Read Online The Runaway Heiress by Anne O'Brien - Free Book Online
Authors: Anne O'Brien
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grasp,
Aldeborough. How could you have conducted your marriage in such a clandestine
fashion? You might have considered my position. Think of the scandal...the
gossip. How will I face Lady Grosmont at her soiree this evening?' Her face
paled with anger as she considered the repercussions. 'Surely as your mother I
could expect a little consideration?'
'There
will be no scandal, ma'am.' Aldeborough remained coldly aloof and unemotional.
'If anyone should comment, you will assure them that Frances and I had a...a
long-term understanding and we were married quietly in the country for family
reasons. The death of a distant relative, if you find the need to give a reason
to anyone sufficiently ill mannered to comment.'
' I will assure them? I do not wish to
lend my support in any way to this unfortunate liaison.'
'I
had hoped for more of a welcome for my bride,' Aldeborough commented gently,
with a hint of warning in his quiet voice that his mother chose to ignore.
'Richard, of course, would
always have considered my opinion when making such an important decision in his
life. He was always so thoughtful and conscious of his position as the heir. I
might have hoped that you—'
'There is no advantage in
pursuing that line of thought,' Aldeborough interrupted harshly. Frances saw a
muscle in his jaw clench and his hold of her hand tightened convulsively,
making her draw in her breath.
'And what of Penelope?
What will she think?'
'What should Miss Vowchurch
think? I cannot see what my marriage has to do with her.' He was once more in
command, his fingers relaxing their grip.
'It has everything to do
with her, of course. She has been expecting an offer from you. After Richard's
death it was understood—'
'I am afraid that it was
not understood by me. I have never given Miss Vowchurch any indication that I
would make her an offer of marriage.'
'It has
always been understood between our families. You must know that after Richard
died you took no formal steps to end the connection.' Lady Aldeborough was
implacable, refusing to let the matter rest. 'And now you have married
this...this person . Who is she?'
Frances looked on as if
she were watching a scene in a play at which she was a mere observer with no role
for herself. There was clearly little love lost between Aldeborough and his
mother and she herself was now provoking another issue between them. A bleak
wave of despair swept over her to add to the weariness. After she had spent
three days alone at Aldeborough Priory, the Marquis had returned and she had been
thrown into a flurry of activity. First her marriage, followed immediately by
three days of exhausting travel to reach London. And now this. How foolish she
had been to hope that Lady Aldeborough might accept this sordid arrangement
with equanimity. Indeed, it was even worse than she had anticipated. She wished
Aldeborough had given her some warning. Obviously he had seen no need to do so,
which depressed her even further.
'A penniless nobody who has
trapped you into marriage.' Her ladyship was continuing her diatribe as if
Frances was not present. 'How could you! Is there no way this marriage could be
annulled? Or dissolved?' Lady Aldeborough's face was white with anger.
A delicate flush stained
Frances's cheeks. With the haste and inconvenience of the journey following
immediately after their marriage, there had been neither opportunity nor, it
would appear, inclination for intimate relations between herself and the
Marquis. For which, all things considered, she was heartily relieved. But would
he betray her to his mother?
'No, Mother. It is not
possible. Your suggestion is insulting in the extreme to both Frances and
myself. I think you should consider what you're saying before you speak again.'
Aldeborough turned towards Frances, his face a polite mask. 'Forgive me,
Frances. I wish I could have spared you this, but it had to be faced.' He led
her to a chair by the window looking over the square. 'Perhaps if
Aldeborough. How could you have conducted your marriage in such a clandestine
fashion? You might have considered my position. Think of the scandal...the
gossip. How will I face Lady Grosmont at her soiree this evening?' Her face
paled with anger as she considered the repercussions. 'Surely as your mother I
could expect a little consideration?'
'There
will be no scandal, ma'am.' Aldeborough remained coldly aloof and unemotional.
'If anyone should comment, you will assure them that Frances and I had a...a
long-term understanding and we were married quietly in the country for family
reasons. The death of a distant relative, if you find the need to give a reason
to anyone sufficiently ill mannered to comment.'
' I will assure them? I do not wish to
lend my support in any way to this unfortunate liaison.'
'I
had hoped for more of a welcome for my bride,' Aldeborough commented gently,
with a hint of warning in his quiet voice that his mother chose to ignore.
'Richard, of course, would
always have considered my opinion when making such an important decision in his
life. He was always so thoughtful and conscious of his position as the heir. I
might have hoped that you—'
'There is no advantage in
pursuing that line of thought,' Aldeborough interrupted harshly. Frances saw a
muscle in his jaw clench and his hold of her hand tightened convulsively,
making her draw in her breath.
'And what of Penelope?
What will she think?'
'What should Miss Vowchurch
think? I cannot see what my marriage has to do with her.' He was once more in
command, his fingers relaxing their grip.
'It has everything to do
with her, of course. She has been expecting an offer from you. After Richard's
death it was understood—'
'I am afraid that it was
not understood by me. I have never given Miss Vowchurch any indication that I
would make her an offer of marriage.'
'It has
always been understood between our families. You must know that after Richard
died you took no formal steps to end the connection.' Lady Aldeborough was
implacable, refusing to let the matter rest. 'And now you have married
this...this person . Who is she?'
Frances looked on as if
she were watching a scene in a play at which she was a mere observer with no role
for herself. There was clearly little love lost between Aldeborough and his
mother and she herself was now provoking another issue between them. A bleak
wave of despair swept over her to add to the weariness. After she had spent
three days alone at Aldeborough Priory, the Marquis had returned and she had been
thrown into a flurry of activity. First her marriage, followed immediately by
three days of exhausting travel to reach London. And now this. How foolish she
had been to hope that Lady Aldeborough might accept this sordid arrangement
with equanimity. Indeed, it was even worse than she had anticipated. She wished
Aldeborough had given her some warning. Obviously he had seen no need to do so,
which depressed her even further.
'A penniless nobody who has
trapped you into marriage.' Her ladyship was continuing her diatribe as if
Frances was not present. 'How could you! Is there no way this marriage could be
annulled? Or dissolved?' Lady Aldeborough's face was white with anger.
A delicate flush stained
Frances's cheeks. With the haste and inconvenience of the journey following
immediately after their marriage, there had been neither opportunity nor, it
would appear, inclination for intimate relations between herself and the
Marquis. For which, all things considered, she was heartily relieved. But would
he betray her to his mother?
'No, Mother. It is not
possible. Your suggestion is insulting in the extreme to both Frances and
myself. I think you should consider what you're saying before you speak again.'
Aldeborough turned towards Frances, his face a polite mask. 'Forgive me,
Frances. I wish I could have spared you this, but it had to be faced.' He led
her to a chair by the window looking over the square. 'Perhaps if
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