Courting the Earl
Forbidden love, friends to lovers, a spinster heroine and a reluctant hero!
Eleanor Pearson is distressed by the forbidden attraction she feels for her cousin’s betrothed. But she vows to ignore her fascination with the attractive earl and do whatever she can to ensure her cousin’s marriage takes place.
The Earl of Hargrove has no intention of marrying anytime soon. He sets out on a mission of his own to end the surprise arrangement his father revealed to him only on his deathbed.
It doesn’t take him long to realize that Eleanor could be the key to convincing the younger woman to end the betrothal. But his attraction to her threatens his determination to remain a bachelor.
Courting the Earl is book 8 in the Landing a Lord series.
Excerpt
Unlike the growing crowds of people filling the large ballroom, Geoffrey wasn’t thrilled to be attending the Clarington ball. But since this was the battlefield upon which his current war would be waged, here he was. Along with what seemed to be every other member of society minus his sister and brother-in-law. Abigail was quite far into her pregnancy and went to bed early most evenings, so he’d have to face tonight on his own.
He’d considered making himself odious to Miss Lydia Pearson so the young woman would beg her father to end the betrothal but had quickly discarded that plan. If he were the only one affected by his actions, he would have no issue acting the cad to drive her away. But he needed to consider his sister. Causing a scandal would hurt her far more than it would him.
Viscount Holbrook sidled up next to him and clapped him on the shoulder. “Try not to look as though you’re being led to your death.”
Geoffrey scowled at him, which caused Holbrook to chuckle. He wouldn’t admit as much, but he was glad he wasn’t entirely alone.
By unspoken agreement, they moved off to the edge of the room. Most people were congregating closer to the entrance so they could scrutinize each new guest as they were announced.
Holbrook was busy examining the guests who were already present. “Tell me about this young woman you’ll be marrying.”
Geoffrey clasped his hands behind his back. Of course Holbrook knew about that. The man seemed to know everything. Since an announcement wouldn’t be made until the end of the season, he must have heard about the betrothal from Abigail.
He scanned the ballroom again. He hadn’t heard Appleby’s family being announced, but then he hadn’t really been paying attention as the butler droned on with the seemingly unending list of guests. He hadn’t been there long, and he was already tempted to escape to the card room.
“Did my sister send you here to keep an eye on me?”
Holbrook chuckled. “Believe it or not, it was her husband.”
Geoffrey had a hard time imagining that conversation. Holbrook seemed to go out of his way to annoy Geoffrey’s brother-in-law, flirting with Abigail outrageously whenever Cranston was present.
“I’m amazed he even speaks to you.”
Holbrook shrugged. “We’ve come to an understanding. And most importantly, he loves and trusts his wife. Even if I wanted to try my hand at tempting her away…”
Geoffrey scowled at the man.
One corner of Holbrook’s mouth quirked up. “I consider your sister a friend, nothing more. I had a duty to look out for her when my bastard of a great-uncle died and left his widow with very little to provide for herself and her daughter.”
“That’s not how Cranston tells the story of your friendship.”
Holbrook chuckled. “Cranston was being willfully stubborn about his wife. Everyone but her could see he was obsessed with her. I did what I could to make him realize that he had to stop pushing her away.”
Geoffrey could just imagine how that went. “I’m surprised the man didn’t call you out.”
Holbrook winced. “Would you believe that I sought him out and threatened to call him out if he hurt your sister? This was before they were married of course.”
Geoffrey couldn’t hold back a bark of laughter. How had he never heard this story? “My brother-in-law is a crack shot. He would have killed you.”
Holbrook rubbed a hand over his jaw. “I realize now that I came perilously close to meeting my death after issuing that threat. But that’s all in the past. We’ve reached a truce. He loves your sister, and he realizes now that my interest in her was never romantic. Which is why he told me about your situation.”
Geoffrey’s jaw clenched, and his eyes darted to one of the exits he’d made a point of noting after arriving. He could still slip out to the card room.
