Dancing into the Arms of Destiny (Preview)

Chapter One

Ellie was bored to tears. She would never say it, and she would never so much as let the smile drop from her face, but she was bored. There was nothing. The swirling dresses and laughter, accompanied by the beautiful young debutantes and handsome men, did not excite her. She knew that she was supposed to be thrilled to attend such a grand ball, but it was something that she had done several times before and she had known most of the attendees since she was a young child. She could not see the eligible bachelors as prospects when she had played in the mud with them.

Marcus walked by, and instead of a handsome young man in well-tailored breeches, she saw the young boy who had pulled her plaits and made her run away crying when they were six or seven.

Maxwell was across the room, and instead of a kind smile and twinkling eyes, she saw his face covered with mud and his hands reaching for a rope to jump into a river.

Nicholas was standing in the centre of the room, escorting Verity, and she saw the pair of them hidden behind a tree, kissing before they should have known what kissing was. She did not see them as adults, betrothed and hoping their marriage would be moved up so they could finally be together after years of sneaking off.

She kept a grip on her glass of champagne, but she had no interest in drinking it. It was the same sweet variety that was served at every ball. Everyone thought it was crisp, cool and delicious, but Ellie thought it was overly sweet and she preferred to drink anything else.

Beside her, Thomas, her brother, was standing and surveying the very same scene. Instead of hiding boredom, though, Thomas seemed to have a genuine smile on his face. His foot was tapping slightly to the beat of the music. Ellie did not know how he could be entertained by a song that he heard half a hundred times before, and that was just this season alone. Thomas, however, seemed completely capable of finding something new to be entertained by, even though this was their fourth ball this month.

“Thomas,” Ellie asked, at last, when she was certain she would perish. “Can we leave?”

She had not even been excited to dress for this ball. She had gone to her wardrobe an hour before they had to leave, and she had selected a green dress that she knew reflected the colour of her eyes. She had sat patiently while her maid brushed her hair, and she had put on a fake smile when her maid admired her new jewellery. Despite the fact that any other girl enjoyed being pampered, Ellie wished that she could just spend the evening sitting on her bed, perhaps reading or drawing the evening away.

Ellie had been told that she was beautiful her whole life. With dark hair and green eyes, and a pale complexion that had been compared to the snow on the mountain tops, she turned heads wherever she went. Nothing in Ellie’s life had ever presented as difficult. She had a comfortable life with her parents, her brother and her younger sister, Fiona. She had many friends, and she would have had many suitors, if any of them ever interested her.

“No, we cannot leave,” Thomas said, giving her a strange look. “We have only just arrived, Ellie.”

“We have not only just arrived,” Ellie protested. “We have been here for an hour, at least.”

“And it took you an hour to get ready,” Thomas pointed out. “And then it took us nearly half an hour to travel here. We cannot just leave after all that effort.”

“But we must,” she said. “For I feel I might melt to the floor in a puddle of boredom.”

Thomas gave a soft chuckle and glanced to her.

“You should have been on the stage, Ellie,” he said. “For you are very dramatic.”

“I am not being dramatic, Thomas,” she said, with a soft smile on her face. “I am telling you the truth. You would not like to see your poor sister on the floor, dead from…”

“Uh huh,” he said and took a sip of the dreaded champagne “I think it is a feat I would like to see, actually.”

“Oh, well, then, by all means,” she said. “Let us stay another hour or so.”

“Do you not want to dance with Marcus?” he asked. “He has been looking over to you for the past few moment.”

“No, thank you,” she replied. “There is no one here I want to dance with. Why are you not dancing?”

“I do not feel like it at this moment,” he said, and she glanced at him.

“Are you well?” she asked. He nodded.

“I am,” he said. “Do not worry. But Ellie, if you do not dance with anyone, you aren’t going to find a suitable husband.”

“I do not think that the two things are mutually exclusive,” she said. “I am sure there are other ways to find a husband. You do not think that Father will just determine who I marry, eventually?”

