Read Online Two Wrongs Make a Marriage by Christine Merrill - Free Book Online
Authors: Christine Merrill
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call attention to herself. The fact that it came from the man who would be her son-in-law was more annoying by far than any past irritations. ‘She is much older now,’ Thea reminded him.
‘But still a surpassingly handsome woman,’ Jack replied, unfazed by her tone. Then he examined her as though it was their first meeting. ‘You hold many features in common with her.’
‘Because she bore me,’ Thea snapped. ‘It is hardly a surprise that I favour her.’
But Jack was no longer looking at her, but at the woman on the faraway stage. ‘Antonia was the most radiant, most beautiful, most talented woman I had ever seen. I fell quite in love with her that day. It was hopeless, of course. She had many admirers, older, richer, more powerful...’
‘And she married my father,’ Thea said, firmly. While it was some comfort to think that her mother was as talented as she claimed, she had no wish to think of the men that might have come before her father in her mother’s affections.
‘Ahh. Yes.’ Jack finally recognised the awkwardness of the situation, staring contritely at Thea as though that would be enough to mollify her. But Spayne still chuckled in the background.
Thea continued her story. ‘Father’s family was less than approving of the match, although he has never regretted it. But at that time, Grandfather set the majority of Father’s inheritance aside until such time as he produced a son to carry on the family in what they hoped would be a more respectable fashion. Many provisions were made for the rearing and education of Father’s heir, and the money still sits, waiting, drawing interest for my brother.’
‘And do you have a sibling?’ Spayne asked.
‘Unfortunately, no. My parents have done their best to raise me in a way that would be sufficient to allay Grandfather’s concerns. I was educated in a boarding school of his choosing, so that I might have all the graces, skills and manners of a proper young lady.’
‘And a head just as empty,’ Jack added, availing himself of the brandy and pouring a drink far too generous for noon.
‘I was as far removed from my mother’s past as it was possible to be.’ She glared back at Jack. ‘Until recently.’
‘How nice for you,’ Jack said with no trace of apology for his true identity. ‘But it did your family no good. Your father still needs his inheritance?’
‘Unfortunately, Grandfather is in some degree right about my father’s profligacy. Over the years, he spent lavishly to be sure that my mother was welcomed into society. Their entertainments were grand and well attended. He spent even more on governesses and schools for me.’ And in the end, it had done her no good, for she had fallen into the same trap as her father. Perhaps it was some sort of genetic predisposition. ‘There was money enough left, of course,’ she added. ‘But they have always lived in the assumption that there would be more in the future. It has been twenty years since their marriage. While it is not impossible that my mother might have a child, with each passing year it becomes more unlikely. When Mr de Warde made his suggestion, Father was only too eager to believe him.’
‘And that suggestion was?’ Spayne prompted.
Thea winced. ‘A certain statue that was guaranteed to increase fertility and fecundity. It is an Indian god, I believe. Mr de Warde said that to possess it would most surely result in the birth of a male child.’
This time, it was Jack who laughed. ‘All this bother over an aphrodisiac?’
She could feel herself blushing from toes to hairline. ‘I know it sounds foolish. That is why I did not tell you before. It is intensely painful for me to admit...’ that my parents are such idiots. She hoped he understood. And then she added with more sympathy, ‘But considering present circumstances, you must understand the lengths that one might go to when moved by desperation.’
That, at least, silenced Jack’s mirth. She added,
‘But still a surpassingly handsome woman,’ Jack replied, unfazed by her tone. Then he examined her as though it was their first meeting. ‘You hold many features in common with her.’
‘Because she bore me,’ Thea snapped. ‘It is hardly a surprise that I favour her.’
But Jack was no longer looking at her, but at the woman on the faraway stage. ‘Antonia was the most radiant, most beautiful, most talented woman I had ever seen. I fell quite in love with her that day. It was hopeless, of course. She had many admirers, older, richer, more powerful...’
‘And she married my father,’ Thea said, firmly. While it was some comfort to think that her mother was as talented as she claimed, she had no wish to think of the men that might have come before her father in her mother’s affections.
‘Ahh. Yes.’ Jack finally recognised the awkwardness of the situation, staring contritely at Thea as though that would be enough to mollify her. But Spayne still chuckled in the background.
Thea continued her story. ‘Father’s family was less than approving of the match, although he has never regretted it. But at that time, Grandfather set the majority of Father’s inheritance aside until such time as he produced a son to carry on the family in what they hoped would be a more respectable fashion. Many provisions were made for the rearing and education of Father’s heir, and the money still sits, waiting, drawing interest for my brother.’
‘And do you have a sibling?’ Spayne asked.
‘Unfortunately, no. My parents have done their best to raise me in a way that would be sufficient to allay Grandfather’s concerns. I was educated in a boarding school of his choosing, so that I might have all the graces, skills and manners of a proper young lady.’
‘And a head just as empty,’ Jack added, availing himself of the brandy and pouring a drink far too generous for noon.
‘I was as far removed from my mother’s past as it was possible to be.’ She glared back at Jack. ‘Until recently.’
‘How nice for you,’ Jack said with no trace of apology for his true identity. ‘But it did your family no good. Your father still needs his inheritance?’
‘Unfortunately, Grandfather is in some degree right about my father’s profligacy. Over the years, he spent lavishly to be sure that my mother was welcomed into society. Their entertainments were grand and well attended. He spent even more on governesses and schools for me.’ And in the end, it had done her no good, for she had fallen into the same trap as her father. Perhaps it was some sort of genetic predisposition. ‘There was money enough left, of course,’ she added. ‘But they have always lived in the assumption that there would be more in the future. It has been twenty years since their marriage. While it is not impossible that my mother might have a child, with each passing year it becomes more unlikely. When Mr de Warde made his suggestion, Father was only too eager to believe him.’
‘And that suggestion was?’ Spayne prompted.
Thea winced. ‘A certain statue that was guaranteed to increase fertility and fecundity. It is an Indian god, I believe. Mr de Warde said that to possess it would most surely result in the birth of a male child.’
This time, it was Jack who laughed. ‘All this bother over an aphrodisiac?’
She could feel herself blushing from toes to hairline. ‘I know it sounds foolish. That is why I did not tell you before. It is intensely painful for me to admit...’ that my parents are such idiots. She hoped he understood. And then she added with more sympathy, ‘But considering present circumstances, you must understand the lengths that one might go to when moved by desperation.’
That, at least, silenced Jack’s mirth. She added,
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