Chapter One
May 1816
Moors, Yorkshire
The rumbling sky grew louder, its heavy clouds threatening to dump wagons of water on the parched moors below. Worried about the nearing storm, Elizabeth squinted into the darkness and wretched fog as she urged her horse into a faster gallop. She was asking for trouble going at such breakneck speed with nothing more than a slightly bulky lantern to light her way. The dimly lit area around her left a vast expanse of unseen land to present dangers, but Elizabeth tried not to dwell on that. She had enough trouble holding the reins with one hand and the lantern in the other. Perhaps the fear of what lay behind Elizabeth had motivated her to brave the darkness under such conditions.
A crack of thunder made her flinch, but her vice-like grip on the reins and lantern remained. Elizabeth couldn’t imagine how much more difficult it would have been if she had opted for a sidesaddle. It would have been the proper thing, but no one who truly knew her could claim she was the most genteel of ladies. Astride a saddle was her position of choice, but never in public lest her mother keel over and perish on the spot from mortification.
I cannot even see where I am going! I can only imagine I’m heading north to the next town. Jackson said it would take an hour if I travelled by horse at a moderate speed. Well, I’m almost flying at this point, so I should reach there in half an hour.
If only she had paid more attention every time she was forced to accompany her mother and sisters on visits to friends and family or shopping for frivolous items like lacy ribbons and buckles for their shoes. Elizabeth would gladly go barefoot and wear the plainest of dresses every day if she could get away with it. As it were, she wore pants under all her dresses, although her mother wasn’t aware of it. A chemise was far too light and flimsy for the dresses of the day, so a good, hardy pair of cotton pants held up by buttons and ribbons seemed the perfect solution.
Her personal maid had made the top snug enough to avoid bulging, but from the knee downwards, it resembled a skirt, so no one would notice they were actually pants. Henny personally washed all her undergarments and hid them well so none of the other servants were aware of the scandalous pants.
Poor Henny. She’ll miss me now that I’m gone, probably never to return again. I wish I could have taken her with me, but I needed someone to convince my parents that I was indeed ill and confined to my bed.
It was an elaborate scheme that Elizabeth had created the moment her parents told her she would marry an older man whom she knew nothing about. The only thing that mattered to them was his lineage, wealth, and title. However, Elizabeth wanted freedom, not marriage! She should have taken over her father’s shipping company because she knew everything about it instead of telling her to marry a man to do the same. Elizabeth would have lived a life of freedom travelling to wherever the company took her and growing the family business until it was known beyond the continent. She had plans for Hanson Importing, ideas men of little imagination could never comprehend.
Elizabeth had foolishly believed she had proven she was worth ten sons to her parents. Unfortunately, her best efforts had been in vain because they had ignored everything she had done for their family company in favour of getting her married. Having their daughter marry into a title and bring such a prestigious man into their family was important because they were merely commoners. Wealthy beyond reason but commoners nonetheless.
A sudden jolt from the horse tore Elizabeth from her thoughts, causing her hands to slip on the reins. She quickly strengthened her grip on them but to the detriment of the lantern. It fell, the glass hitting the ground and shattering as the light went out. The noise seemed to further distress her horse because the mare swerved, nearly unseating her.
“Hera!” Elizabeth cried, reaching forward to pat her horse’s neck. “Calm down, please. Calm down.”
However, the horse kept fumbling about, its pained cries alerting Elizabeth that something had gone wrong. Suddenly, Hera lurched forward, her left foreleg folding under her great bulk. Screaming, Elizabeth flew forward, only experience as an excellent horsewoman reminding her to tuck in her limbs and roll as she hit the ground with a heavy thud. Winded, she lay on the cold, hard ground for a minute or two, shocked by the turn of events. Elizabeth slowly pushed herself into a sitting position, groaning at the stiffness and soreness seeping into her body.
“Hera,” she croaked, moving to her knees.
The poor horse kept crying as it tried to get back on its feet but couldn’t. Elizabeth crawled towards Hera, cursing at her dress, hindering her progress. She hitched it up and tucked most of it into her pants, wincing as her body protested the brisk movements. Somewhat satisfied, Elizabeth reached Hera and inspected the horse, searching for injuries. It soon became apparent that the mare had thrown a shoe at some point during their journey and eventually succumbed to the injuries sustained along the way.
“Oh, you poor girl,” she said, stroking the mare’s cheek. “I’m so sorry.”
