Read Online Mastering the Marquess by Vanessa Kelly - Free Book Online Page A

us.”
    Silverton’s amazement grew. “Good lord, Aunt Georgina, surely you are not comparing Annabel and me to you and my uncle. May I remind you, I’m thirty-four and she is barely seventeen. I’m almost old enough to be her father. Forgive me, but the idea is simply ludicrous, and I’m sure my cousin would agree.”
    His aunt lifted her eyebrows in a polite but incredulous expression. “Really, Silverton, I have little doubt you could make Annabel love you, once you set your mind to it. In any event, it’s not the least unusual to see such a disparity in age between husband and wife, and you know it. I begin to wonder if there is some other reason, besides her age, why you don’t wish to consider my suggestion.”
    Silverton was beginning to ask himself the same question, but he hardly felt inclined to discuss a possible explanation with his aunt.
    The silence between them lengthened. Aunt Georgina continued to study him with an enigmatic expression. He sighed inwardly, knowing how determined she could be when she had the bit between her teeth.
    â€œStephen,” she eventually said, “you know very well it is long past time for you to start a family. I don’t believe that waiting any longer will make a whit of difference to you. No woman in your past has ever come up to scratch. At least,” she paused meaningfully, “none since Esme Newton.”
    Silverton jerked his head back, astounded that his aunt would dare to broach that particular subject. He clenched his teeth against the quick surge of anger and wounded pride that flowed through him at the painful reminder of his youthful infatuation.
    Several heartbeats later, he had himself under sufficient control to respond in a suitably bored voice to her insightful but unwelcome remarks. “My dear ma’am, surely you have not forgotten that even the lovely Esme failed to come up to scratch.” He met Aunt Georgina’s eyes with a steady but defiant gaze, silently daring her to contradict him.
    She stared back with a veiled expression on her face, but her lips were compressed into a thin line.
    â€œYou are the Marquess of Silverton. You have a duty to your name and estate. This would be an excellent match and would heal the wounds that have festered in our family for many long years. Annabel needs a powerful man to protect her, and you need a wife who is worthy of you. The marriage would be of great benefit to the entire family.”
    She sighed, worry lines reappearing on her brow and around her eyes. “And you know as well as I that we can only do so much to protect Annabel. Isaac Burnley is her legal guardian. He could make our lives very difficult if he chose to do so.”
    Silverton had to acknowledge the truth of that, as well as the urgency of the situation. He nodded reluctantly, even though he hated every word she said.
    Lady Stanton finally relented. “My dearest Stephen, you are not a boy like Robert. You are a man who must make his own decisions, ones that are appropriate and honorable. All I ask is for you to spend time with Annabel. Perhaps you will find courting her not as difficult as you think.”
    Silverton grasped her hand and raised it to his lips. “Of course I will consider it, Aunt Georgina. I never want to disappoint you, or my family.”
    She smiled gratefully at him and turned the conversation, perhaps sensing that further discussion would only increase his resistance. Silverton lapsed into thought as he tried to imagine what it would be like to court Annabel, perhaps even wed her.
    But another image—an incredibly compelling image—pushed its way into his mind, and he feared it would come to haunt him in the days ahead. Only one woman interested him now, and she was, both by his and the ton’s standards, completely unsuitable.
    That woman, God help him, was Meredith Burnley.

Chapter Five
    Meredith heard Annabel’s silvery laughter drift