“He might,” Thomas replied. “But I am certain that he does not want to do that. He wants you to be happy. And Ellie, you know I cherish you, as my dear sister, but at the moment, you are being a tad bit selfish.”

Ellie gasped and turned to him.

“Selfish?” she asked. “How am I being selfish?”

“Well,” Thomas said. “You know that if you are not at least betrothed, Fiona cannot be debuted.”

“I think that is silly,” Ellie replied. “Fiona is eighteen. Father should let her debut, rather than waiting for me. I could be years unmarried yet.”

“Then you would be a spinster,” he pointed out and she sighed.

“Well, then, what do you suggest, oh wise brother?”

“Well…” Thomas paused. “There is the viscount.”

“Oh, the viscount,” Ellie said, in a tone of voice that told Thomas exactly what the issue was. “Viscount Sharon is the most boring, mean-spirited man I have ever met. And there is nothing I loathe more than such a person. He walks around insulting people for his own entertainment. His own entertainment, Thomas. How can you suggest I marry such a person?”

“I do not think that is quite the case,” Thomas said. “He does not just insult folks for no reason. Usually, there is a reason. And I have never seen him be anything but kind to you, Ellie.”

“Oh, well, then, that makes it so much better,” Ellie said. Thomas sighed.

“He has always been interested in you, Ellie. And if there is no one else, then perhaps you should consider him.”

“Why?” she asked.

“Because you know as well as I do that Father is old-fashioned, and he is not going to break with tradition, and therefore, Fiona will never debut.”

“Well, I think that is rather cruel,” she said, with a sigh. “But I do not wish Fiona to suffer simply because I cannot find someone interesting.”

“The viscount is interesting,” Thomas pointed out and Ellie briefly considered kicking him in the leg. It appeared that Thomas did not understand just how much the man did not interest her.

Thomas had always been her confidante ever since they were children. Thomas had dark hair and dark eyes, and the same pale complexion. Many women found his high cheekbones and sparkling eyes attractive. He had no trouble attracting potential brides, to the point where her parents did not even mention the idea of finding him a suitable match.

Ellie did appreciate that her parents were not going to force her to marry. She appreciated the fact that they wanted her to be happy, which was almost unheard of in this day and age. They wanted her to smile at her husband, and be genuinely excited to have him return from whatever he did during the day.

At least, that was what her father said now. But Ellie had a feeling that if this continued for much longer, he would put his foot down and make her marry someone that she could absolutely not stand.

“What if I promised, over the next season, to dance with every man at least once?” Ellie asked. “Then, I could truly say that I got to know everyone, and there was no one that interested me. If Father truly wanted me to be happy, and I put that much effort in, he could not protest, surely?”

“Uh…” Thomas said, as he looked out on the dance floor. “That would take careful concentration. Your dance card would have to be planned almost mathematically.”

“I know,” Ellie said. “It would be something to do. It would almost be entertaining.”

“Ellie,” Thomas rolled his eyes and she giggled.

“But then I could honestly say I made an effort,” Ellie said, and Thomas sighed.

“Have you considered the fact that you might meet someone?” he asked. “Someone who interested you?”

“But who would I meet?” she asked. “That I haven’t already met?”

“You know that newcomers from the country come into the city,” he said. “Those who have spent their whole lives in peace and then come to the busy city for the debutante season. And then there are people who used to live here and have been away for years, but they return.”

“Maybe,” she said, with a shrug. “But I do not think that I am going to find a suitable husband in such an environment. But if I do not find someone before the year is out…I suppose I could consider the viscount.”

“Really?” Thomas wrinkled his eyebrow. “You would do that?”

“For Fiona,” Ellie pointed out. “I do not wish her to sit at home her whole life, on my account. She is just as bored as I am.”

“Well, that is very kind of you,” Thomas said, gently. “You know that I wish for your happiness. Both of you.”

“I know,” Ellie said. “I know that you, and Father, are not asking me to marry for your own entertainment. You want me to be happy, and you think that a husband will make me happy.”

