The Marriage List Read online

  FIRST WALTZ

  “My dance, I believe.” Montagu’s tone was warmer than she had heard it before.

  “It is.” Eleanor placed her hand on his arm.

  “I have been waiting all evening for this.” The look in his blue-green eyes caused her breath to stop.

  “As have I. My partner for an earlier waltz was not nearly as skilled as you are.”

  The frissons that started when he placed his hand on her waist were even stronger than before. That was a surprise. She had come to the conclusion that the only reason she had had a reaction to Montagu before was because it was her first waltz with someone she had not known most of her life. The first waltz with the other gentleman had caused no feelings at all, except the desire to take care of her toes. Obviously, that was not the case. Carefully, she touched his waist, and almost jerked her hand back.

  “Is anything wrong?” He appeared concerned.

  “Nothing.” Steeling herself, she took his hand. It was firm and warm.

  John gazed at Eleanor’s tightly pressed together lips quiver in suppressed mirth and wanted to kiss them. He had not particularly wanted a love match. Yet, he had the distinct feeling that if he wanted Eleanor, that was what it would take....

  Books by Ella Quinn

  The Marriage Game

  THE SEDUCTION OF LADY PHOEBE

  THE SECRET LIFE OF MISS ANNA MARSH

  THE TEMPTATION OF LADY SERENA

  DESIRING LADY CARO

  ENTICING MISS EUGENIE VILLARET

  A KISS FOR LADY MARY

  LADY BERESFORD’S LOVER

  MISS FEATHERTON’S CHRISTMAS PRINCE

  THE MARQUIS SHE’S BEEN WAITING FOR

  The Worthingtons

  THREE WEEKS TO WED

  WHEN A MARQUIS CHOOSES A BRIDE

  IT STARTED WITH A KISS

  THE MARQUIS AND I

  YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST EARL

  BELIEVE IN ME

  THE MARRIAGE LIST

  The Lords of London

  THE MOST ELIGIBLE LORD IN LONDON

  THE MOST ELIGIBLE VISCOUNT IN LONDON

  THE MOST ELIGIBLE BRIDE IN LONDON

  Novellas

  MADELEINE’S CHRISTMAS WISH

  THE SECOND TIME AROUND

  I’LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU

  THE EARL’S CHRISTMAS BRIDE

  Published by Kensington Publishing Corp.

  The MARRIAGE LIST

  THE WORTHINGTONS

  ELLA QUINN

  ZEBRA BOOKS

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  www.kensingtonbooks.com

  All copyrighted material within is Attributor Protected.

  Table of Contents

  FIRST WALTZ

  Also by

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  EPILOGUE

  AUTHOR’S NOTES

  ZEBRA BOOKS are published by

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  119 West 40th Street

  New York, NY 10018

  Copyright © 2023 by Ella Quinn

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

  If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

  ZEBRA BOOKS and the Z logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

  ISBN: 978-1-4201-5446-7

  ISBN-13: 978-1-4201-5447-4 (eBook)

  This book is for everyone trying to find the perfect match for them. Albeit the list Eleanor, Alice, and Madeline wrote is a bit old-fashioned for today, the concept is sound. When we were dating some forty years ago, I told my husband any man I married had to be able to cook, clean, and take care of babies. The baby is grown, but he still cooks and cleans.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Anyone involved in the publishing process knows it takes a team effort to get a book from that inkling in an author’s head to the printed or digital page. I’d like to thank my beta readers, Jenna, Doreen, and Margaret for their comments and suggestions. To my agents, Deidre Knight and Janna Bonikowski, and my wonderful editor, John Scognamilgio, for helping me think through parts of this book and for their advice.

  Again for John, who loves my books enough to contract them for Kensington. To the Kensington team, Vida, Jane, and Lauren, who do such a tremendous job of publicity. And to the copyeditors who find all the niggling mistakes I never am able to see.

  As sad as it was, I had to add two new Great Danes due to the death of Duke and Daisy. As they always do, members of my readers’ group, The Worthingtons, came through. Thank you to Michael Ransom and Chasity Parrish, who thought of the perfect Zeus and Posey respectively.

  Last, but certainly not least, to my readers. Without you, none of this would be worth it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for loving my stories!

  I love to hear from my readers, so feel free to contact me on my website or on Facebook if you have questions. Those links and my newsletter link can be found at:

  www.ellaquinnauthor.com.

  On to the next book!

