Page 1 of The Scottish Duke Tames the Bluestocking
CHAPTER1
“Harriet...” Jennifer Lourne, the dowager countess of Notley, looked at her daughter helplessly and Harriet shook her head, tears forming in her eyes.
“I cannot believe he is doing this, Mother,” she exclaimed, her voice booming through the small room. For a second, she glanced around furtively - but then the irritation won over the concern and she crossed her arms over her chest.
“It is none of his business,” she exclaimed now, tears forming in her eyes. “It is none of his business at all when I marry, if I marry... and now...”
She shook her head. “It is just not fair,” she repeated. Jennifer sighed and pulled her daughter towards her in a one-armed embrace.
“Oh, my darling,” she sighed now. “I understand how you feel - and if your father were alive, things may have been different. But as it is now, we have to comply with what society says... and society believes that your brother has the right to take... control... of your affairs, mine too.”
At this, Harriet shook her head quickly.
“I cannot imagine that you are happy about this,” she exclaimed. “I cannot think that you are satisfied with him having control over your person, your choices.”
Jennifer sighed and lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “Your father was a man like no other, my darling,” she explained carefully. “He... allowed me to think for myself, to do as I wanted. Your brother... is traditional.”
Whatever else she may have wanted to say remained unsaid when a footman entered the drawing-room where the women sat.
“My ladies,” the young man spoke, looking from one to the other carefully. “Lord Notley asked me to send for you. The carriage is waiting.”
Despite her growing rage at her brother, Harriet remained silent as she followed her mother to the carriage. William stood outside, his face an impassive mask as he helped the women in. Once seated inside the carriage, Harriet’s knuckles turned white as she clenched her fists, her frustration boiling beneath the surface. Leave it to her brother to attempt to sell her off to the highest bidder as though she were a prize cow. Frustration boiled over in her and she shook her head slightly.
Her father, she knew, never would have allowed this. Across from her, William's brow furrowed in exasperation, his attempts at persuasion falling on deaf ears.
"You simply must be more open, Harriet," William insisted, his voice tinged with frustration. "The marriage mart is not something to be taken lightly. You need to make an effort to meet eligible suitors."
Harriet scoffed, her eyes blazing with defiance. "I refuse to be treated like a piece of cattle, William," she shot back, her words sharp with indignation. "I will not be paraded around and sold off to the highest bidder like some commodity."
Their mother leaned back in her seat with lifted brows as she watched her children bicker. It was clear, she could tell, by Harriet’s reddening face and William’s pursed lips, that the argument was about to escalate.
"Darlings, can't we keep this journey light and merry?" Jennifer chimed in, her tone light-hearted. "Life's too short to fret over societal expectations. Harriet, my dear, follow your heart. That's all that truly matters in the end."
Harriet's gaze softened at her mother's words, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes. “Thank you, Mother,” she whispered before shooting her brother a glare. “I am glad that someone in this family values my person more than society’s expectations.”
"But Mother, you don't understand," William interjected, his frustration evident in his voice. "Harriet needs to be practical. She can't afford to be so stubborn about this."
Jennifer simply shrugged and shook her head with a sigh. "Oh, but William, my boy, where's the fun in being practical all the time?" she teased, her playful demeanor wavering and a serious note creeping into her voice. "Sometimes, a little rebellion is exactly what's needed to shake things up."
“Rebellion?” William scoffed at this and glanced at his sister. “Forgive me, Mother, but... Harriet is not getting any younger.”
Harriet scowled at this, and Jennifer quickly reached over to squeeze her daughter’s hand. Her gaze was guarded. "Don't let him bait you, darling,” she whispered, and Harriet shook her head, anger coursing through her.
William looked far more emotional than she’d seen him in quite a while - the pertinent emotion being irritation. “Harriet,” he said exasperatedly, as though he was talking to a child.
“Whether or not you like the expectations of society, you have to accept them,” he explained.
“Why?” she shot quickly. “Why is it so important to you that I do what is expected of society?”
William sighed deeply. “As the Earl of Notley,” he said slowly, “it is my responsibility to take care of you, Harriet. Of you and Mother.”
“I can take care of myself.”
Harriet realized the ridiculousness of her words the second they left her lips and a deep blush settled on her cheeks almost instantly.
William laughed at her derisively and shook his head. “Please, Harriet,” he said with a short laugh. “Your only chance of being looked after is if you stay under my roof - or marry.”
Before Harriet could think to respond, the carriage came to a sudden halt - and within seconds the frown disappeared from her brother’s face, making room for a charming grin. He jumped from the carriage quickly and made his way towards the crowd.
