Page 6 of Sin and Serendipity

She parted her lips to tell him just that, but before she could, he was speaking again.

“Why Freddy?” he asked, his voice quiet, curious.

She blinked, caught off guard by the question. “I—I beg your pardon?”

“Why Freddy?” he repeated. “What was it about him that captured your heart?”

“Well, I…he…” Floundering for an answer, she trailed off, inexplicably flustered.

“Come,” he said. “There must be something about him that impressed you. Something besides his looks, of course.” His lips notched at the corners. “Was it his sense of humor? Or, perhaps, his keen intelligence?” His smile deepened. “You have talked to him before, haven’t you?”

The teasing light in his eyes pricked at her temper and she gave a disapproving sniff. “Of course I’ve talked to him before.”

One brow crooked. “More than once?”

“Yes.” Good heavens, was he trying to make her angry?

Lord Darrington nodded, and after a long moment of silence, she began to relax, thinking perhaps he’d finally decided to drop the matter. Perhaps now she could—

“How many times?”

Oh, for heaven’s sake! Ellie couldn’t help it; she blew out an exasperated sigh. “I don’t know how many times, my lord. A few.”

He notched his head to one side. “You’re in love with him, yet you can’t remember how many conversations you’ve shared?”

“Four,” she said through gritted teeth. “We’ve shared four conversations, all right?”

He nodded, but he looked to be suppressing a smile, which did nothing for her already questionable opinion of him.

“And these four conversations…” His hand pressed her waist as they skirted the edge of the dance floor. “They were so…sublime they made you fall in love with him?”

The skepticism in his voice brought her chin up. “Yes. They were. Your brother is a wonderful man.”

“Hm.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What does that mean?”

He lifted a shoulder. “Only that I can’t help but wonder if you would still find him so wonderful if he didn’t have—what was it?—‘midnight curls’ and ‘eyes like English bluebells’?”

Hearing her own words repeated back to her made her cheeks burn. “Of course I would!”

“Why?” he asked, raising his brows.

“Why?” Her outburst drew the curious gaze of a passing couple, and Ellie smoothed her furrowed brow, striving for a placid expression.

“Yes, why?” Lord Darrington repeated. “What else do you like about my brother?”

He wasn’t overtly laughing at her, but there was a definite gleam in his eyes, and Ellie was bright enough to know when she was being teased. He thought she was in love with Freddy because he was handsome, which absolutely was not true, and how dare he imply she was so shallow? He knew nothing about her!

“I like many things about your brother, my lord,” she said, struggling to keep her voice even. “I like that he’s charming, and amusing…and...and…”

“And?” he pressed.

“And wonderful,” she huffed with a stubborn set to her jaw.

He regarded her in silence, the teasing light fading from his eyes. He shook his head. “I don’t understand you,” he said softly. “With a few well-aimed smiles, you could have your pick of half the men in this room. So, why are you chasing after a man who doesn’t wish to be caught?”

Ellie blinked, taken aback by his compliment and the quiet gravity in his deep voice. She tried to think of a witty retort—of any retort at all—but her mind was a complete blank, and then the music drew to a close, signaling an end to the waltz.