Page 80 of Deceiving an Earl
He wanted to snatch the paper from his mother, to see for himself. But he knew it was true. There was no reason for his mother to lie and, in his heart, he knew he had lost Ellen.
No! He would not think like that. He had time. Surely the wedding wasn’t for a while yet. All was not doomed.
He could fix this.
If only he could talk to her and her father.
But he was turned away again that morning, and the next day. He sent his valet with a note, but the valet returned still holding the note. He’d been turned away as well.
Oliver resorted to standing across the street from the house, waiting for Ellen, for anyone to exit so he could talk to them. But no one did.
He was becoming desperate.
He had to talk to Ellen.
His opportunity came a week before the wedding date. A ball was being held in Ellen and Fieldhurst’s honor, and Oliver was determined to be there.
One of the perks of being an Armbruster was that you were invited to all of the important balls. Oliver’s mother was a scion of Society and, even though she was in her confinement, it was social ruin to not invite the Armbrusters to your ball.
Oliver would be there.
He would finally be able to talk to Ellen.
He was a fool. But then he’d already determined that long ago. But tonight…tonight he was more of a fool than even he thought he could be.
But he couldn’t stay away and whoever had sent him the invitation was the devil in disguise or his guardian angel.
He went.
He went because he couldn’tnotgo.
He went because he wanted to see her again.
He went because he was a fool.
To his surprise, his mother and Josie were there, too, at the ball honoring the engagement of Lady Fieldhurst and Sir William Needham.
“I’m surprised you’re here,” his mother said.
“The same could be said of you.” He tried not to search the ballroom. Tried not to locate her.
“I’m always open to attending a ball.”
“Mmmm.”
“Oliver.”
He turned his attention to his mother, surprised to see compassion and sympathy in her eyes, and he knew that she knew. How, he had no idea, but that was his mother. She seemed to know everything. “You didn’t need to come.”
“Oh, but I did. I most certainly did need to come.” He wandered away, feeling lost and suddenly alone.
He’d attended countless balls alone, and it had never bothered him before, because he’d always known that he would meet up with friends. He was beginning to realize that there was a difference between being alone and being lonely.
He spotted Lady Sylvia from across the room, and for an instant he considered her. Maybe she was the most viable opportunity as a wife. Maybe he needed to be more realistic.
But then he saw Ellen, and his heart did a strange flip, and his hands became sweaty, and he wondered what the hell was happening to him. He was acting like someone more Philip’s age than a grown man.
She was so damn beautiful tonight, in dark green.
