Read Online Pirate's Bride (Liberty's Ladies) by Lynette Vinet - Free Book Online Page A

compared to what I can and will do in the future.” Holding out her hand, Thomas took it. “I trust you’ll see to this matter immediately.”
    “I will, my lady.”
    Without further adieu, Bethlyn turned away, and like a flash of green was up the stairs, disappearing from his sight.
    ~ ~ ~
     
    Five months passed. As each autumn day lengthened, Bethlyn waited for word from her husband. Would he fulfill his marital duties by her, or would he opt for an annulment? Bethlyn didn’t care either way. She only wanted to end her Limbo-like existence and continue with her life. Perhaps find a man she could love and who’d love her, and hang Ian Briston!
    The night of Lord and Lady Stanhope’s annual ball had arrived, and Bethlyn found she didn’t wish to go. The whirl of parties, soirees, and teas no longer filled her with pleasure. She found the people to be shallow, frittering away their time. Her only consolation was Jeremy, who’d have adored her no matter her looks. The dutiful Jeremy would soon arrive to escort her, to keep the wolves at bay, so to speak. A sad smile played around the edges of Bethlyn’s lips as she surveyed her reflection in the gold frame looking glass, decorated with scarlet eglomise panels. Dear Jeremy truly believed she needed his protection, and she allowed him to think so, but her anger towards Briston had toughened her. For all the pranks they’d played together, for all the many men who had whispered fervent words of love in her ear, only to be cast aside by her like last year’s gown, Bethlyn found no real happiness.
    At any time she supposed she could seriously consider bedding one of the men who sought her favor. Everyone knew she was married, but the marriage was more or less ignored by the men who wished to court her, to win a night of love with her. She, however, took her marriage vows quite seriously though no one would have guessed it. Granted, she purposely acted the coquette when it suited her needs, behaved outrageously, and forced dear Aunt Penny to write letters of complaint to Ian Briston, complaints which pleased Bethlyn immensely. She’d hoped that the man would be so riled by her behavior that he’d come for her, beg her to be his wife, or be so scandalized he’d free her from the marriage. None of this happened.
    He still must view her as the homely child who was wretchedly sick on her wedding day. No doubt Penny had enlightened him that she was now the rage of London, touted as a great beauty-something which had surprised Bethlyn as well as everyone else who’d seen her when she first came to live with Penelope. It was after she’d arrived in London, eager to do her best by behaving scandalously, that she took more of an interest in her appearance with Mavis’s help and stopped eating so many sweetmeats. Somehow nature lent her a helping hand and smiled kindly upon her in the guise of Jeremy, Penelope’s grandson. They rode together every day in St. James’s Park, and within six months the plump, homely girl was gone and a beautiful young woman emerged. Briston, the oaf, didn’t even have the good sense to answer Aunt Penny’s letters, to wonder or care at how much his wife spent on clothes and frivolities. All the bills were paid by the man’s secretary, and on each of Bethlyn’s birthdays and wedding anniversaries, she received a lovely gift, no doubt sent by the secretary. Briston’s silence spoke more eloquently than hundreds of letters. The man hoped to forget she ever existed, that he’d married and deserted her, and he expected that she’d be content to remain in such a stupid and silly arrangement.
    “I won’t be ignored!” Bethlyn cried, startling Mavis, who entered the room carrying a rose silk gown over her arm. “The horrid man won’t ignore me any longer. I’ll force him to take note of me.”
    “Mr. Eversley may hear from your husband within a few days. Please don’t do anything rash, Bethlyn. Forget about the man and dress for the