Page 5
Story: An Improbable Scheme (Courting the Unconventional #1)
E lsbeth sat stiffly in the darkened coach as it rumbled down the uneven road towards Lady Margaret’s manor.
Across from her, her mother and stepfather sat in animated conversation, their voices low but cheerful.
Elsbeth, however, was far from cheerful.
Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, and she fixed her gaze out the window.
She was not looking forward to seeing Lord Westcott again. The man was infuriatingly arrogant.
Her stepfather’s voice broke through her thoughts. “You two are looking rather lovely this evening.”
Elsbeth resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Why was Alfred trying so hard to win her approval? But her mother had no such reservations about the compliment.
“Thank you, my love,” her mother said.
My love?
Elsbeth nearly groaned aloud. How could her mother say such a thing with sincerity? How could she be so blind to Alfred’s true nature? It was maddening. At times, she felt like the only sane one.
She turned her head to the window, letting the rhythmic clatter of the coach wheels serve as a distraction.
She missed her old life in Town. Her friends.
Her independence. But all of it had vanished when her father died.
Her so-called friends had turned their backs on her family, leaving them to weather the storm of scandal alone.
Her mother spoke up. “Lord Westcott is rather handsome, don’t you think?”
Elsbeth snapped her head around, her expression incredulous. “Handsome? Perhaps, but he is also unbearably arrogant.”
“He didn’t strike me as such,” her mother replied.
“That is because you didn’t hear our conversation,” Elsbeth shot back. “We both agreed it would be best if we avoided each other altogether.”
Her mother looked disappointed. “That is most unfortunate.”
Elsbeth pressed her lips together. “What did you think would happen, Mother? That we would meet and fall madly, irrevocably in love?”
“And why not?” her mother countered.
She let out a humorless laugh. “Because we are ruined. Completely and utterly.”
“You still are the daughter of an earl and have a dowry of fifteen thousand pounds,” her mother countered.
“Oh, wonderful,” Elsbeth said dryly. “At least I will attract a fortune hunter.”
Alfred cleared his throat, the sound irritating her further. She didn’t want his opinion, but she knew it was coming.
“I do believe you are selling yourself short,” he said.
She had been right.
Why did he insist on having an opinion on everything? Elsbeth knew she was going to regret asking, but she did so anyway. “And why is that?”
“You are a beautiful young woman with much to offer the right man,” Alfred said with a smile, no doubt in an attempt to disarm her.
“The right man?” Elsbeth repeated, her voice tinged with disbelief. “In Town, I was mingling with lords and ladies. Now, I am the subject of village gossip and the pity of spinsters. Where exactly am I supposed to meet this so-called ‘right man’?”
Her mother sighed. “I know this has been an adjustment for you?—”
“An adjustment?” Elsbeth cut her off, her voice rising. “No, it has been an utter nightmare.”
“Let’s try to make the best out of it,” her mother attempted, her words edged with warning.
Fortunately, before Elsbeth could respond, the coach came to a stop in front of Lady Margaret’s grand whitewashed manor. The conversation was over… for now.
Once inside the manor, Elsbeth quickly slipped into the drawing room and spotted Lady Eugenie sitting on the settee, engrossed in a book.
Not wanting to linger near her stepfather or mother, Elsbeth rushed to Eugenie’s side and sat down.
Without looking up, Eugenie raised a finger. “One moment, please.”
After a long moment, Eugenie closed the book with a satisfied sigh and placed it in her lap. “I do apologize, but I hate leaving a section unfinished.”
“May I ask what you are reading?”
“ Common Sense by Thomas Paine,” Eugenie replied.
Elsbeth’s brows rose in surprise. “Your brother allows you to read such a book?”
Eugenie looked amused by her question. “My brother doesn’t allow or disallow anything. I read what I like.”
“Are you not afraid of being labeled a bluestocking?”
“That is the goal, actually,” Eugenie replied with a twinkle in her eyes. “Following the ton ’s rules is dreadfully boring. ”
Elsbeth glanced over her shoulder, making sure her mother was out of earshot. Lowering her voice, she asked, “Do you not wish to marry?”
“I am not opposed to the thought of marriage, but I refuse to change who I am to do so,” Eugenie said, leaning back in her seat. “What do you read?”
“I hardly read,” Elsbeth admitted.
Eugenie gasped. “How do you occupy your time?”
“The usual pursuits, I suppose.”
“How disappointing. I doubt we can be friends,” Eugenie teased. “I require all my friends to read a book a day.”
“A book a day?” Elsbeth repeated. “Is that even possible?”