The horse whined, exhaling harshly. As Elizabeth soothed the mare as best as she could, she fought past the panic of what this meant for her.
You cannot give up now, Elizabeth. Only sadness awaits you should you return home.
Taking a deep breath, she released it slowly and inspected Hera’s foot again, removing as much dirt and stones as she could. Elizabeth tore off some material from her pants and wrapped it under and around the horse’s foot. It was the best she could do until they reached a farrier in the next town.
“Try to get up, girl,” she said, nudging the horse. “We cannot stay here all night.”
The horse refused to budge. Elizabeth sighed, sitting back on her haunches. Hera was clearly tired and in pain, so perhaps a little rest was needed. However, the approaching storm and possibly being chased by her father still awaited them. A wet droplet splattered on her cheek, making her blink. Elizabeth looked up, blinking again, when several droplets hit her face. The storm rains had arrived.
“Come, Hera,” she pleaded, urging the horse up. “We’ll both be soaked through in a minute. I do not wish to die like this.”
She still had so much she wished to achieve. Elizabeth continued to urge her mare to stand up, stilling, when she heard the distant sound of barking hounds.
“Father!” she cried.
Her father must have realised she was not, in fact, ill and confined to her bed. To make matters worse, the light drizzle had turned into a steady downpour, and Hera was still refusing to get up. Elizabeth briefly considered leaving her horse and running, but her affection for the mare wouldn’t let her. Sinking to her knees, Elizabeth rested her brow on Hera’s neck, speaking to her soothingly while despair set in. Sitting around waiting for her father to catch her and drag her home seemed pathetic, but she had no other choice. However, that didn’t mean she had to return without her dignity intact.
Elizabeth squared her shoulders and looked in the direction of the barking dogs, waiting for their arrival. Her father had likely had all the male servants out looking for her, with some going south to the next town and others north. He would have spared no expense to find his wayward eldest daughter and bring her home.
“I think she’s here!” someone yelled moments later.
Elizabeth rose to her feet, quickly pulling her dress out of her pants as the thunderous booms of the heavens grew louder. She dusted herself as best she could and patted the first dog that approached her. They had stopped barking the moment they recognised her scent and were instead wagging their tails.
“So, you’ve found me, Loki,” she said, tickling the dog beneath his ears. “Who is in your team?”
She looked behind the dog and saw Astrid, Thor, Othello and Magnus wagging their tails while the men ran to catch up to them.
“Miss Hanson!” Jackson cried, the first man to reach her. “Thank goodness we found you! Why did you run away?” he asked, holding a lantern close to her face. “You’re soaked, miss!”
“Good evening, Jackson,” Elizabeth said calmly, turning to him. “Hera has thrown a shoe, so we need a farrier first thing in the morning. She’s refusing to get up, but we cannot leave her here. Will you see to her well-being?”
“Ah, yes, of course, miss,” Jackson replied, blinking against the droplets splattering against his face.
“Elizabeth!”
The rain and thunder were no match for her father’s booming, gruff voice. Sighing, she waited for the scolding that would surely come. However, when her father finally reached her, he said nothing but to order her on his horse and back to the house.
I suppose the scolding will begin back at the house. It’s going to be one to end all others, judging from the steam rising off the top of his greying head.
Chapter Two
Hanson Estate,
Yorkshire
Elizabeth’s father was silent on the way home, ordering her to the drawing room the second her feet touched the ground.
“May I change first?” she asked. “I wouldn’t want to wet the carpet.”
“Fine. Change and come to the drawing room. Twenty minutes, young lady.”
“Yes, Papa,” she said and left to take to the stairs.
Henny met her at the top with a waiting bath sheet, her face pinched with worry. “I’m so glad you’re back, miss,” she cried. “I was terrified of what might befall you along the way.”
Elizabeth took the bath sheet and wrapped it around herself. “I’m perfectly fine,” she replied, pushing wet tendrils away from her face. “How did Papa realise I was gone? I thought I had until the next morning at least.”
“Miss Hannah came to your room while I collected your laundry,” Henny explained. “She found you were gone and ran to your parents. They were still having their coffee in the drawing room.”
“Oh, bother it all,” said Elizabeth, sighing as they entered her room. “Hannah has always been too nosey for her own good. My sister must have wanted to see if I was truly ill instead of taking your word for it. Did my parents scold you?”
