Page 8 of A Seaside Scandal (Change of Heart #2)

Perhaps it would be best for me to forget about gentlemen this evening.

Charlotte never gave up on what she wanted.

Competing with her sounded like a terrible nightmare.

I took a deep breath. She could attend the ball with her perfect blue gown and matching eyes, and her intentions to charm Mr. Jonathan Croft out of his wits, and I would attend the ball with my butter-yellow gown and my intentions of dancing to my heart’s content.

That sounded much more delightful anyway. I did not come to Brighton to catch a man, and I certainly didn’t come to Brighton to lose my dearest friend over one.

Mama looked lovely in green. She stood in the drawing room with Charlotte and Edmund when I finally made my way downstairs. I put on a smile, unwilling to feed the awkwardness that had taken root between Charlotte and me. I refused to allow Mama and Edmund to notice that anything was amiss.

Because it was not.

I had shunned the very name Mr. Croft from my mind, replacing it with bright, flickering candles, gold sconces, swishing fabric, and elegant violins. Perhaps I would even be able to spot the sea from the Castle Inn windows.

The four of us fit snugly in the carriage as we made our way to the assembly hall. I sat across from Edmund, who was staring quite determinedly out the window. Charlotte was still casting him her demure glances in the dark, to be sure. After all, she never gave up. Not fully.

My brother, with all his amiable qualities, was quite selfish to remain a bachelor. Perhaps I could turn my attention to finding him a suitable match at the ball instead of finding one for myself. That sounded equally exciting and worthwhile. I grinned to myself. He would hate me for it.

When our carriage came to a halt, we made our way to the front doors and into the vast assembly hall of the Castle Inn.

The high ceiling was bathed in light from the chandelier, the wooden floors hidden with the hems of countless gowns and the soles of polished boots.

Everyone looked so charming and elegant in the bright candlelight, and a quadrille had already begun in the center of the room.

Music floated above the crowd from an elevated orchestra, a lively tune that put an instant smile on my face.

For a moment, I forgot my vexation with Charlotte and grabbed her arm in delight. “It’s stunning, is it not?” I said in a breathless voice.

“Don’t act as if you’ve never seen a ball like this before.” Charlotte gave a soft laugh, twisting her arm slightly until I loosened my grip. She held her chin high. “Inexperience is far too easily assumed. We must act natural.”

“You may, but I am most certainly not going to hide my elation.” I grinned.

Charlotte was far too serious. She always felt the need to school me into being like her, but tonight I had no intention of obeying.

If she was going to steal my dreams of courting Mr. Croft, then I was going to do as I pleased as well, even if it vexed her.

I put on my widest smile—one she would say made me look like a ninny—and hugged her arm to my side as we walked farther into the ballroom.

Mama stopped to speak with a tall, elegant woman who I recognized from London.

Lady Cinderford, a viscountess, was an excellent connection to have in Brighton.

After greeting Mama, she turned to me with a smile.

“Miss Alice, how lovely you are. I had nearly forgotten how strongly you resemble your mother.”

“Thank you, my lady.” I returned her smile, offering a curtsy.

There was a certain air that members of the ton exuded, and Lady Cinderford was positively swarming with it.

Her posture, the tone of her voice, and every inch of her gown and accessories made her status known.

I had always imagined Charlotte stepping into a role such as Lady Cinderford’s. She seemed to have been born for it.

“You must allow me to help with introductions this evening,” Lady Cinderford said to Mama. “I know a few eligible gentlemen who might be perfect for your young ladies.” She eyed me again, then Charlotte.

“We would be honored.” Mama’s smile brightened.

My stomach fluttered with excitement. I was certain nothing could dampen my good spirits…until I saw a flash of dark hair near the door.

Mr. Jonathan Croft stood there, flanked by his sisters and their husbands.

My breath caught in my chest, and my heart skipped in admiration.

Drat it all. I could not tear my gaze away from him.

I was drinking up every detail, my jaw hanging a little too loose: his black jacket, white cravat, chestnut brown hair and eyes.

He surveyed the room with that aloof gaze that I was beginning to guess wasn’t intentional.

I corrected my expression to one of nonchalance. It was perfect timing too, because he looked in our direction not a second later.

I felt the impact of his gaze with a jolt in the center of my chest. I drew a breath, a smile still frozen on my cheeks.

I could not have him knowing how many times he had crossed my mind in the past few days, especially not now that Charlotte was planning to flirt with him.

She would certainly make me look inexperienced and silly.

Perhaps I was already making swift work of it myself with my much-too-broad smile.

I was about to shrink the expression, but then the corners of Mr. Croft’s mouth lifted upward. He was looking at me…wasn’t he? My heart thudded. Had I been the cause of that smile?

“There he is.” Charlotte noticed him much later than I had. She stretched her neck even taller. “He will approach us in due time.” Her lashes fluttered toward the floor and back up again in Mr. Croft’s direction. “All we must do is wait here and look pretty.”

My stomach lurched. I had always tolerated Charlotte’s flirting, and I had even tried to learn a thing or two from it.

But tonight, it was infuriating. She hadn’t even been interested in Mr. Croft until she learned he was rich.

I wanted to say that out loud—to cast my accusations at her—but instead I held my tongue.

Lady Cinderford and Mama continued their conversation, drifting a few feet away as if to speak secretively.

They were likely planning which gentlemen might suit me best.

Mr. Croft stopped to speak with a man near the refreshment table, but his sisters continued to cast their gazes over the crowd.

Penelope saw us first, lifting her gloved fingers in a wave.

She tugged her husband forward, and he followed her across the wooden floor until they reached us.

“What a pleasure to see you both again!”

Charlotte and I curtsied in unison. Penelope’s husband, Mr. Dodge, had a sheen of sweat on his brow already, and he hadn’t even danced.

I could easily imagine how exhausting it would be to keep up with Penelope, especially at an event like this.

She seemed the sort of young woman to flutter around constantly, eager for new connections.

Her gaze darted over her shoulder. “Are you impressed that I managed to drag Jon here this evening?” A sly smile touched her lips.

“And he didn’t even protest nearly as much as I thought he would.

All I had to say was that the beautiful Miss Lyons and the charming Miss Kellaway would be in attendance, and he strapped on his boots.

” She gave a secretive laugh. “Do not tell him I said that.”

Charlotte spoke before I could. “I would never reveal your secret.”

She and Penelope shared a sly smile.

My mind raced. Was it better to be beautiful or charming?

Which was the higher compliment? I swallowed the dread that rose in my throat.

I was being ridiculous. To even think of competing with Charlotte for a man’s attention was pure foolishness.

I was born to lose. Overthinking every detail of our interactions with Mr. Croft and his sisters would drive me mad.

I was going to focus on enjoying the ball.

“Where did you procure your gown? It is remarkable!” Charlotte said to Penelope.

Slowly, I released Charlotte’s arm. The two women could converse about their gowns while I secured myself a dance.

I turned toward Edmund. “Do you have any acquaintances here you might introduce me to?” Since we had arrived in Brighton, he had been frequenting a few gentlemen’s clubs and establishments to socialize while we ladies took tea with some of our neighbors.

Edmund’s connections could prove even more vital than my own since they consisted mostly of gentlemen.

“I’m glad you asked.” My brother flashed a smile. “Follow me.”