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“I can come with you.”
Millie held up her hand. “She’s just across the street. Even I can do that unattended.”
“Of course, you can. I just…you’re very pale.”
Millie turned and made her way out the door, crossing the street, and entering the bookshop once again.
Her sister and Juliet were still there, each holding a large volume as they poured over the pages.
“What about fossils? It could be interesting to categorize fish that way. And perhaps we can find some that no longer…” Juliet was saying but Millie couldn’t wait for her to finish.
“Tillie,” she interrupted. “I need to speak with you.”
Tillie picked her head up, frowning. “Millie. Please. We already discussed this.”
But Millie shook her head. Something had happened today, some bottle had been uncorked inside her and she couldn’t replace the lid. She accommodated everyone else. Who was bending for her? “No. You talked. I mostly agreed.”
Tillie blinked in surprise. “Millie?”
“Juliet,” Millie said, looking at Tillie’s best friend. “My mother is organizing a midday meal in the tavern. Would you mind giving my sister and I a moment?”
Juliet nodded, and closing the book, set it to the side, rose and passed by Millie with a wink. Very quietly she whispered, “Good for you.” And then she kept going, exiting the shop.
Millie drew in a deep breath. “We need to talk.”
“You’ve said.” Tillie set down her own book and rose. “What I’m less clear on is what.”
Millie drew in a deep, fortifying breath. “I’ve done something, or I almost did something and I…” She paused, wincing. “I need to confess to you.”
Tillie’s brows drew together. “Confess? Millie?”
Millie shook her head, the words rushing from her mouth. “When it rained, Lord Rangeley and I sought refuge in the gamekeeper’s cabin. We were alone and…”
Tillie gasped. “What did he do?” She came rushing over to take her sister’s hands. “I knew that man was not to be trusted.”
Millie cocked her head to the side as a new thought occurred to her. Lord Rangeley’s trustworthiness or lack thereof was one issue, but what woman thought that of the man she intended to marry? “You don’t trust him?”
“No. Did you? What’s happened?” Tillie gave Millie’s hands a bit of a shake.
Millie drew in a deep breath. “Technically nothing happened. We nearly kissed, but he stopped before the deed was actually done.”
“He stopped?”
Millie nodded. “You don’t…you don’t seem upset. Are you?”
Tillie shrugged. “I am upset. Especially if he’s trying to take advantage of you. I’ll not allow him to pursue you for your dowry.”
The words sank in as she stared at her sister. Why would Parker pursue Millie at all? “Tillie? What’s going on?”
Tillie winced. “I should have known you’d be the first to figure it out. You are the best at reading people.”
“Actually, Mother’s suspicions tipped me off,” Millie answered, aware of the compliment her sister had just given. “And you think I’m good at that?”
“I do. Far better than me. I’m good at nature and facts. But people…” Tillie shrugged.
“Thank you, Tillie.” She pulled her sister closer, realizing that she wasn’t the only one who envied her sister. It somehow filled her with a calm confidence. Perhaps she didn’t need to be more like Tillie, but more true to herself. “Now tell me what it is I’ve figured out, exactly.”
In halting words, Tillie started her explanation. But soon the words were spilling out. “I don’t want to marry. I don’t even think I’d be good at it. If I were a spinster like Juliet, I could just bury myself in work and be fulfilled with my accomplishments.”
