Caroline was struggling out of her gown as she spoke and pulling pins out of her hair at the same time. "Hurry, Mary Margaret. My mind is made up. I'm sick of carrying all this weight around."
Mary Margaret picked up her skirts and raced out of the room. Caroline ignored the girl's muttered remarks and took a good look at herself in the mirror. She straightened her shoulders and glared at herself. "You've been pitiful long enough, Caroline Richmond."
Charity walked in and heard Caroline talking to herself. "What are you doing?" she asked.
"As of this minute, I'm taking charge," Caroline announced. "Remember telling me I'm not a sitter?"
Charity nodded with a wide grin. "Then you're going after Bradford?"
Caroline shook her head. "No. But I have decided on several other issues," Caroline hedged. "I'll explain it all next week," she promised. "You'll have to trust that I haven't lost my mind."
Charity nodded though she did look confused. Mary Margaret rushed back into the room while Caroline forced Charity out. "Mary Margaret and I have work to do. I'll be downstairs directly."
The maid absolutely refused to cut more than an inch off Caroline's hair and was quite determined until Caroline snatched the scissors out of her hand and began to clip it herself.
The maid gasped and quickly got into the spirit of things. And when she was done, she smiled a sheepish grin and admitted that Caroline looked quite spectacular. Gone was the heavy mass of waves, replaced by soft, curly locks that ended just below her ears. When Caroline moved her head, she felt such freedom that she laughed.
"Well, it feels wonderful," Caroline told the maid.
"And you look wonderful," Mary Margaret said. "Your eyes have grown to twice their size and you look most feminine, my lady," she continued. "You will cause a rage."
The haircut made Caroline feel better. "Now if I can just get through this evening, I do believe I will be able to conquer anything."
Mary Margaret frowned over the remark but Caroline didn't explain further. Milford was early, and by the time Caroline had redressed and pinched some color into her cheeks, she had kept him waiting some time.
Milford stood in the center of the entry and watched Caroline come down the steps. He immediately noticed her hair and made several complimentary remarks about her appearance. He thought that she looked more beautiful than ever but also noticed the fatigue. She obviously wasn't getting enough sleep.
When they were settled in his carriage and on their way to the Drury Lane Theatre, he smiled at Caroline. "It's been a while, hasn't it, Pumpkin?"
"Pumpkin? You've never called me that," Caroline replied.
Milford shrugged. "Are you getting along well?" he asked. His look was filled with compassion and Caroline bristled inside. Was he feeling sorry for her? she wondered. She grew exasperated just thinking about it "No one has died, Milford. You needn't look so intense. And I'm getting along just fine."
"Bradford isn't getting much sleep either," Milford commented.
"Don't mention his name to me!" Caroline demanded. She realized she had yelled and immediately lowered her voice. "Promise me, Milford, or I will get out of this carriage and walk home."
"I promise," he hastily answered. "I'll not say another word about… you know who. It's only that I thought you should be aware of certain-"
"Milford!" Caroline's voice shook. "I don't want to know anything about him. It's finished. Now," she said with a weary sigh. "Tell me what you have been up to. Have you been brawling again?"
It was a struggle to keep the conversation light. Caroline's nerves were reaching the breaking point, and by intermission she was exhausted from trying to appear happy. The play was mediocre at best and there was quite a crowd gathered in the lobby between acts. Caroline kept smiling until her face felt like a mirror that was about to shatter into a thousand fragments. She thought that she saw Bradford across the lobby and her heart lurched in reaction. The man turned and it wasn't Bradford at all, but Caroline's heart continued to beat a mad rhythm, and it became more difficult than ever to maintain her composure.
She and Milford stood in the middle of a crush of people, and Caroline then realized what a foolish mistake it was to be out in public like this. She provided an easy target. She thought again about the horrid letter and shivered. Just then someone accidentally pushed Caroline and she whirled around, a look of stark terror in her eyes. She quickly changed her expression and smiled.
She wasn't quick enough. Milford observed the change in expressions and was clearly astonished by her behavior. "What's the matter with you?" he asked when he had pulled her off to one side.
Caroline's back was to the wall and she visibly relaxed. She shook her head, admitting to herself that she couldn't deal with the crowd or the noise a minute longer. "It isn't safe," she whispered. "I think I would like to go home now."
Milford hid his alarm. Caroline's face had lost all color and she looked ready to faint. He waited until they were back in his carriage and on their way to her father's townhouse before he opened the topic again. Caroline was seated across from him, her hands folded in her lap.
"Caroline? Tell me what you meant when you said it wasn't safe."
"It was nothing," Caroline answered. She looked out the window, hiding her expression. "Do you plan to attend Stanton's affair next week?" she asked, hoping to change the subject.
Her ploy didn't work. Milford took hold of her hands and applied gentle pressure. "Look at me, Caroline."
She was forced to comply as Milford kept tugging on her hands. "Why wasn't it safe?"
He wasn't going to give up. Caroline sighed and felt her shoulders droop. "Someone is trying to kill me," she whispered.
Milford's mouth dropped open and he was quite speechless. He let go of her hands and leaned back. "Tell me," he finally commanded. His tone sounded as unbending as Bradford's when he gave an order.
"Only if you'll give me your word to keep this confidence," Caroline demanded. Milford nodded and Caroline continued, "I didn't fall down Claymere's steps. Someone pushed me. And the accident with the carriage wasn't an accident at all."
Milford was looking so astonished that Caroline found herself rushing on in order to convince him that she hadn't gone daft. "A letter arrived last week, and it was terrible, Milford! Someone hates me and vows to kill me. I don't understand who or why," she ended.
Milford let out an exclamation. His mind raced with questions and thoughts. "Do you still have the letter? Who have you told about this?" He didn't wait for Caroline to answer either question but asked another. "What does your father think? And why in God's name did he allow you outside?"
He was working himself up into a fit of anger. Caroline chose to answer the last question. "My father isn't aware of the threat."
Milford shot her a look of disbelief and Caroline hastened to explain. "I believe he sent me away fourteen years ago because he was frightened. I won't allow that to happen again, Milford. His last years will be peaceful and happy. It's his right!"
"I don't believe this," Milford muttered. "Someone is out to kill you and you tell me you won't allow your father to become upset! Lord, Caroline, you should be thinking about yourself now."
"Please calm yourself, Milford," Caroline said. "I have decided on a specific course of action and you needn't worry about me. I am capable of looking after myself."
"What course of action?" Milford asked, almost absentmindedly. He was impatient to get her home so that he could find Bradford and tell him what he had learned. He completely ignored the promise to keep Caroline's confidence. Dear God! And they had both believed that Bradford was the intended victim! Milford kept shaking his head with astonishment and growing anger. He realized how alone and unprotected Caroline was and knew that Bradford would be completely undone by the truth. He certainly was!