Page 25 of A Spinster’s Folly (Courting the Unconventional #2)
E ugenie sat before her dressing table, staring at her reflection as she willed herself to believe that tonight wouldn’t end in disaster. No matter how many times she told herself that this evening would be just another dinner, the anxiety twisting in her stomach would not relent.
Elsbeth had informed her that Charles would be dining with them, and the moment she heard his name, all she felt was dread.
What on earth would she say to him? Would he expect her to acknowledge his proposal? Should she bring it up herself, or let silence swallow it whole, pretending as though it hadn’t occupied her thoughts all day?
And truly, she had far more pressing concerns than Charles. Someone had attempted to abduct her right outside of Gunter’s Tea Shop. She had little doubt that a scandal was brewing, considering Elsbeth had saved her by retrieving her pistol.
What would Lady Jane’s uncle think when whispers began to circulate?
Would he dismiss her submissions the moment her name—her real name—was associated with such impropriety?
She hoped not. Eugenie stood and adjusted the sleeves of her pale pink gown.
She had taken extra care with her appearance tonight, but it certainly wasn’t for Charles.
At least, that was what she kept telling herself.
The clock on the mantel chimed. Time had run out. She could no longer delay the inevitable.
With a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders.
She could do this. She would do this. It wasn’t as if she could remain hidden away in her bedchamber.
Besides, she had done nothing wrong. Rejecting Charles’s proposal had been the right decision—no matter how much it weighed on her—because the truth remained unchanged. He did not love her.
Leaving her bedchamber, Eugenie stepped into the dimly lit corridor, her footsteps muted against the plush carpet. Each step forward felt heavier than the last, as though she were marching towards a battle she had no hope of winning.
A voice from behind startled her. “Dare I ask what you are doing?”
Eugenie turned to find her brother, Niles, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, one brow arched in amusement.
“Pardon?” she asked.
“You’re moving slower than a zombie.”
Eugenie narrowed her eyes. “And how exactly do you know how a zombie moves?”
Niles smirked. “Common knowledge, I imagine. They are stiff, lumbering creatures.”
She tilted her head, feeling a need to goad him. “You sound quite certain. Have you encountered a zombie recently?”
“Not personally, no.” His smirk widened. “But I am confident in my assessment.”
“Then allow me to correct you. I am not walking like a zombie. I am gracefully making my way to the drawing room. ”
“If you say so.” His voice was laced with mirth, but when she didn’t respond, his expression softened. “You seem unsettled. Is something bothering you?”
She hesitated before admitting, “I suppose I’m a little on edge, especially after what happened earlier.”
At once, the humor vanished from Niles’s face, replaced by a hardened seriousness. “Your attempted abduction,” he stated. “I should have been there. I should have protected you.”
The guilt in his voice was unmistakable, and Eugenie felt an immediate need to reassure him. She stepped closer. “How could you have known what would happen?” she asked. “Besides, Elsbeth was with me, and she made sure I was safe.”
Niles didn’t look convinced. His fingers curled into fists at his sides before he exhaled sharply, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. “I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you, Eugenie.”
She met his gaze. “And I feel the same way about you.”
His grip on her shoulder tightened briefly before he let his hand drop. “I would feel much better if you remained at the townhouse until I’ve arranged for a Bow Street Runner to investigate the matter properly.”
Eugenie instinctively wanted to argue. But Niles had a point. Someone had attempted to snatch her in broad daylight—right outside Gunter’s Tea Shop, no less. If the man had been bold enough to strike once, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t try again. “I agree,” she said at last.
Niles grinned. “I like this agreeable side of you.”
“Don’t get used to it,” she replied dryly.
He chuckled, stepping back. “Shall we adjourn to the drawing room?”
“That sounds like a grand idea.”
As they made their way down the corridor together, Niles glanced sideways at her. “Elsbeth told me about what happened with Bedford. ”
“I assumed as much.”
His brow furrowed. “Would it be so awful for you to marry him?”
Eugenie came to an abrupt halt. “Surely you cannot be in earnest?”
“I am,” Niles said, lifting a hand before she could protest. “But hear me out before you start yelling.”
Niles started slowly, deliberately. “He is an earl, Eugenie. He could provide you with the protection of his name.”
“And what of your name, dear brother? Or have you conveniently forgotten that you, too, are an earl?”
