Page 5 of Saving a Scoundrel
Ellie winced. Her friend was right. She meant this year to be the year she finally left this pokey old town and discovered the world, or at least more of it anyway.
“Don’t tell me that you don’t have a list of some sort detailing all the things you want to do this year. I know that going to London must be at the top.” She arched an eyebrow.
Susanna knew her too well. There was a list tucked away in her writing desk. Ellie straightened her shoulders; it was annoying to be so transparent. She thought of her list and how so many of the items required her to leave Marbury. She just needed to gather her courage.
She had kissed the man she loved, that had taken courage. Even if she had run away right after. That wintery night, back at home, she’d laid in bed reliving every moment of that kiss. The kiss she shared with Lucius had lit a fire in her. What else had she been too scared, too proper to consider doing? So she had taken out paper and made a list of all the things she wanted to do this year. All the things she longed to experience. Kissing Lucius Grisham again was number four on the list. Would he be in London this spring?
“Eleanor!” Susanna poked her. “This is your chance to choose your own husband. There will be scads of gentlemen in London to choose from.”
“All right, yes, there is a list. And going to London is at the top.” She gave her friend a swift hug. “Thank you for thinking of this scheme. I’m still not convinced my father will let me go, but I will be happy to accompany you to London if he agrees. Terrified but happy.”
“Don’t worry; we will have so much fun! Last year I was only in town a month before the incident with the horse race got me sent home.” She rolled her eyes. “But this year, I promise to be on my best behavior. We can visit all the sights and go to parties and dance and flirt.”
“And are you planning to pick out a husband from among the scads of gentlemen?” Ellie asked. Lord Dearborn was determined to have Susanna married off this year. At one and twenty, Susanna was the youngest member of the Miss M’s. While their friend Charlotte had several seasons in London before getting married last year, Susanna had only officially been out in society one year.
Susanna’s smile was mischievous. “Doubtful. Unless I meet someone dark and brooding—you know how I love it when they are wounded and brooding—someone who will steal me away onto his pirate ship and sail away to foreign parts.”
Ellie laughed. “Unlikely.” Susanna wasn’t looking for a husband; she was looking for a Gothic novel hero.
The front door opened, and Lady Dearborn’s voice carried across the yard. “Thank you so much, Pastor Spencer. I promise we will take excellent care of Eleanor.”
Ellie could see her father’s lips form a thin tight smile. “It will be my honor to help you in any way. I will speak to Eleanor this evening. Have a lovely afternoon, Lady Dearborn.”
Susanna gripped Ellie’s hand and let out a quiet squeal of delight. Lady Dearborn spotted them as she made her way down the stone walk. “Good afternoon, Eleanor. Go on up and speak with your father. He has news for you.” She smiled and winked at her. “Come along, Anna, let’s not press our luck.”
Susanna joined her mother and shot Ellie one last grin over her shoulder before following her mother out the gate to the waiting barouche.
Chapter Three
“Come inside, Eleanor.Let’s have a chat,” her father called out.
Ellie hurried to the front door to join her father. “Good afternoon, Father.”
He hefted her basket of books. “I see you spent all your pin money on books again.”
“It’s just a few. But the one is a substantial volume of French poetry. I also picked up our order of candles from Mrs. Williamson.”
“French poetry, hmmm. I may have to look through that first to ascertain if it’s appropriate reading for a young lady.” He set the basket down on one of the chairs in the sitting room.
Ellie looked down before her father could see the humor in her eyes. Although proficient in Latin, her father did not know an ounce of French. Ellie removed her shawl and hung it on the peg by the door. Her father settled into his favorite armchair, and she joined him, taking a seat on the settee. “Father, why was Lady Dearborn visiting?”
Edgar Spencer sighed. “That’s what I would like to speak to you about. You have been invited to accompany Lord and Lady Dearborn and their daughter to London this spring. They feel that you are a good influence on Susanna and, through your friendship, could encourage her to make sensible decisions this season.”
Eleanor placed a hand on her stomach. A bright sparkly ball of anticipation grew within her. “And what was your answer, Father?”
“Well, my cousin Lord Dearborn gave me this living when he inherited the title. He has been an excellent friend to me over the years, and I hate to refuse when asked a favor.” Her father leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “What say you, Eleanor? Do you wish to go?”
“I do.” She clasped her hands together in her lap. She had to be honest with her father. “But I must admit I am also scared at the prospect.”
“Eleanor, I have kept you for myself for too long. After your mother passed from this Earth, I selfishly wanted to keep a piece of her close. And perhaps that is why I was so eager to match you with Mr. Evans. But as Lady Dearborn reminded me today, you should have the chance to explore your options for an advantageous match.” He leaned back in his chair. “You said you thought Mr. Evans a nice fellow but tell me, Eleanor, how do you feel about a future with him?”
She sucked in a deep breath. “Although it is true what I said, he does seem nice. However, I don’t feel any affection for Mr. Evans beyond perhaps friendship.”
“You mean affection like what you feel for that Grisham boy?” His clear blue eyes studied her.
Ellie felt her cheeks flame. “What? Lucius—I mean, Mr. Grisham is just Charlotte’s older brother. He’s not…I don’t harbor any…”
“It’s not that I don’t like the boy,” her father said softly, “but he will never settle down and be what you need, my dear. He has no purpose, no direction.”