“They believe you fooled me as well,” Henny replied.
Elizabeth chuckled despite the tight feeling in her chest. “I suppose my parents know me well enough to understand that I can do things alone. It’s too unfortunate that they do not believe me capable of heading the family company.”
Henny helped her out of her wet clothes and enveloped her in a blanket. “That should warm you while I find something appropriate for you to wear. Would you prefer evening wear or your bedclothes? It is late into the evening.”
“Evening wear seems a better choice given the circumstances,” said Elizabeth. “My parents might find me unrepentant if I wear bedclothes. It would imply I am not concerned about my actions as I have readied myself for bed.”
“Are you repentant, miss?” Henny asked.
“Certainly not. I wish to leave this place, Henny. I cannot marry simply to give my father a male heir to run the family company. That is not fair at all.”
“I’m sorry, miss,” Henny offered.
“As am I,” she said, removing the blanket. “I need to dress before Papa sends someone to see if I have run away again. He gave me twenty minutes.”
Henny hurriedly helped Elizabeth into the attire and dried her hair as much as possible. Nothing more than a plait could tame her red, wavy locks enough to look presentable before making her way to the drawing room. Her parents sat on a settee as they spoke quietly to each other, but they fell silent once they noticed her presence.
“Take a seat, Elizabeth,” her father said, his voice calm and even-toned.
Elizabeth was surprised. Her parents seemed to be handling this matter better than she anticipated. She expected her mother to be beside herself with worry while her father would shout and point a meaty finger at her. Elizabeth was glad she had only inherited his colouring and temper, or she would have had to contend with thick limbs and hairiness. Her sisters were dark-haired with bright blue eyes like their mother, whereas she was a redhead with emerald green eyes and a slight smattering of freckles across her nose. However, all three of them had inherited their mother’s tall height, slender frame, and button nose.
Elizabeth pursed her lips slightly, the movement reminding her that her overly large lips belonged to no one in the family. That went for her deep dimples as well. However, Elizabeth had once come across an old painting of a redheaded beauty with lush lips and a hint of dimples to go with her muted smile. The artwork had been stuffed behind several others, leading her to believe the woman wasn’t a beloved member of the Hanson clan. Once or twice, in a quiet rage, her father had said she was just like his great aunt Merida Donnachaidh, so she assumed that the woman in the painting was quite possibly the infamous Merida.
“Have you nothing to say about your behaviour?” her mother suddenly asked.
Elizabeth frowned slightly, shifting from the discomfort of her injuries. Besides a few scratches and cuts on her hands, arms and legs, she was fine. However, her body ached terribly and begged to be in bed. Rather than ask about her condition, her parents were more concerned about her behaviour.
“What would you like me to say, Mama?” Elizabeth asked. “I am sure you’re aware of what I did.”
She shouldn’t have answered like that, but her growing pain was making her irritable.
“I beg your pardon?” her father said. “Is this how you answer for what you’ve done?”
Elizabeth inwardly shook her head. Her parents offered no accusations because they wanted her to admit to her wrongdoings. She was not doing such a thing because she didn’t believe she had done anything wrong. She should apologise to Hera for her injured foot, but certainly not to her parents, who wanted her to marry a man she didn’t know.
“Has Hera been seen to?” she asked.
Her father’s fist suddenly hit the armrest. “Is that all you have to say? You snuck out of the house in the middle of the night!”
His temper had finally been released, but Elizabeth was so accustomed to it that she didn’t flinch. She had no reason to be worried about his anger when she faced a much greater danger: marriage. More importantly, marriage to a stranger.
“You gave me no choice,” she spat back. “You sprung the news on me without warning and simply expected me to agree to your plans. Running away was the only thing I could think of.”
“And then what?” her mother demanded. “What would a young woman have done alone in this world? You cannot take care of yourself!”
Elizabeth’s father put a hand over his wife’s hand, calming her. “What would you have done once you got away?” he asked.
“I would have found accommodation and, eventually, employment,” Elizabeth told them. “Many people seek governesses or companions.”
“But you would not have had any recommendations,” her mother pointed out.
“I’m aware of that, which was why I was willing to prove myself for the first month without pay,” Elizabeth said.
Her father raised an eyebrow. “Without money to live on?”
“I am not like my sisters who use their pin money for frivolous items,” said Elizabeth. “I have enough to comfortably live on without pay for at least three months.”
