Read Online The Fallen Woman (A Regency Romance) by K.L. O'Keefe - Free Book Online
Authors: K.L. O'Keefe
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decision as it is his. Is that true?”
Mr. Lennox snorted. “Do you doubt me, Lord Randall?”
“I don’t doubt you, Mr. Lennox. But I want to hear it from your daughter’s lips. I would hate to think our nuptials would make her unhappy.”
“I’m not unhappy.” She lowered her eyes to her stomach, reminding herself why she had to go through with this. She had no other choice. “I have no objections whatsoever.”
That was the first of many lies.
Chapter Nine
Their wedding was arranged so quickly, Leona hardly had time to blink. In an hour’s time, she would be married to a man to whom she had barely spoken a word.
Her bridal gown belonged to her mother. It didn’t matter what dress she was wearing. She could’ve been wearing the most beautiful dress in England, and it wouldn’t have done anything to quell her overwhelming feeling of dread.
Her mother’s dress. She almost felt guilty for wearing it. Leona wondered what her mother would think about everything that had gone on in the last two months. Would she have lost her mother’s respect? Would she have lost her mother’s love? Would her mother have cast her aside to some strange man in hopes of saving her daughter’s reputation?
Leona had no way of knowing.
On the way to her mother’s funeral, Leona had a similar feeling of dread in her stomach. Now she was heading to her own wedding, and the feeling was even worse. At least her mother was heading to a better place. Leona didn’t know what direction her own life was taking. Would it be for better or for worse? Lord Randall didn’t seem particularly awful, and she could escape her father’s abusive tongue. On the other hand, she would forever lose the life she loved, and the friends she always adored. Her girlhood days with Silly Westcock were at an end.
It was Leona’s own doing. If she hadn’t been a fool with Lord Wintergreen, she could have avoided these repercussions. Leona knew it was her own mistake that landed her in such a hopeless situation.
In less than an hour’s time, she would be Lady Randall.
“Oh well…” she sighed to herself, “I suppose it could be worse.”
Mary, who was sitting beside Leona, gave her mistress’ shoulder a squeeze. “There, there. Maybe it won’t be so bad, miss.”
Too bad she didn’t share Mary’s optimism.
When the carriage slowed, Leona peered out the window. They were approaching a small country church: a quaint, unassuming stone edifice. Was Lord Randall already inside? As she alighted from the carriage, Leona nearly stumbled. Her legs felt wobbly, like those of a deer taking its first steps. She thought she might retch. Was it because she was nervous, or was a telltale sign of her condition sneaking up on her? If she was going to retch, Leona hoped she would not do it in front of Lord Randall. It would not be a very happy way to start their marriage, would it?
Mr. Lennox sneaked up on his daughter, grabbed her elbow, and started pulling her toward the church. “Come on, then. No time to waste. The viscount’s already here. We’re late, you know? It took Summerson too long to hitch up the horses, and now we’re late!”
“Father,” Leona tried tugging her arm away from him. “Do you mind not squeezing me so hard? I don’t want my new husband to see bruises on my arm the first night we’re together.”
Her father sneered. “Must you talk about that? I don’t want to think of you with that man.”
Leona couldn’t help it—she had to roll her eyes. “ You were the one who insisted I should lure him into my bed as soon as possible, were you not? I don’t see why you would shy away from the topic now, Father.”
His grip on her arm softened. It had nothing to do with her plea; however, and everything to do with the fact that the viscount was now in view. He was standing at the end of a long aisle, shoulder-to-shoulder with an old vicar and another man, unfamiliar and handsome. The pews were empty. Completely
Mr. Lennox snorted. “Do you doubt me, Lord Randall?”
“I don’t doubt you, Mr. Lennox. But I want to hear it from your daughter’s lips. I would hate to think our nuptials would make her unhappy.”
“I’m not unhappy.” She lowered her eyes to her stomach, reminding herself why she had to go through with this. She had no other choice. “I have no objections whatsoever.”
That was the first of many lies.
Chapter Nine
Their wedding was arranged so quickly, Leona hardly had time to blink. In an hour’s time, she would be married to a man to whom she had barely spoken a word.
Her bridal gown belonged to her mother. It didn’t matter what dress she was wearing. She could’ve been wearing the most beautiful dress in England, and it wouldn’t have done anything to quell her overwhelming feeling of dread.
Her mother’s dress. She almost felt guilty for wearing it. Leona wondered what her mother would think about everything that had gone on in the last two months. Would she have lost her mother’s respect? Would she have lost her mother’s love? Would her mother have cast her aside to some strange man in hopes of saving her daughter’s reputation?
Leona had no way of knowing.
On the way to her mother’s funeral, Leona had a similar feeling of dread in her stomach. Now she was heading to her own wedding, and the feeling was even worse. At least her mother was heading to a better place. Leona didn’t know what direction her own life was taking. Would it be for better or for worse? Lord Randall didn’t seem particularly awful, and she could escape her father’s abusive tongue. On the other hand, she would forever lose the life she loved, and the friends she always adored. Her girlhood days with Silly Westcock were at an end.
It was Leona’s own doing. If she hadn’t been a fool with Lord Wintergreen, she could have avoided these repercussions. Leona knew it was her own mistake that landed her in such a hopeless situation.
In less than an hour’s time, she would be Lady Randall.
“Oh well…” she sighed to herself, “I suppose it could be worse.”
Mary, who was sitting beside Leona, gave her mistress’ shoulder a squeeze. “There, there. Maybe it won’t be so bad, miss.”
Too bad she didn’t share Mary’s optimism.
When the carriage slowed, Leona peered out the window. They were approaching a small country church: a quaint, unassuming stone edifice. Was Lord Randall already inside? As she alighted from the carriage, Leona nearly stumbled. Her legs felt wobbly, like those of a deer taking its first steps. She thought she might retch. Was it because she was nervous, or was a telltale sign of her condition sneaking up on her? If she was going to retch, Leona hoped she would not do it in front of Lord Randall. It would not be a very happy way to start their marriage, would it?
Mr. Lennox sneaked up on his daughter, grabbed her elbow, and started pulling her toward the church. “Come on, then. No time to waste. The viscount’s already here. We’re late, you know? It took Summerson too long to hitch up the horses, and now we’re late!”
“Father,” Leona tried tugging her arm away from him. “Do you mind not squeezing me so hard? I don’t want my new husband to see bruises on my arm the first night we’re together.”
Her father sneered. “Must you talk about that? I don’t want to think of you with that man.”
Leona couldn’t help it—she had to roll her eyes. “ You were the one who insisted I should lure him into my bed as soon as possible, were you not? I don’t see why you would shy away from the topic now, Father.”
His grip on her arm softened. It had nothing to do with her plea; however, and everything to do with the fact that the viscount was now in view. He was standing at the end of a long aisle, shoulder-to-shoulder with an old vicar and another man, unfamiliar and handsome. The pews were empty. Completely
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