Free A Debutante's Guide to Rebellion by Kathleen Kimmel Page B

why was she not more upset? Why was she not thinking of Lord Averdale, but of Ezekiel Blackwood’s look of abject apology?
Of pity, more likely,
she told herself, and crushed that small hope beneath the weight of the realization.
    â€œDon’t despair,” Lady Copeland said. “He isn’t out of our grasp yet.”
    Eddie turned to her at last. “Did you not hear what the man said? Lord Averdale has no intention of marrying
anyone
, least of all me. He’s uninterested.”
    â€œInterest isn’t necessary,” Lady Copeland said. She had a scheming look in her eye, one that Eddie knew by long experience was cause to be wary. “He’s obviously a softhearted man. And a noble one. Yes, that’s it. If you were compromised . . .”
    â€œCompromised?” Eddie asked in alarm.
    â€œWe can arrange for the two of you to be found alone together in a room. Hopefully with your bodice askew. Then he’d have to wed you.”
    â€œYou must be joking.” It was obvious that Lady Copeland was not.
    â€œWe shall have to ask a few favors, to ensure that everyone is in their proper place.”
    Eddie stared at her mother in frank bewilderment, but Lady Copeland’s mind was clearly elsewhere, making plans. “Mother, this is ridiculous. And unnecessary. My father
is
an earl. Surely there are men who would be interested in marrying a stoat if it would get them an earl for a father-in-law.”
    â€œOh, you might catch some schemer. Someone who needs money and your father’s ear. But it would be someone reaching up, by necessity. And such a marriage would drag our family
down
.”
    â€œYou mean, to my level,” Eddie said drily.
    â€œWell. I would never say such a thing, of course. But as long as they are your words, not mine, then yes. Essentially.”
    â€œDear Lord.” Eddie spun around, unable to look at her mother another moment, and gulped down a breath. Her mother had always been hard to bear, but this was something else. This was not just pushing Eddie to be something worthy of the Copeland name. This was—this was—she couldn’t even put words to it. Her mother was willing to turn her into a schemer and Lord Averdale into a dupe. Just to get rid of her.
    It had never, ever been about what was best for Eddie, had it? Because this could not be best for her. Not when it would ruin her reputation and brand her as some kind of monster for the rest of her life.
    â€œI won’t do it,” she said. “I won’t trap a man in a marriage he doesn’t want, and I certainly won’t compromise my virtue to do it.”
    â€œYou’ll do as you’re told,” Lady Copeland snapped.
    Eddie gave her a hard look over her shoulder. “I always do what you tell me to, Mother, and look where it’s gotten me.”
    With her mother gaping at her, she strode out of the drawing room and kept on going, right out the front door and down the street.
    ***
    Ezekiel left the town house with the distinct sensation of having been kicked in the stomach. He could not go home and risk facing his relatives; Sophie would be sympathetic, Lord Averdale wise and knowing, his father—well. The less he thought about that, the better.
    Instead, he returned to the greenhouse. It was an ugly place, a dead place, but when he stepped inside he felt warmth. Satisfaction. He felt as if he were not alone, and that his company took a very particular form.
    He wanted her here with him. He wanted to name every species of decaying plant in alphabetical order until she smiled. Would that make her smile? He thought so. He thought she would make a joke out of it. It was so much easier to talk to her than to anyone else, even if they’d only done it twice, properly. He would tell her five things, he thought, and ask a question, and she would notice. Because she paid attention. She listened to him, and not because, like Sophie, she was