“I will not have it!”
Ellie rolled her eyes. Now she recognized the other shadowed figure that paced the small space between the trees. Edgar Stone. Hadn’t her father booted him out of the house two days ago? She was sure he had. So why was the idiot still here? Apparently, Augusta hadn’t abided by the duke’s orders.
“Edgar, you must know I’m trying everything I can.” Augusta folded her arms across her large bosom. “Something has gotten into the duke as of late, and I cannot sway him like I have before.”
He stopped and glared at her. “Then fix it. I don’t care how you do it, but getyour husbandto allow me back into the house. How else am I going to get Ellie? This has been our plan all along, and I won’t allow anything to stop it now.”
Ellie hitched a surprised breath.Plan?What plan? And why did the imbecile still want her? How many times did she have to tell him no?
“Lower your voice,” Augusta snapped. “I’ll fix it, but you will have to help, as well. You have done nothing that we discussed, so this is your fault as much as it is mine.”
Edgar marched to Augusta and grabbed her shoulders, shaking her once. “This isnotmy fault.Youwere the one who couldn’t control your husband, which is why I’m not staying at the manor any longer.”
The older woman pushed her palms against Edgar’s chest to move him away. “Then tell me why you didn’t follow through with the plan. You have been in the house for nearly a week. Don’t tell me you never found the chance to sneak into Ellie’s bedroom and climb in bed with her.”
Gasping, Ellie slapped a hand over her mouth, hoping it wasn’t heard.He wouldn’t dare…But knowing Edgar, hewoulddare to do such a vile thing. But why? There were other women in town who were much prettier and more enjoyable to be around. However, she didn’t think it was that. Could it be her large dowry? Yet why would all of this be based on money? Nothing made sense.
“I never had the chance to sneak into her room,” he growled. “One of the maids was always lurking nearby. Or your stepson, Dominic. He watched me with eagle eyes, I tell you.”
Ellie prayed she saw Dominic at tonight’s party so she could convince him to stay home more often, if only to protect his sister.
“How am I able to accomplish that if I don’t live here any longer?” Edgar asked.
“When we return from tonight’s party, I shall leave the east side door unlocked. Sneak in that way.”
Oh no you won’t!Growling under her breath, Ellie hurried back into the house. Augusta would not win. Why she wanted her crusty nephew to marry her stepdaughter was beyond Ellie’s imagination, but she would make certain their plans failed miserably. Even if she had to sleep elsewhere tonight.
Perhaps she could hide in the stable with the horses. Edgar would never search for her there.
She grumbled as she paced the floor in the drawing room. How terrible was it that she couldn’t even feel safe in her own home? She could tell her father—however, that might upset him enough to shoot Edgar himself. She couldn’t have her father doing that. He’d go to prison, and he might even have his title and lands stripped from him. No, she must deal with this issue on her own.
Before she could figure out what her plan was, Augusta entered the drawing room, followed by the duke. Ellie ignored the woman, but smiled lovingly at her father.
“You look absolutely beautiful tonight,” he told Ellie. “I’m happy to see you are up and about now.”
“Yes, well, I need to return to my normal activities. After all, I have a wedding coming soon.”
“Indeed you do.” Her father gave her a wink.
Augusta showed her faux smile and clapped her hands once. “Have we settled on a date yet?”
“Not yet,” the duke answered. “I promised my wonderful daughter that she could take things slow or fast at this point. It is up to her.”
“Oh.” Augusta’s forehead creased. “Well, then…shall we leave for the ball?”
Ellie followed her father out to their coach and climbed inside, sitting across from her father and stepmother. Thankfully, Augusta chatted endlessly about nonsense, and Ellie didn’t care to add her opinion. She stared out the window during the ride, hoping to get to the party quickly so she didn’t have to hear any more of her stepmother’s mindless drivel.
They reached the party at Lord and Lady Smithton’s estate. As soon as Ellie entered, she searched the crowd, looking for a familiar face—or two. Within minutes, she noticed Adam—um, Lord Calvin. It was as if he waited for her, because he stood next to a wall, staring toward the front door. When their gazes met, he smiled and pulled away from the wall, heading toward her.
Ellie’s nerves shook and her palms grew moist underneath her white, elbow-length gloves. He reached her side and bowed. She curtsied.
“Good evening, Miss Middleton. You are looking lovely tonight.”
“I thank you, my lord.” She smiled. “And you are quite dashing in your brown suit jacket and trousers.”
“Would you accompany me to the dance floor for the first dance tonight?”
“Certainly.” She glanced toward the floor as couples were lining up for a dance. Nervously, she placed her hand on his arm as he walked with her. They took their places across from each other.