“Do you not think a husband will make you happy?” Thomas asked.

“I don’t know,” Ellie said. “If it was a love match, possibly. But if it wasn’t…”

“Hello, Ellie, Thomas,” Marcus suddenly swept into their conversation, and Ellie sighed. She should have known that she wouldn’t be able to get through a whole conversation without Marcus or some other interruption. Because she was speaking with her brother, any potential suitor assumed it was all right to interrupt.

“Hello, Marcus,” Thomas said and the two shook hands. Ellie gave a little curtsy, although she was not interested in the fair-haired, lean young man in front of her. She thought Marcus had a kinder heart than the viscount, but that was all he had over him. “How are you?”

“I am quite well,” Marcus said. “I just came over to see if you, Ellie, would fancy a dance?”

“Oh, I would,” Ellie said, and winced. “But…Thomas is not well, and I promised I would stand by him tonight, just in case.”

“You aren’t well?” Marcus’s eyes shifted towards Thomas in alarm. “Old chap, why did you come out?”

Thomas glared at Ellie. She responded with a pleading look. She knew that her brother would not betray her, although he would likely give her an earful all night because of this conversation.

“No…” Thomas answered. “I suppose I am not. And you know my sister, always so kind-hearted and protective.”

“Of course,” Marcus said, and turned to look at Ellie with admiration. Silently, she cursed herself, because it seemed like she had caused more attraction rather than less. “Well…if you feel better, Thomas, please let me know. I will take good care of Ellie.”

“Of course,” Thomas said. Marcus gave a little bow and then headed back into the crowd. As soon as he was safely out of earshot, Thomas turned to Ellie.

“Really?” he asked.

“Well, I thought about saying that I had turned my ankle or something of that nature,” Ellie said. “But then I realised I would have to limp most of the night, and that did not appeal to me.”

“Have you considered that I might want to dance with someone?” Thomas asked and Ellie shrugged.

“You could say that you feel better,” she said. “But I would still want to keep an eye on you.”

“Oh I see,” he said and took another sip of champagne “Thank you. I appreciate your kind heart.”

“Do you know who Marcus should marry?” Ellie asked, as she watched him try to find another dance partner. “Gwen.”

“Why?” Thomas asked.

“Well, because they are both so…I don’t know, alike,” Ellie said. “They are both awkwardly polite, and timid.”

“And what do you think that marriage would be like?” Thomas asked. “Both of them sitting at home, not saying a word for fear of offending the other one?”

“Maybe,” Ellie said. “Or maybe they would feel comfortable around each other and there would be no need for silences.”

“Uh huh,” Thomas rolled his eyes at her. “If you do not like the suggestion of people matchmaking for you, Ellie, then you should not do it for others.”

“I wasn’t actually going to orchestrate it,” Ellie replied. “Unless of course, it diverted Marcus’s attention from me.”

“I see,” Thomas replied. “I got a letter from Marcus, the other day.”

“Did you now?” Ellie said. Marcus was another childhood friend of theirs that she was not even remotely interested in. However, he had an exciting life currently, having bought his commission as a navy captain. The last she heard, he was assigned to sail to the West Indies, which sounded far more exciting than going to another ball. “How is he?”

“He is all right,” Thomas replied. “He is getting married.”

“He is?” Ellie said, in shock. “To whom?”

“A woman he met in the West Indies,” Thomas said. “Her name is Anna Maria, and she is supposedly very rich.”

“Oh my,” Ellie said, in shock. “That is not what I expected. Is he happy, then?”

“He is very happy, from what I understand,” Thomas said. “He said that he will bring her home on leave.”

“Well, that is an exciting prospect,” Ellie said. “I will look forward to that. At least he is happy.”

“Ellie, what makes you think that I am not happy?” Thomas asked her. “Or were you referring to yourself?”

“How is the champagne?” she asked. “I am not sure how you can drink that.”

“Oh,” Thomas said. “It is all right. You do not enjoy it?”

