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Drat.

Wesley gave her a searching look, so she smiled encouragement at him.

“Oh, dear,” Miss Stroud said, pouting prettily. She jutted out her lower lip briefly, casting a condescending glance at Millie. “Were you already intending to be Mr. Prescott’s partner?”

Millie gritted her teeth. “We had not made any such arrangements. He is at your disposal.”

“Wonderful.”

“I can be your partner, Miss Hollis.”

She turned to face the gallant gentleman offering to save her from embarrassment, then grew still in surprise. It was Mr. Kendrick, her older dinner companion. Where was Mr. Stroud? Mr. Hawthorne? Even Lord Finsbury?

Mr. Kendrick looked down his straight nose at her, a genial expression on his face. He waited patiently, his blue eyes calm. His forehead was wide, framed in dark hair combed to the side. He had a very neat look about him. No frills or fancy colors adorned his person, but merely a black coat and simple white cravat. The man was an eligible gentleman, but Millie had dismissed him because of his age. Had she written off her potential admirer too quickly?

In reality, he was likely only a decade her senior, not much older than Wesley. His attitude was calm and steady, his manners polite.

Perhaps she needed to consider all her options, not only the most obvious ones.

“Thank you,” Millie said. “That would be wonderful.”

Mr. Kendrick offered his elbow and she took it, allowing him to lead her to the chair positioned beside Oliver. She sat, looking forward directly at the back of Oliver’s head.

“The supplies should all be here,” Mr. Kendrick said to himself, gathering what he needed and approaching the wall. It was both a blessing and a curse she was facing away from Wesley and his partner, for every time Miss Stroud giggled, Millie wanted to see what the woman found to be funny.

But the prospect of watching Miss Stroud flirt with Wesley was horrid.

“Is my face in the best position?” she asked.

Mr. Kendrick paused, looking at her shadow on the wall. He studied it longer than she imagined he needed to before reaching for her chin and lightly pinching it between his thumb and forefinger. He shifted the direction of her head slightly, then released her. A strange feeling swept through Millie, gathering in her midsection.

“That is much better,” he said.

She inhaled, doing her best to fix her attention on the top of Oliver’s ear so she would not move. She did not wish to let down her partner.

Wesley coughed abruptly, louder than she had ever before heard, making her startle. Good heavens, what was that for?

“Hold there,” Mr. Kendrick said softly. “I am beginning.”

Millie could not see what he was doing, but she held her position.

“You have a very fine nose, Miss Hollis.”

“Thank you.” Her cheeks flushed at the praise.

The gentle chatter of different conversations rose like a hum in the room, echoing from the tall ceiling. Millie could not guess how long she sat for Mr. Kendrick, but she found herself spending the time thinking of his behavior toward her in the few days since they had arrived at the house party. He had the stoic personality of a man who might greatly enjoy poetry. He had quietly chatted with her at dinner on occasion, but never flirted. Now he complimented her appearance.

Was he slowly stating his interest? Applying himself to the art of courtship in a gradual, unhurried way? Could she be interested in a man so much her senior?

If she grew to love him, she could see no reason why not.

“I am nearly finished,” he murmured, his deep voice rumbling.

Millie swallowed. “I have done my best to remain perfectly still.”

He hummed lightly. “Only one more line…and now you may move.”

She let out a breath, relaxing her shoulders. When she turned to face Mr. Kendrick, he was holding his sheet in his hands and studying her. Yet awareness raced down her spine, amplifying the feeling that someone was looking at the back of her head. She glanced over her shoulder and found Wesley staring directly at her with concentration, a furrow running a deep groove between his eyebrows. When his dark green eyes locked on hers, his expression melted into one of complete calm.