  Ella

  CHAPTER ONE

  February 1821, near Birmingham, England

  Lady Eleanor Carpenter gazed out at the ice-covered hedgerows and pulled her fur-lined cloak tighter around herself. The day was bright but bitterly cold. She was returning from a visit to her elder sister, Charlotte, the Marchioness of Kenilworth. Across from Eleanor, Mrs. Parks was knitting. One of the Kenilworth neighbors, she had been glad of the invitation to accompany Charlotte on her journey back to Worthington Place, her home.

  Eleanor’s view of the hedgerows was suddenly interrupted. She pounded on the roof. “Stop the coach!”

  “My lady, what is it?” Mrs. Parks’s voice was a mix of worry and astonishment.

  Eleanor glanced over her shoulder as she opened the door. “Small children on the side of the road. Here in the middle of nowhere.”

  Families of all sorts were experiencing horrible conditions, but who would leave children on the side of a road?

  “You cannot be meaning to—”

  The carriage had barely stopped when Eleanor jumped down. She strode to the children, who were standing in front a woman lying on the ground. “Good day.” She lowered herself so she was at eye level with them. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  A boy, who appeared to be the oldest because of his height, shook his head. But one of the two girls gazed up at her as if she had seen a savior and nodded. “Our mum can’t walk.”

  In fact, the woman looked as if she might be dead. “I can take care of her. If you tell me where you live, I will take you there.”

  “Got no home,” the lad muttered. “Mum said we had to go.”

  “Your da?” Eleanor thought she knew the answer but had to ask.

  Two fat tears rolled down the little girl’s thin face. “They kilt him.”

  She would have to discover the whole story later. Right now, she needed to get them all warm. “In that case, there is really only one thing to do. You and your mother will come with me.” She signaled to her footman. “Turner, please carry their mother to the second coach. I’ll bring the children.”

  “Is she still alive?” He looked at the body on the ground and whispered.

  “I hope so.” She slid a quick glance at the woman. “We will find out soon.”

  The mother lay limp in his arms and made no sound as he carried her to the carriage.

  “Lady Eleanor.” Mrs. Parks stood in the carriage doorway. “I must protest. Your sister and Lord Kenilworth would never forgive me if something happened to you.”
r />   How could anyone not help these people? Eleanor gave her companion what she hoped was a reassuring smile. She was certain everyone in her family would agree with her decision. “Everything is perfectly fine. We will be on our way momentarily.”

  As she approached the second coach, the door opened. “Jobert, I need your help. Turner is bringing their mother. She is unconscious.”

  “Yes, my lady.” The maid began clearing off the backward-facing seat. “He can put her here. The seat is large enough to hold the children too.”

  Eleanor became increasingly worried about the mother. Her skin was almost blue. “Get her warm. If I am not mistaken, we will come to the Wheelwright Inn in about an hour, maybe a little longer. We can order a hot bath for her and fetch a doctor.”

  “That’s a good idea, my lady.” Jobert helped settle the children with blankets as Turner handed them up.

  Eleanor waited until they were ready before going back to her carriage. Thank God Matt, her brother-in-law, had insisted she take the large servants’ coach. The second footman assisted her into her carriage.

  “You ready to go, my lady?” the head coachman asked.

  “I am. We will need to stop at an inn. I think the woman might require a doctor.”

  “Leave it to me, my lady.” A second later, they were moving again.

  Mrs. Parks wrung her hands. “I do not know what your sister and his lordship will say—”

  There were times when Eleanor forgot that not all people were interested in helping others. She stifled the urge to lecture the older lady. “Mrs. Parks, I appreciate your concern. But I know they will say that I did the right thing.” Eleanor picked up the book she had brought with her. “We will be able to refresh the bricks when we stop.”

  An hour or so later, she was still staring at the book, but hadn’t read a page. The only thing she could think about was the plight of the poor mother and her children. What if she had not happened by? Would they have been left to freeze to death? Eleanor glanced surreptitiously at Mrs. Parks. She would not have stopped. Even her maid had sniffed and failed to assist Turner and Jobert in making their guests comfortable. And what had happened to them that they were out in this sort of weather? Eleanor closed her book. Surely they would be at the inn soon. She looked out the window. A light snow had started earlier, and now it was coming down much more heavily. That probably meant an unscheduled stop for the night. She blew out a breath. It would be fine. If she was capable enough to wed, she was capable enough to deal with this situation.

  Sometime later, they drove into the well-kept yard, and Eleanor glanced out the window. The familiar sign in the shape of a carriage wheel swung from the arm of a large white inn.

  One of the outriders rode up. “My lady, Lord Kenilworth made arrangements for us to stop here if we ran into weather. I’ll go in and notify them we have arrived.” He glanced at the other carriage. “What do you want done with the family?”

