The Hellion and the Highwayman

By Rebecca Lovell

Bluestocking Emma Sellars wants to be a doctor, but her parents would rather see her as a bride. Her sisters are determined to find her a husband before the Season ends but Emma has other plans. Lord Thomas Belmont's interest lies not in the Season but in the pockets of the affluent travelers coming in on the London highways. A chance meeting with Emma in a bookstore makes him wonder whether he can trade his pistol for a wedding band, but the choice between love and duty is harder than he ever thought possible.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rebecca Lovell
• Release date: Jul 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393965145

Book preview

Chapter One

London, 1805

With less than a week before the Season began, the Sellars house was abuzz with excitement. They would no doubt be entertaining guests and every corner of the house had to be cleaned so they could be received. The lady of the house was on edge to the point that any stray bit of dust could send her into a lecture that could be heard in the palace itself, and her husband was hiding in his office under the pretense that he had a great deal of paperwork to complete before Parliament opened.

In the center of the madness, Emma Sellars was reading a book in the sitting room. It had been the first room to be cleaned so she had picked it in the hopes that she wouldn’t be bothered, but she was having to deal with maids dusting surfaces that had already been dusted, and people walking in and out of the room. She was considering going up to her room to read when the front door closed and Emma heard the click of high-heeled shoes on wood. Hoping that her little sister would bypass the study, she turned the page of the thick book she was reading.

Emma! A girl with golden blonde hair hurried into the room and made a beeline for the settee where Emma was trying to read. Defeated, Emma put an envelope into the book to save her place and looked up at her little sister.

They were as different as night and day in almost every way. Katherine Sellars was petite, blonde, and cheerful as a sunny day. Meanwhile, Emma was quiet and calm, not quite of a height with a man but taller than her sisters by far. Her dark hair lay over her shoulder in a braid that was very unlike Katherine’s messy updo, and her smiles were much more conservatively given unless they were for her sisters’ eyes. The only thing all three of the Sellars girls shared were eyes blue enough to shame the ocean waves.

What is it that’s got you so excited? Emma closed her book on the envelope. Wait, let me guess. Something to do with a ball?

Yes! Katherine clapped her hands and dropped onto the settee hard enough to make the cushions bounce. I just got word that my dress for the Opening Ball is ready! Can we go pick it up? Please? Mother said I wasn’t to go on my own.

If I must. Emma sighed. No matter how boring or mundane the request, Emma couldn’t deny Katherine, especially when she was so excited. Different though they were, she loved her sister. Did she say why you need a chaperone?

Girls, are you in here? Their mother’s sharp voice came through the sitting room door and Emma rolled her eyes. When her mother was looking for both of them, the news was rarely good. Though neither of the girls responded, Beatrice came into the sitting room. Good, you’re both here so I don’t have to repeat myself.

What is it, Mother? Katherine’s smile was bright, even when Emma was certain they were about to be lectured for the hundredth time that week.

As you know, the Season is about to open. I know you’re both excited – Emma made a ‘tsk’ sound and her mother narrowed her eyes. "--both excited, Beatrice continued. There is something important about this year in particular. She turned to Emma. Can you tell us what, Emma?"

We’re both aunts now? Emma knew this was a dangerous game to play with her mother, especially since she knew the least little thing could set her off, but she didn’t care for Beatrice’s condescending tone.

This isn’t the time for your insolence, Beatrice snapped. You know precisely what I’m talking about. It’s about your being twenty and still unmarried.

That’s because I don’t intend to be married. Years of young men and their disastrous attentions have confirmed my belief that I’d much rather remain a single woman and continue my studies. She patted the book on her lap. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Katherine’s normally bright face fall. What about Katherine? She’s come of age, I’m sure she’ll be very popular at the dances.

You know very well that your sister can’t marry until you do. Would you have her be a spinster like you? It was a dirty move, but one that stung Emma all the same. It would be disastrous for her, since I know she adores the Season rather than tolerates it like you.

Why can’t she just find a husband and leave me out of it? You can’t force me to marry. The urge to open her book again to close the conversation hit her but it would only make the lecture go on longer and she held it back.

Don’t take that tone with me, young lady. If you’re so set on ruining your future, you can leave our house and let your sister have her pick of suitors. Beatrice turned a smile to her youngest daughter. Katherine is more like Frances, anyhow.

Oh, yes, perfect Frances! I’ll never be anything like either of your other daughters, so why not just let me be? Emma shot up off the settee and her book fell to the floor. It bounced and fell open, sending the envelope she’d put into it fluttering onto the floor. Emma snatched up the book and envelope and stormed out of the sitting room with her mother calling behind her. She didn’t particularly care to hear any more of her mother’s tirade, even if it meant locking herself in her room.

