Marjorie Farrell Read Online Free PDF

suited for the life of an honest, semi-agnostic scholar than a hypocritical clergyman.”
    “And how did your mother’s family take her marriage? They eloped, as I recall.”
    “About as you may have expected, except for her brother. But she was a determined woman. Thank God,” said Gareth, with a quick grin, “or else we all would have starved. The Yorkshire property my father inherited would hardly have supported us were she not a genius at raising sheep!”
    “You see, that is exactly what Arden needs,” laughed the earl. “A strong-minded, out-of-the-ordinary mother-in-law. And husband. For I think you are very like your mother.”
    “Not physically. My sister Kate and I resemble my father, who looks, but isn’t, down to earth. And Lynette, who is a true scholar, is tall and fair like my mother. Or perhaps like my mother used to look.”
    “Yes, I remember that light blond hair and blue eyes. She looked rather ethereal.”
    “A less ethereal woman I cannot imagine,” said Gareth with a smile.
    “Well, my boy, enough reminiscence,” said the earl, standing up and extending his hand. “We have an agreement, then? I will obtain invitations for you and you will dance with my daughter and take her to supper and attend the theater with us, and by the end of a week or so, will offer for her.”
    “I will agree to all except the last,” said Gareth.
    “I am convinced I won’t be disappointed. Unless you continue to appear in the clothes you have on. You are intending to do some shopping?” teased the earl. “Do you need any money?”
    “Absolutely not. I had a great deal of back pay coming to me, so I am well set up.”
    “Then we will see you for supper tomorrow night.”
     

Chapter 6
     
    Gareth walked out into an ideal English spring day: sunny, with clouds scudding across the sky and a light but steady breeze. To one used to the aridity of Spain and Portugal, the lush green present even in the city was invigorating and Gareth decided to walk to his aunt and uncle’s.
    He was admitted by their old butler and sent directly upstairs.
    “Her ladyship will be that glad to see you,” said the housekeeper who passed him on the stairs carrying a tray of medicine glasses and teacups down to the kitchen. “She has hardly moved out of his sight these past few weeks, Captain.”
    Gareth knocked lightly on the door and his aunt opened it. From the expression on her face, he knew she had not expected to see him so soon, and the tears in her eyes and quaver in her voice made him glad that he had come immediately.
    “My dearest boy. I am so happy to see you. Your uncle…”
    “How is he, Aunt Kate?”
    “He is sinking, Gareth. Only conscious for minutes at a time, but seems to be in no pain, thank God.” She led him over to the big bed, where his formerly robust uncle hardly made an impression under the sheets.
    “It is hard to believe that someone as vital as Uncle Harry could look so small.”
    His aunt reached out and grasped Gareth’s hand. “I know. It is a shock to someone who has not seen it happen over the last year. Why don’t you sit down and speak to him? He has been sleeping for a few hours and may come back to us if he hears your voice.”
    Gareth sat down next to the bed and took his uncle’s hand, which looked and felt as though it belonged on a wax effigy. He had seen death far too often in battle to want to rail against this peaceful end of a long and active life, but as he gazed down at the marquess’s sunken face, he started remembering how important a role his uncle had played in his life. Oh, it was not that they had seen each other that often. But they had visited back and forth over the years, and when Gareth was at university, he had spent a few vacations in London.
    Gareth remembered one of his uncle’s visits to Richmond House vividly. It was when he had been in his late teens, and the contrast between his then robust and active uncle and scholar father had added more fuel to