“It feels as if I am drinking a glass of pure honey,” she said. “In case you have not noticed, I have been holding the same glass all night.”

“I have noticed that,” Thomas said. “I wonder who else has?”

“So they can start some other scandalous rumour about me?” Ellie asked. “Such as the fact that I am rude to our hosts?”

“No one thinks that,” Thomas assured her. “Do me a favour, Ellie. We shall stay another half hour, and then we can slip away. Because I am unwell, apparently.”

“Do you think that will satisfy Father?” she asked. “And make him think that I put a real effort into this?”

“I believe so,” Thomas said. “Especially if we take the long way home.”

“You are my favourite brother,” she declared, and Thomas rolled his eyes.

“I am your only brother,” he said, and she chuckled.

“That is true,” she said. “Perhaps I should have said that you are my favourite sibling.”

“But I also know that is not true,” he said. “I know that Fiona is your favourite.”

“Fiona and I have a different bond,” Ellie said. “She is my darling younger sister, and I want nothing but the best for her. But I also want to protect her, from the horrors of the world, so I feel I cannot be honest with her, like I am honest with you.”

“I understand,” Thomas said. “Fiona seems to have so far escaped the matters that the rest of us find stressful.”

“I think she is also able to smile more than the rest of us,” Ellie said. “Even when things happen that could sink one’s shoulders, Fiona always seems to know how to look on the bright side.”

“Yes, that she does,” Thomas said. “Perhaps we have been going about this all wrong, Ellie. Perhaps it is Fiona that we should be taking lessons from, rather than trying to teach Fiona.”

“Perhaps,” she said. “Did you know that Father rejected a marriage proposal for her?”

“He did?” Thomas asked. “Who was it?”

“The bigger boy from the market,” Ellie said, with a smirk. “Fiona gave him a coin when we went to the market, and he declared himself in love with her. He followed Father down the street for several days when he went into town, and then asked for her hand.”

“That is adorable,” Thomas said. “How old is he?”

“Twelve or so,” Ellie said. “It is terribly sad that he is on the omnibuses, of course, and apparently he was crushed when Father gently let him down.”

“They say that there is someone for everyone,” Thomas said.

“I would like to know of whom you speak,” Ellie said with a smile. Thomas glanced across the room then, and she saw his eyes focus on someone. And then he put his empty champagne glass down on the table they were standing in front of, and stepped forward, with a wide grin on his face.

“Alex!” he said, in delight. “Alexander, my goodness, it has been years.”

Ellie’s eyes focused on the man walking towards them, accompanied by another man, who she recognised as Jacob.

“Ellie, you remember Alexander and Jacob, don’t you?” Thomas said, as the men shook hands enthusiastically “My goodness, it has been years, gentlemen!”

Once Thomas said that, Ellie found her memory returning. Alexander and his cousin, Jacob, used to live in the area, many years ago. She remembered the name more than she remembered the faces. They all played together, and then the family moved away, having inherited several large estates at the other end of the country. She hadn’t really given them a second thought.

Now, though, she found an odd feeling washing over her. Alexander had dark hair, with a red undertone to it. He had sparkling blue eyes, and his hair fell into his eyes as he shook Thomas’s hand with a strong arm. He moved his head to flick it out of the way, and there was something about that simple move that made Ellie feel lightheaded.

She would never say it to anyone, but she thought he was incredibly handsome.

Of course, being handsome didn’t necessarily mean anything to her. There were many handsome men out on the dance floor tonight. Having a pleasing face did not mean one could hold a good conversation, or had a good heart.

She had never had anyone send shivers down her spine, though, just by their smile.

“It is so good to see both of you,” Alexander said. “I was worried that there would be no familiar faces, but my goodness, you look just the same.”

“When did you return?”

“Just a few nights ago,” Alexander said, as Jacob shook hands as well with everyone. “We have been rather tired from our journey, and then our carriage went to the wrong address, which is why we are late tonight. I am so glad to find both of you here. How have you been?”