Elizabeth inwardly groaned the moment the words left her mouth. Confessing to have that much money was just as good as giving it away. Her parents would likely take it away or refuse to give her pin money for fear of her running away again.
“Consider that money confiscated,” her mother said, confirming her fears.
Elizabeth said nothing. They could take her money if they wished, but she had yet to say how much she had, and they had clearly forgotten about her jewellery box filled with precious jewels that would fetch a tidy sum.
“Have you no remorse at all for worrying your mother?” her father asked. “For embarrassing us? I am a well-known businessman, for heaven’s sake! What would people say once they discovered what you had done? It would have been all over the town by morning. Do you not care at all about our family’s reputation? What about your sisters? People would shun them and assume they’re just like you.”
“We wouldn’t want that now, would we?” Elizabeth muttered.
“I beg your pardon?” her father said.
“May I be frank with you, Papa?” she asked.
“We’re waiting with bated breath to hear your reasons, Elizabeth,” her mother replied.
Elizabeth nodded. “You have spoken of your reputation and that of my sisters,” she began. “You speak about care and remorse, but it seems that no one is concerned about me. You wish me to marry Lord Dudley, a man I do not know—how is that the right thing to do? I have never been averse to marriage, but I wished to choose the man I would marry. I do not wish to marry a man merely because he has the right bloodline or is titled and wealthy.”
Her father turned to her mother. “What ideas are these?”
“She speaks of love, Jacob,” her mother replied. “I think we may have spoiled her with too much freedom.”
“Too much freedom?” Elizabeth repeated. “Wanting to marry for love is too much freedom? Well, so be it. I’d rather be a spinster than enter a loveless marriage.”
“You will do as we say, young lady,” her father insisted. “I’m getting old and need someone to take over the company from me. Lord Dudley is the perfect man to do it.”
“Because he is titled and wealthy?” she asked, tempted to roll her eyes. “I hardly see how a pampered aristocrat can run a company as established as ours.”
“Lord Dudley is an astute businessman,” her father argued. “He has a large estate and has run that well.”
“I’m willing to bet my entire collection of knitted attire that his steward does all the ‘running,’” said Elizabeth.
She was rather proud of her knitted attire, so to put them up for a bet meant a great deal. Elizabeth had picked up the habit while visiting the reverend’s wife every Friday, and now she had a trunk filled with knitted stockings, slippers, shoes, shawls, and blankets. She should consider giving more away because she needed more space for new designs.
“Who do you think orders the steward to do what he does?” her father asked.
“I believe Lord Dudley knows nothing of what happens to his estate on a daily basis,” said Elizabeth. “He is only aware of how full his coffers are. Would you have a man like that running our company? He’ll run Hanson Importing to the ground within a year.”
“Stop questioning my judgement!” her father snapped, running his hands through his thinning hair.
Elizabeth touched her own hair, hoping she wouldn’t start balding once she reached thirty-five. All the redheaded men in her family had started around that age, and she was the only redheaded woman in many years, so she didn’t have a female reference. It just seemed unfair to have her fair colouring and freckles only to lose her hair strand by precious strand.
“Calm down, dear,” her mother said, rubbing her husband’s arm. “You know what the physician said about your heart. It’s not what it used to be.”
Instant guilt attacked her resolve to be firm with her parents. She didn’t want to worry her father and make him ill, but they needed to understand that she was terrified of what they wished to do. Freedom meant a lot to her, and only a man who loved her would understand that. However, her parents wanted to sell her freedom to the highest bidder and subject her to a life of misery with a stranger.
“Elizabeth,” her father said, sounding calmer. “I built Hanson Importing with my own two hands. I wanted it to be something lasting, a business that would be passed down for generations to come—a legacy. Now, I do not have a son to inherit the company, so the next best thing is to have you marry a capable man.”
“Let me run the company!” she exclaimed. “I am more than capable, Papa; you know it well. Do you not recall how I took care of the company while you were ill? I managed the books, processed the merchandise, and handled countless challenges. Not one of your employees rejected my leading.”
Well, she wasn’t being entirely truthful. Mr Kimble, her father’s righthand man, had not taken lightly to being ordered by her, but he eventually acquiesced when he realised she knew what she was doing. After all, she had learned everything about the business while following her father everywhere until he noticed his men ogling her too much.
