Page 28 of Sin and Serendipity

“We’ll be there,” Mrs. Wrencroft said.

With a nod and a little wave, the viscountess turned and began to cross the lawn toward her son.

“Lady Darrington, wait!” Ellie called out, going after her.

The lady turned back, her thin brows raised in question. “Yes? What is it, Miss Wrencroft?”

Drawing in a deep breath, Ellie mustered her courage. “Please, my lady. I need your help.”

Chapter Ten

Robert dropped his quill onto the open ledger and leaned back in his chair, expelling a weary sigh. His weekly meeting with his man of affairs had just concluded, and his mind swarmed with all the decisions to be made, the myriad tasks still left to complete.

The irrigation issue at his estate in Somerset would need to be addressed straightaway, and he still had to decide whether to repair the damage to the stables at Brantley Hall or tear the structure down and rebuild.

Rubbing at his aching temples, he let his head fall back against the well-worn leather and groaned. God, he was tired. If he thought he could sleep, he might consider having a lie-down on the sofa, but he knew it would be pointless.

Every time he tried to sleep—every time he closed his bloody eyes—he saw Ellie.

He’d done his best to keep busy these past two days, distracting himself with work, exhausted but determined to press on. Still, through it all, she hovered at the edges of his mind, a constant companion, one he couldn’t seem to expunge.

He hadn’t seen her since the Henley ball, when he’d brought her to climax and then confessed his love for her. He hadn’t heard a word from her, either.

He’d thought she might have a change of heart, that her feelings for him, whatever they were, might grow into love…

But it seemed her silence was her answer. She still wanted Freddy, and he’d been a fool to hope she might choose him instead.

A clatter sounded from the front of the house, followed by voices echoing in the foyer. Ah, Mother and Freddy have returned from their walk in the park. It would be time soon to start dressing for the evening’s entertainments.

Robert released a slow breath. The prospect of spending his evening at the theater and yet another soirée did not please him, but he’d already promised his mother he would attend, so there was nothing else to do but grin and bear it.

A soft knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. He sat up in his chair and grabbed his quill pen, bending over the ledger as if engrossed in his work. “Enter,” he called out.

The door opened with a soft snick, but he didn’t look up from the figures before him, hoping if he looked busy enough his mother would leave him be. She’d asked after his welfare so many times these last two days, he’d lost count.

“Is this an inconvenient time?”

Robert’s head snapped up, his gaze flying to the door.

It wasn’t his mother.

“Ellie,” he croaked. “What—” He broke off, swallowing hard as he slowly rose to his feet. “No, I’m…just finishing up here. Please, come in.”

He stared dumbly, heart thudding in his chest, as she turned and shut the door behind her. God, she was beautiful. And nervous, he realized, noting the flush to her cheeks, the way her fingers twisted in the fabric of her skirts as she walked toward him.

Robert cleared his throat and motioned to the empty chair across from his. “Would you like to sit?”

She shook her head. “Thank you, no. I would prefer to stand.”

He nodded, feeling a fool standing there, exchanging polite pleasantries while his heart threatened to leap from his chest. He was nervous, too—nervous that she’d come here to tell him, once and for all, that she didn’t want him, that she would marry Freddy instead.

His heart kicked painfully, and he watched in silent misery as she paused behind the chair she’d just declined, her eyes downcast, her fingers gripping the aged leather until her knuckles turned white.

He drank in the sight of her, dragging his gaze over her face, her hair, as if he could etch every beloved feature, every gorgeous flaw, on his memory.

And then her eyes rose to his. Robert’s breath lodged in his throat.

“I’ve come here to accept your offer of marriage,” she said, the words whisper-soft, though resolute. “If you’ll still have me, that is.”