Page 7 of The Secret Suitor

Millie glanced around them. The only group standing near enough to overhear was a handful of young ladies who seemed far too involved in their own conversation to pay them any mind. Miss Stroud was among them, but surely she was too distracted by her own conversation to listen to Millie’s. “I do not love him though, and that is the kind of connection I am looking for. I do not think I could love him. Seating us together was a gross miscalculation.”

“Poor chap.”

“Nonsense. There are plenty of other ladies here.”

Oliver glanced at where Lady Dalmeer was attempting to gather everyone’s attention, talking of beginning a game of Blind Man’s Bluff. “Let’s join them. You can find out who to hunt after kissing a gentleman or two.”

She shot him a look. “We should stand with Nell.” Millie’s eyes swept the room as she walked through it, taking in each man and gauging their potential, Oliver behind her. If she was to accomplish what she set out to, she needed to speak to people who were not her cousin, her good friend, or a man who would have nothing to do with her.

She needed to identify the eligible gentlemen and put herself in a position to better come to know them.

Lady Dalmeer clapped her hands together once. “Let the games begin!”

Yes, Millie thought. Let them.

Chapter Three

Helena looked much more the thing after a full night of rest. She had even managed to eat some breakfast that morning and take a leisurely walk through the garden before a short, restorative nap. Charles didn’t leave her side, and together, he and Millie walked with her into the drawing room in the early afternoon, where Lady Dalmeer was explaining the day’s activity. The guests were to be split into small groups to decorate different rooms of the house in a competition. To Millie’s chagrin, when the hostess began making her assignments, Helena was directly beside her.

“You may take charge of the dining room,” Lady Dalmeer said to the sisters. “Do not forget the table!”

“Thank you, my lady,” Helena said kindly. “We will do our best.”

“You will need some strapping young men to help carry the boughs,” the countess sing-songed. “Now, where did Mr. Stroud disappear to?”

Millie sent her sister a pleading look while Lady Dalmeer’s attention swept the room.

What? Helena mouthed.

Millie shook her head slightly, her eyes wide. Anyone but Mr. Stroud. She had never told her sister what had happened in London, nor did she intend to. That was the surest way for the information to reach their mother. “Anyone else,” Millie whispered.

Helena looked about them, her gaze landing squarely on Wesley’s shoulders. Before Millie could say anything to waylay her, Helena took him by the sleeve, tugging him to join their small circle. “Mr. Prescott is more than capable.”

Lady Dalmeer’s attention snapped back to them, her eyes widening slightly. The height to her blonde hair was so great, Millie feared it might topple with the motion, but it remained steadfast. Had she secured it with paste to maintain that coiffure? “Oh, but poor Mr. Stroud still needs a group.”

“Surely Mr. Prescott and my husband together are more than enough,” Helena said, taking Charles by the arm. “We don’t wish to be selfish. Mr. Stroud will likely be needed elsewhere.”

“I suppose.” Lady Dalmeer looked between Helena and Millie before turning away to find the next group and assign them a room.

“What is wrong with poor Mr. Stroud?” Helena whispered. “Furthermore, who is he?”

“A man I met in London. I have no need to further my acquaintance with him.”

“But Millie⁠—”

“I need to find my gloves,” Millie said brightly. “Shall we meet at the front door?”

“Very well.” Helena leaned on her husband’s arm, giving Wesley her full attention. “I hope it is not bothersome that we roped you into helping us. Perhaps Nell can join our little party as well.”

“She has already been assigned a group.” Wesley smiled, his eyes flitting to Millie and away. Her gaze dropped to his jaw, where the red line was still visible on the underside. Wesley swallowed, and she watched his throat bob.

Goodness. It was growing warm in here.

When she glanced up, he was watching her.

Wonderful. “I will hurry so you are not waiting long,” she said. “Shall I fetch anything from your room?”

“We brought our things down,” Charles said, lifting his gloves and scarf.