Sera’s gaze slidagain to Lydia. Lady Lydia Torrence, recently returned from anextended tour of the Continent. She seemed to have gained polishand poise, and an easy confidence that would draw others to her.That, coupled with her ridiculous beauty, would make her the hit ofthe Ton. No longer wide-eyed, her thoughts were disguised behind afaintly amused smile. Her smile brightened, however, when her gazelit upon Lady Violet Crafers. With a quick word to her mother, shecrossed the ballroom to join Lady Violet, her smile genuine as shereached her friend’s side.
“There is a rumour the Earl of Roxwaithe will be in attendanceas well.”
“Hmm?” She glanced at Elizabeth.
“Alice Stamford said she heard it from Georgina Parkerson, whoheard it from Caroline Bennett, and you know Caroline Bennett knowseverything,” Elizabeth continued.
“Heneverattends balls,” Maria breathed.
“Hesometimes attends,” Sera said absently. Her mind raced. That wouldnot be why, though. It wasn’t a coincidence the earl chose toattend just as Lydia Torrence made her return.
Once, foreverago, she’d been friendly with Lydia Torrence and the girl had takenher in confidence, telling her of her life-long crush on the earl.The earl, though, was fourteen years Lydia’s elder and clearlywould not be interested in a girl barely seventeen who he no doubtregarded as a much younger sister. Sera, helpfully, had informedLydia of this and had attempted to turn her from such a fruitlessaffection. She had, quite helpfully, told others of Lydia’s crush,to show the girl how ridiculous it was. Lydia, though, hadoverreacted to her kind action, screaming and crying and declaringSera a terrible fiend.
Their friendshiphad soured after that.
“Theearlisin attendance,” Maria breathed.
“Where?” Sera searched the ballroom.
“There.” Maria pointed.
Sure enough, theEarl of Roxwaithe had entered the ballroom. Sera frowned over hisappearance. He was so…hairy. Long golden-brown hair was tied backin a knot at the nape of his neck, while his jaw was covered by abeard. He was so…unusual. Few gentlemen of her acquaintance hadhair of his length, and none sported a beard
His gazeimmediately sought out Lydia Torrence. She had not yet seen him,and he seemed to drink her in. Possibly it was the first time hehad seen her since her return, but in any event he displayed hisemotion as clearly as if he had shouted.
Some years afterthe incident with Lydia, it had become apparent Sera had beenmistaken in her assessment of the earl. He clearly returned Lydia’saffections, and that gave Sera all the ammunition she needed totaunt Lydia—who just as clearly had no clue—at everyturn.
She smiledthinly. One did not spurn Lady Seraphina Waller-Mitchell and notlive to regret it.
Unaware ofSera’s thoughts, Elizabeth asked, “Will you choose a gentleman thisyear?
“Don’t I always?” Every year it amused her to choose agentleman to flirt with and beguile. Last year it had been the Dukeof Sutton. This year… Her gaze drifted to Lydia Torrence. “PerhapsI will entertain myself with an earl this season.”
“Anearl?” Maria asked in confusion.
“TheEarl of Roxwaithe, Maria. Honestly.” Sometimes she questioned whyshe associated with them.
Elizabethfrowned. “But he is never in society, Sera. There is nopoint.”
“Hewill attend enough this season,” she said dismissively.
“Howdo you know?”
Lydia Torrencewas here and it followed the Earl of Roxwaithe would be where sheis. “It is a feeling. Do not distract me.” She levelled her gaze onthe earl.
Still he watchedLydia Torrence. They both couldn’t be more obvious if they tried.It would be pointless to attempt to attract his attention. Whileshe enjoyed a challenge, she did not enjoy failure and that way laynothing but frustration. However, if she remembered correctly, theearl had a brother. “What is the name of the younger brother to theEarl of Roxwaithe?”
Maria blinked.“The one who is dead?” she asked hesitantly.
“No.” She remembered his name, of course. Everyone rememberedthat tragedy. Lord Maxim Farlisle, the youngest of the brothers,lost at sea these eight years past. What he had been doing on aship to the Americas to begin with had caused furious speculationamongst the Ton at the time, though none could determine exactlywhy he had sought that passage. “The one who is alive.”
Elizabeth andMaria exchanged glances and then gave her blank looks.
Impatience madeher tone harsh. “Well?”
“Ido not know, Seraphina,” Elizabeth said hastily.
“Heplays football on a heath outside the city,” Mariaoffered.