He was speaking to Thomas, but his eyes flickered over to Ellie. She managed a weak smile as she tried to figure out why he made her feel like her whole body was tingling. What was so special about this young man that she used to know? Men that she grew up with as children were the exact reason she wasn’t married. Yet, here was someone she hadn’t thought of in years, and he was making her wish she was a bride.

Ellie told herself not to be silly. Maybe she’d had too much champagne. Maybe one sip of the sweet potent drink was too much for her to think logically, and she should take a carriage now, before she said something she regretted.

“I have been well,” Thomas said. “And so has Ellie. My goodness, Ellie, cat got your tongue?”

“No,” she managed, at last. “It’s lovely to see you again, both of you.”

She met Alexander’s eyes and, in that moment, she knew that she could not look away, even if she tried.

Chapter Two

Alexander did not know what to expect when he returned to town. For a moment, he was not certain that he would remember anything. Since he had moved across the country, all those years ago, he had forgotten what life in London was like. His life on the coast was full of people he had known longer than he had lived in the city, and he actually quite enjoyed it. He enjoyed living close to Jacob as well, as the family had inherited several houses when his grandfather passed away.

However, the return to London made him feel as if he had never left. Yes, the faces were different, but the buildings were the same, and the streets led him the same way that he remembered running up and down when he was a child.

The ball, from the moment that he walked in, had been delightful. There were a few people who did remember him, and they greeted him as Thomas had, with positivity and surprise. Jacob was a year younger than him and he knew fewer people, but he received the same greeting. The many people who did not know them before were still kind to him, as he supposed he was an exciting newcomer.

There were many young women, dressed in gowns of all colours, and they all seemed to look at him as he passed, as if to say that they were available.

Alexander thought this was the most exciting place that he had been in years.

Seeing Thomas was an absolute delight, of course. However, laying eyes on his sister, Ellie, filled him with a feeling he could not describe. He vaguely remembered Ellie from his childhood days, although she did not often play with them. Mostly, he remembered Thomas speaking of his sisters. The few times he had met her, as a child he had no feelings about her, one way or another.

Now, he was certain that she was the most beautiful woman in the entire room. Her green gown complemented her eyes perfectly, and her smile was full of light. When she laughed, he felt pins and needles run up and down his body.

He made a vow with himself, then and there, to make her laugh as many times as he could that night, just so he could hear that beautiful sound again. It was more melodic than the orchestra that was playing in the corner.

“We meant to come earlier in the season, “Alexander said. “But my father was not well, and so we delayed our departure.”

“I am sorry to hear that,” Thomas said. “Is he well now?”

“He…” Alexander paused and then glanced to Jacob.

“My uncle may not recover,” Jacob said, sadly. “But he has asked that we enjoy ourselves anyway, and that nothing would make him happier than knowing we were here, in the thick of the season.”

“I see,” Thomas said. “Well, I am sorry to hear that, nonetheless.”

“How is your father?” Alexander asked and Thomas nodded.

“He is well,” he said. “Insisted that all his children secure good futures, of course, and good matches, but what father doesn’t?”

“Of course,” Alexander said, as he glanced at Ellie. “Surely he could not mean you, though?”

Ellie looked confused by that and Alexander realised that he needed to clarify what he was saying.

“I simply meant that you must already be married already,” he said. “A woman as beautiful as yourself…”

He knew that such a thing was all right to say, as he was phrasing it as a compliment to an old friend. Ellie seemed to take it that way as well and laughed.

“No,” she said. “I am not married yet. None of us are.”

“But your sister…” Alexander squinted in memory “Your sister is quite a bit younger than you, if my memory serves me? She must not already be dreaming of getting married.”

“Fiona is eighteen now,” Thomas said, and Alexander gasped.

“Already?” he said. “Now I feel old.”

“As do I,” Thomas said, with a soft chuckle.

“Is she here tonight?” Alexander took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, and Jacob did the same. “Or is it just the two of you?”