“It is entirely possible, but you must commit to it,” Eugenie said, handing her the book. “Start with this.”
Elsbeth put her hands up. “I couldn’t. Perhaps I should start small and read another, less controversial book.”
Eugenie placed the book down onto the table. “Very well. Pick a book, but we will discuss it afterward.”
“I am not a very fast reader,” Elsbeth admitted.
“I promise you will be if you find a book that draws you in and consumes you, body, mind, and soul.”
Their conversation was interrupted as Lady Margaret entered the room. “You are looking lovely this evening,” she said, her gaze landing on Elsbeth.
“Thank you, my lady,” Elsbeth responded.
Turning her attention to Lady Isabella and Alfred, Lady Margaret greeted them warmly, pulling them into a conversation.
Eugenie leaned closer to Elsbeth, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I apologize for whatever my brother said to you earlier. He has been dreadfully unhappy these days.”
“Aren’t we all?”
“I would not give him—or his words—much heed. ”
Elsbeth forced a smile to her lips. “I assure you that I do not think of your brother at all.”
“I am pleased to hear that.”
As if their words had conjured up Lord Westcott, he entered the room with purposeful strides. His brown hair was brushed forward and his sideburns were neatly trimmed. It was a shame that he was so handsome but entirely disagreeable.
Their eyes met and Elsbeth saw Lord Westcott’s eyes flash with annoyance. Not that she cared. If anything, she found the level of disdain he had for her amusing. It was almost entertaining to witness how thoroughly she could unsettle him simply by existing.
As he approached, she braced herself, preparing for yet another tiresome conversation with the insufferable man. Life would undoubtedly be simpler if they could agree never to speak again.
Lord Westcott came to a stop next to the settee, inclining his head in polite acknowledgment. “Sister. Lady Elsbeth.”
Elsbeth returned his gesture with a curt nod. “My lord.”
He stood in silence for a moment, their gazes locked as though engaging in an unspoken battle of wills.
Elsbeth tried to pinpoint precisely what it was about him that vexed her.
His arrogance? His rigid demeanor? His irritating habit of looking at her as though she were a particularly troublesome insect?
Quite frankly, she loathed everything about him.
His clothing. His face. She loathed it all.
Turning towards Eugenie, Elsbeth muttered, “Excuse me.” She stood up and brushed past Lord Westcott. She had no desire to be around him, even for a moment.
She had barely taken a few steps towards her mother when Lord Westcott’s voice called out behind her, “Would you care to take a turn around the room with me?”
No.
Absolutely not !
That was the worst idea imaginable. But she could hardly voice that thought aloud.
Turning slowly, she met his gaze and worked to keep her voice polite. “Do you truly think that is a good idea, my lord?”
“I do,” he replied. “There are a few matters I wish to discuss.”
“Wonderful,” Elsbeth muttered. “I am not certain I wish to hear what those matters are.”
Ignoring her protests, Lord Westcott offered his arm, his expression unwavering. “All I require is a moment of your time.”
Elsbeth hesitated, glancing down at his proffered arm. If she refused, it would be considered rude, and while she cared little for his opinion, she did care for Lady Margaret. Reluctantly, she placed her hand on his arm. “Very well.”
As Lord Westcott started leading her around the room, he glanced at her. “I wanted to apologize for my words earlier.”
Her feet faltered slightly. She had not expected that.
“Thank you,” Elsbeth said. Perhaps he wasn’t truly as terrible as she thought.
“I should have not insinuated that you were like the other young women who blatantly seek my attention,” he continued. “However, I still believe it would be best if we spent as little time together as possible.”
Now that was something that they could both agree on. “I wholeheartedly agree.”
“Good.”
Elsbeth nodded. “Yes, good.”
But then he abruptly stopped walking and dropped his arm. His next words drained any goodwill she might have mustered. “And this should go without saying, but I must also ask that you stay away from my sister. I do not wish for her to be influenced by you.”
Her spine stiffened. “My influence? ”
He waved a hand dismissively in her direction. “Yes, everything about you—the way you speak, the way you carry yourself—is the opposite of how I would wish Eugenie to behave.”
And she was back to loathing him.
The audacity of this man! Stepping closer, she fixed him with a glare. “And everything about you, my lord, is offensive to me.”
His jaw clenched. “I am merely speaking the truth.”
“As am I.”
Lord Westcott’s lips thinned into a line. “You resort to insults rather quickly.”
Elsbeth shook her head. “You are impossible,” she declared before turning on her heel and leaving him to stand alone.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5 (Reading here)
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- 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
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43