A Spinster for the Earl: A Steamy Historical Regency Romance Novel (The Hale Sisters Book 3)

The female protagonist of this book, Miss Lucy Hale is notoriously known as “The Unattainable Spinster”. And even though she hates it, it has served her greatly! But how did she earn this nickname?

Here is Lucy’s Prequel Chapter which will help you understand and visualize the story inside my book better.

Many of my readers requested it and that’s why I am giving it away for free! I believe you will LOVE IT!

It’s not mandatory to read it, but it will be really helpful if it’s your first time with this book.

Read the story of The Unattainable Spinster below:

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“Well.” Harriet winced. “That’s… That’s okay. We’ll just have to try harder next time. I think I ought to take this for now.” She reached out, pulling the fan out of Lucy’s hands.

Lucy watched Lord Davis walk away. She hadn’t impressed him with her use of her fan, and that was to be expected. She had spent some time in the mirror prior to the ball swatting that thing all around just to perfect the most unattractive routine possible.

She wasn’t taking any chances tonight. She’d make sure that she ended the night without a single suitor interested in her.

The night was young, however, and Harriet and Emma were persistent.

“Mama assigned me to teach you some ladylike manners today, and I will be mortified if I have to return to her a loser,” Harriet said.

Lucy faked a frown. “I am just such a terrible flirt.” She sighed, making a show of rolling her shoulders forward and hunching dejectedly just as another gentleman was coming their way.

“Oh my God! Don’t do that!” Harriet cried, using her hands to straighten her sister up. “Where’s Emma? I need backup.” She hurried off into the sea of colorful dresses and shimmering jewelry.

A chandelier sparkled, casting a grand light over the ballroom. Lucy relaxed and pulled herself back together. She knew how to hold herself, and if she really wanted, she wasn’t above using her femininity to get something. But there was one thing she would never use it to get—a husband.

Lucy was meant for more than a lifetime of obedience to a man she held no regard for. If she had ever experienced some romantic feelings for a man, then maybe she might have changed her mind. But here she was, untethered, unmatched, and terribly unimpressed.

“What do we do with you, Miss Lucy?”

Lucy jumped lightly, spinning on her heels and coming face-to-face with Adam. She expelled a puff of air through gritted teeth and crossed her arms. “What do you want?”

“Oh, just enjoying the show,” he said. “I saw that dazzling display of fan work, and I was entranced. You must dance with me.”

“Are you making fun of me?”

“How could I make fun of someone who is actively embarrassing themselves? Your sisters might be unwise to your games, but I know you can do better than this.”

Lucy narrowed her eyes. “What makes you think I could do better?”

“No one’s that bad. That was rehearsed,” he pointed out. He looked up, and his eyes widened. “Look alive,” he whispered before plastering a smile on his face. “Breckton!” He reached a hand out to greet a friend.

Lord Breckton was tall with brown eyes and blonde hair. Lucy had heard he was an amiable fellow, but that didn’t change her stance.

“Good to see you, Weston.” Lord Breckton glanced at Lucy in an effort to hint at his desire for an introduction.

“Oh! Where are my manners?” Adam laughed, putting a hand to his stomach. He seemed so genuine even when he was acting. “This is the Duchess of Radford’s sister, Miss Lucy Hale.”

“An honor to meet you, Miss Lucy.” Lord Breckton reached for her hand.

She stared at it, blinking, then looked at Adam. “I forgot what to do.”

“Go on. Offer him yours.”

“My what?”

“Your hand, Miss Lucy,” Adam said slowly, enunciating each word as if she were a simpleton.

“Oh, of course.”

Lucy flopped her hand lifelessly into Lord Breckton’s as if it were a dead fish. Lord Breckton grimaced but still bowed and brushed his lips across her wrist just to be polite. He was very nice. It just seemed Lucy wasn’t trying hard enough.

“Remember to talk slowly,” Adam said, smiling. “She’s… you know.”

Lord Breckton stepped back. “I shall keep that in mind if we dance before the evening is over.” He bowed to each of them before hurrying off.

Once he was out of earshot, Lucy stifled a laugh as best she could, but Adam’s wheezes were contagious. She cleared her throat and wiped tears of amusement from her eyes. “Why did you do that?”

“I am an agent of chaos,” Adam said, “and you’re basically family, so I refuse to leave you in your hour of need.”

“Oh, dear, there you are, Lucy.” Emma clicked her tongue, placing a hand on her youngest sister’s back.

