Read Online A Priceless Gift: A Regency Romance by May Burnett - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: May Burnett
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coze.”
As Mattie left, Amanda looked after her, lost in thought. Was she naïve to try to assemble a new family after losing her old one so suddenly? Of course it could never be the same, but she had to work with what she had at hand. Sigurd reminded her of her brothers when they were that age, though there was little physical resemblance. What had her brothers been told about her fate? For all she knew they were still in ignorance of her marriage, blithe and unaware in their boarding school. Nor would they care much or miss her during their vacations. It was normal for girls to marry and move away soon after putting up their hair.
In her own rooms, Amanda called for the maid to help her change. At home, Eve and she had helped each other.
Would she ever hear from her mother? Amanda thought of her parents and sisters every day. The events of the last weeks had fractured her trust in her mother’s love, a wound that would never completely heal. A letter telling her that she was believed, and still a member of the family, would go a long way towards allowing her to forgive. Yet it would be over-optimistic to expect it. Her mother was unbending by nature, reluctant to change her mind or admit a mistake. Even with Father’s persuasion, it might take years till Ellen Prendergast could face and accept her brother’s guilt. At least Amanda’s father had supported her, or she would have been totally undone. If Amanda ever faced such a situation with her own children, she would strive to emulate him rather than her mother.
Her own children ? Would there be more than one? First she had to survive the birth of that little cuckoo. Lucian was right, the child was innocent, and perhaps, in time, she might come to forget its origins.
In later years, perhaps . . . Her husband must have been a very attractive youth when he was her age. He still was a fine figure of a man. What would children of his body look like? Darker than she and her siblings, no doubt, more like little Sigurd. That name should only be given to blonds . . .
Her thoughts were rambling aimlessly. She gave the order for tea and sat on her chaise longue, worrying once again at the rupture with her family.
By rights, her anger at her mother should be added to the fury she felt towards her treacherous uncle Roderick. If she could do anything to spite or punish him, she would do it in a heartbeat.
Until recently, Amanda had been poor and powerless. As a countess with money and servants at her disposal, could she do anything about him? Though her uncle did not deserve to live, she had no desire to cause his death. Financial ruin or public disgrace would inevitably harm her innocent aunt and cousins. Was there any way to damage a man without touching the rest of his family? She could not think of one offhand and resolved to sleep on it. Maybe inspiration would strike the next day. If not, she would consult Lucian when he came back, though it would be more satisfactory to avenge herself without his help.
“It is five already,” Mattie’s voice tore her out of her brown study. “Is all that food just for the two of us?”
“I like a proper choice. Whatever we send back will be eaten by the staff, I imagine. Here, try these seed tartlets.”
Between the two of them, they made impressive inroads upon the spread before them. Amanda drank three cups of tea, and Mattie two, though hers were stronger.
“Have you thought about names for your child?” Mattie asked.
“Not yet.”
“Has the earl expressed his wishes, if it should be a boy? Are there any traditional family names?”
“If so, he has not mentioned them.”
“It should not be hard to find out. Is there a family Bible with the names of all his forebears?”
“I am not sure that I would want a typical name from this family.” After all, her child would not be related to any of those other Lord Rackingtons. “There is no family Bible to my knowledge, though we can ask Tennant, my husband’s
As Mattie left, Amanda looked after her, lost in thought. Was she naïve to try to assemble a new family after losing her old one so suddenly? Of course it could never be the same, but she had to work with what she had at hand. Sigurd reminded her of her brothers when they were that age, though there was little physical resemblance. What had her brothers been told about her fate? For all she knew they were still in ignorance of her marriage, blithe and unaware in their boarding school. Nor would they care much or miss her during their vacations. It was normal for girls to marry and move away soon after putting up their hair.
In her own rooms, Amanda called for the maid to help her change. At home, Eve and she had helped each other.
Would she ever hear from her mother? Amanda thought of her parents and sisters every day. The events of the last weeks had fractured her trust in her mother’s love, a wound that would never completely heal. A letter telling her that she was believed, and still a member of the family, would go a long way towards allowing her to forgive. Yet it would be over-optimistic to expect it. Her mother was unbending by nature, reluctant to change her mind or admit a mistake. Even with Father’s persuasion, it might take years till Ellen Prendergast could face and accept her brother’s guilt. At least Amanda’s father had supported her, or she would have been totally undone. If Amanda ever faced such a situation with her own children, she would strive to emulate him rather than her mother.
Her own children ? Would there be more than one? First she had to survive the birth of that little cuckoo. Lucian was right, the child was innocent, and perhaps, in time, she might come to forget its origins.
In later years, perhaps . . . Her husband must have been a very attractive youth when he was her age. He still was a fine figure of a man. What would children of his body look like? Darker than she and her siblings, no doubt, more like little Sigurd. That name should only be given to blonds . . .
Her thoughts were rambling aimlessly. She gave the order for tea and sat on her chaise longue, worrying once again at the rupture with her family.
By rights, her anger at her mother should be added to the fury she felt towards her treacherous uncle Roderick. If she could do anything to spite or punish him, she would do it in a heartbeat.
Until recently, Amanda had been poor and powerless. As a countess with money and servants at her disposal, could she do anything about him? Though her uncle did not deserve to live, she had no desire to cause his death. Financial ruin or public disgrace would inevitably harm her innocent aunt and cousins. Was there any way to damage a man without touching the rest of his family? She could not think of one offhand and resolved to sleep on it. Maybe inspiration would strike the next day. If not, she would consult Lucian when he came back, though it would be more satisfactory to avenge herself without his help.
“It is five already,” Mattie’s voice tore her out of her brown study. “Is all that food just for the two of us?”
“I like a proper choice. Whatever we send back will be eaten by the staff, I imagine. Here, try these seed tartlets.”
Between the two of them, they made impressive inroads upon the spread before them. Amanda drank three cups of tea, and Mattie two, though hers were stronger.
“Have you thought about names for your child?” Mattie asked.
“Not yet.”
“Has the earl expressed his wishes, if it should be a boy? Are there any traditional family names?”
“If so, he has not mentioned them.”
“It should not be hard to find out. Is there a family Bible with the names of all his forebears?”
“I am not sure that I would want a typical name from this family.” After all, her child would not be related to any of those other Lord Rackingtons. “There is no family Bible to my knowledge, though we can ask Tennant, my husband’s
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