know. You amaze me. Miss Amy decided to act the part of that figment of your imagination, Captain Jack Freemantle. She dressed the part and challenged me to a duel. Thinking her a man, I put a ball through her arm.’
‘Oh, how brave of her!’ cried Maria. ‘How very brave.’
He leaned forward and said in measured tones, ‘I think the reason I have never married is because I think women are all mad. Are you not shocked that a seemingly respectable spinster should behave in such a scandalous way? Or did you pay her to do it?’
‘I told her about those scurrilous lies you had been circulating about me,’ said Maria, her eyes flashing. ‘I had no man to defend me. Miss Amy said she would see I got my revenge and I thought she meant to call on you and read you the riot act.’
‘I apologize to you most sincerely for having been misled as to your character by my own mother,’ he said stiffly. ‘I am prepared to make amends. My consequence in society is considerable and I shall make it my duty to stand up with you for a few dances and take you driving in the Park.’
‘How kind,’ said Maria sarcastically. ‘Let me tell you, you great lumpkin, I do not want you or your consequence.’
He leaned back in his chair and surveyed her curiously from under his heavy eyelids. ‘You do not?’ he asked. ‘My rank, my favour, and my title do not interest you?’
‘Not in the slightest, your grace. I will leave you to repair the damage your mother has done. I only hope the notice in the newspapers explaining the mistake appears before my delighted parents decide to journey to Town, for if they set off immediately today after reading about the forthcoming marriage and then find it is all a mistake when they arrive, they will blame me for the cancellation and I have a mind not to be beaten.’
‘Do they beat you much?’
‘Yes,’ said Maria curtly.
‘Why?’
‘Why? Because I am not interested in the suitors they find for me. My failure to provide them with an entrée to society makes them very angry.’
He sat for a moment, studying her. He noticed the clear skin and beautiful eyes and the soft swell of her bosom. He vividly remembered the feel of her lips.
He closed his eyes and thought hard. He would have to marry sooner or later, and he was tired of Season after Season. Maria Kendall was young and pretty and not unamusing. He could do worse. If he married her, he would get the heir he needed and the succession would be ensured. She would get her freedom from those parents who appeared to treat her very harshly, although he was sure her story of beatings was a wild exaggeration.
‘As you appear to be settling down to sleep,’ remarked Maria acidly, ‘I may as well take my leave. I should not be here when your mother is absent.’
His eyes flew open. ‘I have two aunts somewhere about, and a housekeeper,’ he said. ‘Your reputation is safe.’
‘In any case, I must leave,’ said Maria, getting to her feet.
He rose as well and stood looking down at her.
‘I have a proposition to make to you, Miss Kendall,’ he said, taking her hand.
She snatched her hand away and glared up at him, a high colour mantling her cheeks.
‘Don’t you
dare
suggest I become your mistress,’ she said.
‘On the contrary. I suggest it might suit us both to let the engagement stand.’
Now was Maria’s chance to spurn him, but the tone of voice had been cool and practical.
‘Why?’ she asked weakly.
‘I need to get married sometime. I would be giving you a freedom you cannot enjoy as a single lady. As my duchess you would have great social power.’
‘I am not interested in social power,’ said Maria almost tearfully, thinking of all her rosy dreams of love.
‘Nonetheless, you would be your own mistress. You may lead your own life after we are married. Your main duty will be to present me with a son. After that, you may do as you please.’
‘May I sit down?’ asked Maria. He helped her to a
‘Oh, how brave of her!’ cried Maria. ‘How very brave.’
He leaned forward and said in measured tones, ‘I think the reason I have never married is because I think women are all mad. Are you not shocked that a seemingly respectable spinster should behave in such a scandalous way? Or did you pay her to do it?’
‘I told her about those scurrilous lies you had been circulating about me,’ said Maria, her eyes flashing. ‘I had no man to defend me. Miss Amy said she would see I got my revenge and I thought she meant to call on you and read you the riot act.’
‘I apologize to you most sincerely for having been misled as to your character by my own mother,’ he said stiffly. ‘I am prepared to make amends. My consequence in society is considerable and I shall make it my duty to stand up with you for a few dances and take you driving in the Park.’
‘How kind,’ said Maria sarcastically. ‘Let me tell you, you great lumpkin, I do not want you or your consequence.’
He leaned back in his chair and surveyed her curiously from under his heavy eyelids. ‘You do not?’ he asked. ‘My rank, my favour, and my title do not interest you?’
‘Not in the slightest, your grace. I will leave you to repair the damage your mother has done. I only hope the notice in the newspapers explaining the mistake appears before my delighted parents decide to journey to Town, for if they set off immediately today after reading about the forthcoming marriage and then find it is all a mistake when they arrive, they will blame me for the cancellation and I have a mind not to be beaten.’
‘Do they beat you much?’
‘Yes,’ said Maria curtly.
‘Why?’
‘Why? Because I am not interested in the suitors they find for me. My failure to provide them with an entrée to society makes them very angry.’
He sat for a moment, studying her. He noticed the clear skin and beautiful eyes and the soft swell of her bosom. He vividly remembered the feel of her lips.
He closed his eyes and thought hard. He would have to marry sooner or later, and he was tired of Season after Season. Maria Kendall was young and pretty and not unamusing. He could do worse. If he married her, he would get the heir he needed and the succession would be ensured. She would get her freedom from those parents who appeared to treat her very harshly, although he was sure her story of beatings was a wild exaggeration.
‘As you appear to be settling down to sleep,’ remarked Maria acidly, ‘I may as well take my leave. I should not be here when your mother is absent.’
His eyes flew open. ‘I have two aunts somewhere about, and a housekeeper,’ he said. ‘Your reputation is safe.’
‘In any case, I must leave,’ said Maria, getting to her feet.
He rose as well and stood looking down at her.
‘I have a proposition to make to you, Miss Kendall,’ he said, taking her hand.
She snatched her hand away and glared up at him, a high colour mantling her cheeks.
‘Don’t you
dare
suggest I become your mistress,’ she said.
‘On the contrary. I suggest it might suit us both to let the engagement stand.’
Now was Maria’s chance to spurn him, but the tone of voice had been cool and practical.
‘Why?’ she asked weakly.
‘I need to get married sometime. I would be giving you a freedom you cannot enjoy as a single lady. As my duchess you would have great social power.’
‘I am not interested in social power,’ said Maria almost tearfully, thinking of all her rosy dreams of love.
‘Nonetheless, you would be your own mistress. You may lead your own life after we are married. Your main duty will be to present me with a son. After that, you may do as you please.’
‘May I sit down?’ asked Maria. He helped her to a
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