Read Online The Romance by M. C. Beaton, Marion Chesney - Free Book Online Page A

that. Even fops, or should I say especially fops, have a nasty habit of becoming quite tyrannical when they are married. Have you considered that Saint Clair perhaps regards your sister in the light of a new waistcoat—something for the other bucks and beaux to stare at and envy? So what happens when she loses her looks? She will be tied to a boring chatterbox and he will be sulky and berate her for losing her face and figure, never stopping to consider that producing a child a year is apt to do just that.’
    Lizzie gave a little shiver. She could feel all the old Mannerling obsession engulfing her.
    ‘Are you cold?’ she realized her new friend was asking her.
    ‘No, it is just…Do you not feel this house has a presence?’
    ‘No, although I have heard it is haunted. But despite my Scottish ancestry, I am not fey. The ghosts do not walk for me. Let us not talk about this boring old house. Tell me about your schooling. It is reported that you have a formidable governess.’
    So Lizzie talked happily about Miss Trumble while Belinda flicked anxious little glances down the table, thinking her innocent little sister was being too familiar with a harpy.
    At last Lady Beverley, who had assumed the role of hostess, rose to lead the ladies back to the drawing-room and leave the gentlemen to their wine.
    The Hartley twins and Jane began to talk of balls and parties. Mrs. Chalmers and Mrs. Hartley studiously ignored Belinda, Lizzie, and Mrs. Ingram. Belinda at last joined Lizzie and Mrs. Ingram with a view to prizing her sister away from such contaminating company, but soon found herself falling victim to Mrs. Ingram’s undoubted charm.
    Belinda began to relax and entered into a lively discussion on whether the emancipation of the Jews would ever become a fact. She was aware that it was possibly dangerous to drop her silly act in front of this clever woman, but she felt she needed a rest from it before the gentlemen joined them.
    When the gentlemen finally did, Jane wasurged by her mother to play the pianoforte. ‘Lord Saint Clair will turn the pages of the music for you,’ said her mother in the sort of commanding tone of voice which brooked no argument. As Lord St. Clair reluctantly drifted over to the piano, Mrs. Ingram rose and took Gurney Burke’s arm and began to talk to him while Jane found her music, and Lady Beverley abruptly summoned Lizzie and Belinda to her side, angry that they should be so friendly with Mrs. Ingram. Lizzie went to join her, but Lord Gyre sank down on the sofa next to Belinda, and said, ‘Talk to me. That is if you can talk sensibly. Never have I seen a young lady simper so dreadfully as you did at dinner.’
    Belinda felt she ought to be insulted but found herself feeling amused instead. ‘It was indeed a marathon performance,’ she said. ‘I thought I quite outdid myself.’
    ‘Are you not worried that the fair and moneyed Miss Chalmers might not snatch Toby Saint Clair from under your nose?’
    ‘I thought perhaps you yourself, my lord, were the target of her ambitions.’
    ‘No, I fear Saint Clair is her quarry. Then you have another enemy.’
    She looked at him questioningly.
    ‘Mr. Vane.’
    ‘I have done nothing to offend him!’
    ‘I am unfashionable, you see, Miss Belinda.’
    ‘And what has that to do with Mr. Vane’s dislike of me, my lord?’
    ‘You see,’ said the marquess, stretching a pair of excellent legs in clocked silk stockings out in front of him, ‘I listen to servants’ gossip. Perry, Mr. Vane, was resident here before Saint Clair’s arrival, and Mr. Vane was very much master of all he surveyed. I think he wants Mannerling for himself, and in order to get it he must make sure Saint Clair displeases his father. Now should Saint Clair succeed in announcing his betrothal, his father would be in alt, because the old earl wants grandchildren. Should something go wrong, should Saint Clair, for example, be shamed, then perhaps Mr. Vane’s ambitions would be