Page 30
Story: An Improbable Scheme (Courting the Unconventional #1)
Before she could respond, her mother interjected. “I do not think that is a wise decision, considering Elsbeth is still recovering from her last fall.”
“I think I would be fine,” Elsbeth countered. “I’ve missed my morning rides, and the fresh air would do me good.”
Her mother’s skeptical gaze lingered on her, the lines of worry deepening around her eyes. “And what if you fall again?” she asked pointedly.
“I won’t,” Elsbeth said quickly. “I’ll be cautious, I promise.”
Her mother’s expression softened slightly. “You always promise to be cautious, and yet trouble seems to follow you.”
Charles chuckled softly, but his humor didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ll ensure she doesn’t get into any trouble,” he offered.
“I appreciate that, Charles,” her mother said. “Just don’t stay out too long. We have much to do to prepare for the soiree.”
“Of course,” Charles replied, his polite smile unchanging.
Elsbeth looked between the two of them, her frustration bubbling just below the surface. She felt like a child being managed rather than a woman capable of making her own decisions. “Thank you for your concern, Mother, but I will be fine. I do not need a nursemaid following me about.”
Her mother gave a reluctant nod. “Point taken, but please, do be careful.”
“I will,” Elsbeth promised.
Charles met her gaze briefly, and she wondered what his true intentions were. Was he offering to ride with her as an act of protection or something more? Regardless, she would need to remain vigilant.
The rest of the meal passed in polite conversation, but Elsbeth’s thoughts remained distant. Tomorrow would bring answers—or so she hoped.
With shafts of the morning sunlight filtering through the curtains, Niles paced the length of the drawing room, his boots tapping against the polished floor.
His thoughts were a whirlwind, all circling the same point: Elsbeth.
He was worried, deeply so, and the hours seemed to drag unbearably as he waited for a respectable time to call upon her.
The gnawing need to see her, to confirm she was safe, consumed him entirely, leaving no room for rational thought.
Eugenie’s voice broke through his turbulent musings. “Will you kindly stop pacing?” she asked, her tone carrying a playful edge. “You’re making me anxious just watching you.”
Niles halted abruptly and turned to face his sister, who sat perched on the settee, a book resting in her lap. “I’m sorry. I was just?—”
“I know what you’re doing,” Eugenie interrupted, a knowing smile curving her lips. “You’re waiting for the appropriate hour to call upon Elsbeth. But at this rate, you’ll wear a path into the carpet.”
His brows knitted in surprise. “And how could you possibly know that?”
Her smug expression deepened. “Brother, you’re many things, but subtle is not one of them. It’s written all over your face. You care for Elsbeth.”
For a moment, he considered denying it, brushing her observation aside. But what purpose would that serve? He had spent too long denying his feelings already. “I do care for her,” he admitted, sinking into the chair opposite her. “But there can be no future for us.”
Eugenie arched an eyebrow. “And why, pray tell, is that?”
He sighed, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “It revolves around the scandal surrounding her family. It could jeopardize your chances of making an advantageous match. I have a duty to protect your prospects, and I cannot risk tainting our name.”
“So you would sacrifice your own happiness for me?”
“It’s not about me,” Niles said. “It’s about what Father would have wanted. He entrusted me with your future, and I won’t fail him.”
Eugenie huffed in exasperation, placing her book beside her. “Father would have told you to follow your heart. To marry for love, just as he did with Mother.”
Niles straightened, growing defensive. “I said nothing about love.”
Her smirk returned, maddeningly knowing. “You didn’t have to.”
His pulse quickened. “I do not love Elsbeth,” he insisted, though his voice lacked conviction. He couldn’t. Not now. They hadn’t known each other long enough, and yet… in his heart, he knew he was more than halfway there. And that was the problem.
Eugenie leaned back in her seat. “What if I choose not to marry at all? Wouldn’t that make your sacrifice entirely pointless?”
“Regardless of what you choose, I cannot risk bringing scandal to our name by marrying Elsbeth.”