Lucy straightened up and looked at her sister. “Oh, Emma, whatever do I do? I’m hopeless!” she cried.

“There, there,” Emma soothed, patting her back. “You’re not hopeless. You are just inexperienced.”

“Emma!” Harriet whispered harshly. “You ought to be a little harder on her. She’s really not trying!” She frowned sheepishly at Lucy. “No offense, of course.”

“Well, Lucy, I will say that hanging around with unmarriageable men like Lord Weston isn’t doing you any favors,” Emma pointed out.

“Actually,” Adam said, raising a finger, “I would love to dance with your sister.”

Emma spun around and gave him a dirty look with nothing but her eyes. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Oh, just feeling romantic,” he replied, doing a little dance that made him look like he was floating on air. “You and Colin are such a perfect pairing that now all I can think of is marrying and marrying fast.”

“Do you think I am stupid?” Emma lowered her voice so the more reasonable guests didn’t hear the way she was scolding her brother-in-law. “I know when you are lying.”

“Oh, yes, of course, Mother,” Adam drawled.

“Wait,” Harriet said. “She will be much more attractive if a rake dances with her. Go on, then!” She pushed Adam toward Lucy.

When Lucy was turned away from her sisters, she shot him a biting look. He took her hand and guided her onto the dance floor.

“Why would you do that?” she hissed. “This is going to backfire.”

“Worry not, Lucy,” Adam said. “From here on out, I am repulsed by you.” He took her hands in his for a dance but touched her like he was holding wet rubbish. “Listen, Lucy, men are ridiculous and foolish. You are only as coveted as the man that is interested in you.”

Lucy frowned. “Can you blame me for wishing to die alone?”

“Not at all,” Adam replied. “I wouldn’t marry any of those men.”

Lucy snickered. “Well, if men are ridiculous and foolish, then which ones can I trust?”

“Oh, I cannot say.” He shook his head.

He had completely neglected the choreography at this point. He was spinning her around at whatever intervals he pleased. Adam Weston was a free spirit.

“You cannot or will not?”

“I would, but your sister has the ears of a hawk, and I might find myself gutted before the evening is through.”

Lucy opened her mouth slightly and narrowed her eyes. Could he really want to say anything that bad?

“Well, you have to tell me now.”

He sighed. “Oh, I thoroughly regret saying anything at all.” He looked around to make sure no one was close enough to hear him. “There are four types of men. The first doesn’t try at all. Take Lord Groton, for example. He puts no care into what he’s doing, and he expects you to love him regardless. You cannot trust him.

“Then, we have men like Lord Wallingford, whose collar is so starched that he can hardly move. Good luck ever meaning more to him than his business matters. And third, be wary of self-identified gentlemen. They are men, yes, but they are never gentle. Lord Lofton has the grip of an eagle. Steer clear.”

“And the fourth?” Lucy asked.

“My friend, Lord Ramsbury, comes to mind. He’s a rake. And us, rakes, we don’t need to rely on tricks. We are honest about what we want. For example, I want to irritate your sister and be a good friend to you.”

“And Lord Ramsbury? What does he want?”

Adam gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Well, here’s to hoping you never find out. You’re too sweet, after all, Lucy.” The song ended, and he flashed her a repulsed look. “No, Miss Lucy,” he said loudly. “I cannot dance with you again.”

Lucy bit down on a smile and tried her best to look disappointed as she sulked back to her sisters. Emma and Harriet looked concerned but tried their best to hide it with encouraging smiles.

“I am going to kill my brother-in-law for not making you look irresistible. I cannot believe he would try this hard to irritate me at your expense.” Emma reached out and pinched Lucy’s cheek.

Lucy shouted, throwing a hand up to her stinging face.

“I have an idea!” Harriet exclaimed. “What if we spread a rumor?”

Emma crossed her arms. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, Lucy!” Harriet whined, loud enough for those around her to hear. “You really are the unattainable spinster.”

Emma smiled. “I like that.”

“I don’t!” Lucy hissed.

“Oh, come now, Lucy,” Harriet said. “Emma’s right, you cannot be spending all your time around rakes and unmarriageable men if you wish to marry yourself.”

Lucy bit her tongue. Maybe Adam was right. Maybe rakes and unmarriageable men were the only ones she could trust. She would have to keep an eye out for that Lord Ramsbury throughout the Season. He seemed like he could be a valuable friend.