent over her desk, her tiny bottom hanging in the air. Her dress was raised up to her back, and red marks lined her skin. Mrs. Pemberley stood over her, a cane raised above her head.

“What in the world are you doing!” Isabel cried.

Millicent immediately whipped around, her eyes filled with tears.

“I am disciplining your wild child,” Mrs. Pemberley said in a calm, measured tone.

Isabel clenched her teeth so hard her jaw almost snapped. “Get out of this house!” she growled and rushed toward Millicent to embrace her.

Millie stepped back but stumbled and fell to the floor. She looked up at Isabel, her gaze filled with tears of betrayal. Isabel scooped her up and pressed her tightly against her chest. Millie thumped Isabel on her arm with her tiny fist, crying in earnest now.

“You don’t know how to discipline children properly. No wonder she is a wild hellion!” Mrs. Pemberley said.

“I said get out, or Lord forgive me, I shall throw you out and use your cane to aid me!” Isabel’s voice broke as tears slid down her cheeks. How could she have invited this monster into her house?

“You told me to teach her discipline, and now you are ruining my work!” the old governess persisted.

Isabel sat Millie down, stood, and approached the servants’ bell with sure steps. She rang with such force she nearly pulled the bell out.

Edith ran inside, her eyes wild. She saw Millicent curled up on the floor and immediately ran to embrace her. Mrs. Ainsworth was on her heels.

“Mrs. Ainsworth,” Isabel said, gathering a deep breath. Her voice was hoarse, and she couldn’t calm the rioting beating of her heart. “Please ask Rogers and James to throw this child-beating monster out of the house!”

Mrs. Pemberley threw her a menacing gaze. “Your ideas about childrearing are the monstrous ones. She will be a menace to society. I tried to make a lady out of her. But now I see why she is a hellion. She takes after her mother!”

Mrs. Pemberley threw her head back and walked out of the room, her spine straight.