“Just the two of us, I am afraid,” Ellie said. “My father has decided…that Fiona cannot debut until I am at least betrothed.”

“Ah,” Alexander said. He felt that she was sharing a secret with him, and he appreciated that she still behaved as if they were old friends. “I see. That is quite…conservative of him.”

“That is what I said!” Ellie blurted out. “I thought he should let her debut regardless of what I was doing. She is eighteen and having two daughters as spinsters would be more shameful than one.”

“Ellie, you are not going to be a spinster,” Thomas said, rolling his eyes. Alexander met her eyes.

“Why would you be a spinster?” he asked her.

“Because she refuses to dance with anyone,” Thomas replied. Alexander reacted in surprise.

“I cannot believe that no one would ask you,” he said. “You must have many invitations.”

“I have invitations,” she said. “I have just not accepted any of them.”

“Well,” Alexander said and glanced at Thomas. “Perhaps you would let me rectify that? Just to keep up appearances?”

“Are you asking me to dance with you?” Ellie asked, with a soft smile. Alexander nodded and Ellie glanced to her brother, who nodded his permission.

“But you’re supposed to be so ill that I must watch you!” she cried. Thomas sighed.

“How about I sit there, then?” he asked, pointing to an empty chair in the corner. “Would that be all right? I will tell anyone that Marcus has told me that I need to rest and we are leaving shortly.”

“I suppose that would maintain the narrative,” she said, and turned to Alexander. “Shall we?”

“I should be delighted,” he said and went to finish the champagne he had taken.

“Don’t,” Ellie blurted out and he looked at her in surprise.

“Don’t?” he asked, confused.

“Yes,” she said. “It’s dreadful. I am starting to think that everyone drinks it to be polite, but it’s not…very good.”

“It’s perfectly fine,” Thomas said. Alexander looked between the two of them and then took a tentative sip. As soon as she did, his face contorted.

“I am inclined to agree with your sister, old chap,” he said, and handed his champagne glass to Jacob. “I think her taste is slightly more refined.”

“You have not changed a bit,” Thomas called after Alexander, who grinned.

“Not even a small amount,” Alexander called to him, as he escorted Ellie onto the dance floor. It was quite crowded, as it appeared that they had picked one of the more popular times to approach. “My goodness.”

“Where did you move?” she asked him, as they took their first tentative steps together.

“The coast,” he said. “So I have not seen this many people together in a long time.”

“Ah, yes,” Ellie said. “That does make sense. It must be very peaceful there.”

“It can be more peaceful,” he said. “It can also be very…boring, if I may say so.”

“I do not think the coast could be any more boring than here,” she replied. “At least on the coast, there are nature walks you can go on, and perhaps see some birds or other animals. Here, it is the crowded London streets at every turn, and then there are the same people who turn up at balls, again and again.”

“I see,” Alexander replied. “The grass is always greener on the other side, I suppose.”

“The grass is literally greener on your side,” she pointed out and she smiled. He hadn’t formed an opinion of her personality when they were children, but he found her delightful now.

“What have you done to keep yourself busy, then?” he asked. “In such a boring part of the country?”

“The usual,” she said, as they danced. “I have taken up painting, and sketching, which takes up some time. But as you know this country is prone to rain and so I do not get out as often as I like.”

“Can you not draw inside?” he asked her, and she shook her head.

“I cannot seem to,” she said. “Perhaps it is because inside, nothing ever changes. But even sitting in the garden can bring new flowers, or birds, or an ever-changing sky.”

“I see,” he said. “I would like to see some of your work some time.”

“Oh no,” Ellie blushed. “It is nothing at all. Just a hobby.”

“But it is something you care about,” he said. “And a chance to get to know you again, after all these years apart.”

She met his eyes, and he felt a deep connection between them.

“What have you done?” she asked. “For all these years?”

“Well, as you heard, I did move off to the country,” he said. “When my grandfather died, my family and I moved to his land, as he had several hours on his estate. He was quite a kind man, and I was sorry he was gone. Living at his estate, though, made me feel close to him. Jacob and I had a fairly quiet childhood.”