Eugenie’s teasing demeanor faded. “Then you don’t love her enough,” she said. “Because if you did, you’d move heaven and earth to be with her.”
His jaw tightened. “It’s not that simple.”
“It is,” Eugenie countered. “But that’s not for me to decide. Only you can.”
“Eugenie—”
She held up a hand, silencing him with an elegant wave. “And don’t tell me you’re doing this for me. I’ll be fine, Niles, whatever you decide. I think our family could weather a little scandal, especially if it meant your happiness.”
“I’m sorry, but I will not yield on this. I can’t.”
“Then you do not deserve Elsbeth.”
Niles turned his attention towards the window. He was bound by duty and responsibility, and he couldn’t risk getting distracted by something so trivial and unpredictable as love.
The long clock in the corner chimed and Eugenie spoke up. “Why don’t you go on a ride before you call upon Elsbeth? It might clear your head.”
He turned, tugging at the cuffs of his sleeves. “I think I shall.”
As he reached the door, Eugenie’s voice stopped him. “Just so you are aware, you came alive again when you met Elsbeth.”
He turned back, her words striking a chord he didn’t want to acknowledge. “I know you mean well but I must think of our future. I cannot—no, I will not—allow myself to be distracted.”
Eugenie offered a weak smile, but her disappointment was palpable. “Very well. I won’t say anything more on the subject.”
“Thank you,” he said, already moving to leave, eager to escape the conversation that had begun to chip away at the walls he had carefully built around his heart.
“However…” Eugenie’s voice stopped him mid-step.
He sighed, bracing himself before turning to face her. “What now?”
“I will say this—you deserve more than a marriage of convenience. You deserve love. Real love. And I want you to be happy. Truly happy.”
“I thought you said you wouldn’t say anything more on the subject.”
She grinned, unabashed. “Now I am done. The lecture is officially over.”
A wry smile tugged at his lips. “You are relentless.”
“I am your sister,” she quipped. “It is my duty. ”
The faint humor in her voice did little to ease the tension that consumed him. “I am unlikely to ever find what Mother and Father had,” he said. “And even if I did, am I worthy of such a love?”
“Of course you are. You are more than worthy. But you have to believe that, too.”
Her words struck something deep within him, and for a moment, he wanted to push back, to deny it all. But the sincerity in her voice left no room for argument. “I don’t know what I believe,” he admitted.
Eugenie’s eyes held compassion. “And herein lies the problem, Brother.” She picked up her book. “Now, go. I need to finish this chapter.”
Her words hung in the air as she returned to reading as though their conversation hadn’t just unraveled the tightly wound threads of resolve. He lingered for a moment longer, her words echoing in his mind before he finally turned and left the room.
A short time later, Niles was astride his horse, the brisk morning air biting against his face as he rode through the countryside.
The fields were shrouded in a delicate haze, the faint white mist clinging to the ground.
He urged his horse faster, seeking solace in the speed and the rhythmic pounding of hooves.
If only his father were still alive. This wasn’t the first time he had wished for it.
He longed for the wisdom and guidance that had once been a constant in his life.
His father would have known precisely what to say, and how to navigate this tumultuous path.
But his father was gone, and the burden of making the right choices fell squarely on his shoulders.
He couldn’t afford a misstep. Not for Eugenie, whose future depended on him, and not for himself.
Love was a distraction, an indulgence he couldn’t afford.
Not when so much was at stake. And yet, the ache in his chest whenever he thought of Elsbeth refused to be ignored.
She had changed something in him, unearthed a yearning for something more, something he couldn’t quite name.
Why had he let her into his life, into his thoughts, into his heart? He should have been stronger, more disciplined.
In the distance, movement caught his eyes.
Two riders were approaching, their figures becoming clearer as he closed the distance.
One of them was unmistakable—Elsbeth, her dark blue riding habit a striking contrast against the pale morning light.
Her dark hair was neatly tucked beneath her riding hat, and she sat tall and poised on her horse.
The second rider was Lord Bedford. Niles’s jaw tightened. What was she doing with him? Despite the uneasy truce they had struck, Niles didn’t entirely trust the man, and he doubted he ever would.