“A woman cannot inherit a business, Elizabeth,” her father replied. “How many times must I tell you this? Yes, I admit that you are capable of following in my footsteps, which is a relief because you’ll be able to adequately support your husband.”
Elizabeth looked away and crossed her arms. Her father used to dote on her and treated her like her ideas meant something, but that changed the moment she was deemed old enough to marry. Then, it was all about dresses, going to parties, and being the perfect lady. Although they were commoners, her father’s wealth had afforded them a place in society, but he wanted a better place, hence Lord Dudley. Elizabeth briefly wondered what had convinced an aristocrat to marry a commoner, especially if he was already wealthy. Aristocrats were sticklers for marrying ‘good blood,’ which she didn’t have. She was as common as the flour used to bake daily bread.
That isn’t entirely true, but I doubt anyone would be interested to know that my father has ties to the oldest clan in Scotland.
“Perhaps we can give her a choice, dear,” her mother said, her hand still soothingly stroking his arm.
“A choice?” he repeated. “What choice can there be? She must marry. If not the company, think of Hannah and Emily.”
“Hannah and Emily?” Elizabeth asked, confused. “What do they have to do with getting married?”
Her parents ignored her. “We have a small selection of respectable lords in these parts, dear,” her mother explained. “While I will not allow my daughter to ruin her life for the sake of love, I do think we can give her the right to choose the right man.”
“You might be right, dear,” Elizabeth’s father agreed. “A little adventure and a bit of culture mixed in there should deal with her need for freedom.”
“Adventure and culture, dear?” her mother said, sounding surprised. “How do you propose we do that? Elizabeth has always been rather wild. We should not encourage that.”
They were talking about her as though she was not here! “Papa, Mama, I have not yet left the room.”
“Supervised adventure and culture, dear,” her father assured his wife. “She could stay with your family in London. They have several daughters who can guide Elizabeth along the right path while showing her all London has to offer.”
“Oh!” her mother exclaimed. “I understand. I’m sure my sister will be able to have her invited to a few balls and such. The ton can be rather exclusive, but my sister has a few influential friends. The Season has also started, so perhaps she can find a suitable gentleman.”
Elizabeth’s jaw dropped. They wanted to send her to London to partake in the ritual of dancing, fluttering eyelashes and flirtatious, rakish men.
“I hardly think going to London is the best solution here,” Elizabeth said.
“She’ll marry Lord Dudley if she returns empty-handed,” her father continued, still ignoring her.
“Yes, dear,” her mother replied with a smile. “If it is love our daughter seeks, then let her find it in the city. That will give us time to assess the suitors who have shown interest in Hannah and Emily.”
“Suitors have shown interest in Hannah and Emily?” Elizabeth asked, shocked by the news. “But Hannah is eighteen, and Emily is sixteen. Why are we talking about suitors?”
Once again, her words fell on deaf ears. Elizabeth might as well not have been there as her parents made plans for her life without consulting her. However, they had given her a way out of marrying a stranger, so she would hold onto that while navigating her way through the Season.
I suppose I’m going to London.
“A Lady’s Unexpected Suitor” is an Amazon Best-Selling novel, check it out here!
Elizabeth Hanson is a woman of adventure, trapped in a world of rigidity and conformity. Forced by her parents to marry a man she does not love, she is determined to prove that she can find a wealthy match in London before having to marry the dreadful Lord Dudley. Fate intervenes when she meets the infuriating yet intriguing Christopher Montgomery, and both her mind and heart are taken aback by their fateful encounter.
As Elizabeth spends more time with Christopher, she realises that he may be the key to her future happiness…
Christopher believed his heart had died with his wife, and he was destined to merely exist, but Elizabeth shatters this belief with her sharp words, intelligence, and pure heart. Just when he starts imagining a future full of love and hope, a man from the past appears and threatens to ruin his happiness. Will he manage to soothe the doubts raised in Elizabeth’s mind?
If only he could follow his heart despite society’s rules getting in the way…
Elizabeth and Christopher may have met at the worst possible time, but they realise they cannot live without each other. However, their path to happiness is obstructed by meddlesome relatives and saboteurs who want nothing less than to separate them. Will they succumb to the pressure of constant trials, or will they claim the everlasting romance they so richly deserve?
“A Lady’s Unexpected Suitor” is a historical romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Hello my dears, I hope you enjoyed the preview! I will be waiting for your comments here. Thank you 🙂