Chapter 303

One year later

"If I have to listen to one more man explain to me that business and politics are not things to concern myself with," Ella growled over the rim of her teacup.

"It is most frustrating," her friend, Audrey St. Laurent, agreed. "I often say some men need a good whack to the heador between their legs, depending on the man."

Ella snickered but then sighed as her mood deflated again.

"What's truly bothering you?" Audrey inquired.

Ella glanced about Audrey's morning room, seeking a distraction from her mortification, but they were alone. A fire crackled in the hearth, and sunlight glinted off the snow outside. It was a perfectly lovely day, which made her black mood all the worse.

"At one and twenty, it seems I'm now to attract the worst sort of men. I was at Lady Hearst's ball last evening, and every single man I danced with lectured me about how fortunate I was to even be dancing at my age. To make it worse, the younger ladies have taken offense at my being there. More