Urging his horse forward, he quickly caught up to them. Elsbeth turned her head, her expression shifting from surprise to something warmer. “Niles,” she greeted, her voice holding a note of unexpected pleasure. “What are you doing up at this hour?”
“I am an early riser,” he replied, though his gaze flicked to Lord Bedford. “Bedford.”
“Westcott,” he replied with a tip of his head.
Niles fell into pace beside them. “And what brings you both out so early?”
Elsbeth glanced between the two men, her smile faltering just slightly. “Charles invited me for a morning ride.”
“Indeed,” Bedford added. “A breath of fresh air does wonders for the nerves.”
Niles’s eyes narrowed, but he masked his suspicion with a polite nod. “Fresh air is good for many things.” He looked to Elsbeth. “I trust you’re taking care to avoid any... accidents.”
Her smile faded. “Yes, of course.”
Bedford’s lips pressed into a thin, white line, his displeasure laid bare. “You worry too much, Westcott. Elsbeth is perfectly safe with me.”
Niles didn’t reply immediately, his gaze lingering on Bedford.
He was too calm. Too collected. “I’m sure she is,” he said finally, though his voice betrayed his lingering concern.
“Perhaps I will join you both for the remainder of your ride. After all, the countryside is best enjoyed in good company.”
“If you insist,” Bedford said, his words curt.
Elsbeth glanced at Niles, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. Relief? Unease? Perhaps both. “It is a beautiful morning, is it not?”
Niles inclined his head. “It is,” he agreed before he shifted his gaze back to Bedford. “I received word you spoke with the constable. Was anything decided?”
“Not precisely,” Bedford admitted. “The constable was hesitant to label the incident as anything more than an unfortunate accident.”
“You didn’t tell me that,” Elsbeth said, her grip tightening on the reins.
Bedford turned towards her. “I didn’t want to upset you unnecessarily.”
Elsbeth’s back grew rigid. “I don’t need to be coddled, Cousin. I have the right to know what’s happening, especially when my life is involved.”
Bedford offered a stiff nod. “You’re right, of course. I should have told you.”
“So, what now?” Elsbeth demanded, her voice tinged with frustration. “We just sit and wait for Alfred to make another attempt on my life?”
“We don’t know for certain it was Alfred,” Niles remarked.
Elsbeth turned to him, her expression incredulous. “Who else could it be?”
Niles flicked a glance at Bedford, considering an unspoken possibility, but he kept the thought to himself. “It’s too soon to make assumptions.”
Elsbeth wasn’t convinced. “I should confront Alfred directly,” she said. “Ask him what he knows about my father’s death.”
“Absolutely not!” Niles exclaimed.
Elsbeth’s chin lifted defiantly. “It’s the only plausible solution. He knows something. We can’t keep playing this waiting game, hoping for answers to fall into our laps.”
Bedford shook his head vehemently. “I have to agree with Westcott on this. If Alfred was truly behind the attempt on your life, what makes you think he won’t try again?”
Her lips thinned, but her determination didn’t waver. “Then what’s your plan? Do nothing? Let Alfred win?”
Niles hated to admit it, but she had a point. Their cautious approach wasn’t working. They needed something bolder. “If you did speak to Alfred…” he began cautiously.
“ What ?!” Bedford cut in, his voice rising with disbelief.
Niles held up a hand to forestall further protests. “If Elsbeth insists on speaking with him, then you and I will be stationed outside the door the entire time. The moment Alfred tries anything, we’ll intervene.”
“I can agree to that,” Elsbeth said.
Bedford, however, was less than pleased. He muttered under his breath, “This is madness.”
Niles met his gaze. “Together, we can keep Elsbeth safe.”
Bedford looked as though he wanted to argue further, but he let out a resigned sigh. “Fine. But the moment something feels off, I’m ending it.”
“Agreed,” Niles said.
This was a risky plan, but it was better than doing nothing.
Table of Contents
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- Page 30 (Reading here)
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