Trying to ignore the curious looks from two women who looked like they had only just come of age, Elizabeth went up the steps and rang the doorbell. It was opened a few moments later by the butler—a tall, lean man with a thin face and a thick head of hair as white as the snow outside. He arched a thick eyebrow at her, giving Elizabeth a pointed look.
“Yes?”
“I’m here to see the Earl of Lincoln.”
Then Elizabeth saw the butler was holding a long list.
“What’s your name, miss?”
“Elizabeth Barnes.”
What was going on? The butler looked down the list of names. And then again. Finally, he shook his head.
“I don’t see you on the list, miss. What title do you have?”
“Title?” Elizabeth blinked. “I don’t…”
“Who is it, Harrison?”
There was a swish of skirts and then a handsome middle-aged woman perfectly made-up with delicate make-up and a dress Elizabeth couldn’t stop staring at appeared beside the butler. She looked down her nose at Elizabeth, who resisted the urge to squirm.
“You weren’t invited,” she sniffed.
“I know, my lady.” Elizabeth held up the parcel. “I’m just bringing the earl something he ordered from me. He asked for it to be delivered today.”
The woman wrinkled her nose, giving the dilapidated parcel a distasteful look.
“I’m sure my son isn’t interested in anything that you have to offer,” she sneered. “If you must pander to the earl, go around to the back and use the tradesmen’s entrance.”
Elizabeth bristled. How rude! If this was the dowager countess, she certainly had no manners. Elizabeth had never been treated as disdainfully as this.
It was almost a relief when she heard a familiar voice from inside the house.
“Miss Barnes!”
The butler stepped aside, and Elizabeth saw Lincoln coming from the back of the house. From the way he was dressed, he was clearly not ready for going to a party. The engagement in the drawing room had to be something to do with his mother. That had to be it. Lincoln ran his hand through his still unruly hair and practically beamed at Elizabeth. Blushing, Elizabeth ducked her head and curtsied.
“My lord. I have your parcel for you.”
“Perfect! Let her in, Harrison. Miss Barnes is allowed to come inside.” Lincoln grimaced as a cold draught came through the door. “Especially in this weather.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Harrison beckoned Elizabeth inside, closing the door behind her. Elizabeth gave Lincoln an embarrassed smile as she stamped the snow off her boots.
“Forgive me for the late hour, my lord, it’s been a bit difficult with the snow.”
“You didn’t have to come out in this for me, Miss Barnes.” Lincoln shook his head. “It’s far too cold for anyone to be out there.”
“Lincoln?” The dowager countess was frowning at her son. “What is going on? Why are you conversing with a servant?”
Lincoln fixed the woman with a stern gaze.
“Mother, Miss Barnes is no servant. And she is delivering something to me that I asked for.” He beckoned Elizabeth with him. “Come through to my study, Miss Barnes. We can talk there. Mother, you can go back to your guests.”
“They’re your guests, Lincoln!” the dowager countess snapped. “You’re meant to be in there!”
Lincoln shook his head.
“No, I’m not. Now, Miss Barnes?”
Not wanting to get in the middle of what was slowly becoming a family dispute, Elizabeth ducked her head and hurried after the earl, aware that his mother was scowling at her retreating back.
***
Lincoln was glad to see Elizabeth again although he was very surprised that she had made the journey to his house in the snow. It had been so bad that Lincoln hadn’t wanted to go outside. Now it was easing off, the world was looking more inviting.
Especially after being stuck in the house with his frightful mother for four days. Somehow, the woman had managed to get invitations out for a dinner party, where all the guests were eligible unmarried women and Lincoln was the guest of honor. Lincoln didn’t hear about it until that morning when his mother told him about it as if she was discussing the weather.
Lincoln had already made up his mind that he wasn’t going to attend, but trying to leave the house without Lady Ann cornering him and dragging him in to meet his potential future wife wasn’t easy. It had resulted in Lincoln being virtually trapped in the study.
