Marry Me Read Online Free Page A

ready yet,” she said, fully dressed. Today Millie had chosen a white day dress with a pleated bodice, just right for promenading in Central Park on the first real spring day of the season. Her high button shoes of brown complimented the green sash at her waist. A matching green ribbon encircled the brim of her straw hat. Young, fresh, delightful, or so her mother had claimed.
    Her words failed to unsettle Mr. Elliott. “I hope it will not take you too long to change into your red dress?”
    Millie wanted to scream at him. What was wrong with what she was wearing? Nothing. Even her mother had approved.
    The maid collected the lilies from Mr. Elliott. He instructed their vase to be placed in the front window. Lilies love the light, or so he claimed.
    “See, I have brought you a gift.” From his pocket he pulled a red satin ribbon, one of the expensive kind. It had that same greasy aura of the flowers and all of his other gifts. She didn’t want to touch it.
    Her mother gazed at it with wide eyes. “Ooh, how lovely.” Her fingers stole out and plucked it from Mr. Elliot’s fingers.
    This startled Mr. Elliott. “Ah, let’s see what we can do with it for Miss Moore.” He couldn’t remove the ribbon from Mrs. Moore’s grasp fast enough.
    Millie’s eyes narrowed. So that’s what was going on. Was her mother so desperate for her youngest daughter’s marriage that she easily fell prey to Mr. Elliott’s greasy charms?
    What had he done to that ribbon?
    Mr. Elliott held it out for Millie, but she refused to take it. “I’m sorry. It doesn’t match my sash.”
    Or so she thought. Her mother also looked her up and down. “Oh Mildred, you know that won’t do.”
    “Mother, you know I don’t have a red dress. Nobody wears red this year.”
    Mr. Elliott shuffled his feet. “Green and red do not go together. We can’t be seen looking like this.”
    Millie looked at her clothes once again. Really? Why was it so important they matched? It wasn’t as if Society dressed to complement one another.
    Her mother’s hands flapped like drying sheets on a windy day. “Oh, go change into something pink. That will do nicely.”
    “Pink?”
    The barest of sighs escaped her mother’s lips. “Do you not have a pink sash?”
    Well, yes. But Millie didn’t want to wear pink today. Today was a green day.
    “Besides,” her mother said, upon further thought, “Thanks to Mr. Elliott’s earlier generosity, I may be able to suit you out.” Mrs. Moore’s fingers shooed Millie away.
    To express her petulance, Millie clomped back up the stairs. It was a quick enough matter to swap the green sash and ribbon for a pink. Millie refused to change her shoes. If she was lucky, Mr. Elliott might not notice.
    When she returned, suitably attired under protest, her mother had a surprise for her.
    Mrs. Moore had crafted a corsage from the many bouquets scattered about the house. Every flower was red, with the exception of some baby’s breath for contrast.
    To add insult to injury, the whole of the hideous bunch had been tied up with that nasty red ribbon. “Here.” She pinned the corsage neatly to Millie’s bosom. “That shall do most nicely.”
    She admired her work. “Now, off you go. We shall see you down there, I dare say, assuming your father and your brother have loaded that boat properly.”
    Millie stiffened. “I’m not going with you?” Surely her mother wouldn’t abandon her like this. Millie looked to Mr. Elliott in alarm.
    Her mother turned away. “Go with him. I don’t know if there’ll be room in the carriage, what with your brother’s boat and all. Besides, the fresh air will do you good.” The look Mrs. Moore threw over her shoulder was coy.
    Just like that, Millie was thrust into the unwelcome company of Mr. Elliott.
    As they descended the steps to the street, he ran his finger along the brim of his hat, settling it into place over his wavy hair. With flourish, he offered his arm.
    Millie glanced back to the