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Wesley dragged his attention to the man, nodding softly. “I can do that. Who is in need of a partner? Miss Hollis?”
“We had not yet made those decisions,” Millie said. “I would be happy to be your partner.”
If Mr. Kendrick was annoyed, he did not appear so. “Miss Prescott? Can I count on you?”
Nell looked at Millie, a question forming in her eyes she did not speak aloud. “I am amenable to that idea.”
“If you would like to play, Mr. Stroud, I can observe,” Millie said.
Mr. Stroud shook his head. “That is not necessary. I will join after the first round.”
“Very well.”
Everyone was in agreement, a set of playing cards was procured, and the group found an available table. Millie sat across from Wesley, and despite his strange behavior earlier, nothing seemed out of place now. He and Nell told a story of playing bullet pudding with their younger cousins last Christmas, and how Nell gotten so much flour in her hair digging for the coin that she had looked like an old woman in a powdered wig.
Wesley was acting as though he had not stood abruptly from the table and stormed from the room during dinner. He made appropriate comments when necessary, played well enough to help them win the first game, and did not bat an eye when Mr. Kendrick asked Millie if she had always been such a proficient at cards, despite how plainly unskilled she was.
Mr. Stroud took Wesley’s place for the second game, causing Nell and Mr. Kendrick to win.
“Shall we play again?” Mr. Kendrick asked, gathering the cards into a stack and shuffling them.
“I think I am finished for the evening,” Millie said. She gave Nell a look. “Would you like to continue?”
Nell yawned, though it looked slightly forced. “Not tonight. Thank you, gentlemen.”
The women stood, and all the men did as well, bowing slightly as they walked away.
“Should we take leave of our hostess?” Millie asked, noting Lady Dalmeer holding court on the chairs near the fireplace. “Or perhaps we do not wish to interrupt.”
“She would not appreciate being interrupted,” Nell agreed, fighting a smile.
Millie leaned closer as they walked from the room, lowering her voice. “What was wrong with Wesley at dinner? I have been bursting to ask you all evening.”
Nell’s eyes widened slightly. “I haven’t the faintest idea. He said nothing to me about it.”
“Hmm.”
“Perhaps he did not like the prospect of Mr. Kendrick sitting so close to you.”
Millie’s neck warmed, but she did her best not to reveal her blush. They reached the bottom of the stairs, where they would go their separate ways, and stopped. “You are being ridiculous. Wesley does not think of me in that way.”
“Then why has he—”
“What is it I fail to do?” Wesley asked, startling both women. He stood directly behind them, and they turned, needing to bend their necks back to look in his eyes. How long had he been listening?
“You should never sneak up on a lady, Wesley,” Nell said, pressing her palm to her heart.
Millie’s pulse raced as well, but with how near he now stood, she did not imagine it would slow anytime soon.
“Are you going to tell me what you were talking about?” he asked.
“No.” Nell started toward the corridor leading to her room. “Good night, dear brother.”
“Shall I walk with you to your room?” Wesley asked.
“That is unnecessary. But do not fear, I shall tell Mother you are being diligent in your chaperoning duties.”
He did not look amused. Nell’s musical laughter floated down the corridor as she disappeared, and Millie lifted her hem so she could climb the stairs without tripping.
