Page 27 of Sin and Serendipity

“When did you first realize you were in love with Papa?” she asked, her gaze trained on her mother’s face. “How did you know it was love?”

Mrs. Wrencroft’s chin tipped up as she considered the question. “Well,” she said slowly, “it was a long time ago, mind you, but I do remember a moment, about a month into our courtship...” Her plump cheeks pinkened, a tender smile curving her lips. “Your father had just brought me home after a drive through the park, and as I walked through the front door and began to remove my gloves, I realized I already missed him. That was when I knew it was love. ”

Ellie smiled, even as a knot began to form in her chest. “I’ve never heard that story before,” she said. “It’s lovely, Mama.”

And it was. She adored the image of her mother, only eighteen years old, being courted by a dashing young gentleman, the two falling in love a little more each time they met.

It was undeniably sweet, but she couldn’t help feeling envious of it, too. Envious that her mother had come to be so sure of her feelings, so positive that William Wrencroft was the man she was meant to be with for the rest of her life.

“I wish I could be so certain of my own feelings,” Ellie said with a sigh.

“What do you feel for Lord Darrington?” Mrs. Wrencroft asked. “Do you admire him?”

“Of course I do. He’s kind and clever and he cares for his family a great deal. Yes, I admire him very much.”

“And does he make you happy? Do you miss him when he’s gone?”

Robert’s face drifted through her mind and her heart squeezed, stealing her breath. “I think I do,” she whispered. “Yes, I—”

“Mrs. Wrencroft, Miss Wrencroft! Good day to you!”

The two ladies turned in tandem at Lady Darrington’s greeting, rising to their feet as the viscountess approached wearing a friendly smile beneath the brim of her fashionable, beribboned hat.

Ellie bobbed a perfunctory curtsy, her mind awhirl, her heart thudding in her chest. Was Robert here, too?

“Lady Darrington, how lovely to see you on this fine day,” Mrs. Wrencroft said warmly. “Are you out walking by yourself?”

“Oh, no, no.” The viscountess shook her head. “My son is here with me. He’s just met with an old schoolmate of his, and you know how men love to gossip.”

The two older ladies shared a laugh, but Ellie barely heard them as she scoured the surrounding crush, her gaze nervously darting from face to face.

Which son is here? she wanted to ask. Is it Robert or Freddy?

Oh, God. What if it was Robert? What in heaven’s name would she say to him? She could feel the color rising in her cheeks as her mind scrambled for the best way to greet him, the proper way to behave. What was she to do?

But her panic was all for nothing.

It wasn’t Robert who had escorted Lady Darrington to the park. It was Freddy. He stood some distance off, talking and laughing with a giant dandy of a man in a carrot-colored jacket, and she watched him for a long moment. It was then she realized, with total clarity, that she felt nothing for him. Absolutely nothing.

She wished it were Robert standing there across the lawn instead of Freddy. She wanted to see Robert’s handsome face, and gaze into his beautiful eyes, and listen to him talk about…anything at all, really. She simply wanted to be with him.

Her heart kicked up as her mother’s words echoed through her mind.

And as I walked through the front door and began to remove my gloves, I realized I already missed him.

That was when I knew it was love.

And just like that, all the doubts swarming Ellie’s mind suddenly fell silent and her heart swelled with understanding. She knew what her mother had been feeling that day. She knew…because she felt that way now.

She missed Robert. She loved him. Wholeheartedly. She wanted to marry him and spend the rest of her days with him by her side.

She only hoped it wasn’t too late.

“Will I see you two tonight at Lady Grandley’s soirée?” Lady Darrington was asking Ellie’s mother. “I understand she has just returned from a trip to Spain, and she’s eager to share with us a Spanish punch she discovered whilst she was there.”

“Gracious me, I think I might have to arrive early for that,” Mrs. Wrencroft joked.

“I had the very same thought.” The viscountess gave a lilting laugh then clapped her gloved hands at her front. “Well, now. I do hope the two of you enjoy the rest of your afternoon, and I shall see you later tonight, hm?”