Holbrook moved in front of him. “Tell me you’re not planning to cause a scene. There’s already enough talk swirling around about your sister. Any scandal you cause to escape this betrothal will impact her.”
Geoffrey blew out a harsh breath. Was this why Cranston had asked Holbrook to approach him this evening? Yes, rumors were swirling about Abigail and her daughter, Gemma. His niece had Cranston’s eyes. Anyone who met the girl knew immediately that her current husband was her biological father.
There had been much speculation about whether she’d knowingly tried to pass another man’s child off as belonging to her deceased husband, the former Viscount Holbrook. Of course, many knew that Baron Cranston had been serving in the army for years and had only recently given up his commission.
Gossip seemed to be split evenly. Men tended to believe Abigail had been willfully dishonest in the whole matter and had deceived her first husband. Women, on the other hand, believed she’d had no choice but to marry someone else when she’d found herself with child after the father had gone off to join the army.
The worst of the speculation was quashed when Cranston’s friends had given their unconditional support to the couple after they married. While Cranston might have been away from England for nearly a decade, he’d somehow acquired quite a few friends in high places. Men most of society didn’t want to offend.
So while the rumors had all but abated, that wouldn’t remain the case if Geoffrey caused another scandal while attempting to get out of this infernal betrothal.
“Society has never been fair to women. My sister has suffered enough, and I won’t do anything to endanger the peace she’s found.”
He became aware of a hush that had fallen over the ballroom and turned to look at the entrance. He shouldn’t have been surprised to find none other than Lydia Pearson standing there, surrounded by her family. Her parents were grinning, basking in the way everyone seemed to be taken with their daughter. Lydia’s introduction to society was going just as they’d expected.
He inclined his head toward the entrance. “They’re here now.”
Holbrook turned to take in the spectacle. Mercifully, he kept his voice low when he spoke. “Your future wife is definitely beautiful. Everyone is staring at her as though no one else exists.”
Geoffrey’s eyes moved over the crowd, and he realized the man wasn’t exaggerating. Conversation had started again, but gazes were following the family.
He watched as Lord Appleby whispered in his wife’s ear before breaking away to join another group of men. When they turned to one of the exits as a group, Geoffrey wanted to groan. So much for escaping to the card room at some point. The last thing he wanted was another lecture from Appleby about how he should be following the man’s daughter around like a stray looking for a new owner.
Lady Appleby led her two charges toward a group of women. When he glanced at Holbrook again, he was still watching the women with interest.
“Did Cranston tell you that the betrothal can be broken if both parties are in agreement?”
Holbrook nodded. “He mentioned something to that effect. That’s why he’s worried you’ll try to cause a scandal and force their hand.”
Geoffrey frowned. “It’s comforting that my brother-in-law considers me such a reprobate and believes I’ll act without any consideration about how it will impact my sister.”
Holbrook clapped him on the shoulder. “Cranston is being overprotective. Plus he doesn’t really know you.”
Geoffrey lifted one brow. “And you do?”
Holbrook grinned. “Not yet, no. But we can remedy that. Become allies.”
He examined the viscount. He imagined that as a great nephew to the previous viscount, Holbrook hadn’t expected to inherit the title. Still, the man was an easygoing fellow and people seemed to like him. He couldn’t imagine he was in desperate need of allies or friends.
Unless… “You have my permission to try to lure Miss Pearson away. She’s a beautiful young woman, and I understand your interest.”
Holbrook barked out a surprised laugh. “I’m in no hurry to wed, but that was a good attempt on your part. Still, I could be tempted to get to know the older Miss Pearson better.”
Geoffrey turned to examine the woman in question. Eleanor Pearson. He’d scarce noticed her during that first meeting when all he’d wanted was to escape that drawing room and all the women’s expectant stares. But he was definitely noticing her now, and he realized Holbrook was correct.
It was impossible to miss how much her appearance had improved, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she’d purposely dressed in an unflattering manner that morning. She’d been stiff, wearing an awful gown that had made her skin appear sallow. He’d actually thought she was much older than her cousin. Watching her now as she laughed at something Lydia said, he realized she was much closer to his own age.