Emma’s bedroom was on the far end of the upper floor and she stomped toward it, hoping her mother could hear her footsteps through the ceiling. When she got to it, she slammed the door and threw her book on the bed. She’d already lost her place, it meant nothing to her what page it fell open to once she started reading again.

Her mother’s words had made Emma angrier than expected. For the last three years she had complied with her parents’ wishes and sat through tea after tea, bored out of her mind, and danced with enough dandies to give her blisters on her feet. Nothing had come of it but confirmation that most of the men in their social circle were boring at best and irritating at worst.

The thought of Katherine being held back from searching for a husband because of her made Emma angrier than she should have been, and with no other way to let it out, she kicked her dressing table as hard as possible. She immediately regretted it as a shock of pain went up her leg and she stumbled back to drop onto her bed. While she was rubbing her ankle, where the pain seemed to have collected, the door to her bedroom opened. Not particularly ready to have another argument with her mother, Emma flopped back onto the bed and curled up in the hopes Beatrice would think she was asleep.

I know you’re not asleep, sister, so you might as well sit up and talk to me. A chiding voice that was clearly not her mother’s caught her attention, and Emma sat up straight.

Frances! Emma slid off the bed, excited to see her older sister, only to have her ankle shriek at her in protest. She pulled her foot up and cursed, making her sister gasp.

"Where on earth did you get that language?"

Father, Emma said with a shrug. She sat back down on the edge of the bed and took off her shoe. Her ankle was already swelling and she rubbed it again. If you want a hug, come over here. I seem to have injured myself.

What did you do? Frances went to her bedside and hugged Emma tightly.

Kicked my dressing table. Emma hugged her sister back. Mother was giving me one of her lectures, so I excused myself from the conversation. I may have lost my temper.

You mean you stormed out and had a tantrum, Frances sighed. Ah well, at least it shall have mended itself in time for the Opening Ball. Unless you’ve broken the thing. She let go of her sister and sat on the bed beside her. I need not ask what you were being lectured about.

It can’t be that obvious, can it?

Of course it can. You and Mother have been having this same argument since before Henry and I were married. Frances grinned and put an arm around her little sister. Not only that, but I ran into Katherine when she was yelling at Mother about how unfair she was being. She smiled. Not you, of course. Katherine thinks your feet don’t touch the floor.

I just don’t think I have the disposition for marriage. I’m sure my husband would want me to settle down and be happy with having babies, but you know that’s not what I want. I can’t give up my dream. She leaned her head on her sister’s shoulder. Do you think I’m being ridiculous, Franny?

Before Frances could answer, the door opened again and Katherine walked in, all sunny again. Part of the reason was evident – she was carrying a baby in her arms and it was making soft cooing sounds as it beamed up at her. Frances laughed as Katherine went to the dressing table and sat down on the bench with the baby sitting on her lap.

It seems he’s taken quite the liking to you, Frances held out a hand. Give me the brush, would you? Katherine shifted the baby so she wouldn’t drop him, then handed the hairbrush to her sister. Miles seems to take to young women more than men.

He’s got a good head on his shoulders, then, Emma said. Frances laughed and picked up her braid. What are you doing?

Your hair is a mess and completely inappropriate. I’m going to clean it up before we go out. She unfastened Emma’s braid and used the brush to turn her hair into long, soft waves. Having her hair brushed reminded Emma of the times when the three sisters had sat together on one bed, telling ghost stories while Frances brushed their hair and put it into elaborate braids.

You can’t possibly think I’m going anywhere with this ankle. Emma looked at her swollen ankle. It was still aching, and she had a feeling that if her mother knew how she’d gotten it she was in for trouble.

You’re probably right. Still, you always were careless with your hair. It’ll look much better when the doctor comes to make sure you haven’t broken anything.

Why are you here so early? Katherine was playing with the baby, who was giggling gleefully at his aunt’s attention. You usually come much closer to the opening of the Season.

Well, this year we have Miles, don’t we? I wanted to come before the really bad weather started. Cold and wet together will make sure he’s sick for a week. She smiled fondly at her son while she braided Emma’s hair. My mother-in-law wanted us to leave Miles with her, but I wanted to bring him to see his aunts. Thankfully, Henry was on my side.

I must remember to thank him. Katherine kissed each of the baby’s hands. I never get to play with babies unless you’re around.

Do you really think it’s broken? Emma had been worrying about it since her sister brought up the possibility. Something came to her and she smiled. "If it is broken, I’m sure I could get out