Her sister simply raised an eyebrow.
‘Oh Pearl, please . . . You can’t!’
Her sister gave her a smug smile. ‘I rather think I can,’ she said.
Milly could feel tears pricking her eyes, but she was determined not to let her sister see she was upset. She turned her attention to the bag and began stuffing as much as she could inside.
‘Oh, of course, you don’t know, do you? We’ve all been to church,’ said Pearl. ‘Today was the third time the banns for my wedding were read out.’
‘Congratulations,’ Milly said quietly.
‘You must come and meet my fiancé.’
‘I already met him,’ said Milly, beginning to regain her composure. ‘You introduced me that night at Lady Verity’s, remember? He seemed very nice.’ She rose to her feet. ‘I’ve almost finished packing. I’ll soon be out of your way.’ She zipped up the bag but, as she headed for the door, she bumped into her mother. ‘Oh!’
‘I’ve told Freddie to send that man with the lorry packing,’ Agatha said coldly. ‘Who is that dreadful creature, and what was he doing in my kitchen?’
‘He’s my friend,’ Milly said defensively, ‘and he came to help me collect the rest of my things.’
‘Really?’ her mother said with a sneer. ‘Well, I wish you wouldn’t bring people like that to the house. Types like him are just as likely to be back next week to rob us.’
‘Seebold isn’t like that,’ Milly protested.
‘Seebold,’ her mother said scornfully. ‘What sort of a ridiculous name is that? Honestly, Millicent, the company you keep.’
Pearl smiled. ‘You don’t know the half of it, Mummy.’
Milly bristled with indignation. She was about to make a suitable retort, but as she took in a breath, she paused. No, she wouldn’t rise to the bait. That was what they both wanted – to start an argument, after which she would be the one in tears. Well, she wasn’t going to go down that path again.
‘Excuse me, won’t you, Mother,’ said Milly. ‘Must dash.’ And with that, she walked from the room with her head high. At the top of the stairs, she turned and said, ‘I wish you and Freddie all the best on your wedding day, Pearl. I hope you both have a very happy life.’
Milly hurried down the stairs.
Pearl leaned over the banister. ‘I don’t need your good wishes; for all I care, you can go to hell,’ she shouted after her before she burst into tears.
‘Don’t upset yourself, my dear,’ her mother soothed as Pearl laid her head on Agatha’s shoulder. ‘It won’t be long before she’s back with her tail between her legs.’
Pearl looked up with a startled expression. ‘She’s not going to turn up at my wedding in that awful lorry, is she?’
‘Of course not, darling,’ said Agatha. ‘She’s not invited.’
Seebold was waiting in the lorry. He had been as surprised as Mrs Cunningham when Milly’s mother, her sister and a young man appeared in the kitchen doorway. Mrs Shepherd had looked him up and down, as if he was something disgusting attached to her shoe. ‘Who are you?’ she’d said sneeringly. ‘Mrs Cunningham, you know better than to have your relatives in my kitchen.’
‘We’re not related,’ Seebold said. ‘We’ve only just met.’
‘Then what are you doing in my house?’ Agatha retorted.
Mrs Cunningham had looked uncomfortable. ‘Mr Seebold came with Miss Milly.’
Agatha had frowned. ‘Millicent? Millicent is here?’
‘She’s upstairs collecting her things.’
Pearl left immediately.
‘We won’t be long, missus,’ Seebold said.
Agatha gave him a filthy look. ‘Freddie, will you escort this . . . this person off the premises.’
Seebold had risen to his feet. ‘No need,’ he said curtly. ‘Tell Milly I’ll wait for her in the lorry.’
As he left the kitchen, he heard Milly’s mother saying, ‘I don’t know what you were thinking of, Mrs Cunningham. You invite a complete stranger into my kitchen and give him tea! Freddie, make sure he goes straight to that lorry and nowhere else.’
Seebold had bristled. He would have turned back and given her a mouthful, but he was mindful of Milly and didn’t want to cause her more trouble.
Freddie walked with him to the lorry. ‘Go on, off you go,’ he said, waving his arm in a superior fashion.
‘I’m not going until Milly comes out,’ Seebold told him.
‘What would a scruff like you be doing with the likes of her?’ Freddie asked. ‘Are you planning something?’
‘No, I am not,’ Seebold retorted. ‘I’m perfectly well aware that Milly is a respectable girl and so is her sister.’
Freddie’s expression darkened. ‘How do you know my fiancée?’
‘I don’t,’ Seebold said. ‘I was talking about Lena.’
Freddie seemed puzzled. ‘Who is Lena?’