Free Lord Dearborn's Destiny by Brenda Hiatt Page B

means certain that she would have the option of living in Ireland after her cousin's wedding, and even a loveless marriage would surely be preferable to living indefinitely on sufferance in her aunt's household.
    In spite of herself, Ellie's spirits lightened when Lord Dearborn claimed her for the next dance. He was amusing to talk to, even if he could never care for her in the way she was finally admitting to herself that she cared for him. To her surprise, the orchestra struck up the strains of a waltz as she took his arm.
    "Oh, dear," she said, suppressing a surge of disappointment. "Do not the patronesses have to give permission before I may waltz here?" Lady Sefton was the only patroness she was at all acquainted with, and she had not noticed whether she were even present tonight.
    "Indeed they do, and the Countess Lieven and Lady Jersey were kind enough to do just that after I requested to be allowed to dance it with you," he replied imperturbably. "I quite enjoyed our waltz at Lady Sefton's, and desired to repeat the experience."
    "How... how did you know that this would be a waltz?" she asked curiously. Mrs. Millworth had told her that every ball at Almack's began with a minuet, but she had not thought that the other dances were so ordered.
    "I have certain, ah, connections," answered the Earl with a twinkle. "Shall we, Miss O'Day?"
    Since he had apparently thought of everything, Ellie went willingly into his light clasp for the dance that some still considered mildly scandalous, her errant heart beating a giddy tattoo. He had requested the waltz so that he could dance it with her? It seemed unbelievable in the extreme, but no doubt he had his reasons.
    "Does Sir George Bellamy not have the entree here, Miss O'Day?" he asked.
    So! He wished to waltz with her so that he could question her further about Rosalind's friendship with Sir George, she thought. The mystery was solved, thought not entirely to her satisfaction. "I do not know, my lord, but I would doubt it."
    "Why?" he asked.
    "Because he is not here," she replied simply.
    Lord Dearborn chuckled. "A most logical young lady, I see. No doubt that quality serves you well at whist."
    "I like to think so," she returned with a smile. "Tell me, my lord, do you play? You seem inordinately interested in my level of skill but have revealed nothing about your own. I suspect you are no novice at it yourself."
    "I am found out!" he said in mock despair. "I had hoped to engage you in a game for outrageously high stakes and win quite a fortune before you discovered that."
    Ellie had to laugh. "I am not so green as that, my lord. Nor would I gamble more than I can afford to lose, so I fear that the stakes would be a sore disappointment to a gentleman like yourself —on the order of a penny or two." She spoke lightly, not stopping to consider that her extreme poverty could hardly be considered an asset.
    Forrest did indeed note what her words revealed, but was chiefly struck by her utter lack of embarrassment as she admitted to it. When he had referred to her as "valiant" yesterday, he had seemingly been more right than he knew. Miss O'Day obviously faced an uncertain future, but she did so cheerfully, with both eyes open. Courage was a quality Forrest had always admired, wherever he saw it, and his respect for this young woman rose even higher.
    He had just boasted of having a certain amount of influence, he reflected. Perhaps he could use it to benefit Miss O'Day. The Earl had never been one to play the matchmaker, but he could not help but think that a good marriage might be just the thing for a girl of her mettle. Mentally, he went over some of the eligible bachelors he knew, but found none that met the standards he felt such a sprightly, intelligent girl deserved. Clearly, this plan would require more thought.
    "A skillful player may parlay a penny or two into pounds, I have found," he said with a smile. "I look forward to facing you across the cards, Miss O'Day, even if