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entirely useless. I was a soldier, recall.
Do not tell me how you served your country. Susanna is full of tales of your heroism. Rot! You resigned from the army years ago after conduct unbecoming of an officer or gentleman. You managed to help Rexford rescue Amanda, and help Mr. Harry Harmon solve his secret intrigues, but now you are back to doing nothing for anyone. Susanna told me your uncle asked you to serve as magistrate, or stand for a place in the Commons, but no, you chose to stay a feckless barbarian, with no occupation, no concern for anyone but yourself.
If she were a man, shed be on the floor by now. If she were the kind of woman Daniel was used to, shed still be on the floor after he kissed her to shut her up. That was what he hated about real ladies. A fellow couldnt thrash them or tumble them. Hell, it wasnt even polite to shout at one of the delicate blossoms. He yelled anyway. I care for my family, dash it. Thats why I dont want you here. And you dont know anything about my career in the army.
And you do not know anything about my elopement, but that didnt keep you from leaping to conclusions and passing judgment.
I know all I need to know.
Then I know all I need to know!
Snelling did not kidnap you, did he? You went willingly, packing a trunk, taking blunt from the family coffers.
You think I stole funds? That was my own purse, what Id saved from the household allowance and my pin money. Ah, but you never asked for the truth, did you? Did you ask my dear father about the sick old man he bartered me to? How Sir Neville thought a virgin could cure him of the pox? The raddled old ghoul paid my father for my hand. My loving sire thought Sir Neville would die soon and leave me a wealthy widow. Only Id never see a groat of it, would I? While I was still underage, my finances would be controlled by my father, especially if I contracted the disease. I was seventeen, Mr. Stamfield. Seventeen! Snelling would have been better. Anyone would have been better. I would have married She almost said you, but no, shed never have tied herself for life to another violent, domineering man. I would have married a stranger. But you had to ride to the gallant defense of British maidenhood and a mans right to sell his own daughter.
Daniel knew she spoke the truth because hed have been itching like mad over such a faradiddle otherwise. He knew Abbott was a loose screw, but this was beyond any moral standard of decency. Seventeen. Bloody hell.
You should have come to my mother.
What could she have done? No laws were broken.
But why did you pick that cur Snelling?
Corie looked at her empty cup with longing, but did not refill it. The lieutenant needed money desperately. And he was a gentleman who happened to be handsome, attentive, and available.
He was a known gambler and a womanizer. He would have made you a wretched husband.
Do you think I didnt know that? I was young, not ignorant of the world or the local gossip. He was better than pox-ridden Sir Neville, who is still alive, by the way, only blind and raving and kept in the attics by his servants. Id have been married to a lunatic right now if I hadnt run off.
Why didnt your father go on with the match once you were home?
Because Sir Neville was at our house for the cursed wedding when I left. He wouldnt have me. He assumed I was no longer a virgin. She laughed, without humor. Can you believe it? That filthy old man wouldnt have me. And Snelling was gone, thanks to you, my fathers hero. She laughed again. Some kind of hero, almost killing a man half your size.
Now Daniel was angry, at Abbott, Sir Neville, and Snelling, but mostly at this virago who was shredding his character along with her apparel. I never wanted to be a hero. Not in the army; that was Rexs idea, and he is scarred for life. Its dirty and dangerous, and deuced uncomfortable. And
Do not tell me how you served your country. Susanna is full of tales of your heroism. Rot! You resigned from the army years ago after conduct unbecoming of an officer or gentleman. You managed to help Rexford rescue Amanda, and help Mr. Harry Harmon solve his secret intrigues, but now you are back to doing nothing for anyone. Susanna told me your uncle asked you to serve as magistrate, or stand for a place in the Commons, but no, you chose to stay a feckless barbarian, with no occupation, no concern for anyone but yourself.
If she were a man, shed be on the floor by now. If she were the kind of woman Daniel was used to, shed still be on the floor after he kissed her to shut her up. That was what he hated about real ladies. A fellow couldnt thrash them or tumble them. Hell, it wasnt even polite to shout at one of the delicate blossoms. He yelled anyway. I care for my family, dash it. Thats why I dont want you here. And you dont know anything about my career in the army.
And you do not know anything about my elopement, but that didnt keep you from leaping to conclusions and passing judgment.
I know all I need to know.
Then I know all I need to know!
Snelling did not kidnap you, did he? You went willingly, packing a trunk, taking blunt from the family coffers.
You think I stole funds? That was my own purse, what Id saved from the household allowance and my pin money. Ah, but you never asked for the truth, did you? Did you ask my dear father about the sick old man he bartered me to? How Sir Neville thought a virgin could cure him of the pox? The raddled old ghoul paid my father for my hand. My loving sire thought Sir Neville would die soon and leave me a wealthy widow. Only Id never see a groat of it, would I? While I was still underage, my finances would be controlled by my father, especially if I contracted the disease. I was seventeen, Mr. Stamfield. Seventeen! Snelling would have been better. Anyone would have been better. I would have married She almost said you, but no, shed never have tied herself for life to another violent, domineering man. I would have married a stranger. But you had to ride to the gallant defense of British maidenhood and a mans right to sell his own daughter.
Daniel knew she spoke the truth because hed have been itching like mad over such a faradiddle otherwise. He knew Abbott was a loose screw, but this was beyond any moral standard of decency. Seventeen. Bloody hell.
You should have come to my mother.
What could she have done? No laws were broken.
But why did you pick that cur Snelling?
Corie looked at her empty cup with longing, but did not refill it. The lieutenant needed money desperately. And he was a gentleman who happened to be handsome, attentive, and available.
He was a known gambler and a womanizer. He would have made you a wretched husband.
Do you think I didnt know that? I was young, not ignorant of the world or the local gossip. He was better than pox-ridden Sir Neville, who is still alive, by the way, only blind and raving and kept in the attics by his servants. Id have been married to a lunatic right now if I hadnt run off.
Why didnt your father go on with the match once you were home?
Because Sir Neville was at our house for the cursed wedding when I left. He wouldnt have me. He assumed I was no longer a virgin. She laughed, without humor. Can you believe it? That filthy old man wouldnt have me. And Snelling was gone, thanks to you, my fathers hero. She laughed again. Some kind of hero, almost killing a man half your size.
Now Daniel was angry, at Abbott, Sir Neville, and Snelling, but mostly at this virago who was shredding his character along with her apparel. I never wanted to be a hero. Not in the army; that was Rexs idea, and he is scarred for life. Its dirty and dangerous, and deuced uncomfortable. And
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