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Millie slowly rose to her feet, keeping her arms out to steady herself.

Wesley bit back a smile. “Do you need an arm to lean on?”

“Do not mock me.”

“I was offering help.”

“Yes, but it was your tone, sir. I can sense when you are laughing at me.”

He was. She knew him so well, it sometimes surprised him. “There is a distinct difference between laughing at someone and finding them adorable, Mildred.”

Pink bled into her already rosy cheeks, and she looked down.

“Good afternoon, Miss Hollis,” Mr. Kendrick said, joining them at the log. He towered over them, his hat shading his eyes.

“Good afternoon,” she replied, sounding slightly breathless.

Wesley hoped that was due to his compliment and not the added unwanted company. “Are you skating today, Kendrick?” he asked.

“Not today. But I walked out with the group, and I will stay for another few minutes.”

For someone who had probably come here in search of a possible connection, he did not join many of the outdoor activities. In fact, he had not spent much time interacting with any of the other young ladies much, as far as Wesley was aware. It was almost as if the man had come to Bellthorne Hall with Millie in mind.

Wesley stood, gathering his balance, and walked toward the edge of the pond. “You should join us, Kendrick,” he said, trying to sound polite.

The man, thankfully, declined again. “I will be in the library with a hot cup of tea when you are finished.”

Millie nodded but said nothing. She took Wesley’s hand, and he supported her as she walked down to the ice. “This is not easy,” she said through gritted teeth.

“You are doing well.”

Her eyes snapped up to meet his. “I have only stood here in one place.”

“Which you are doing very well.”

“You are incorrigible.” She laughed. “You cannot think that continuing to compliment me will convince me of anything.”

“My intention is not to convince you of anything, Mildred.” He skated, tugging lightly so she would follow. “My intention is to show you how I feel.”

Millie squealed, clutching his arm to keep from falling. If skating meant having her hold so tightly to him, he would gladly do so for the rest of the day.

“Slowly,” she requested.

He obeyed. They moved at the speed with which ice melted, Millie clinging to him as though her life depended upon touching his arm. “What is it you admire about Mr. Kendrick?”

She gritted her teeth. “Now is not the time for deep conversation, Wesley. I need to focus on remaining upright.”

“You will not fall. I have a secure hold on you.”

Millie’s hands tightened. She inhaled as Wesley directed them around Lord and Lady Weymouth and Lord Finsbury. Moving along, they kept to the side, watching others pass them, including Mr. Hawthorne with Miss Sterling. The way Mr. Hawthorne looked at his partner now, it was clear whatever moment Millie had believed they’d shared in church was utterly benign.

She sighed, perhaps having watched Mr. Hawthorne with Miss Sterling as well.

“Are you disappointed in your options for suitors?” Wesley asked.

“No. I do not have options, anyway.”

“At the beginning of the house party, you seemed to have more.”