She gave her head a small shake. No, she was letting her imagination get the better of her. Carlisle didn’t want to marry her. Whenever she visited, he went out of his way to avoid her. Surely that wasn’t the behavior of a man who would want to marry her.
“Millie?”
She let out a soft sigh. “He said that he’d received an offer of marriage. I immediately jumped to the conclusion that he’d accepted that offer—really, no one would blame me for my assumption. He’d said that we weren’t going to London in the spring because there was no need. Which I took to mean that he’d accepted the offer.”
His gaze was intent, and she shivered under his scrutiny. “What happened next?”
She had to look away when she realized that she’d behaved rashly. She should have calmed down and then spoken to her father again. Learned exactly what happened.
“Papa told me that we’d discuss this further when I wasn’t feeling so upset.”
“Did he tell you who?”
There was an odd tone to his voice, but it must be because he was curious.
“No. I left before speaking to him again and…” She sighed and slumped in her chair. “Well, you know what happened next.”
“So you don’t know who made the offer?”
Millie shook her head. “No, and I’m not sure I want to know. I’m afraid it might be one of father’s friends. Mr. Williams has been talking about finding another wife.” She didn’t even try to hold back her shudder of distaste at the idea.
Carlisle smiled.
“I’m happy to see that you find my situation so amusing.”
“Millie,” he said, and the way her name sounded on his lips sent a small shiver through her. When had he started calling her by her given name? He’d always referred to her as Miss Tyndale before today. “So, to be clear, your father didn’t actually say that he accepted the betrothal on your behalf?”
She frowned. “No. But who knows what will happen with me away from the house?”
Carlisle managed to appear amused while not smiling. “If the roads are impassable to us, your nearest neighbor, then I’m sure they’re impassable to others.”
Millie placed her elbows on the table and dropped her face into her hands. “I think I made everything worse. I got so angry and upset. I should have let him finish speaking before assuming the worst.”
“You were surprised,” Carlisle said, his voice soft. “I’m sure your father would have explained it all to you in time.”
“But I ran away to see Sarah, and now I’m trapped here.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Trapped?”
Millie laughed. “Yes, trapped. Not that I mind, but I’m sure you’re horrified.”
His eyes were twinkling with amusement. “I am far from horrified.”
Her heart did a small little flip. “Neither am I. It’s a shame that Sarah isn’t here. Then you wouldn’t be forced to entertain me.”
He shook his head. “It is no hardship, Millie. I enjoy your company.”
Surprise had her blurting out, “But you hate spending time with us.”
“Hate is a very strong word. I’ve made myself scarce because I knew that whenever you visited, you were here to see my sister.”
“I wouldn’t have minded your company.”
“Well, that’s a good thing because you’ll probably be here for a few days.”
Millie smiled by way of reply and resumed eating.
Their conversation had gone a long way to allaying the worst of Millie’s fears. And if she was being completely honest, she didn’t have it in her to be upset with the way things had turned out. Yes, being in such close company with Sarah’s brotherthreatened her peace of mind, but perhaps she could pretend that he was the one who was courting her. She couldn’t deny that he didn’t seem upset by her presence.
