Read Online To Marry a Duke by Fenella J Miller - Free Book Online Page B

was not lost on Richard.
‘I have already given you my word. I’ll not let you down, sir; I believe I’m
more than ready to take on the mantle of responsibility that marriage entails.
    ‘I’m glad to hear that. However, I’m not giving my
permission now; I wish to think about it. No, don’t look so dispirited; I’m not
saying no, after all it was my idea to forge a union between you in the first
place. All I’m saying is I’ll not allow your betrothal
to be official until I’m sure Demelza is happy.’
    Richard nodded. ‘Very well, sir. I can understand your
reservations. How long will you require to make this
decision?’
    Tremayne shrugged. ‘I’ll extend your departure date until
the middle of May. At that point I shall either ask you to leave or confirm
your engagement to my daughter.’
    ‘Thank you, Mr Tremayne. Are you going to explain matters to
Miss Tremayne, or shall I?’
    ‘I shall. See that you don’t overstep the bounds of
propriety. I don’t wish my daughter’s reputation damaged in any way. I hope I
make myself clear?’
    Richard fingered his neck cloth nervously. ‘Yes, sir. I’ll leave you to your papers. Pray excuse me.’
    He was shaking when he left the study. He dreaded to imagine
his next encounter with Tremayne when it became clear that his passionate
embrace, the only aspect of the morning’s events he had refrained from sharing,
had been witnessed by half the outdoor staff.
    He needed to clear his head, sort out his strategy for
dealing with Demelza’s formidable father. If he couldn’t meet him without
quaking like a blanc -manger he could imagine what his life
would be like in the future. He would have to go cap in hand for every penny,
be for ever begging his pardon and asking his permission. He couldn’t live like
that.
    If this marriage was to be successful, or even go ahead, he
had to prove he was not a bacon-brained Johnny Raw, but a competent young man,
well able to manage his estates and provide for a wife and family.
    *
    Allegra watched her brother, bounding across the turf of the
inner courtyard to the stables, from her sitting room window. Something, or someone,
had obviously disturbed him. She looked at the mantel clock; time for her
appointment to the library with Tremayne. She was also intending to ride as
soon as she was free so had dressed in her royal-blue habit.
    With her gloves and whip in one hand and her skirts held up
in the other, she hurried down for the meeting. The library door was open but,
unlike her brother, she had no intention of knocking when entering any room in
the Priory. This was her home until
she left, whatever the legalities of the matter.
    Tremayne was waiting for her. ‘Good morning, Lady Allegra, I
have a document I would like to read to you.’
    ‘I presume it is on the same subject as my brother’s?’
    ‘Yes, it is. Would you care to be seated?’
    ‘No, thank you, I’m not staying. Please give me the paper; I
am quite capable of reading it for myself.’
    She held out a hand and to her surprise he picked up the
parchment and placed it on her palm. His hand brushed against hers. She
flinched at the contact and snatched back her arm.
    ‘I take it you require me to sign this in front of Evans?’
He nodded. ‘What time is he expected, sir?’
    ‘At noon.’
    ‘Then I shall return with the document fully scrutinized, at
that time. Now I am going to ride down to the creek; it is too fine a day to
remain indoors.’
    The hand he had touched still felt unpleasantly hot, as if
she had placed it too close to the fire. In the hall she spotted the butler.
‘Yardley, have this taken up to my apartment.’
    ‘Yes, my lady. Will you require a nuncheon to be served
today?’
    ‘I shall breakfast when I return, but if neither Miss
Murrell nor Miss Tremayne come down before noon then, yes, have a cold
collation served.’
    The gallop across the marshes, her long-suffering groom
struggling to keep pace, added colour to her cheeks and