  “Arrange a room, baths, and food for them. They will not want to be separated.”

  The outrider bowed. “Of course, my lady. I’ll explain the matter to the landlord.”

  And be told no. “Get Jobert. Mrs. Parks”—Eleanor waited for the woman to acknowledge her—“you shall accompany me.”

  Her companion gathered her knitting into a bag. “I have been thinking about what you did, my lady. You were right. Your sister would have done the same thing.”

  Eleanor gave Mrs. Parks a genuine smile. “I know. But now we will probably have to deal with a recalcitrant innkeeper.”

  “I have no doubt in my mind that you are equal to the task.” Mrs. Parks smiled back.

  “Ah, here is my maid and footman. Let us make an impression.” Eleanor gathered her dignity around her like a shield as Turner helped her down the coach stairs. Another footman assisted her companion, and the head outrider ran to the door and opened it, bowing as she strode in.

  A tall, thin man of middling years with a shock of brown hair mixed with gray waiting next to a desk bowed.

  Behind her, Turner said, “Lady Eleanor Carpenter. Sister to the Marquis and Marchioness of Kenilworth.”

  “Name’s Claiborne.” The landlord bowed again. “I received a letter from his lordship asking us to set aside rooms for you.”

  She inclined her head and gave him a polite smile. “We will require one additional room for a family. A mother and three children had some trouble, and I have taken them up.”

  A shadow passed across the landlord’s face as he looked in the direction of what must have been the common room, and for a moment he hesitated. “Yes, my lady.”

  “Good.” Resisting the pull to glance in the same direction, she raised her chin slightly. “They will require baths, meals, and a doctor. Mr. Whitmer”—she indicated the outrider with her hand—“will assist you if need be.”

  “Thank you, my lady.” Mr. Claiborne gathered several keys and slid a look toward the common room again. “If you will follow me, I’ll take you to your chambers.”

  “Turner,” Eleanor whispered. “Something is wrong. Get the family and take them around to the back.”

  “Straightaway, my lady.”

  “I’ll have Whitmer wait for you.”

  Turner nodded and backed toward the main door. Eleanor’s brain whirled with the possibility of danger. She had heard about the things that had happened to her sisters and Dotty, but Eleanor had never really expected to experience them herself. She followed the landlord up the stairs. The first thing she must do is assess from where the problem was coming. That should be relatively simple. Someone was obviously in the common room looking for a family. He was not the woman’s husband. Who was he, and why did he pose a danger? Her footman would be happy to attempt to find out, but Whitmer wasn’t wearing livery and Turner was.

  The landlord showed Eleanor her rooms. Jobert, who was carrying a satchel, immediately entered.

  “I have beds for your coachmen over the stables,” Mr. Claiborne said.

  Eleanor nodded. “Our ladies’ maids will sleep in Mrs. Parks’s and my respective chambers. I trust you have trundle beds for them?”

  “We do, my lady.” Between their rooms and the backstairs, he unlocked the door to another chamber. “Here is one big enough for a family.”

  Eleanor surveyed the area. There was one very large bed, a table, and a few chairs. “This should do. I would like a hot bath delivered as soon as possible. I want my footman on this floor if you have an empty chamber.”

  “Right next door. I’ll have to get the key.” Obviously, the man was not happy with her request, yet he dare not refuse. Kenilworth’s family gave the inn a fair amount of custom.

  “Thank you.” Eleanor gave him a gracious smile. Once the landlord left, she turned to Whitmer. “Turner should be at the back door with the family. Please show him to this chamber. After that, could you see who is in the common room?”

  “I’d like the other outriders to go with me,” Whitmer said. “I saw the look on the landlord’s face too.”

  “Very well.” This might be a more interesting night than she had thought it would be.

  Eleanor changed from her traveling gown to a walking gown. While she had been washing her face and hands, she had heard the children speaking softly. “Jobert, I am going to assist our guests. I should like you to come with me.”

  “Of course, my lady.” The maid collected some scented soap and two of the towels they traveled with, as well as one of her nightgowns. “I’m glad I packed extras.”

  Eleanor did not know how her maid felt about giving a nightgown to a stranger. “You may give her one of mine, if you like.”

  “No, my lady. I’ll wager she will feel more comfortable in this one.”

  Because it did not have all the ruffles? “I will replace it.”

  “As you wish, my lady.” Jobert bustled out of the room, and Eleanor followed.

  A fire had been lit in the chamber, warming it nicely. The children were huddled around their mother. Jobert was assisting the barely awake woman when a knock came on the door.