He gave her the faintest of smiles, one that barely reached his eyes, as though even that small effort taxed him. “It is a pleasure to meet you,” he said, the words sounding more like an obligation than genuine sentiment.

“Likewise,” Elsbeth said.

Lady Margaret glanced at the doorway. “I was hoping your mother would be available to receive us.”

“She will be along shortly,” Elsbeth assured her. “May I get everyone a cup of tea while we wait?”

Lady Eugenie nodded. “That would be lovely. Thank you.”

After settling her guests on the settee, Elsbeth reached for the teapot and began pouring.

Her movements were deliberate, but her hands trembled slightly as she handed Lord Westcott his cup.

Their gloved fingers brushed briefly, and she felt a sharp jolt shoot up her arm, leaving her momentarily breathless.

Good heavens. What was wrong with her? She had met handsome men before, but there was something about Lord Westcott that unsettled her, something that kept her ill at ease.

Perhaps it was the nagging fear that he might somehow see through her mask of propriety and uncover her secret.

She had stolen his pocket watch, after all.

If he ever found out, her family would be ruined beyond repair.

She forced herself to meet his gaze, hoping to find some clue to his thoughts. His dark eyes were unreadable, his expression calm but distant. Did he know? Could he suspect? Or was she simply imagining the weight of his scrutiny?

Niles shifted in his chair as he attempted to conceal his growing irritation.

Social calls like these were not his preference, but Aunt Margaret had insisted they visit Lady Elsbeth, and here he was.

He would rather be anywhere else. It was always the same: young women batting their eyelashes and feigning interest in him, all because he was an earl. They saw the title, not the man.

Lady Elsbeth was undeniably beautiful. Her olive-toned skin gave her an unusual elegance, and her straight nose and high cheekbones added to her striking appearance.

Chestnut brown hair framed her face in soft curls, and the rest was swept up neatly.

She seemed at ease, laughing lightly at something Aunt Margaret had said, but Niles suspected it was all a ruse.

His gaze lingered a moment too long, and Lady Elsbeth turned her head, catching him staring. He expected a coy smile or a flutter of lashes, but instead, she studied him with an almost detached curiosity.

“Is your tea not to your liking, my lord?” she asked, her voice oddly polite.

“My tea is perfectly fine,” he replied.

She seemed satisfied by his response and returned to her conversation with Eugenie and Aunt Margaret, dismissing him as if he were a mere inconvenience.

It was unexpected. Refreshing, even. But puzzling. Surely she knew he was an earl. Women like her were usually keen on securing such a match. He leaned back in his seat, trying to figure out her true intentions.

Regardless, Lady Elsbeth was not a suitable match for him.

Her family’s reputation was in tatters, thanks to her late father’s reckless gambling.

Her mother’s marriage to a lowly merchant had only added to their fall from grace.

Not that he thought he was better than her, but he had his own family’s reputation to think about. His sister’s future depended on it.

A burst of laughter from Lady Elsbeth broke through his thoughts.

The sound was light and genuine, and it struck him unexpectedly.

Feeling like an interloper, he decided to join the conversation rather than sit there, stewing in his own thoughts.

Clearing his throat, he drew the attention of all three ladies, their expectant gazes turning to him.

“It is a fine day we are having,” Niles said, inwardly cringing the moment the words left his mouth.

Eugenie gave him a bemused look. “It is raining, Brother.”

“Is it?” he asked, feigning ignorance.

Aunt Margaret offered him a sympathetic smile. “How terribly rude of us. We have been ignoring you, Niles. What would you care to discuss?”

Caught off guard, he fumbled for a topic. “I… uh… find that I am curious about Lady Elsbeth.” Why did he say that? He cared little about learning more about Lady Elsbeth.

Lady Elsbeth’s lips pressed into a thin line, her expression one of mild annoyance rather than flattery. “What do you wish to know, my lord?”

Botheration.

What could he ask that wouldn’t make him sound like a complete muttonhead? “Do you ride?”

“I do,” she replied simply.

“That is good,” he muttered. What was wrong with him? He had never had an issue conversing with a beautiful young woman before.