Until Elizabeth Barnes arrived. Now it felt like Lincoln had a distraction. The seamstress made him feel a little lighter even if it was for just a few minutes.
Lincoln led Elizabeth into his study and shut the door behind her. It was then that he let out the breath he had been holding.
“Please, Miss Barnes, accept my apologies for my mother. She’s not…she’s very abrupt.”
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows.
“I would say that was an understatement, my lord. And I will not say more unless I want to get myself into trouble.”
Lincoln stared at her. Then he burst out laughing.
“You, Miss Barnes, are a breath of fresh air.” He held out his hands. “Can I take your cloak? It’s soaking wet.”
“No, thank you.” Elizabeth looked panicked as she pulled her cloak closer around her. “I won’t be staying long. I won’t take up more of your time than I have to.”
“You’re not bothering me at all.”
“I think I am.” Elizabeth nodded towards the door. “I mean, what’s that dinner party about if it’s in your house?”
Lincoln made a face and stepped around her, heading towards his desk. It took a lot of restraint not to reach out and touch her hair, which was falling out of its chignon at the nape of her neck. Was it as soft as it looked? Clenching his fist, he put distance between himself and Elizabeth.
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“Not to me, my lord.”
“Mother has invited lots of young women here for me to pick from to become Countess of Lincoln.”
Elizabeth turned to him with wide eyes.
“This is a party for you?”
“That I didn’t know of until this morning. Even with all the snow outside, Mother somehow managed to organize a dinner party.” Lincoln scowled. “All the guests in the drawing-room are eligible women who want to become my wife. Mother is under the impression that I must marry without further delay and give myself heirs. I have an heir in my brother, but Mother wants me to have children.”
Chapter 5
Taking Action
Elizabeth was looking at him strangely. Lincoln found himself shifting from foot to foot. He often had women looking at him, but there was something different about having this woman look at him, even if she was staring at him like he had gone mad.
What was going on with him? Elizabeth was a lower station. He shouldn’t even care what she thinks about him. But, somehow, Lincoln wanted Elizabeth’s approval.
“Do you not want to be a father?” Elizabeth asked.
“If I find someone I want to have children with, eventually. But not with any of them.” Lincoln shuddered. “And she expects me to go in there and try to socialize with a lot of women?”
“You’re talking to me.”
“I don’t feel like I need to prove anything with you.” Lincoln winced when he realized what he had just said. “That didn’t sound right.”
Elizabeth smiled. She did have a very nice smile.
“I know what you meant,” she said in a sardonic tone. “You don’t need to impress me. I’m of a lower station, so there’s barely anything for you to impress on me.”
Lincoln wished he could sink into the floor. Now he had put his foot in it.
“Now you make me sound callous, Miss Barnes.”
“That was not my intention.” Elizabeth cleared her throat and came across to the desk, laying the ripped parcel on top. “Your parcel was somehow missed when
the orders went out today, so I brought it over myself. You’ll have to excuse the paper; it wasn’t like that when I left.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t,” Lincoln chuckled. “And thank you for the personal delivery.”
They shared a smile. Lincoln felt the weight on his shoulders lift. There was something about her that he felt drawn to. She made him feel…better. Relaxed. Like he could say what he wanted without making a faux pas or stumbling over himself.
Then he heard some tinkling laughter coming from the other side of the door and Lincoln’s good mood lowered. Elizabeth glanced towards the door.
“Are you going to go out there?”
“I don’t want to.” Lincoln sighed. “But Mother will come in here and drag me out. She’s eager for me to marry. The more eager she gets, the more inclined I am to remain a bachelor.”
Elizabeth giggled.
“Well, I can see your reasoning. But why are you hiding from her? You’re the earl. She’s the dowager countess. You’re not a child, are you?”
“Of course not.”
“Then you don’t answer to her. You don’t have to do as she says even if she’s taken your drawing room hostage. If you don’t want to join the people she’s invited here without your permission, you don’t have to.”
