Read Online A Lesson in Pride by Jennifer Connors - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jennifer Connors
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must understand, my lady, that Lord Essex was looking out for your well-being. He knew that your father was a...” Thornberry's sudden intake of breath drew Ginny's attention back to his face. “I beg your pardon, my lady. Lord Essex simply worried for you.”
Ginny highly doubted that, but kept that thought to herself. What Lord Essex wanted was to stick it to Nigel Thomas. He would make it impossible for the man to profit from his death. It was about the only nice thing Ginny could say about her now-deceased husband.
“You need not apologize, Mr. Thornberry. I'm glad my husband had the forethought to put such a stipulation in the wedding contract.” Ginny watched the look of surprise draw more blood to the older man's cheeks. His blush was now more intense.
“And if I carry Lord Essex's child?” she asked, just to see if the man had thought of such a thing.
“Oh, well, yes, he will provide for any offspring. Is there a chance that you could be...”
Ginny saw how the topic discomfited the man, so she answered with a simple, “Yes.”
Nodding his head, Mr. Thornberry stated, “That will change things, my lady. If you are carrying and the child is a girl, she will have the benefit of a good home and a lady's education. She will be presented in court and given a Season. And if the child is male, he will naturally become the next Lord Essex.”
“Naturally,” Ginny replied, picking up the teapot, and asking if Thornberry would like another cup.
Chapter 8
Ginny had just sat down to a solitary dinner when her brother and father entered the dining room. Releasing a sigh of frustration, knowing that the news she was about to impart was going to ruin her dinner, Ginny called to a footman to set two more places. Since Ginny had chosen a seat to the right of the head of the table, Nigel sat at the head, looking as lordly as he could.
“Well, my dear, what is for dinner this evening?” he asked, pulling the napkin up that the footman had only just set in front of him.
“I have no idea. The menu was set before I married Lord Essex.”
“Whatever it is, I am certain it will be fine.”
Finer than anything you've eaten in a while , Ginny thought with contempt. All the memories she'd inherited only made her look with disdain at the man to her left. All the dealings she'd had with him since taking over Alysanne's body hadn't helped with her assessment.
Nigel turned and snapped his finger at the footman. “You, there. I should like some of Lord Essex's finest claret with dinner.”
When the footman looked at Ginny for confirmation, Nigel sneered. “Have you any idea who I am? You need not look to my daughter for orders.”
Grinding her teeth, Ginny stated, “You will not speak to my staff like that, Father.” Her tone was low, so that the footman could not overhear, but it had the desired effect. Nigel turned to her with eyes wide and mouth open.
“Ben, could you please retrieve some claret for my father and brother? Thank you.”
The footman disappeared through a door. When gone, Nigel's expression turned venomous.
“How dare you speak to me in such a way. I see that becoming a countess has gone straight to your head.”
Ginny did not shrink down from his tone, but matched it with her own. “No, that is not how it is at all, Father. I just have no desire to alienate every other human being on the planet. And the truth of the matter is, they are my servants. They will look to me for orders. You do not live here, and you do not pay them.”
Nigel sat back in his chair. “Now that you mention it, we need to remedy our living arrangements.”
“If you think you are going to move in here, you could not be more wrong. As a matter of fact, there are a number of things you need to know. I met with Mr. Thornberry today.”
“How dare you, Alysanne? I told you that I would meet with him myself.”
“And he
Ginny highly doubted that, but kept that thought to herself. What Lord Essex wanted was to stick it to Nigel Thomas. He would make it impossible for the man to profit from his death. It was about the only nice thing Ginny could say about her now-deceased husband.
“You need not apologize, Mr. Thornberry. I'm glad my husband had the forethought to put such a stipulation in the wedding contract.” Ginny watched the look of surprise draw more blood to the older man's cheeks. His blush was now more intense.
“And if I carry Lord Essex's child?” she asked, just to see if the man had thought of such a thing.
“Oh, well, yes, he will provide for any offspring. Is there a chance that you could be...”
Ginny saw how the topic discomfited the man, so she answered with a simple, “Yes.”
Nodding his head, Mr. Thornberry stated, “That will change things, my lady. If you are carrying and the child is a girl, she will have the benefit of a good home and a lady's education. She will be presented in court and given a Season. And if the child is male, he will naturally become the next Lord Essex.”
“Naturally,” Ginny replied, picking up the teapot, and asking if Thornberry would like another cup.
Chapter 8
Ginny had just sat down to a solitary dinner when her brother and father entered the dining room. Releasing a sigh of frustration, knowing that the news she was about to impart was going to ruin her dinner, Ginny called to a footman to set two more places. Since Ginny had chosen a seat to the right of the head of the table, Nigel sat at the head, looking as lordly as he could.
“Well, my dear, what is for dinner this evening?” he asked, pulling the napkin up that the footman had only just set in front of him.
“I have no idea. The menu was set before I married Lord Essex.”
“Whatever it is, I am certain it will be fine.”
Finer than anything you've eaten in a while , Ginny thought with contempt. All the memories she'd inherited only made her look with disdain at the man to her left. All the dealings she'd had with him since taking over Alysanne's body hadn't helped with her assessment.
Nigel turned and snapped his finger at the footman. “You, there. I should like some of Lord Essex's finest claret with dinner.”
When the footman looked at Ginny for confirmation, Nigel sneered. “Have you any idea who I am? You need not look to my daughter for orders.”
Grinding her teeth, Ginny stated, “You will not speak to my staff like that, Father.” Her tone was low, so that the footman could not overhear, but it had the desired effect. Nigel turned to her with eyes wide and mouth open.
“Ben, could you please retrieve some claret for my father and brother? Thank you.”
The footman disappeared through a door. When gone, Nigel's expression turned venomous.
“How dare you speak to me in such a way. I see that becoming a countess has gone straight to your head.”
Ginny did not shrink down from his tone, but matched it with her own. “No, that is not how it is at all, Father. I just have no desire to alienate every other human being on the planet. And the truth of the matter is, they are my servants. They will look to me for orders. You do not live here, and you do not pay them.”
Nigel sat back in his chair. “Now that you mention it, we need to remedy our living arrangements.”
“If you think you are going to move in here, you could not be more wrong. As a matter of fact, there are a number of things you need to know. I met with Mr. Thornberry today.”
“How dare you, Alysanne? I told you that I would meet with him myself.”
“And he
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