She was actually very attractive. She didn’t possess the delicate beauty of her cousin. No, Eleanor Pearson’s beauty was very different but nonetheless undeniable. There was something earthy about her with her dark hair and dark eyes. She was tall, towering over her petite cousin. And her age might allow her a measure of freedom that her younger cousin wouldn’t have.
Eleanor Pearson might very well be a woman worth getting to know better. But her intimate acquaintance with his betrothed—how he hated that word—meant that Geoffrey would never be able to get to know her intimately. Still, she might become something of an ally. Maybe he could elicit her assistance in convincing Lydia to consider ending the betrothal and marrying someone else.
He circled the room for the next hour, unwilling to fall into the role assigned to him by his father and Appleby. And he certainly wasn’t going to be one of the crowd of men, both young and old, who were clamoring for a space on Lydia Pearson’s dance card. If she wanted to dance with him, she would save a dance. If not, he wouldn’t mourn the loss of the opportunity.
He could feel Lady Appleby’s eyes on him as he greeted his brother-in-law’s close friends, the Marquess of Lowenbrock and Viscount Ashford. Both men hadn’t abandoned their wives as Lord Appleby had done, and it seemed that they, too, were happily married.
That fact had surprised him when Cranston assured him it was possible to marry for love. Geoffrey knew that most marriages made among the ton followed the pattern his father had set for both his betrothal and his sister’s first marriage.
He spent some time speaking to several of the acquaintances he’d made during his weeks in London. Some he knew from his time in school, and some he’d met at White’s. He avoided the men his father had considered friends, however. He had no desire to be reminded of the man.
During that hour, he watched what was happening with Lydia and Eleanor. Lady Appleby had abandoned the pair soon after their arrival and had spent the time glaring at him and gossiping with a group of older women.
Apparently it was Eleanor’s role to act as Lydia’s chaperone so the girl’s parents could enjoy the evening with others. He filed away that information in case it should prove useful.
Finally, after an hour had passed, he approached the two Miss Pearsons between sets.
Lydia had just joined her cousin after her last partner had left her side with what appeared to be great reluctance. It bothered him that no one had asked Eleanor to partner with them. He’d caught the wistful look in her eyes as she’d watched her young cousin dance. He couldn’t say why, but he felt compelled to make up for their oversight.
Eleanor saw him approach and leaned down to whisper in her cousin’s ear. Lydia turned to him with a smile and dipped into a curtsy when he reached them.
“It is good to see you, my lord. I was just telling my cousin that I didn’t think you were here tonight.”
Of course she didn’t. She probably imagined he would elbow all other would-be suitors out of the way just to reach her side as soon as she’d been announced.
“Well, here I am.”
His smile was aimed at both women. Lydia giggled, but a quick glance at Eleanor told him she wasn’t amused. A slight frown had formed between her brows.
“I was speaking with friends, and when I realized you were here, you were caught up with others. I don’t suppose you saved a dance for me?”
“Of course. Mama told me to save the supper dance for you.”
She offered him her card, and he scribbled his name on the indicated line. He hoped his smile didn’t appear false as he murmured something about looking forward to it. Then he turned to Eleanor Pearson.
“And you, Miss Pearson? I hope you have room on your dance card.”
Color rose on the woman’s cheeks. “I hadn’t planned to dance—”
Lydia cut her off. “Oh, you must, Ellie. I hate the idea of your standing here watching me have all the fun. Acting as my chaperone doesn’t mean you can’t also enjoy yourself tonight.”
“Well, perhaps just one dance.”
“Excellent,” he said before she could change her mind. “I will come collect you when it is time.”
He gave them both a polite bow and then turned to leave, pretending to forget that he hadn’t signed the woman’s card. He was sure there would be a waltz at some point, and he’d return to collect her then. Better to ambush her than to risk Miss Eleanor Pearson finding a way to avoid waltzing with him.
He smiled as he realized he was looking forward to that dance very much.
©2023 Suzanna Medeiros