Page 71 of The Secret Suitor

“No.” He glanced at his sister. “I was speaking to Sally when your maid delivered the summons. If we might all take a moment to breathe, I am certain an explanation will be forthcoming.”

“I owe her nothing,” Miss Stroud said.

“I do not agree,” her brother said firmly. “We can either discuss this calmly, or I can fetch Mother.”

Miss Stroud glared at her brother. “She broke your heart, and she did not care. Then she comes here and steals the attention of the only man I wanted to speak to. It is not fair, and she deserved to have her heart broken the same way she broke yours.”

“You hoped to teach me a lesson?” Millie asked.

“I wanted your attention removed from Mr. Prescott as well,” Miss Stroud snapped, pink bleeding into her cheeks. “Clearly you do not care about making a fine match, but some of us are doing our best to find a husband and do not appreciate you putting yourself in the way.”

Millie stared at her.

Mr. Stroud looked between the women. “I think Miss Hollis is owed an apology, Sally.”

“For showing her how it feels to be strung along? She did not have to witness your despair⁠—”

“Enough,” he said calmly. “I do not hold Miss Hollis at fault for not returning my feelings, and neither should you.”

She huffed.

How was Millie meant to forgive someone so unrepentant? Wesley could understand feeling frustration on behalf of a sibling—indeed, Nell’s history had caused him to strongly dislike certain men. But he would never act in such a way toward them, to harass them with the intent of causing them pain. Wesley stood by, waiting to see how Millie would respond. He would not blame her if she refused to acknowledge Miss Stroud’s lack of apology.

Millie took a tentative step toward them. “Mr. Stroud, I am sorry for hurting you. That had not been my intention when we met in London. Miss Stroud…I am sorry you felt such anger toward me. I think I would be equally frustrated with anyone who hurt my sister.”

Wesley inhaled, proud of her strength and grace. He watched her do her best to bridge the gap in their understanding, but Miss Stroud appeared immovable.

The longer the silence stretched, the clearer it became that Miss Stroud was stubbornly standing her ground.

“You do not need to become friends,” Wesley said. “But it would be helpful if you agreed not to trick anyone in the future, Miss Stroud. It is not appropriate to enter anyone’s chamber without their express permission, and Miss Hollis is justified in her frustration.”

Mr. Stroud nodded. “I am in agreement, Sally.”

Miss Stroud closed her eyes, shaking her head slightly. When she opened them again, she set her attention on Millie, but there was no spark of genuine empathy within them. “I never once entered your chamber. My maid did so, and she is permitted to move about the house.” She paused, but the weight of her brother’s attention compelled her to continue. “I am sorry for causing you fear. I did not intend to do that. I knew I meant you no physical harm, but I can see why you would be frightened.”

It was not much, but seemed like the best they would receive from the woman.

“Thank you, Miss Stroud,” Millie said.

“I do not think we can leave the house party early without alerting my parents to the situation,” Mr. Stroud said.

“That is not necessary. We can agree to keep our distance from one another, I think,” Millie said. “I would be happy to be friends⁠—”

“I would rather not,” Miss Stroud said, before turning and striding from the room.

Mr. Stroud hesitated, looking at the door where his sister had disappeared. He sighed heavily, scrubbing a hand over his face. “I am sorry, Miss Hollis. I did not know. I would have put a stop to it if I had.”

“It is not your fault,” she said. “But I was curious…may I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Could you explain where your sister obtained blue wax to seal the letters? That was a puzzle.”

“She used the blue wax?” He laughed. “It is my father’s. He uses it in correspondence with his brother and purchases it specifically for the task. She must have thought it would somehow lead you to the Stroud family.”

“Maybe she thought I would assume you were the writer and open my heart to you.”

He smiled. “Perhaps. My sister might have done something awful, but she has a good heart.”