She was talking a lot of sense. Lincoln then realized that she was right. He was the earl. Ann had no say in his life. She had intruded into his house with something he didn’t want. Lincoln had no obligation to go into the drawing room. It wouldn’t be his fault if Lady Lincoln and her guests were disappointed at him not showing up.
He looked towards the double-doors out into the garden. The study was right next to the kitchen, so the heat from the stoves came through the wall and heated up the room. And he could open the doors and step out into the garden. It was his favorite room in the house.
“You know, I was thinking of going for a long walk.” He turned to Elizabeth with a sly grin. “Shall we head over to Regent’s Park?”
“What?” Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “You want me to come with you?”
“Of course.” Lincoln wasn’t about to let her out of his sight, not just yet. “I might as well walk you back at the same time.”
He could see Elizabeth swaying. She wasn’t sure about it at all. An earl walking a seamstress was ridiculous, practically scandalous.
“But I…”
“Are you scared of me?” Lincoln shook his head and went over to the door. “I’m not going to hurt you.” He opened the door just as Harrison was walking past. “Harrison, would you get my coat and hat, please? I’m going out.”
“Yes, my lord. Shall I tell Lady Lincoln that you’re not going to be joining her?”
Lincoln smirked.
“No. Don’t bother. I don’t want to spoil her being the center of attention.”
Harrison’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes glinted.
“Yes, my lord.”
***
Elizabeth didn’t even know what possessed her to agree to this. Lincoln shouldn’t be walking her home. That was not what a man of his station did. He couldn’t be seen with her. That could create a scandal, something Elizabeth couldn’t afford to happen. She couldn’t have scandal descend on her work.
But looking into his dark eyes, seeing his smile that made her weak at the knees, Elizabeth knew she wouldn’t be able to refuse. It was quicker to agree and make her way home as fast as possible.
Even then, going out the double-doors into the garden and then sneaking through the garden gate into the street behind Lincoln’s house like they were naughty children, Elizabeth wished she didn’t have to go back into the snow. It was starting to melt a little, but it was still deep. And now it was slippery. Elizabeth’s shoes were sturdy, which were perfect for long walks but not so good with snow. She kept feeling her feet threaten to send her onto the ground, and Elizabeth had to concentrate on walking. And keep her distance from the earl who was looking less tense than he had moments before. It was like the suggestion that he could do things without running it past his mother had taken the weight away.
She was so focused on her walking that she didn’t realize that she was shivering again. It wasn’t until Lincoln touched her arm, causing her to jump and slip. Lincoln grabbed her, righting her back on her feet.
“Miss Barnes, are you well?”
“I…” Elizabeth swallowed and pulled away from him, almost falling over again. “I’m perfectly well, my lord.”
“Are you cold?” Lincoln started taking off his coat. “Here, have mine.”
“No!” Elizabeth shook her head fiercely. “I cannot take it.”
“You’re cold and wet. I insist.”
“No.”
Elizabeth then saw two ladies coming along the street. They were deep in conversation and hadn’t seen them yet. Grabbing Lincoln’s hand, Elizabeth hurried them across the street and into the park, moving them behind the bushes to obscure them from the ladies. Then she remembered she was still holding onto Lincoln’s hand and dropped it abruptly, setting off at a brisk walk down the path.
“Miss Barnes?”
There was the crunching of snow and then Lincoln fell into step beside her. He tilted his hat back on his head and regarded her thoughtfully.
“What is it?”
“I’m just…” Elizabeth huffed, rubbing her soggy gloved hands together. “This isn’t proper.”
“What isn’t?”
“What we’re doing now!” Elizabeth gestured at him and then herself. “You’re an earl. I’m a seamstress with not a drop of noble blood in my family tree. I should not be walking here with you like this.”
Lincoln raised an eyebrow.
“There’s no one around here to see us. They’re still staying inside where it’s warm. And as you’ve probably guessed, I don’t exactly follow the rules.”
