Free Desperately Seeking Suzanna by Elizabeth Michels Page B

catch his attention. He’s quite handsome, you know. I met him some years ago and have had my eye on him for you ever since.”
    “I see.” Evangeline swallowed, the muscles in her slender neck tightening—her only sign of emotion.
    “And he will see as well, my beautiful girl. If he likes art, he will adore you. Your beauty outshines any swirl of paint.”
    Sue released the breath she’d been holding and attempted to unclench the knot in her stomach. Holden didn’t collect just any swirls of paint. He owned her swirls of paint. She glanced again at her sister sitting at her side with the morning sun twinkling in her dark hair. She did outshine Sue—in every way imaginable.
    “Thank you, Mother,” Evangeline said with natural grace. She looked down at her knees as she continued, “Might I ask when I will meet Lord Steelings?”
    “I’m sure he’s invited to the Dillsworth ball. It’s quite the crush every year, you know. Sue is certainly aware of that. After four failed seasons, she should be, anyway.”
    Sue didn’t answer. There was no retort to give. It was true. She’d come to London and failed to find a husband four years in a row. Now it seemed she would be forced to not only see Holden again but to also watch him court her sister. Her last season in London was shaping up to be a rather dreary experience. Perhaps this was life’s way of preparing her for what was to come. She blinked into the weak morning sun.
    Or perhaps this was her last chance to enjoy herself in society before that life began. She tried to smile, but her lips refused to move. One thing was certain: she would be staying as far away as possible from Holden Ellis, Lord Steelings.
    ***
    Holden didn’t know many things about life in general at this point, but he knew this: he needed a drink.
    Had he truly changed his travel plans to return to London in time for the Dillsworth ball? Yes, he had. Had he, with a sane mind, canceled his arrangements with the well-endowed redhead in the tavern near Torrent? Yes, he had. Had he traveled all the way back to town on the word of a chit barely out of the schoolroom that Suzanna would be at the ball tonight? He ran a hand through his hair with a small groan. Yes, indeed he had.
    He threw open the door to White’s gentlemen’s club and breathed in the sweet smell of smoke and liquor. It smelled like freedom—freedom from ladies with their lies, taunts, and disappearing acts. A grin spread across his face as he made his way toward the bar.
    “Steelings!”
    Holden turned at the familiar deep rumble of his friend’s voice. Devon Grey, Duke of Thornwood, was the only one who could have kept him from the soothing burn of a drink for a single second. He offered a wide smile in greeting as he moved past a cluster of gentlemen to join his friend.
    They’d become fast friends in their school days beginning the night he’d slipped out to meet those local girls in the village and Devon had followed him. Chuckling at the old memory, he rounded a table and offered a nod to a passing gentleman. Since that night, he’d spent holidays at Thornwood Manor and managed to stay in touch with his old friend even in recent years when Thornwood had left the country for his explorations and Holden had remained in France—or so everyone believed.
    “I thought you were set to be in the country for a few weeks. Back so soon?”
    “My trip was cut short. It’s a rather long tale as to why.” He truly didn’t want to explain that he was chasing one female on the advice of two others. That was ribbing ammunition that shouldn’t be given to a friend unless it was unavoidable. “I will just say I’ve returned. It’s good to see you, Thornwood. Care to have a drink?”
    “Certainly,” Thornwood returned as he clapped Holden on the back. “I’m looking for any excuse to avoid my home at the moment.”
    “Her Grace is in town?” Holden asked, pulling out a chair from a nearby table to sit.
    “And wreaking