Turning away from him, Lady Elsbeth addressed Eugenie. “Do you ride? ”

His sister grew visibly tense. “I haven’t ridden since my accident.”

“I’m sorry,” Lady Elsbeth said, her voice tinged with sincerity. “I didn’t know.”

“No harm done,” Eugenie replied. “I do not speak of it often.”

Without hesitation, Lady Elsbeth leaned forward and placed her hand gently over Eugenie’s. “Then we won’t speak of it.”

“Thank you,” Eugenie said.

Niles observed the exchange with a mixture of admiration and unease. Lady Elsbeth’s concern seemed to be genuine, and that surprised him. She didn’t seem to be playing any game, at least not one that he could discern.

The entrance of a blonde-haired, matronly woman interrupted his thoughts. Her bright smile was directed at Aunt Margaret. “What a pleasant surprise,” she greeted. “I hadn’t expected you until later.”

Aunt Margaret rose and embraced the woman. “We thought it was best to visit before heading to the village for shopping.”

“Well, you are always welcome in our home,” the woman replied, taking a seat beside Lady Elsbeth.

Aunt Margaret gestured towards them. “Allow me to introduce my niece, Lady Eugenie, and my nephew, Lord Westcott.”

The woman smiled graciously. “Welcome, I am Lady Isabella Stockton. I trust that your journey to our quaint village was uneventful.”

Eugenie interjected. “We were robbed by a highway woman .”

“A highwaywoman?” Lady Isabella repeated, her brows lifting in surprise. “How unusual.”

Lady Elsbeth suddenly picked up a plate of biscuits. “Would anyone care for a biscuit?” Her voice was loud. Too loud.

Niles leaned forward and retrieved a biscuit, his interest piqued by Lady Elsbeth’s abrupt attempt to redirect the conversation.

His sister, with a gleam in her eyes, continued. “She made off with Niles’s pocket watch. It belonged to our father.”

“Your father’s?” Lady Elsbeth asked, glancing at Niles as she placed the plate down onto the tray.

“Yes,” Niles replied. “It was handed down to me after his passing.”

Lady Elsbeth gasped, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I didn’t know.”

Niles placed his cup and saucer down on the table. “I appreciate your concern, but you have no reason to apologize.”

“Yes, of course, I know that. But I would imagine that particular family heirloom means a great deal to you,” Lady Elsbeth said.

“It does,” Niles admitted.

Lady Elsbeth bit her lower lip, her gaze flickering to the tea tray before returning to him. “I hope you are able to get your pocket watch back in a timely fashion.”

“I doubt Niles will ever see it again,” Eugenie declared, her tone more practical than hopeful. “The highwaywoman might have already sold it to the highest bidder.”

“I doubt someone would part with something so valuable so quickly,” Lady Elsbeth contended.

Niles offered her a brief smile, touched by her concern. “What’s done is done,” he said. “I would prefer not to dwell on it.”

Lady Elsbeth nodded, but her expression remained conflicted, as though there were more she wanted to say.

Niles didn’t know how—or when—but he would get that pocket watch back.

He had to. But first, he needed to discover the identity of the highwaywoman.

Leaning back in his seat, a thought struck him—could Lady Elsbeth be the culprit?

The idea seemed preposterous. Why would a genteel daughter of an earl turn to a life of crime?

But no. He quickly dismissed the thought. Lady Elsbeth’s reaction to his plight was far too empathetic to belong to a common thief.

Aunt Margaret’s voice broke through his musings. “Oh, dear. It might not be the best day to go shopping,” she remarked as she gazed at the rain pounding against the glass.

“I must agree,” Lady Isabella chimed in.

Niles stole a glance at Lady Elsbeth. Her eyes were downcast, and there was a line between her brows. Was she troubled by the conversation? Or was it something else entirely?

But before he could say anything, Aunt Margaret rose. “We do not want to take up too much of your time.”

“Nonsense,” Lady Isabella contended. “I always cherish the visits I receive from you.”

Aunt Margaret smiled. “In that case, I would like to invite you and your family to dine with us this evening.”

“We would be delighted,” Lady Isabella promptly responded.

“Wonderful,” Aunt Margaret said. “We shall see you this evening, then.”

