Page 50 of Deceiving an Earl
She shrugged. “Differently. I’ve not seen you look at anyone like that.”
“You’re just being silly.”
“I think you like her.”
“I don’t like her. Not like that, at least.”
But he felt like he was betraying Ellen by saying that. She held a special place in his heart and always would. He often wondered what would have happened if she had followed through with their plans. Would they have a son like Philip? Better behaved, of course.
“I think you do like her,” Josie said.
“I think you should mind your own business.”
“You didn’t tell Mother about last night.” This was just like Josie, to change the subject so fast.
“And I won’t,ifyou behave yourself.”
“I was behaving myself last night. I acted like the perfect lady. Mother would have been proud.”
“After she beat you for nearly damaging your reputation. You heard her in there. She doesn’t hold Lady Fieldhurst in high regard and would have thought your appearance there last night appalling.”
Josie pouted. “She really needs to stop being so judgmental. I saw nothing wrong with those who attended.Youwere there.”
“It’s different for me.”
“Because you’re a boy and I’m a girl?”
“I’m a man and you’re still too young for such things.”
“Well, when I’m grown I’m going to host salons just like that and invite all of the interesting people and not the boring people that Society thinks are acceptable.”
Oliver bit back his grin. Josie was nearly seventeen, but there were times she still acted like a little girl. “You do that,” he said.
Chapter Thirteen
He chose to go to the ball that Lady Sylvia Evendale was attending because he should at least consider her as a possibility. He trusted his mother’s opinion. But he also trusted Josie’s honest evaluation. So he went with an open mind and apparently caused quite the stir when he entered.
He’d not realized—or possibly he chose to ignore—that people kept tabs on the eligible bachelors, and his absence from the balls was always noted. He understood. Without trying to sound vain, he was rich, richer than his father had been, thanks to his shrewd investments. Most nobles chose to put their head in the sand when they saw change coming. Oliver had chosen to take advantage of it.
His mother swooped in on him the moment he entered, and immediately he understood why. The mothers with eligible daughters were heading toward him en masse. Their avid expressions reminded him of headhunters in far-off places.
He shivered and, not for the first time, wondered why he’d thought this was a good idea.
His gaze roamed the large room, searching for… He didn’t know what he was searching for until his eyes settled on her. She was standing with a group of women, all of their hands waving as they talked over one another.
She was striking tonight, in deep purple.
…
Ellen’s circle of friends had shrunk since she’d started hosting her salons. There had been a time when she and Arthur had been invited to the best balls. But these days, the demand for her presence had waned.
She had known it would happen, but she had been surprised at some of the friends who had turned their backs on her. It had hurt, but at the same time she did not regret it. What she liked most about her salons was meeting new and different people, learning new perspectives, and making new friends. It was a fair trade-off, in her opinion.
But that wasn’t to say that she no longer enjoyed attending the occasional ball, and if invited, she went. The four women surrounding her were friends who had not abandoned her.
It had been a while since they had all been together. Immediately, they congregated to a far corner to catch up on one another’s lives. Lucy had just asked about Philip, the question that Ellen had been dreading, when suddenly Ruth covered her mouth to stifle a gasp. Ellen heard the shocked, whispered, “Oh my goodness” and turned to see what all the excitement was about.
He was descending the stairs to a hushed, reverent silence. Mothers of eligible daughters surged forward as if one big wave, while Lady Armbruster swooped in to save her son.
