Page 4 of Sin and Serendipity

Lord, but he was handsome tonight. His dark evening jacket and buff breeches were exquisitely tailored to fit his long, lithe form, and his powder blue waistcoat highlighted his eyes to perfection.

Yes, Freddy was indisputably beautiful and charming, but he was also tall. At least as tall as Ellie, and she liked that very much, indeed. If she were to kiss him—nay, when she kissed him—she might even have to stand on tiptoe to do it. Just the thought of it sent a thrill racing up her spine.

If only she could find a way to make him notice her!

“Ellie?”

Startled from her reverie, she glanced over to find her mother watching her with concern in her dark brown eyes, and Ellie realized she was frowning.

“Yes, Mama?” she asked, molding her lips into a smile.

“Everything will be fine, I promise,” Mrs. Wrencroft said softly. “You are a lovely girl, and I am certain we will find the perfect husband for you. We just need to be patient.”

Ellie nodded. “I hope you’re right, Mama.”

“Aren’t I always?” her mother teased with a discreet wink.

Ellie shook her head, amused despite herself. It was true, Mrs. Wrencroft was a wise woman, proved right far more often than not, and usually Ellie would trust her mother’s intuition without question, only…

Only, she’d already found the perfect man for her but he barely knew she existed.

Another sigh escaped her. She wanted so much to make her mother happy, to make her proud, the way her sisters had done. All five of them—Esme, Eudora, Emogene, Edwina and Evie—had fallen in love in their first Season and were now happily married with families of their own.

Mrs. Wrencroft had never once said she expected Ellie to do the same, but she knew her mother hoped she would follow in her sisters’ footsteps and, truth be told, she would hate to be the only Wrencroft daughter to break from tradition. Being the youngest of six girls was challenging enough without that stigma hanging over her head.

So, she would have to find some way of gaining Freddy’s attention, and somehow make him realize how perfect they were for each other. Perhaps tonight she could—

“Mrs. Wrencroft, good evening! You are looking positively radiant tonight. Is that a new hat?”

Ellie glanced up to find Freddy’s mother, Lady Darrington, gliding up to them, a friendly smile gracing her handsome face.

Trailing behind her was her son. Her eldest son.

Ellie’s shoulders tensed as she reluctantly met the viscount’s gaze, and she caught the ghost of a smile playing at the corners of his lips. She tugged her eyes from his to look at his mother instead, attempting to ignore the irritation thrumming through her veins.

“Why, thank you, Lady Darrington,” Ellie’s mother tittered. “It is, indeed, a new hat. Isn’t it a gorgeous creation?”

*The viscountess nodded, her own, much daintier hat bobbing as she did. “I’ve never seen its equal,” she said, so warmly it was almost believable. “Mrs. Wrencroft, I do not believe you’ve met my eldest son, Robert, the Viscount Darrington?”

She turned and he stepped forward, smiling as he sketched an elegant bow. “Madam, it is an honor to meet both you and that magnificent hat of yours.”

Ellie suppressed a sigh as a beaming smile spread across her mother’s face.

“The honor is all mine, my lord,” Mrs. Wrencroft cooed. “And may I present to you my daughter, Miss Eleanor?”

Ellie bobbed a curtsy and muttered a cool, “Good evening, my lord.”

He bowed to her, his smile deepening. “Miss Wrencroft, I wonder if you would consent to partner with me for the next dance? I believe it will be a waltz.”

Dancing with this man was the last thing she wanted to do, but her mother would cart her off to Bedlam if she refused a viscount’s invitation, so she bowed her head regally, and said, “Thank you. I would be delighted.”

Lord Darrington’s eyes glinted, as if he’d detected the slight edge of sarcasm to her tone, but he merely smiled and proffered his arm. “Shall we, then?”

Placing her gloved fingers gingerly on his sleeve, she allowed him to lead her toward the dance floor, her mind swarming with questions.

Why on earth did Freddy’s brother wish to dance with her? He’d clearly conscripted his mother into arranging an introduction and it seemed he’d done so under the sole purpose of requesting this waltz, but why? To discuss Freddy again? To attempt to talk her out of pursuing him?

Well, he needn’t bother. He’d already said more than she cared to hear on the topic, and he would only be wasting his breath.