Read Online The American Earl by Joan Wolf - Free Book Online Page B

exclaimed. She glared at Evan as if he were the one at fault. “How could he be so irresponsible?”
    “I have no idea,” Evan replied. “But he was, and now I’m stuck with the consequences. I’ll deal with the debt somehow, but the most pressing need is to make some arrangement for my cousins. They cannot continue on as they are.”
    There was a brief, charged silence. Then Lady Barbara said, “You have met Julia, of course.”
    “Yes.”
    “After Philip died I offered to bring her and Maria here to Mereton, and she refused to come. She is as stubborn as a mule, that girl.”
    “I’ve noticed,” Evan said with a flicker of humor. “Nevertheless, I am responsible for her and plans must be made for her future. I’ve been advised that my best course of action is to give her what Flora calls a ‘season’ so she can meet some eligible men and find a husband. I’ve also been told that you are giving a season to your own daughter, Aunt, and I have come to ask you to chaperone Julia as well.”
    Lady Barbara stared at him as if he was mad. “A London Season costs a fortune. I can’t possibly undertake to sponsor her as well as Lizzie.”
    “I’ll pay all of Julia’s expenses.  And I’ll engage to give her a dowry as well.  I’m going to have to mortgage Stoverton to raise cash and few thousand more pounds won’t make much difference.”
    The expression on Lady Barbara’s face hadn’t changed. “Will Julia agree to go to London for the season?”
    “I don’t plan to give her a choice in the matter.”
    “You don’t understand,” Lady Barbara said, her hands fluttering in agitation. “If we drag Julia to London against her will, she will ruin everything for Lizzie. Do you know what she told me when I went to collect her and Maria to bring them here after Helen died?”
    “No.” Evan waited with real curiosity for her reply.
    “She told me that if I forced her to come to my home she would make my life miserable. ‘You don’t want me in your house, Aunt Barbara, if I don’t want to be there.’ That’s what she said, Evan! And the look on her face – she meant it. She’s ruthless, Evan. I can’t take a chance with my daughter’s future.”
    Evan felt an unwilling surge of admiration for Julia. He said, “What if I can convince her to cooperate willingly with this Season business? Would you take her then?”
    Just then the door opened and a young girl came in. “Grantly told me that my cousin is here, Mama, and I have come to be introduced.”
    Evan stood and turned to face this new cousin. She was another Marshall, and a beautiful one. Her hair was more gold than silver and her eyes a lighter blue than his, but she could have been his sister, they looked so alike. “I’m your cousin Lizzie, my lord,” she said, crossing to him and holding out her hand.
    Evan took her hand into his. “I am delighted to meet you,” he said. “And please, call me Evan.”
    Her smile was dazzling.
    “Sit down, Lizzie,” Lady Barbara said briskly. “What your cousin and I are discussing concerns you too. He wants me to bring out Julia along with you this Season.”
    Evan watched closely but no expression of alarm crossed Lizzie’s classically beautiful face.  “That seems sensible,” she said sunnily as she took one of the crimson velvet chairs. 
    “I am afraid that Julia might not wish to join us,” Lady Barbara said ominously.
    Evan said, “Your mother is afraid that Julia might sabotage your own season if she is forced to do something she doesn’t want to do.”
    Lizzie looked puzzled. “How could she do such a thing?”
    “I can think of a whole list of things she could do if she chose to,” Lady Barbara said grimly.
    “But why wouldn’t she want a season?” Lizzie asked. “How does she expect to find someone to wed if she doesn’t go to London?”
    “Don’t ask me how Julia’s mind works,” Lady Barbara snapped. “It’s unfathomable to me.”
    Evan brought up the offer