“But now you have returned.”

“Yes,” he said, as they danced. “Supposedly, to find a bride, but I have a feeling it is going to be quite difficult to do so. And you? Why have you not married, really?”

“Oh, I suppose no one has been able to keep my attention,” she said, and he smiled.

“Well, that sounds like a challenge,” he answered. She raised an eyebrow.

“Is that what you think?” she asked. “You do not think that I just should pay more attention and be polite.”

He smiled.

“No,” he said. “Tell me, what does it take to keep your attention?”

“To keep my attention?” she asked. “I am not sure. No one ever has.”

“But surely you must have suitors?”

“I do,” she said. “At least, they try. I do not accept, of course.”

“You must have quite a reputation,” he said to her, and she shrugged.

“That is what Thomas tells me,” she replied. “Some people find it fascinating and other people find it annoying. In any case, it is fine with me. I have never been the type of person to be bothered by what other people think.”

“That’s wonderful,” he said. “So many people worry too much about what other people think. Jacob is guilty of that. The entire time that we were coming here, he was worried what people would think of us, being country bumpkins.”

She laughed.

“I do not think you are a country bumpkin,” she said. “You are dressed well enough and you seem to know all the dance steps.”

“Ah, well,” he said, with a smile. “There isn’t much to do in the country, you understand, so one has time to perfect their dance steps.”

She laughed again.

“There are quite a few people that I would like to send to the country, then,” she said. “You have not stepped on my feet once.”

“Triumph,” he said to her. “Tell me, what has Thomas been up to? From what I remember, he was always focused.”

‘He is,” she said. “And he is still extremely focused these days. My father is trying to teach him much of what it takes to run the estate, just in case.”

“Oh,” he said. “Your father is not ill, is he?”

“No,” she said. “At least, I do not believe he is. Thomas just asked him too.”

“That is Thomas, always prepared,” he said, with a smile. “What has he learned so far? Is he taking over the accounts?”

“He is,” she replied. “And he seems to have taken over talking to the tenants, as well. He also made my father accessible to many of his meetings.”

“That is wonderful,” he said. “My father has been asking me to do some of that, as well.”

“But you prefer not to?” she asked.

“I do,” he said. “I just…I preferred to go out and see what the world had to offer first.”

“Oh, so you’ve travelled?” she asked. He gave a little shrug and she had a feeling that meant that he was being modest.

“Not far,” he assured her. “But I have seen some of the country, and I think there is much more to be seen. I think one can truly never stop seeing the world.”

“I do not know very many people who have travelled,” she said. “Except for the military. We have an acquaintance who bought the rank of captain and was assigned to sail down to the West Indies. We’ve just received word that he has met his bride and will get married.”

“How romantic,” he said. “Perhaps that is what you need to do.”

“Travel to the West Indies to find someone that could hold my attention?” she asked, and he nodded.

“Oh my,” she replied. “I have never thought of that before.”

“Please do not seriously consider it,” he said, with a laugh. “Your brother will have my head if you do.”

“Perhaps,” she said. “Or perhaps he will think it is a marvellous idea, to get me out of his hair.”

“It seems Thomas and you are quite close,” he said. Ellie smiled.

“We are,” she replied. “The age difference between us is not that immerse, as you might have recognised. And Thomas has always encouraged me to be honest with him. I can speak to him like I speak to no one else. He is my dearest friend as well as my brother.”

“That is lovely,” he said. “Most siblings bicker. I do remember you two bickering.”

“Well, yes,” she said. “We still bicker, of course. I don’t know how we could relate to each other if we didn’t bicker. Do you have any siblings?”

“I am the second son,” he replied. “But Jacob is like my brother. We were raised as brothers. Our mothers are twins.”

“Twins!” she said. “That is delightful, I’ve never met twins.”

“Our mothers are identical twins,” Alexander replied. “And I am certain that they swapped duties more than once. There were sometimes when I was certain it was actually my aunt taking care of us, but I couldn’t tell the difference.”

