Read Online A Lesson in Pride by Jennifer Connors - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jennifer Connors
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arrived on his own. It seems that when the wedding contract was drafted, you never bothered to read it before you signed it.”
Before Nigel could inquire to her meaning, the footman had returned with the wine. Right behind him was two more servants with the first course. Ginny made sure to thank all the servants before picking up her spoon and tasting the soup.
Once the servants retreated, Nigel asked, “What are you blathering about, Alysanne? I was very specific with my requirements for the marriage to take place.”
“Oh, Lord Essex met your requirements, but he added a few of his own.”
“For instance?”
“My inheritance will be tied up in a trust. I will not receive the money outright. Every expenditure will have to be approved by the trustee, who happens to be Mr. Thornberry. Essex made it very plain that none of the money could be used to benefit either you or Robert.”
“What?” Nigel bellowed, making the poor footman jump from his post. Ginny looked over at the man and waved him out of the room. No doubt he would make a beeline for the kitchens to announce the gossip.
“It would seem that Drake did not want to finance your life, should he meet his maker before me. Of course, I doubt he ever thought it would come to that, since he'd already outlived two other wives.” Ginny had tried to keep her voice even, but judging by the look on Robert's face, her tone said all. She knew damn well that her father cared little for what she would have suffered at the hands of Franklin Drake.
“This is appalling. I will take this to court. That man had me sign the marriage contract under false pretenses.”
Ginny rolled her eyes. “First, what legal standing do you have here? The moment I married Drake I gained some independence. You are no longer my protector, sir.” Not that he'd even been that, she thought disdainfully. “Second, Drake made certain that he followed your instructions. I'm still to inherit twenty thousand, I'm still to receive five thousand a year, but it is in a slightly different form than you envisioned. According to the contract, you are no worse off than you should be.”
“No worse off?” Nigel stood up and let his napkin fall to the floor. Grabbing Ginny's arm, he dragged her out of her chair and brought his face down to hers. “I was counting on that money to live, Alysanne. What am I to do now? There is no marrying you off again for at least a year, with the period of mourning and all. What am I to do?”
Ginny pulled her arm from Nigel's hand and backed up behind her chair. “As I said, sir, you are no worse off. Other than you had been given a few thousand pounds to bring our marriage about. What you requested from the marriage contract was never meant for you. It was to protect me in the event that Drake die before me.”
Nigel opened his mouth, but quickly closed it again. With a huff, he resumed his seat. “You may as well sit down. I must think upon this carefully.”
Ginny remained standing, noticing that Robert's eyes were firmly fixed to his plate. Coward , she thought. Alysanne's brother was pitiful and probably always would be. A pang of guilt struck her in her midsection. Robert had never been brave, but he was still her only family beside the man trying to worm his way into her life. She needed to get him away from Nigel, if he were to ever have a chance at life.
“I find myself without an appetite all of a sudden. I believe I will retire.” Ginny took a few steps from her chair when Nigel's voice chilled her to the bone.
“I can ruin it for you, Alysanne. I can tell them the truth. You would be out on your ear quicker than it would take me to snap my fingers.”
Nigel could inform her stepdaughter, Vivianne, of the fact, who would in turn bring about an annulment. The man would cut off his own nose to spite his face. There was no end to his charms.
“Do what you must, Father.” Ginny
Before Nigel could inquire to her meaning, the footman had returned with the wine. Right behind him was two more servants with the first course. Ginny made sure to thank all the servants before picking up her spoon and tasting the soup.
Once the servants retreated, Nigel asked, “What are you blathering about, Alysanne? I was very specific with my requirements for the marriage to take place.”
“Oh, Lord Essex met your requirements, but he added a few of his own.”
“For instance?”
“My inheritance will be tied up in a trust. I will not receive the money outright. Every expenditure will have to be approved by the trustee, who happens to be Mr. Thornberry. Essex made it very plain that none of the money could be used to benefit either you or Robert.”
“What?” Nigel bellowed, making the poor footman jump from his post. Ginny looked over at the man and waved him out of the room. No doubt he would make a beeline for the kitchens to announce the gossip.
“It would seem that Drake did not want to finance your life, should he meet his maker before me. Of course, I doubt he ever thought it would come to that, since he'd already outlived two other wives.” Ginny had tried to keep her voice even, but judging by the look on Robert's face, her tone said all. She knew damn well that her father cared little for what she would have suffered at the hands of Franklin Drake.
“This is appalling. I will take this to court. That man had me sign the marriage contract under false pretenses.”
Ginny rolled her eyes. “First, what legal standing do you have here? The moment I married Drake I gained some independence. You are no longer my protector, sir.” Not that he'd even been that, she thought disdainfully. “Second, Drake made certain that he followed your instructions. I'm still to inherit twenty thousand, I'm still to receive five thousand a year, but it is in a slightly different form than you envisioned. According to the contract, you are no worse off than you should be.”
“No worse off?” Nigel stood up and let his napkin fall to the floor. Grabbing Ginny's arm, he dragged her out of her chair and brought his face down to hers. “I was counting on that money to live, Alysanne. What am I to do now? There is no marrying you off again for at least a year, with the period of mourning and all. What am I to do?”
Ginny pulled her arm from Nigel's hand and backed up behind her chair. “As I said, sir, you are no worse off. Other than you had been given a few thousand pounds to bring our marriage about. What you requested from the marriage contract was never meant for you. It was to protect me in the event that Drake die before me.”
Nigel opened his mouth, but quickly closed it again. With a huff, he resumed his seat. “You may as well sit down. I must think upon this carefully.”
Ginny remained standing, noticing that Robert's eyes were firmly fixed to his plate. Coward , she thought. Alysanne's brother was pitiful and probably always would be. A pang of guilt struck her in her midsection. Robert had never been brave, but he was still her only family beside the man trying to worm his way into her life. She needed to get him away from Nigel, if he were to ever have a chance at life.
“I find myself without an appetite all of a sudden. I believe I will retire.” Ginny took a few steps from her chair when Nigel's voice chilled her to the bone.
“I can ruin it for you, Alysanne. I can tell them the truth. You would be out on your ear quicker than it would take me to snap my fingers.”
Nigel could inform her stepdaughter, Vivianne, of the fact, who would in turn bring about an annulment. The man would cut off his own nose to spite his face. There was no end to his charms.
“Do what you must, Father.” Ginny
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