Read Online The Man in the Green Coat by Carola Dunn - Free Book Online Page A

I have not quite forgiven him.”
    “Have you forgiven me?” she asked softly.
    “Long since, Cecilia. What future was there for you with a boy of sixteen? I could wish that it had not been my father you married, but if you had married someone else, we should not have become such good friends.”
    “We are friends, are we not? I am glad of it. If only you would recognise your father’s good points, for in spite of his faults, he has many.”
    “We will not discuss him, if you please. Cecilia, keep your ears open for news of my entangling charmer. For all she’s an elderly widow, I am anxious for news of her.”
    “Is it something to do with the Foreign Office?”
    “Now, you know I cannot tell you that!”
    “Then it is! I shall be very discreet, I promise. Ah, Dorrie, have you found it?”
    Dorothea came in carrying a tambour frame and a basket from which dangled lengths of coloured silks.
    “Here, mama. It was in your chamber.”
    “Thank you, child. I believe I shall not do any now, after all. I must see Cook before we go shopping, so I will leave you to talk to your brother. Shall you be home for dinner, Luke?”
    Lady Cecilia sailed out, looking dignified and matronly but still reminding him of the girl he had loved so many years ago. He shook himself mentally and turned to his sister.
    “What can I do for you, Dorrie?”
    “Lord Thirsk wants to marry me!” She sat pale and still, her hands clasped in her lap, but her voice was full of suppressed agitation.
    “Do you want to marry him?”
    “Mama says I must, because he is very rich. He could provide for my brothers and sisters, and then you need not work any more.”
    Luke moved to sit beside her and took her cold hands in his. “Dorrie, I may once have resented having to give up a life of pleasure, but I enjoy my work. It is interesting in itself, and of use, I hope, to the nation as well as to my family. If you married Golden Ball himself, I should not give it up.”
    “Then I do not have to marry him?”
    “Of course not, goose. You need not marry anyone you don’t want to.”
    “But if you did not have to pay all the bills, you would have more money for yourself.”
    “I do not pay the bills, Dorrie. I can see it is time things were explained to you, for otherwise who knows what you will imagine!”
    “I know Papa is a terrible gambler and lost lots and lots of money.”
    “Yes, but fortunately it was not in his power to dispose of our lands. Since he has been devoting himself to them, they pay for necessaries. But there is nothing to spare, because of the old debts that must be paid.”
    “So you pay for my brothers’ schooling and horses, I know that. And for my come-out, and my sisters’, and our dowries. You would be better off if I never married!”
    “Nonsense! Do you think I want an old maid for a sister?” teased Luke. “Cheer up, Dorrie, and believe me that I have all I want in life, and that being able to provide for you all is a matter of pride and pleasure as well as duty. So now you can consider Lord Thirsk’s offer without thinking of anything but whether you wish to marry him or not.”
    “He frightens me.”
    “Then you shall on no account marry him. Have you told your mother this?”
    “Oh, no. She is not afraid even of Papa in one of his rages. She would not understand at all.”
    “Then I am very glad that you told me. I will speak to Lord Thirsk and he shall not bother you again.”
    “Thank you, Luke! You are truly the best of brothers, even though you are sometimes just as frightening as Papa and Lord Thirsk!” She kissed his cheek and skipped out, leaving him wondering whether his fainthearted sister would ever find a suitor who did not make her tremble.
    He had always thought Lord Thirsk a thoroughly inoffensive gentleman, and as for himself—only Napoleon’s spies had any cause to fear him!
    Was Gabrielle Darcy a French spy? Ever since he had returned to Dover two days ago and found her gone, his