He lifted one shoulder. “Pretty much, yes.”
“Oh!” She slapped his chest. “You are the cruelest man I’ve ever met. I cannot believe I wanted your help. Indeed, I must have gone insane for a moment. Now get out of my buggy.” She pointed toward the road. “And I never want to see you again.”
Perhaps he deserved her anger. But it was a passionate kiss, nonetheless. For certain, he would think about her for quite a while, wondering if she would ever give him a second chance.
Chapter Three
Now Ellie hadexactly three weeks to find a man to marry.
Why hadn’t her father planned this startling news closer to the beginning of the Season? Perhaps then she could have found someone. Especially since Vincent Wallace had smashed and spat on her hopes. What had she been thinking to consider him? His reputation hadn’t lied.
As her maid dressed Ellie for the upcoming ball tonight, she stared blankly at herself in the mirror. For one full week she hadn’t been able to get Vincent’s kiss—or his refusal—off her mind. Adam had been a wonderful kisser, but never had he been bold enough to do what Vincent had done.
Remembering the way the earl made her heart skip and left her breathless had been a shock to her system. Then, when he touched her neck and slid his hand down further, her body had wanted to know more of the sensual feelings awakening inside of her. Luckily, her mind argued and won, which was why she stopped him. She didn’t ever want to forget about Adam, yet while kissing Vincent, the man she’d professed to love until her dying day had disappeared in her mind. She couldn’t have that.
To add insult to injury, Vincent had had the audacity to turn down her offer. If that wasn’t a slap in the face, she didn’t know what was. At least he’d followed her wishes by not seeing her again. Thankfully, she’d only wasted one day on him, but she didn’t have any energy to go into town and try to mingle, either.
Tonight would be different. Her family had plans to attend old Lady Cruthers’ annual ball, which was a premier event of the Season. Ellie had missed it the past three years, but she couldn’t miss it now. She prayed she found a man soon.
“I think you look mighty pretty in that gown, Miss Ellie.” The maid beamed. “Do you want me to style your hair the same as I always do?”
Ellie opened her mouth to say yes, but her thoughts skidded to a stop and turned in a different direction. For her to catch a man’s eye, she must not dress the same. She must dress more daring, just as she had when she went to Lord Trenton’s home last week.
Stop thinking of him!Ellie pushed the image of his handsome face out of her mind and peered into the mirror at her maid. “Actually, I don’t want ringlets. I want the bulk of my hair to be wound in a coil at the back of my neck, and small tendrils around my ears and underneath the bun. Also, I want baby’s breath woven throughout my hair, but not overly so.”
Her maid’s eyes widened, and she nodded in approval as she followed Ellie to her vanity. Before sitting on the stool, she glanced over her gown, this time making certain it met the expectations she had for herself tonight. She must have been thinking straight when she picked it out, because the deep rose gown with a black lace overlay was perfect for tonight’s occasion. Even the low, square-cut bodice fit perfectly with her mood. She would wear a pearl necklace with matching earbobs.
Tonight, she had only one goal in mind. She would flirt and tantalize every man she met. With any luck, she would find someone perfect to play the part of her husband.
Time passed quickly, and soon she entered the ballroom alongside her father and Augusta. Ellie’s palms moistened inside her elbow-length black gloves as her heart raced with fear. She worried that she wouldn’t find anyone, but most of all, she feared that she might see Vincent again. After all, he was now a noble, and probably attended functions like this to introduce his sisters.
Should she smile and act polite in front of him, or should she ignore him as if they’d never met? The latter seemed safer.
Ellie stood beside her father as he introduced her to everyone who greeted them. Her father’s friends had available sons, and her dance card filled up quickly. More at ease now, she relaxed and tried to enjoy herself. Since she’d practically been a recluse for three years, it seemed odd to stand in gossip circles and pretend like she knew—or cared—what everyone was talking about.
Augusta stood next to Ellie as she forced a smile while listening to the henwits her stepmother considered friends. Ever since her father announced that he was going to wed Augusta, Ellie had kept a leery eye on the woman. The widow seemed too fake from day one. Her sweetness poured like molasses over Ellie, leaving her irritated. Honestly, she couldn’t understand what her father ever saw in that woman. Ellie’s mother had been the most beautiful, loving person, with a heart full of kindness for everyone. Not once had her mother acted fake. Not like Augusta.
“Did you hear about the Earl of Trenton?” one of the ladies in the group asked.
Ellie’s mind snapped to the conversation. She couldn’t help but travel back to the week she wanted to forget, but couldn’t. Strange, but she could still smell his scent of pine and leather and hear his baritone voice as he laughed, as if he was standing right by her. If she could recall all of this, why then couldn’t she remember how much she loathed him?
“Good evening, Lord Trenton,” Augusta said. “I didn’t know you were at the ball. It’s nice to see you out and about now that you are settled into the estate.”
Ellie snapped back to reality. What had her stepmother just said? She swept her gaze across the other ladies in the circle. Their attention was on someone standing behind her.
She spun around and faced the man she hadn’t wanted to see.
Vincent was handsome in his fine black coat and matching trousers. The dark blue waistcoat over his pristine white shirt and cravat made his blue-gray eyes twinkle.
Anger rose inside her. Why couldn’t he have stayed home?
Wearing a ridiculously charming smile, he greeted all the women in the circle. Pausing, he met her stare and bowed.
“Miss Middleton. It’s a pleasure to see you again. As always, you look ravishing.”
She gritted her teeth. Why would he saythat? Was that the very phrase rogues used when seeing a woman they had rejected recently? Well, two could play at his game. It was better to go along with him than to have the old biddies at the gathering wondering why Vincent made the duke’s daughter upset.
She curtsied. “And may I say how handsome you’re looking tonight? It’s certainly good to see you again.”
