Page 38
Story: An Improbable Scheme (Courting the Unconventional #1)
E lsbeth felt the air leave her chest as she considered Alfred’s words. Charles? Could her own cousin truly be responsible for her father’s death? It seemed impossible.
Alfred took a step closer, drawing her attention. “Think about it, Elsbeth. Your cousin had the most to gain from your father’s death. He inherited the title and what remained of the estate.”
“But the estate was practically bankrupt,” Elsbeth countered, though her voice wavered. “My father left him nothing but debts.”
“That’s true,” Alfred conceded. “But your father was a notorious gambler. Had he lived, he would have squandered every last piece of his estate. By dying when he did, your cousin retained the land and entailed properties. He can rebuild his fortune. It may take some time, but it is entirely possible.”
Elsbeth turned to her mother. “Do you truly believe Charles is capable of murder?”
Her mother’s face darkened with an expression Elsbeth rarely saw: doubt mixed with pain. “At first, no. But the more I’ve thought about it… it makes sense. This is why you mustn’t leave with him. We don’t know what he is capable of.”
“Yet you wanted me to marry him?” Elsbeth demanded.
“That was before certain things came to light,” her mother replied.
“No,” Elsbeth said, jumping up from her seat. “I don’t believe it. I don’t want to believe it.”
Rising, Niles’s eyes held compassion as he said, “Elsbeth, if Charles did harm your father, it would explain why he might want to harm you. You’ve been asking too many questions.”
Lady Isabella’s hand flew to her mouth. “He hasn’t tried to hurt you, has he?” she asked, her voice cracking with fear.
Elsbeth hesitated, unsure how much she should reveal. Before she could answer, Niles spoke up. “Bedford did almost shoot Elsbeth and possibly poisoned her with a lozenge.”
“You aren’t helping,” Elsbeth muttered.
Her mother’s expression grew resolute. “I can’t in good conscience allow you to go with Charles to his estate.”
Alfred nodded in agreement. “Your mother’s right. If something happens to you, your dowry reverts to the estate. It would go straight into Charles’s hands.”
Elsbeth’s resolve faltered, her body sinking back onto the settee as the weight of everything pressed down on her. “Charles wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t…”
But even as she spoke, doubt crept in, unsettling her more than she wanted to admit. “What am I supposed to do?” she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Niles sat beside her, his presence steadying. “I have an idea.”
She turned to him, hope flickering faintly in her chest. “What is it?”
“Marry me,” he said firmly, his eyes locking with hers. “I can take you far away from all of this. I’ll keep you safe.”
Her brows knitted together. “You cannot be serious. ”
“I’ve never been more serious,” Niles insisted, reaching for her hand. “This isn’t how I planned to offer for you, but it’s the best solution. Don’t you see?”
Her heart fluttered, but not in the way she hoped. “I… I don’t know what to think,” she stammered.
Lady Isabella interjected. “Perhaps you two should take this discussion to the gardens. Alone.”
Niles stood, helping Elsbeth to her feet as well. “That’s a wonderful idea,” he agreed.
As they walked side by side through the corridor and onto the veranda, Elsbeth pulled her hands from his grasp, clasping them tightly in front of her. The silence between them was thick, laden with unspoken emotions.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Niles observed, glancing at her.
“Am I?” she replied. “Perhaps it has something to do with you blurting out an offer of marriage.”
Niles stopped walking, turning her gently to face him. “I meant every word, Elsbeth. I want to marry you. I want to protect you—from Alfred, from Charles, from anyone who dares threaten you.”
Her heart sank at his words. Not once had he mentioned love. “I appreciate your offer, truly, but it isn’t necessary,” she said, trying to mask her disappointment.
“But it is,” he pressed, his voice rising with intensity. “I can’t stand by and watch something happen to you.”
She shook her head. “Thank you for your concern, Niles, but I must decline.”
He stiffened, his expression one of disbelief. “You’re refusing me?”
“I am,” she said. “I want more than a marriage of convenience.”
Niles ran a hand through his hair, leaving it endearingly disheveled. “Is that what you think this is?”
“Isn’t it? ”
Niles stepped closer, his voice low. “No, Elsbeth. You misunderstand me. If there’s one thing I fear more than anything, it’s losing you. I love?—”
Charles’s booming voice interrupted, shattering the moment. “I do hope I’m interrupting something,” he said, his tone dripping with mockery.
Niles immediately moved in front of Elsbeth, shielding her from her cousin. “What do you want, Bedford?”
Charles smirked. “Oh, nothing much. Just wondering why you two are out here in the gardens… alone.”
