Page 10
Story: An Improbable Scheme (Courting the Unconventional #1)
Morton threaded a needle with practiced hands. “This is the last time I will patch you up,” he stated, meeting her gaze. “You need to find another way, my lady.”
Elsbeth nodded, though she wasn’t sure if she truly meant it. “You are right,” she responded. “I wasn’t a very good highwaywoman anyways.”
Morton’s eyes softened with relief. “That is the most sense I have heard you speak in weeks.”
As he brought the needle to her arm, she braced herself for the inevitable pain. “This will hurt a little,” Morton warned.
The needle pierced her skin, and Elsbeth gasped, her nails digging into the edge of the stool. Hurting a little was an understatement. She bit her lip to keep from crying out, her breaths shallow and quick.
“Lord Westcott,” she said suddenly, the name escaping her lips before she could stop herself.
Morton’s hand stilled. “What about him? ”
“He was the reason I was shot,” she admitted. “He distracted me while someone else took aim.”
Morton’s jaw tightened. “That man has no honor.”
“Well, neither do I,” Elsbeth replied. “I did rob him of his pocket watch. Perhaps it was his way of exacting revenge.”
Morton shook his head as he resumed stitching. “It was a cowardly thing to do. A man should fight his own battles, not ambush a lady.”
Elsbeth felt tears sting her eyes again, though this time they were born of disappointment rather than pain. Why had she trusted Lord Westcott, even for a moment? Why had she let herself believe he could be different? He had saved her life in the village, only to betray her in the woods.
Despite the anger coursing through her, she had to acknowledge that Lord Westcott didn’t know she was the highwaywoman. Or did he? No. That was impossible. She had been so careful—up until now. He had betrayed the highwaywoman, not her. But did that even matter?
She swore to herself that she would never let her guard down around him—or anyone—again.
Niles sat atop his horse, staring into the dense, shadowy woodlands where the highwaywoman had disappeared moments before.
The sound of hoofbeats faded, leaving only the rustling of leaves.
He clenched his reins tightly, his jaw tensing with frustration.
She was gone, and he knew better than to follow.
These woods were unfamiliar to him and pursuing her blindly could prove dangerous.
Still, he couldn’t shake the sound of her cry after the pistol discharged. He suspected that she had been shot .
Before he could linger on the thought, a deep voice interrupted his musings. “Are you all right, my lord?”
Startled, Niles turned to see a tall, heavy-set man astride a horse riding out from the shadows. The man tucked a pistol into the waistband of his trousers, his stern expression softened slightly in concern.
“Who are you?” Niles asked.
The man inclined his head respectfully. “My apologies. I am Constable West. I was informed of a highwaywoman terrorizing these parts and I came to investigate.”
Niles frowned, his mind racing. “Who informed you?”
“Your aunt, my lord,” Constable West replied. “She was worried for your safety and felt it was necessary to alert me. When I saw you conversing with the highwaywoman, I feared she might harm you.”
“She meant me no harm.”
The constable’s expression hardened. “Desperate people tend to do desperate things. It is best not to take chances.”
Niles tightened the hold on his reins, his knuckles whitening. “I do not believe this highwaywoman is desperate. There is something different about her.”
Constable West gave him a skeptical look. “Regardless, she needs to be brought to justice. What can you tell me about her?”
Niles hesitated. He had a choice to make. He could cooperate with the constable and likely ensure the woman’s capture, or withhold information and protect her. His instincts pulled him towards the latter. For reasons he couldn’t fully explain, he felt compelled to shield her.
“I’m afraid I didn’t get a good look at her,” Niles lied.
Constable West furrowed his brows. “But, my lord, from what I understand, this is the second time you have encountered her. I was informed she robbed your coach and stole your pocket watch. ”
“She always wears a mask,” Niles said. “I couldn’t discern her features.”
“It almost seems as if you are protecting her,” Constable West said, his tone pointed.
“And why would I do that?” Niles countered, meeting the constable’s gaze evenly.
Constable West studied him for a long moment before tipping his head. “I don’t rightly know. But if you remember something that might aid the investigation, I trust you will contact me.”
Niles was done with this conversation. He wanted to return home and retreat to his own thoughts. “If that will be all,” he said.
“Goodnight, my lord,” Constable West responded, retreating into the shadows.
Niles urged his horse forward, his mind spinning.
He hoped fervently that he had been wrong about the gunshot wounding the highwaywoman, but the thought lingered.
The idea of her hurt and alone in the forest unsettled him in a way he didn’t expect.
Why was he so preoccupied with this woman?
She was merely a thief who had taken his father’s pocket watch.
And yet, she was unlike anyone he had ever met, a mystery he couldn’t help but want to unravel.
When the familiar silhouette of his aunt’s manor came into view, he dismounted and handed his horse to the waiting groom.
He entered the house quietly, noticing a soft light spilling out from the parlor.
Finding himself curious, he changed course and stepped inside.
Eugenie was there, her legs curled beneath her as she sat in a plush chair, engrossed in a book.
“Why are you still awake?” Niles asked.
Eugenie held up a finger, signaling for him to wait as she finished the page. After a long moment, she placed a ribbon between the pages and closed the book. “Sorry,” she said lightly. “I just had to read that last part.”
“I assume that’s why you’re still awake?” he teased, moving to sit across from her.
“That,” Eugenie replied with a grin, “and I was waiting for you to return from your… excursion.”
He arched a brow. “And why is that?”
Her smile dimmed. “Did you find the highwaywoman?”