Niles rubbed the back of his neck. “No, I have not forgotten. But you know as well as I do that the ton will be far more forgiving if you marry Bedford, especially after your indiscretion.”
Eugenie’s mouth fell open. “There was no indiscretion . ”
“So you’ve insisted—repeatedly, I might add—but the ton believes otherwise. And their belief, unfair as it may be, will dictate your reputation.”
Eugenie took a step towards her brother, her jaw set. “I am not going to marry Lord Bedford simply because the ton enjoys their gossip,” she said. “And quite frankly, I am shocked that you would even suggest such a thing.”
Niles’s gaze filled with something dangerously close to pity. “I only want what is best for you.”
Eugenie’s fingers curled into her palms. “What is best for me,” she countered, “is for you to mind your own business . ”
It was unkind, and she knew it. But she also knew she had no interest in discussing this further.
Niles studied her for a long moment before nodding slightly. “I understand that you’re angry,” he said. “But you cannot ignore this. And now, with news of your attempted abduction spreading, your name will be dragged through the mud even more. You need to consider?— ”
The distant chime of the dinner bell cut through the tense air, an almost welcome reprieve from the conversation.
Eugenie spoke over him. “We should go down to dinner.”
A flicker of resignation passed over Niles’s face. “Very well. But this conversation isn’t over.”
“Wonderful , ” she muttered under her breath.
They continued down the corridor, descending the grand staircase without another word. As they reached the drawing room, Eugenie instinctively schooled her expression into one of composure. But the moment she stepped through the threshold, her breath caught ever so slightly.
There, standing near the fireplace, was Charles. And he looked entirely too handsome for his own good. Did he realize the effect he had on her?
She forced herself to move forward, willing herself to remain indifferent. But as if sensing her presence, Charles turned his head, his blue eyes locking on to hers with an unreadable intensity.
His lips curved ever so slightly. And to her utter dismay, she found herself responding in kind. His reaction boded well for her. Perhaps he wasn’t too upset with her for turning down his marriage proposal.
She watched as Charles closed the distance between them, stopping just before her. With a slight bow, he greeted, “Good evening, Eugenie.”
She dipped into a curtsy. “Good evening, Charles.”
His gaze swept over her, warm and appraising. “You are looking lovely this evening.”
There was a spark in his eyes—one of approval, of admiration. And blast it all , she felt her traitorous heart respond in kind.
“Thank you,” was all Eugenie could manage to say, her voice softer than she intended .
Charles’s gaze lingered on her, searching. “Dare I ask how your day unfolded after I called upon you this morning?”
She waved a hand in front of her dismissively. “Well, it began pleasantly enough with a visit to Gunter’s Tea Shop, but then someone attempted to abduct me.”
“ What? ” Charles’s voice rose sharply, drawing the attention of those nearby. His entire body tensed, taking a step closer. “Someone tried to abduct you?”
Eugenie blinked, slightly taken aback by his reaction. “I thought you knew.”
“No, I haven’t heard a word of this,” Charles said, his tone clipped. His gaze swept over her, as if checking for injuries. “Are you all right?”
A reassuring smile played on her lips, though it did little to ease the worry etched across his face. “I am unharmed, I assure you. Elsbeth was with me, and she chased him off with her pistol.”
At that, a muscle in Charles’s cheek twitched as he turned sharply towards Niles, his fury barely contained. “And what say you, Westcott?” he asked. “What are you going to do about this injustice?”
Niles met Charles’s stare with a solemn expression. “I have already sent word to Bow Street to request an investigation.”
Charles didn’t seem remotely appeased. His hands curled into fists at his sides. “And what of Lady Eugenie’s safety? What precautions have you taken?”
Elsbeth, standing near Niles, chimed in. “She is perfectly safe here at our townhouse,” she assured him. “No harm will come to her here.”
But Charles still looked rattled, his brows furrowed deeply in frustration.
Eugenie reached out, her fingers resting lightly on his sleeve. “Do not trouble yourself,” she said. “I am well. Truly. And I will take the necessary precautions. ”
His gaze dropped to where her hand lay on his jacket. “It’s just…” His voice trailed off, his brows knitting together. “I cannot bear the thought of something happening to you.”
The sincerity in his tone sent a strange warmth through her chest. “And nothing will happen to me,” she insisted.
But Charles did not look entirely convinced. His blue eyes flickered with doubt before settling into something more resolute. “Do you know who it was?”