Dorothy Eden Read Online Free PDF

do?”
    “Goodness me, no. She’s got even less money than the Overtons. Anyway, she’s only one of William’s flirtations. He’s a most disgracefully fickle young man. I hardly envy the girl he marries, in spite of all that devastating charm.”
    “I’d choose money any day, rather than charm.”
    “That’s what poor William will have to do.”
    The two ladies rippled with laughter.
    “You know, they say that Beatrice Bonnington is the richest girl here tonight.”
    “Really? That badly-dressed girl with no looks? I wondered how she came to be invited. Although if William must marry an heiress, one would have thought he could find one in his own class.”
    “He’s not that much of a catch, Millicent. Poor health, idle, a reputation for being a philanderer. Besides, an important heiress would want a bigger house than this. It’s charming enough, but it’s really not much more than a pretty cottage.”
    “Really, Etty, what a snob you are.”
    “No, I’m merely stating facts. Compare it with Syon House or Osterley Park, or Kenwood. Now those are great houses worth cherishing.”
    “So is Overton House, in its way.” (Beatrice agreed strongly with Millicent.) “It’s a perfect example of Queen Anne architecture, and goodness knows, in the future there may be few enough houses like this left, considering some of the monstrosities our generation is building. So ugly. Pretentious without being pretentious enough, if you know what I mean.” (Papa would not agree with Millicent. The house she described was exactly the kind he had built, and with which he was entirely satisfied.)
    “Anyway,” Millicent went on in her confident carrying voice, “we weren’t talking of preserving houses so much as preserving the Overton family. Wasn’t there that rumour that the General wanted his son to marry the little Bonnington. Something about the family needing an injection of healthy blood. After all, the Overtons have practically bled themselves dry for their country.”
    “So the little Bonnington is to produce more cannon fodder?”
    “Perhaps. But money’s the first essential, I believe. Of course, if the girl’s a romantic, she may well refuse William. She’ll see through that kind of proposal.”
    “Don’t you believe it. Haven’t you noticed the way she was looking at him tonight? She hasn’t even learned to dissemble.”
    “Then I say, poor little fool. I can’t see Blanche being happy with a daughter-in-law like her.”
    “She may have to be.”
    “I’ll believe you, my dear, when I see William having the last dance with the little Bonnington. I daresay he’ll do as he’s expected to.”
    He did. He danced several times with Beatrice before the evening was over, performing his duty with courtesy and charm. If he were only pretending sincerity he was a remarkably good actor. She was almost certain that he enjoyed her company and her conversation. Finally, he asked permission to escort her home. When she said that her father was coming for her, he said could he not walk on her other side. She had two sides, hadn’t she?
    Yes, thought Beatrice, she had, one that was highly suspicious of William’s sudden dedicated attention to her, and another foolishly flattered and delighted one, which was going to suspend all commonsense indefinitely.
    “Now Bea, love,” said Papa when they were at home, “that young man we’ve just said goodnight to. His intentions aren’t honest, you know.”
    “Papa, how can you possibly tell? You scarcely know him.”
    “Don’t get on your high horse. Does William Overton know you frequently ride a high horse, for instance? No, he thinks you’re a meek little mouse ready to kiss his feet because you’ve been invited to the big house and he’s paid you a few compliments.”
    “Papa, I’m not exactly a fool.”
    “No, you’re not, and that’s my point. Young Overton thinks you’re stupid enough to be taken in by flattery. All he wants is your bank account.