“I did,” he admitted, leaning back in his chair.
Eugenie placed the book down onto the table. “Did you convince her to abandon her wayward ways?”
“I tried, but I was interrupted by the constable.”
“That might have been a good thing. You seem rather preoccupied with this highwaywoman.”
A wry smile played on his lips. “Why are you nosing into this?”
“Because I care,” she replied, her tone laced with genuine concern. “I just wish you had a healthier obsession.”
“Like reading?” he asked dryly.
Eugenie laughed. “Yes, like reading. We could read together and discuss books. Think about how much fun we could have.”
Niles shook his head. “That is not likely to happen. Besides, I am not obsessed with this highwaywoman. I simply want my pocket watch back.”
With a knowing look, Eugenie replied, “You have spent the last two nights chasing after her. If that is not an obsession, what is?”
“Curiosity,” he said with a shrug.
“You are odd, Brother,” Eugenie said. “But promise me you will be careful.”
“I am always careful,” Niles replied, rising from his seat.
“Wait, don’t go,” Eugenie encouraged.
“Does that mean this interrogation is over? ”
Eugenie looked up at him. “I am merely trying to understand. What is it about this highwaywoman that intrigues you?”
Niles ran a hand through his dark hair as he tried to think of an answer. “I suppose I see a kindred soul in this highwaywoman.”
“She is a thief.”
“I don’t think she is,” Niles said. “She told me that she is looking for something specific and hadn’t intended to rob me.”
Eugenie gave him an exasperated look. “And you believe her?”
“I do.”
“Where did my cynical brother go?”
Niles offered his hand to help his sister up. “I am still here, and I know what I am doing.”
Eugenie took it, standing gracefully. “It is madness, you know,” she said. “Aunt Margaret is worried about you.”
“Is that why she spoke to the constable?”
“It was,” Eugenie replied. “How did you know that?”
Niles started walking towards the door. “I met Constable West after he shot at the highwaywoman.”
“Oh, no,” Eugenie murmured.
“I suspect she was hit because she cried out in pain before retreating into the woodlands.”
Eugenie glanced over at him. “I am surprised you didn’t follow her.”
“I would have, but the woodlands can be treacherous, especially at night,” Niles replied. “It would have been foolish to do so.”
As they ascended the grand staircase together, Eugenie asked, “Do you think you will see her again?”
Niles thought for a moment, his gaze distant. “I hope so,” he murmured.
They came to a stop at his sister’s door and she gave him a faint smile. “Goodnight,” she said before slipping into her room and closing the door behind her.
He lingered there for a moment, her words echoing in his mind. Why was he so preoccupied with this highwaywoman? With a heavy sigh, he turned and made his way down the corridor to his own bedchamber.
The warm glow of candlelight greeted him as he stepped inside. His trusted valet was tidying up the room. At the sound of the door, Wiley glanced up, his expression easing with relief.
“You are back,” Wiley said. “I expected you much later.”
“I found her,” Niles muttered, shrugging out of his jacket and tossing it onto a nearby chair.
Wiley straightened, giving Niles his full attention. “And?”
“And nothing,” he grumbled as he dropped onto the settee. “We spoke for a few moments before we were interrupted by the constable.”
“That might be for the best.”
Niles leaned back, his head resting against the upholstered seat as he stared up at the ceiling. “I can’t stop thinking about her,” he admitted. “I don’t know why. I don’t even know who she is.”
The valet moved closer, his expression thoughtful. “What is it about her, my lord?”
“There is something familiar about her,” Niles said after a long pause. “Something I can’t explain. It is like—” He stopped himself, shaking his head. The notion was ridiculous, absurd even. “It feels as if our souls are somehow intertwined.”
Wiley’s brows lifted slightly. “That is quite the sentiment, my lord.”
Niles let out a humorless laugh. “Madness, isn’t it? She is a highwaywoman. A thief. I should be condemning her actions, not being obsessed with her.”
Wiley took a step closer, folding his hands in front of him. “ Perhaps you see something in her that others don’t. Or perhaps she is meant to cross your path for a reason.”
Niles huffed. “Don’t say that you believe in destiny and whatnot.”
Wiley chuckled. “I do, in my own way. I met my wife at a country dance I hadn’t even planned to attend. If I hadn’t gone that night, my whole life would have been different.”
The sincerity in Wiley’s tone caught Niles off guard. “And are you happy?”
“Wholeheartedly,” Wiley replied, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Marriage is not without its challenges, but it is a partnership. A choice made every day.”
Niles grew silent, his thoughts shifting. He had always believed marriage was a matter of practicality. Mutual toleration. Shared goals. Love had seemed unnecessary, even frivolous. Yet Wiley’s words stirred something within him, a seed of doubt about his own rigid beliefs.
“Perhaps love does make a difference,” Niles murmured, almost to himself. The thought felt awkward, unwelcome even.
The image of Lady Elsbeth came into his mind, and he quickly banished it. Where had that thought even come from? He would no more marry Lady Elsbeth than chew glass.
Shaking his head, he rose from the settee with a groan. Between the highwaywoman and Lady Elsbeth, he doubted he would get even a moment of sleep.
Wiley studied him for a moment. “If I may, my lord, sometimes the answers come when you least expect them.”
“I am not looking for answers,” Niles said, heading towards the bed. “I am looking for peace and quiet.”
With an amused look, Wiley replied, “Then you should not get married.”
As Niles sank onto the edge of the bed, he couldn’t help but agree.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10 (Reading here)
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
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- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43