She laughed.

“That’s wonderful,” she said. “Even though you were in the country, it sounds like you had a wonderful childhood.”

“I did,” he said. “Even if it was different from most of the people here.”

“I think differences would be accepted,” she said. “Everyone’s story is the same here, it seems. It’s only people like Marcus that raise excitement in the community.”

“Marcus?” Alexander asked, confused.

“Oh,” she replied. “He is our friend who went to the West Indies.”

“Of course,” Alexander said, as the dance ended. “What happens if people just live here their whole life?”

“Gossip,” she replied. “Gossip of their every movement. Let me be the first to tell you that it’s exceedingly boring to listen to it.”

He laughed. There was something about the way she said it that he found fascinating.

“You’re quite witty,” he said. “Has anyone ever told you that?”

“No,” she replied, although she was smiling. “Am I to take it as a compliment?”

“Oh yes,” he replied. “Wit is not something that can be taught by a tutor.”

“I did not ever think of such a thing,” she replied. “You did have tutors in the country, didn’t you?”

“Not one that taught me wit,” he replied, and she laughed. They met eyes and he felt a connection between them that he had never felt with anyone else. It was true, she was beautiful. She seemed to have a large heart, and she captured his attention like she was the only woman in the room. Alexander had seen beautiful women before, but he had never met one that captivated his attention like this.

The dance finished and the two of them bowed to each other in order to end it.

“Shall we return you to your brother?” he asked. “To show him that I did not harm you?”

“I think Thomas would be more worried about me harming you,” she said. “I can have quite the temper when I want to.”

“Well, I hope that I will never see that side of you,” he said, with a grin. “I consider myself a strong person, but you, I think, could frighten me if you wanted.”

She looked at him then, and he smiled. They spotted Thomas across the room and he nodded to them to come over. Alexander held out his arm and Ellie took it with a smile. He noticed that a few people were watching them, and he couldn’t help but hold his head up a little higher. Maybe there was a reason that he came here today, and a reason that he met her again.

---

“Dancing into the Arms of Destiny” is an Amazon Best-Selling novel, check it out here!

Ellie had always been an obedient young woman. While bright and charismatic, pursuing a suitable match had always been her last priority. Ellie had no doubt that she would be stuck in a loveless marriage, as no man ever caught her eye. The doubt only deepens with her father’s pressuring wish to forbid her younger sister to debut before Ellie gets married. Ellie does not want to keep her sister from happiness, so an unexpected ball reunion with a childhood acquaintance seems to be the perfect opportunity to settle with a man she feels comfortable with. Nevertheless, Ellie’s expectations about love are about to rapidly change and she is in for the biggest revelation of her life…

Alexander was not expecting anything extraordinary to happen to him when he walked into a ball after many years being away from home. Despite not having seen Ellie in years, he is immediately struck by her presence and swept away by her charming looks and personality. Ellie’s suggestion of marrying straight away is already worrying enough, but it is love that Alexander fears even more than a hasty wedding. Haunted by his parents’ love that quickly turned into hatred, he has sworn off marrying for love. However, all it takes is one look into Ellie’s eyes and a captivating dance to warn him about the danger of falling deeply in love with her. Will Alexander manage to set his own prejudice aside and give love the chance it deserves?

As hard as they both try to fight their feelings, soon neither of them can deny how scarily fast they are falling in love with every passing minute. The depth of their unexpected feelings frightens Ellie, while it makes Alexander want to bring everything to a halt, even at the expense of ripping his own heart out. After an unexpected twist of faith though, Ellie’s hand is pursued by another man and Alexander knows that time is running out and he has to make a choice. Will he walk away forever or will he try to write his own story from scratch ignoring his family’s past? Will Ellie and Alexander surrender to their fear by distancing themselves or will their love be too overpowering to walk away from?

“Dancing into the Arms of Destiny” is a historical romance novel of approximately 60,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Get your copy from Amazon!