Elizabeth had noticed. Lincoln wasn’t the most conventional of people.
“But surely, wouldn’t you worry about scandal?”
“Of course. Mother would have a fit and woe betide anyone who does something publicly that she doesn’t like.” Lincoln shrugged. “However, I do things for myself, not for Society. It makes me feel more comfortable.”
“No one else would dare do that in London.”
“Not even you?”
Elizabeth nodded.
“Not even me, my lord. I know my place.”
“But you’re still very much admired. I asked around about you. Even though you class yourself in the lower levels of Society, most of the nobility talk about you in very warm terms.”
Elizabeth blushed and ducked her head, staring at the ground as she walked.
“I give the best work that I can,” she mumbled. “People pay for that.”
“And it’s very good work, from what I’ve seen,” Lincoln replied warmly. “But does it make you happy?”
What sort of question was that? Elizabeth stared at him. Why was he even asking her that? And that stare of his…it was too intense. She gulped and looked away as she nodded.
“I believe it does.”
“You believe? You don’t sound so sure.”
“And you are very invasive into my life, my lord.”
Lincoln flushed and cleared his throat, looking away and swiping snow off his shoulder.
“Forgive me, Miss Barnes. I’ve been scolded many times about how I talk to members of the opposite sex.”
Elizabeth could imagine why. The man was blunt, but that wouldn’t get anyone very far. If he was lower in status, he could get into serious trouble talking like that.
Chapter 6
A Growing Spark
“It is a little…intrusive,” she said carefully. She sighed. “But it is nothing I haven’t heard before. Just in a less polite way.”
“Men are not kind to you?”
“I keep myself at a distance. My work is important, my lord, not love.”
“Do you believe you’ll find it?”
�
�Find what?”
“Love.”
He was being rather impertinent now. Elizabeth wasn’t sure if she wanted to carry on. But this was probably the most honest conversation she would ever get with anyone. In spite the fact Lincoln made Elizabeth’s pulse quicken, she felt as though she could talk to him. It didn’t feel as restrictive.
Elizabeth decided to take the plunge.
“I have not got a clue, my lord. It’s not something I think about.”
Lincoln looked interested at that. His look was starting to unnerve her.
“When would you think you would find love?” he asked suddenly.
That almost caused Elizabeth to trip over her own feet again. Lincoln grabbed her arm and Elizabeth found herself falling against him, the earl’s arms around her. She ended up squashed against his chest, looking up into his gorgeous eyes. Elizabeth could feel the heat coming off him. Clearing her throat, she took a step back. Lincoln’s arms dropped away and immediately Elizabeth felt the cold.
“That is more than a little intrusive, my lord,” she scolded.
“I’m simply curious, Miss Barnes.”
He seemed to be getting bolder now. And Elizabeth liked it. There was a confident side of him that the earl clearly didn’t show others. She felt privileged to see it even if it embarrassed her.
“When I find myself completely comfortable with the man in question,” she answered clearly, not looking away from the earl. “When I find myself thinking about him whenever he’s not there, and I’m sad that he isn’t with me. When I feel warm and happy as soon as I see him. Then I’ll know that I’m in love.”
Did his eyes darken? Surely that was a trick of the dimming light.
“And it hasn’t happened yet,” Lincoln rasped.
“I…no.” Elizabeth couldn’t look away from his eyes. They had completely snagged her. “I don’t think it ever will. I’m not the sentimental type.”
“Maybe not.” A ghost of a smile twitched at Lincoln’s mouth. “Maybe it will hit you when you least expect.”
Elizabeth wasn’t sure about that. She wasn’t entirely sure if she would notice if it hit her in the face.
***
Walking with Elizabeth Barnes had been very uplifting. Lincoln found himself less nervous about asking blunt questions. They were intrusive, but Elizabeth intrigued him. She was far too lovely to live her life as a spinster. Any decent man would recognize that Elizabeth was worthy as a wife. How she wasn’t married by now was beyond him.
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