Beyond Seduction Read Online Free PDF Page B

repulsive. Good manners. Good teeth. Strong as an ox. Plus, I've always liked blond men."
     
    Then why don't you marry him, she thought, but was shrewd enough to keep the words inside.
     
    "Come now," said her mother, her tone light, her expression strangely hard. "You're being overly romantic, which I never thought of as one of your faults. Trust me, a love match is not the least bit
    like a novel."
     
    "I don't care about a love match. I care about being free."
     
    "Free?" Her mother's laugh was anything but joyful. "Dearest, only whores and rich widows are truly free."
     
    "You don't understand," Merry said.
     
    "I do," her mother insisted. "I simply don't agree."
     
    After that, there was nothing to say.
    *  *  *
     
    Under leaden skies. Merry galloped her mare flat out across the Knightsbridge grounds, pushing the
    horse until steam rose from her flanks and clods of turf flew out from her pounding hooves. Even this
    did not soothe her. How could it, when Flick, the horse she'd bottle-fed as a foal, might soon be
    carrying a stranger?
     
    There had to be a way to get her father to retreat. She couldn't surrender, not when surrendering meant making both herself and Ernest wretched.
     
    On the other hand, could she really forego the greatest pleasure of her life? Give up her horses? Let
    them pass out of her care? Worse, could she risk old Ginny's future?
     
    Damnation. If only her mother weren't so immovable! Merry wasn't sure she had the right to make her father choose between his daughter and his wife. Nor—which was worse, if she was honest—was she certain his decision would come down on her side.
     
    She slowed Flick to a walk, her breath coming as heavily as the mare's. Clearly exhilarated, the horse frisked underneath her. What spirit she had! And how horribly Merry would miss her! She wished
    Evelyn and James hadn't left for the country, though she knew they did not support her position. Her whole family was against her, every one. Without their help, she didn't know what she could do.
     
    *  *  *
     
    Isabel at least provided a distraction. She was full of news when Merry saw her that afternoon. Her father-in-law had died unexpectedly and her husband was now an earl.
     
    "Which makes me a countess," she said, sounding strangely wistful. Sprawled on her back on Merry's four-poster bed, she wore a gray and black bias-striped walking dress. The hem of the overskirt, fetchingly draped and piled, was trimmed with tasseled braid. Even Lavinia had clucked in appreciation
    as she passed. Isabel's current pose would not do the outfit good, but at the moment she did not care.
     
    Merry sat beside her on the bed. "You're not happy about being a countess?"
     
    "Oh, I suppose I'm happy. I didn't really know Andrew's father, so I can't pretend I'll miss him. But
    we'll be in mourning just forever. As it is, I barely snuck out of the house wearing this. It's as gloomy
    as a crypt, Mer. All the mirrors covered. All the drives muffled in straw." Wrinkling her nose, she
    plucked at her handsome gown. "I'm too young to wear crape."
     
    "I don't know, I think black makes you look ethereal."
     
    Isabel grinned and covered Merry's hand. A moment later, she remembered her complaints. "We're leaving for the estate the day after tomorrow. It's in Wales , Merry. Wales ! Some unpronounceable, godforsaken place. Lord knows how long we'll be there. According to Andrew, his father was a cheeseparing old goat who let the place go to ruin. It'll take ages to put things in order the way he
    wants."
     
    "But surely you don't have to stay all that time."
     
    Isabel blushed and busied herself straightening the tassels on her sleeve. "Andrew says he doesn't sleep well anymore unless I'm with him." Her color deepened at Merry's snort. "Yes, I know. I said he was
    fat and boring, and he is, except..."
     
    "Except?"
     
    "Except it is rather comforting to have him close at night, holding me, you know."
     
    Merry could imagine