Letters to Ellie (The Lost Slipper Society, book 2) releases February 5. To tide you over, here’s a snippet. (Because you-know-who doesn’t release the sample until after the release date. This is one of my favorite parts. This is from Chapter Two. Eloise is antsy about requesting something from her father, and then, she meets… the baron. Their meet-cute, if you will.
Winifred frowned. “Lord De Voss?”
Her father paused and peered down the table at her friend. “Yes, Miss Clankton?”
“Eloise is wondering something.”
All eyes turned on her. Somehow, thanks to their scrutiny, now didn’t seem the time. Not that what she wanted was particularly personal, but a sense of exposure crept over her. She couldn’t do it. So she only smiled. “Don’t forget, you promised me a dance.”
He reached for her hand. “I wouldn’t dream of it, my dear.”
“She wonders about her gift,” said her brother, round-faced and chestnut-haired Jack. “I’ll bet that’s what troubles her.”
“As I said, dear, we’ll discuss it during our dance.” He squeezed her hand. “It’s a tradition we have, you see.”
“To teach our children the value of patience.” Her mother shot her a look.
Eloise cringed. “I failed at that today.”
Yes, asking right now was the wrong thing to do. Maybe your plan is a bit too ambitious. They surely won’t agree to it. Not when they had the bill for this party to consider. And your dress, and all the food.
Soon, they returned to the ballroom.
The first quadrille played and Eloise danced with a handsome gentleman. He had a fine fashion sense, if no color-sense–his coat was a dark brown with green stripes. They paused for a moment in their dance, and she found herself facing her father. He touched her cheek and stepped aside to continue his dance with the young man’s mother.
At the end of the set, Winifred approached her again. “Did I see you cross paths with your father? Did you ask him about Paris?”
Eloise drooped against a nearby oak pillar. “No. He’s far too distracted by the party and our guests. Besides, I’m not sure I should ask. He’ll say no, I’m sure of it.”
Winifred flinched backward. “My word!”
Something landed between them. “Are you all right?” Eloise peered at the floor. “What is that?”
Winifred picked it up. “It’s a pit of some sort.”
Eloise took it from her, sniffed. “It smells like plum.”
Would you like to read more? You can pre-order it now, at the button below.
