Marjorie Farrell Read Online Free PDF Page A

there some way to reconcile yourself to her being with your sister? Or someone who has not occurred to you to whom her failure with the ton will not matter?”
    “The only man I can think of that I would entrust my daughter to is sitting in front of me,” said the earl without thinking.
    Gareth automatically looked behind him, hoping that the earl did not mean what he thought he meant.
    “My lord,” he started to protest.
    “No. Wait a minute, Gareth. The more I consider the possibility, the more it seems the perfect solution. As the soon to be Marquess of Thorne you need to marry, so that you will soon be haunting Almack’s yourself. I desperately need a son-in-law whom I respect. I could leave Arden with you and know that I had at last done my duty as a father. If anything happened to me…”
    “Nothing will, my lord.”
    “If anything happened to me,” repeated the earl, “she would be well-provided for, and lucky in having a husband for whom I have the greatest affection.”
    “But not one for whom she has any affection. We have only met in passing. There is no basis for marriage, and indeed, it would leave the lady with no choice in the matter.”
    “Arden has effectively removed her opportunity for choice,” the earl replied slowly. “She needs someone who will not be intimidated by her and someone who has had experience in a wider world than that of polite society. You did not find her unattractive, did you?” asked the earl suddenly, having just thought of the one argument that would carry weight with him. He would never have considered giving his daughter to anyone who could not promise her physical affection.
    “No,” answered Gareth. “I must admit that I prefer dark ladies. But you have hardly given me any reasons that I would want to marry her, except your own.”
    “You know the worst, Gareth. Arden may be arrogant, but I know she is not lacking in feeling. She had a warm and intelligent mother and, I think, a happy home life until Anne died. And although Ellen was not an ideal substitute, Arden has been raised with love. She just has not had her own human failings revealed to her.” The earl took a deep breath. “I am serious, you know.”
    “Yes. And since I hold you in the greatest affection, it makes it all the more difficult to refuse.”
    “Then don’t. At least, not now. Will you at least consider the possibility? You could spend this week getting to know Arden better, and if you do not change your mind, then I will resign myself to my sister as her companion.”
    Gareth did not have the heart to say no. After all, it was unlikely Arden would agree to this mad idea of her father, even if he found his moment of attraction to be stronger than he thought. In fact, she would probably use her tongue effectively against him, thereby scotching the scheme at the start.
    “One thing I would ask you, Gareth.”
    “Yes, my lord?”
    “Two things,” smiled the earl. “First, ignore any insults from her. And second, do not make public your position as your uncle’s heir.”
    “I think I can withstand her tongue. And as for my uncle, I think only a few are aware of our relationship. My family, as you know, has never taken part in the Season. When my mother married my father and moved to Yorkshire, she was soon forgotten.”
    “Yet I remember her quite well,” said the earl. “A very unusual and determined young woman she was.”
    “Still is, sir, tho’ not so young.”
    “Your father was the son of a baronet, wasn’t he?”
    “Yes, the younger son who turned his back on a career in the Church because he was more drawn to scholarly pursuits.”
    “Was he ever ordained? I don’t remember the whole story.”
    “No. He became so interested in what are considered pagan beliefs that he began to question his faith.”
    “There are many clerics in the church who have no faith to question in the first place,” commented the earl dryly.
    “Yes, but my father decided he was better