Elsbeth stepped out from behind Niles. “Mother gave us leave to talk.”
Charles clicked his tongue, his smirk deepening. “Interesting,” he muttered.
“There’s nothing interesting about it,” Niles shot back. “For your information, I was offering for Elsbeth.”
Charles raised a brow. “Were you, now?” he drawled. “Well, this ought to be good. Please, proceed. Do not let me stop you.”
Niles looked heavenward. “Do you mind giving us some privacy?”
“Oh, I do,” Charles replied. “Because I do not think that Elsbeth should marry you.”
“And why is that?” Niles asked, his jaw clenched.
Charles folded his arms. “You are not good enough for her,” he replied bluntly.
Niles tilted his head slightly, acknowledging the insult without flinching. “I do not dispute that,” he said calmly, “but I would be a good husband to her.”
Charles scoffed. “Is that all you think Elsbeth deserves? Just a ‘good’ husband? She deserves so much more.” He turned to Elsbeth. “Did he tell you, Cousin, that you are not the first woman he has offered for?”
Elsbeth briefly glanced at Niles before replying, “No, he did not. ”
Charles continued. “Westcott pursued the diamond of the Season and failed to secure her hand in marriage.”
“That was for the best,” Niles said.
“Are you sure you are not just settling for Elsbeth?” Charles asked. “Or, perhaps, you are more interested in her dowry than anything else?”
Niles’s eyes flashed with anger. “How dare you!”
Charles shrugged nonchalantly. “I am merely asking questions—questions that should be considered.”
Niles took a step closer to Charles, his movements slow and deliberate. “Perhaps you are the one interested in Elsbeth for her dowry,” he retorted, his voice sharp with accusation.
Charles’s eyes narrowed. “Pardon?”
“If I marry Elsbeth,” Niles began, “then I control her dowry, and it will never revert to you. No matter what nefarious tactics you might attempt.”
Charles’s hands balled into fists at his sides. “I thought we settled this. I would never harm my cousin,” he growled.
“What about Elsbeth’s father?” Niles demanded.
Charles’s face displayed a flicker of shock before he masked it. “You think I had something to do with my uncle’s death?”
“If the shoe fits,” Niles retorted.
“You pompous fool!” Charles spat. “Why would I investigate my uncle’s death if I had something to do with it?”
“I don’t know,” Niles countered. “But you benefited the most from his death. That much is undeniable.”
Charles moved forward, closing the remaining distance between them. “I had nothing to do with my uncle’s death.”
Watching the tension escalate, Elsbeth knew she had to intervene before they engaged in fisticuffs. She stepped between them, placing a hand on each of their chests and pushing them apart. “Stop this!”
Both men froze at her touch, their heated gazes flickering down to her before meeting each other’s again .
“Enough!” she stated, her tone unwavering as she stared between the two men. “This isn’t solving anything.”
Charles turned his attention to her, his eyes clouded with both anger and hurt. “Do you believe any of this, Cousin?”
Elsbeth pressed her lips together before she admitted, “I don’t know what to believe.”
Charles’s face contorted with disbelief. “You truly think I’m capable of hurting you? Of hurting your father?”
“I just need time to sort this out,” Elsbeth said.
Charles took a step back. “Take all the time you need. But I am leaving for my country estate, with or without you.”
“Wait, Charles…” she began, her words faltering as he turned on his heel and strode away, the echo of the door slamming behind him punctuating his departure.
Elsbeth turned to Niles. “What if we’re wrong? About Charles, about Alfred, about all of it?”
Niles’s eyes softened, and he took a step closer. “I don’t have the answer to that,” he admitted. “But I think it’s better to err on the side of caution. Until we know for sure, you must focus on your safety.”
Her thoughts remained rooted on Charles. This was her cousin, someone she had trusted all her life. She couldn’t reconcile the Charles she knew with the one her stepfather accused. But what if her mother and Alfred were right?
Who was she supposed to believe?
As the weight of uncertainty pressed down on her, Niles stepped forward, pulling her into an embrace.
She stiffened for a brief moment, being caught off guard.
But as his warmth enveloped her, she felt herself relax into his arms. He held her firmly, yet gently.
It was the kind of embrace that one needed when things have been falling apart for years.
She hadn’t realized how much she needed this, and for the first time in years, she felt at peace .
His chin rested lightly atop her head, his voice soft and comforting. “I thought you could use a hug.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, her voice muffled against his chest. For the first time since her father’s death, she didn’t feel entirely alone.
After a moment of silence, Niles asked, “What are you going to do about your cousin?”
Table of Contents
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- Page 38 (Reading here)
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