A Compromised Lady Read Online Free PDF Page A

affection, while all the time…She pushed the thought away. She would manage perfectly well once she was accustomed.
    Except—‘I…ma’am, I would really rather not have dozens of suitors tripping over themselves. After all—’
    After all, what? What can you possibly tell her that would convince her you don’t want a husband?
    Lady Arnsworth opened the door to the bedchamber, an arrested expression on her face. ‘Dozens of suitors?’
    It was as though the idea had never occurred to her.
    Thea flushed. Was she that much of an antidote these days? ‘Well, fortune hunters,’ she said, following her godmother across the threshold.
    A maidservant was already putting her belongings away.
    ‘Fortune hunters? Oh, dear me, no! There will be nothing like that.’
    And the sun might rise in the west. ‘There won’t?’
    ‘Oh, no…now I am sure you will be perfectly comfortable in this chamber. And don’t worry about fortune hunters. You may trust me to see to that. Why, the very idea! The maid will have your things unpacked in no time,’ she said. ‘And if there is anything you require, of course you must tell me.’
    ‘Thank you, ma’am,’ said Thea politely. ‘Er, you seem very certain about the fortune hunters.’
    ‘Ah, the girl has finished.’ Lady Arnsworth flipped her hand at the maid. ‘That will be all.’
    The maid dropped a curtsy and left. Lady Arnsworth turned back to Thea.
    ‘My dear, what a sensible girl you are!’ Her ladyship was all smiles as she took Thea’s hand. ‘While naturally your circumstances will attract a certain amount of attention, you may rest assured that as your sponsor and chaperon, I shall be most careful to ensure that only the most eligible suitors are brought to your notice. Two, perhaps three at the most should be quite sufficient.’
    Thea blinked as Lady Arnsworth patted her hand and repressed a shiver at even that simple touch.
    Two or three? What would her ladyship think if she knew that Thea didn’t want any suitors?
    She tried. ‘As to that, ma’am, I have no thought of marriage. I…I find the whole idea…that is—’
    Her throat tightened.
    Lady Arnsworth looked away and fiddled with her rings, turning them to better display the stones.
    ‘Ah, yes. Your father did mention that—
    ‘Of course, such things are not quite unknown.’ There was something very odd in her voice, not quite distaste…She met Thea’s puzzled gaze. ‘Generally one does not approve, but under the circumstances—and your fortune is considerable. I am sure you need not worry.’ She fussed with her cuffs, still avoiding Thea’s shocked gaze.
    Thea said nothing to this, but gripped her underlip hard between her teeth.
    ‘Naturally your years of, er, mourning have given you ample time for reflection.’
    ‘They certainly have,’ said Thea, finding her voice.
    Looking far more at ease, Lady Arnsworth said carefully, ‘Indeed your feelings are quite understandable. I found the marriage act most unpleasant myself. But it is our duty. And once you have done your duty and provided the heir—and a spare, of course—if you wish it, most gentlemen will respect a lady’s natural modesty and seek their pleasures elsewhere for the most part. Men, of course, are different. Very different. Now, I must change. I will be out this evening, but tomorrow we will have to do some shopping.’ She cast a pained glance at Thea’s travelling dress. ‘Yes. A new wardrobe is of the first importance! I venture to suggest that you will feel very different when properly gowned!’
    And with that, Lady Arnsworth whisked herself out of the room.
    Staring at the closed door, Thea faced the fact that her father had told Lady Arnsworth the truth.
    Or at least the truth as he saw it. And she had the oddest notion that it had not been the fifty thousand pounds that had tipped the balance for Almeria Arnsworth…although that would certainly be the case with most of society. She felt sick to her stomach,