Read Online Belle (The Daughters of Allamont Hall Book 2) by Mary Kingswood - Free Book Online Page B

pretending not to mind her unlovely face. That being so, better a man she knew how to manage, with the comfort of familiarity rather than a stranger. Yes, Cousin James would do well enough. But it was disheartening, all the same.
    ~~~~~
    Henry Allamont had not forgotten his promise to speak to Belle about Jack Barnett, and on his next visit to the Hall, he drew her to a quiet corner of the drawing room. She was, as always, neatly dressed in a plain gown with little trimming. On another young woman, it might have looked dowdy, but he thought it suited her very well.
    “I hope you will forgive my intemperate behaviour when last we met, Belle. I should not have acted so, but Sara can be so obstinate. I cannot understand her, and that is the truth of it. She neglects your interests shamefully, and who should have more care for fatherless daughters than their own mother?”
    “You cannot expect me to support you in any censure of Mama,” Belle said. “If that is all you have to say—”
    “I beg your pardon, that was disrespectful of me. Your father kept all of you on a very tight rein, and your mama suffered as much as anyone. It is hardly surprising if… well, no matter. That is not what I intended to discuss.”
    “You wish to talk about Mr Barnett.”
    “I do, for it concerns us all very closely. I have talked to Plumphett about it, and dragged some information out of him, and he confessed that he had discussed the matter with you, in great detail. I am sorry you had to learn such things about your father, Belle, and even more sorry that you were obliged to meet this person. It is not fitting that he should come here, just as if he were a gentleman.”
    “And yet he might be,” she said calmly. “If he inherits Allamont Hall, he will have a very good independent income.”
    “But he will never be accepted into good society,” he said, thumping a fist into his palm so hard he made Belle jump. He took a breath to steady himself. It would never do to lose his temper again. Even though Lady Sara was not present, she was constantly in his mind, her serenity an example he struggled to follow. Even after all these years, her beauty and graceful bearing took his breath away. If only she were more malleable… He brought his thoughts back to the matter at hand with difficulty. “He will never be respectable , no matter how large his income.”
    “True, but I do not quite see what is to be done about it,” Belle said. “The law will decide.”
    “But we might assist the law to make its decision,” he said. “We might, for example, engage lawyers to defend the case. We might present evidence that demonstrates that your father did not intend Barnett to inherit. Or we might persuade the man to relinquish his claim.”
    “How might one persuade him if he is determined on this course?”
    He smiled at her innocence. “Offer him money, Belle. A fixed sum, paid into his hand, if he signs an agreement not to pursue his claim. But all of these options would be expensive, and your mama is unwilling to pay a penny piece to him, or to lawyers.”
    “Then that would appear to be the end of the matter.”
    “Not if you girls work on her, talk to her, convince her of the dreadful consequences if this should come to pass.”
    “Mama does not listen to me or to any of us,” Belle said. “She feels it does not concern us, since she has her Dower House and income, and she assumes that we will all be married very soon.”
    “But think how it must drag all of us down, to have such a person living in Allamont Hall. It must have a very damaging effect, and as soon as this young man lodges his claim, it will all be out in the open and your reputations will be irreparably damaged. I have said as much to your mama, but I cannot make her attend to me.”
    Belle was silent, and he felt the subject had been exhausted. “If you will consider all that I have said, I am satisfied, for I can trust to your good sense and your influence on