An Unconventional Courtship

By Morgan King

To marry or not to marry?

Eleanor Chatsby has her eye on a man—unfortunately he doesn’t appear to know she exists and is more interested in his hobby of bird watching.

Lord Alexander Mendton, curses his inability to communicate well with others, especially when his attention is captured by the most interesting of ladies.
One impetuous act from her and he is struck by the desire to make Eleanor his wife. Unfortunately his proposal is unexpected, poorly timed, and refused. He is not deterred and begins a plan of seduction.

Their courtship fast becomes a battle of wills. What can Lord Mendton do to capture his lady’s heart? Is he prepared to go all the way and cede her control of their relationship?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight Publishing
• Release date: Jun 27, 2013
• ISBN: 9781771304481

Morgan King

Morgan is a woman of many hats, both of the physical and the metaphorical kind. She juggles being a writer—there are several titles and genres to check out; a reader—seriously it’s an addiction; a mother—yay for playing Lego; a self-employed businesswoman—a bit of this and a bit of that, normally third sector related—and a Yorkshire pudding and coffee consumer. She is always happy to say “hello” to readers, although is most reachable during UK contact hours being a Brit.

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Published by Evernight Publishing at Smashwords

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2013 Morgan King

ISBN: 978-1-77130-448-1

Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

Editor: Karyn White

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATION

I’d like to dedicate this one to Raven and Musician, both of whom read this story when it was only a few hundred words and insisted it deserved to be longer.

AN UNCONVENTIONAL COURTSHIP

If the lady first refuses...

Morgan King

Copyright © 2013

Chapter One

Milady, it’s six A.M.

Yes, Fanny, I know.

Ellie could also guess what Fanny was most likely thinking: that they were not normally up so early and that it was rather unfair of Ellie, as it also required Fanny to be not just awake but dressed and able to concentrate on her duties. Fanny, of course, would rather still be in bed.

Milady?

Yes, Fanny?

Was her maid actually biting her tongue?

Nothing, milady.

Concentrate on what you are doing then and please pull tighter, Ellie said, changing the subject they hadn’t actually got as far as discussing.

She gasped for breath as the maid tugged sharply on the lace she was weaving to and fro up the middle of Eleanor’s back. Having issued the instruction she could hardly complain. She just hoped her assets would benefit from the extra reminder to present themselves.

You didn’t get back from the Henderson Ball till gone two. Fanny, it seemed, couldn’t resist raising another objection, her tone becoming increasingly petulant. Your mother won’t be stirring for hours.

Fanny failed to realise that instead of illustrating her point it merely began to irritate Ellie, who was also tired despite her enthusiasm for the day. Last night’s ball had been a long, tedious affair. She’d danced dance after dance, her eyes turning bleary and frequently pausing mid blink to rest before opening again. Not one dance partner had truly interested her.

Lord Mendton had, once again, not been in attendance.

Fortunately for Fanny, Ellie was ever patient. Yes. I know, Fanny, and I am sorry for your lack of sleep, but I have things to do, and that means you need to be up to help and accompany me.

Can’t these things be done later in the day, milady? Fanny asked. None of the shops will be open.

No, but the birds are up, and apparently that is what matters. It mattered enough that Ellie had invested in all nine volumes of the Comte de Buffon’s Histoire naturelle générale et particulière that related to birds.

Milady?

Never mind, Fanny. Ellie let the girl assist her with sliding today’s pale blue muslin dress over her head, and settling it on top of the chemise she already wore.

She didn’t want to have to explain her actions to anyone, least of all her own maid. Fanny, when left in ignorance, rarely found enlightenment and was a rare guest to gossiping with other servants.

If anyone did ask her why she was up and about so early, she intended to say that she wished to return to the Henderson’s as she had left her favourite shawl there. She could not sleep for worrying about it, and it would not do to send a servant as they might not recognise it. Saying she was going to look for birds,