As Niles followed the ladies out of the room, Lady Elsbeth called out to him. “My lord, might I have a word, please?”

Here it was.

Niles resisted the urge to sigh. He knew what was coming. The inevitable flirtation. It always came to this. Women were so predictable.

He turned, keeping his expression guarded. “Yes, Lady Elsbeth?” he asked, not bothering to hide the annoyance from his voice.

She stepped closer and her voice dropped to a near whisper. “I do not think we should associate with one another.”

Niles blinked, caught completely off guard. Of all the things she could have said, this was the last he had expected. “And why is that?”

She hesitated before saying, “I am sure you have heard the rumors about my family. I do not want to besmirch your family’s name—or Lady Eugenie’s—by association.”

“How thoughtful of you,” he muttered, his words laced with sarcasm.

Lady Elsbeth held her ground. “That is all I wanted to say, my lord.”

Niles should have left it at that. He should have turned and walked away. But something about her made him pause. Against his better judgment, he took a step closer, matching her low tone. “You do not need to concern yourself with my family’s reputation.”

“I was only trying?—”

He cut her off. “Did you truly think that this scheme would work?”

Her brow furrowed. “What scheme?”

“Women throw themselves at me all the time,” Niles said. “You may think you are convincing, but I see through it.”

Lady Elsbeth’s eyes flashed with irritation. “And what, pray tell, am I doing?”

“You believe that warning me away will endear me to you,” he accused. “But it won’t work.”

Her cheeks flushed, her voice growing defensive. “That is not what I was doing.”

She was good. He had to admit that. But he knew better. With a smirk on his lips, he said, “You could have a career in the theater with such a performance.”

Lady Elsbeth’s eyes narrowed. “I daresay you are so full of yourself, I am surprised your head does not float away.”

“Resorting to insults, are we?” he asked, arching a brow.

She took a step back, her chin held high. “And to think, I actually felt sorry for you. ”

Niles’s smirk faltered as he leaned in, his voice dropping to a near growl. “I think we are in agreement, then. The less time we spend together, the better.”

“Oh, trust me, my lord, I plan to spend as little time with you as possible,” Lady Elsbeth retorted, brushing past him.

Good.

That is precisely what he wanted.

As Niles stood there, his sister appeared in the doorway. Eugenie’s brows were drawn together in an expression that was half-disapproval, half-exasperation. “What did you say to Lady Elsbeth?”

“Nothing that didn’t need to be said,” Niles replied.

Eugenie cocked her head, her blonde curls swaying with the motion. “Oh, really? Because she looked rather irritated. Will you please stop being you for once and at least attempt to be cordial?”

“I don’t know what you are referring to,” Niles said.

Closing the distance between them, Eugenie lowered her voice. “Aunt Margaret adores Lady Elsbeth. Do try to remember that.”

“Aunt Margaret has always been a poor judge of character.”

“And yet she likes you,” Eugenie shot back, her lips curling in a wry smile.

Niles couldn’t help but chuckle under his breath. “Point taken. But that doesn’t mean I trust Lady Elsbeth.”

Eugenie gave him a pointed look. “Why is that? Is she too nice? Too beautiful?”

His jaw tightened, and he looked away towards the window where the rain continued to fall in relentless sheets. “I do not want to discuss this.”

“You never do,” Eugenie replied.

Offering his arm, Niles said, “In my position, suspicion isn’t a choice. It is a necessity. I must be pragmatic about people’s motives. ”

Eugenie slipped her arm through his. “That is a sad way to live, Brother. Always expecting the worst in others.”

“Perhaps, but it is a luxury you can afford to ignore. I cannot.”

Eugenie’s voice softened, though her words remained firm. “I prefer to believe the best in everyone. It is what Father would have wanted.”

Niles pursed his lips. His father’s memory was a sore subject, one he was not prepared to confront at this moment.

“You know,” Eugenie continued, “not every woman you meet is trying to entrap you. Maybe Lady Elsbeth isn’t the conniving young woman you conjured up in your mind.”

“I will reserve judgment… for now,” Niles replied.

He knew how jaded he sounded as he led his sister out of the drawing room. But there was something about Lady Elsbeth that gnawed at the edges of his thoughts, and that left him uneasy.