Read Online The Runaway Heiress by Anne O'Brien - Free Book Online Page A

you would sit
here for a little while...'
    As he returned to shield
her from further recriminations, her mind was free to travel back over the
previous days. She remembered as in a dream standing in Aldeborough Church in
the grey light of early morning with a special licence and a flustered vicar
and with Sir Ambrose and the vicar's wife as witnesses. No flowers. No music.
Only the heavy starkness of Norman pillars and the air so cold that her breath
had vaporised as she took her vows. She remembered the cold. No sooner had the
vows been exchanged and her cheek dutifully kissed by Aldeborough than she had
been installed in Aldeborough's coach and the long, tedious journey had begun.
Sir Ambrose had thoughtfully presented her with a tasteful posy of yellow
flowers and kissed her fingers and called her Lady Aldeborough, a situation
that she still found difficult to believe, but it had helped to strengthen her
courage.
    And Aldeborough had been
as good as his word. Her lips curled in memory of the beautiful dress that he
had brought back with him to keep his promise. A dress of which dreams were
made. In the height of fashion with a high waist and disconcertingly low
neckline and tiny puff sleeves over long undersleeves, the jonquil taffeta was
far more elegant than any gown she had ever seen. The tucked bodice was a
little large, but nothing that a small alteration here and there could not
remedy, and the silk ruching round the hem helped to disguise the fact that it
was a little long. A simple satin straw bonnet with jonquil ribbons that set
off her dark hair completed the ensemble. She had abandoned her puce disaster
and travel-stained cloak without a qualm.
    And not only the dress,
but fine kid gloves and matching kid heelless slippers. Not to mention the
delightful package of shifts and petticoats and silk stockings. She blushed
faintly that he should have purchased such intimate garments for her. And who
had chosen the dress for her? She had found it difficult to thank him. He had
merely brushed it aside as a matter of no importance. But Frances was now more
than grateful for his foresight. Under Lady Aldeborough's critical and
unfriendly scrutiny, it was suddenly very important that she should be wearing
a stylish blue velvet pelisse trimmed with grey fur and a pale blue silk
bonnet, the brim fetchingly ornamented with one curling ostrich plume, both in
the first stare of fashion.
    She had thought herself
fortunate in her new wardrobe but, this house, now her own, threatened to take
her breath away. Her first impression as they had arrived had been fleeting,
but there was no doubting its style .and magnificence. In Cavendish Square,
one of the very best addresses, the brick and stone façade with its pedimented
doorway, decorative columns and imposing flight of steps bordered with iron
railings could not fail to impress. All was elegance and good taste.
Aldeborough might take it for granted, but she could not.
    She sighed as her
attention returned to the heated words from the Marchioness and the cool
rejoinders from Aldeborough.
    'What your father would
have said I hesitate to think. And Richard—'
    Frances would never know
what Richard would have thought or done for at this timely moment, the door burst
open and a young man erupted with more energy than grace into the room.
    'Matthew! Perhaps you
might enter my drawing room in a more seemly fashion. Your brother and I were
engaged in a private conversation.'
    'Forgive me, Mother. I
heard Hugh was back.' Matthew looked anything but sorry and shrugged off his
parent's blighting words. 'Is it true?' He grinned as he embraced his brother
in a friendly and vigorous greeting. 'I have just seen Masters in town and he
has told me all.'
    Aldeborough inhaled
sharply in exasperation. 'So just what has Masters told you? Perhaps, brother
mine, this is not the best of times to elaborate!' The warning was
unfortunately lost in Matthew's exuberance to discover the truth of the