Nicola Cornick Read Online Free PDF Page B

of these ladies,’ Mullineaux finished smoothly. ‘I, alas, am fixed here for the night as my cattle are chilled to the bone and it is now too late for me to continue my journey. However, I am sure that the landlord could muster a gig to convey the ladies a short distance.’
    ‘Lord Mullineaux is anxious to be rid of us, ma’am,’ Alicia said with so much honey in her tone that Mrs Henley was barely able to suppress a smile. ‘We are a sad burden on him.’ She looked down at Miss Frensham drooping in her chair and added silkily, ‘There is one aspect of Lord Mullineaux’s commendable speech with which I would disagree, however. It does not seem to me desirable to subject Miss Frensham to the rigours of another uncomfortable journey. I am sure we shall do very well here.’
    There was a flash of irritation in Mullineaux’s eyes and as he drew breath for a scathing remark Mrs Henley hastened into the breach, much as Miss Frensham had done earlier.
    ‘I will not hear of you putting up at this or any other inn tonight, Lady Carberry,’ she said decisively. ‘Ottery Manor is but a short distance from here and I am happy to convey you both there immediately as our guests. Nonsense.’ She cut across Alicia’s protests decisively. ‘It will be a pleasure!’ She turned courteously to Mullineaux. ‘You are also most welcome to join us at the Manor, Lord Mullineaux!’
    Alicia watched with malicious pleasure as Mullineaux tried to think of a way to decline without giving offence. She knew full well that only his dislike for her was prompting him to stay at the inn and refuse Mrs Henley’s invitation.
    ‘Alas, ma’am,’ Mullineaux was saying with every evidence of sincere regret, ‘I would be honoured to accept were it not for the fact that I must continue my journey at first light. I would not wish to inconvenience you in any way, and I am sure I shall do very well here.’
    He could not be persuaded otherwise and eventually Mrs Henley accepted his refusal with resignation, not in the least fooled as to the reason for it. Bowing to them all but Alicia, who got the curtest of nods, Mullineaux went out to bespeak his lonely supper.
    A smile twitched Mrs Henley’s lips. She had never met the Marquis of Mullineaux before, but rumour certainly had not lied about him. He was without doubt a very attractive man and a formidably determined one. It was also beyond doubt that Lord Mullineaux wanted nothing more to do with Lady Carberry and viewed this whole incident as a profound nuisance. Meanwhile Lady Carberry herself, unaccustomed to being disliked, resented such cavalier treatment and could be very provocative when she chose. Lady Carberry was not spoilt, Mrs Henley reflected fairly, but it was unusual for men not to fall at her feet. Even the squire, who had never given Mrs Henley a moment’s worry in twenty-five years of marriage, was gawping like a foolish schoolboy, ready to leap to Alicia’s aid if required.
    Alicia was looking particularly lovely in the candlelight, with her hair drying in tangled curls and the fire bringing a glow of colour to her almost translucent complexion. But clearly James Mullineaux was immune and, remembering the past history of Alicia and the Marquis, Mrs Henley could not really be surprised at it.
    She had heard all the slanderous talk—the hastily arranged marriage to the grossly libidinous George Carberry, the sudden death of the bridegroom on the wedding night—from over-excitement, so the wags said—the bitter denunciation by James Mullineaux of his former betrothed, the wild tales that had circulated in the clubs…Alicia Carberry’s name had been dragged through the mud so thoroughly that it had been thought she would never recover.
    Mrs Henley had always had her own theory about the hastily arranged marriage to George Carberry. She gave no credence to any of the wilder tales about Alicia, but suspected that the Carberry match had been forced on her by her father. In the