Read Online The Marrying Season by Candace Camp - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Candace Camp
Ads: Link
to have on her,” Myles explained.
“She will feel differently when she has had time to calm down,” Thea told Myles.
“That is what her grandmother said. The countess told me to return tomorrow afternoon and talk to Genevieve again. She assured me Genevieve would change her mind once she thought it over. What she meant was that she would bully and badger the poor woman until she accepts me. I have never known the countess not to have her way, so I have little doubt but that Genevieve will give in.”
“Do you mean you still intend to marry her?” Gabriel asked, his eyebrows rising.
“I offered for her, Gabe. I can hardly take that back.”
“You can if she refused you,” Gabriel pointed out.
“Yes, I suppose I could without damaging my reputation. But I don’t think I would like myself very much. Genevieve’s reputation is ruined. You know what kind of a future she faces—she’ll retire to that great cold pile of stones in Northumberland. Or perhaps she will live in Bath, running errands for her grandmother and her cronies.No advantageous marriage; no children. No home of her own.”
“She will hate it,” Thea agreed in a heartfelt voice.
“She looked so . . . shattered. I couldn’t bear it.” Myles grimaced and took a drink. “And then she threw my offer back in my face.” He went on somewhat plaintively, “In some circles I am considered quite a catch.”
“Oh, Myles . . .” Thea smiled and reached out to lay a hand on his arm. “Your pride is wounded. Of course it would be. But think how Lady Genevieve must feel. She is a very proud woman, and she was humiliated in front of the whole ton tonight. We all know that you are one of the most eligible bachelors in town . . . especially now that Gabriel is taken.” She cast a twinkling glance at her husband. “Genevieve knows it, too; she didn’t turn you down because she thought you unworthy.”
“Perhaps not unworthy. But I am not the man Genevieve wants; that is clear from her original choice of a fiancé. I am no pattern card of respectability like Dursbury. No earl—indeed, not even a baron. A Stafford aims higher than a Thorwood.”
“Not in this instance,” Thea assured him. “Your offer hurts her pride, but not in the way you think. Some people can bear almost anything besides pity. Genevieve knew you asked her because you felt sorry for her, because you’re kind. Not because you want to marry her.”
“Well, I don’t,” Myles responded frankly. “I mean—she is not the woman I would have chosen.”
“She knows you did it because you are a gentleman.Because you’re kind. And perhaps, a little, because you are her brother’s friend. Not the sort of reasons a woman wants to hear.”
“It would have been silly to pretend it was a love match. It isn’t as if Genevieve is a romantic woman.”
“Does such a woman really exist?” Thea asked lightly. “You might be surprised. The Staffords are . . . guarded, but I think it is because they know how easily they can be wounded.”
“Thea has a soft spot for the Staffords,” Gabriel said drily. “If Alec had eyes for anyone but his wife, I believe I would be jealous.”
Thea rolled her eyes at Gabriel, but the smile on her face as she looked at him would erase even the most jealous man’s doubts. “Well, that is the entirety of my lecture. I am sure the two of you would like a more private discussion, so I will retire now.” She rose, saying to Myles, “Don’t worry. I have every confidence it will work out exactly as it should.”
The two men watched her leave, then Gabriel turned to his friend, giving him a long, considering look. “My wife, you must remember, is the daughter of a vicar. She has a tendency to view people in the best light.”
“Most of the time, I share that view.” Myles smiled wryly. “When it comes to Genevieve, however . . .”
“Myles.” Gabriel leaned forward, setting his glass down on the table beside him. “Have
“She will feel differently when she has had time to calm down,” Thea told Myles.
“That is what her grandmother said. The countess told me to return tomorrow afternoon and talk to Genevieve again. She assured me Genevieve would change her mind once she thought it over. What she meant was that she would bully and badger the poor woman until she accepts me. I have never known the countess not to have her way, so I have little doubt but that Genevieve will give in.”
“Do you mean you still intend to marry her?” Gabriel asked, his eyebrows rising.
“I offered for her, Gabe. I can hardly take that back.”
“You can if she refused you,” Gabriel pointed out.
“Yes, I suppose I could without damaging my reputation. But I don’t think I would like myself very much. Genevieve’s reputation is ruined. You know what kind of a future she faces—she’ll retire to that great cold pile of stones in Northumberland. Or perhaps she will live in Bath, running errands for her grandmother and her cronies.No advantageous marriage; no children. No home of her own.”
“She will hate it,” Thea agreed in a heartfelt voice.
“She looked so . . . shattered. I couldn’t bear it.” Myles grimaced and took a drink. “And then she threw my offer back in my face.” He went on somewhat plaintively, “In some circles I am considered quite a catch.”
“Oh, Myles . . .” Thea smiled and reached out to lay a hand on his arm. “Your pride is wounded. Of course it would be. But think how Lady Genevieve must feel. She is a very proud woman, and she was humiliated in front of the whole ton tonight. We all know that you are one of the most eligible bachelors in town . . . especially now that Gabriel is taken.” She cast a twinkling glance at her husband. “Genevieve knows it, too; she didn’t turn you down because she thought you unworthy.”
“Perhaps not unworthy. But I am not the man Genevieve wants; that is clear from her original choice of a fiancé. I am no pattern card of respectability like Dursbury. No earl—indeed, not even a baron. A Stafford aims higher than a Thorwood.”
“Not in this instance,” Thea assured him. “Your offer hurts her pride, but not in the way you think. Some people can bear almost anything besides pity. Genevieve knew you asked her because you felt sorry for her, because you’re kind. Not because you want to marry her.”
“Well, I don’t,” Myles responded frankly. “I mean—she is not the woman I would have chosen.”
“She knows you did it because you are a gentleman.Because you’re kind. And perhaps, a little, because you are her brother’s friend. Not the sort of reasons a woman wants to hear.”
“It would have been silly to pretend it was a love match. It isn’t as if Genevieve is a romantic woman.”
“Does such a woman really exist?” Thea asked lightly. “You might be surprised. The Staffords are . . . guarded, but I think it is because they know how easily they can be wounded.”
“Thea has a soft spot for the Staffords,” Gabriel said drily. “If Alec had eyes for anyone but his wife, I believe I would be jealous.”
Thea rolled her eyes at Gabriel, but the smile on her face as she looked at him would erase even the most jealous man’s doubts. “Well, that is the entirety of my lecture. I am sure the two of you would like a more private discussion, so I will retire now.” She rose, saying to Myles, “Don’t worry. I have every confidence it will work out exactly as it should.”
The two men watched her leave, then Gabriel turned to his friend, giving him a long, considering look. “My wife, you must remember, is the daughter of a vicar. She has a tendency to view people in the best light.”
“Most of the time, I share that view.” Myles smiled wryly. “When it comes to Genevieve, however . . .”
“Myles.” Gabriel leaned forward, setting his glass down on the table beside him. “Have
Similar Books
