Redemption Read Online Free PDF

you disgrace yourself, or your sister,
in this manner in my house.”
    “That
man has debased my sister,” Julian countered. “You saw it with your
own eyes.”
    He
turned back to look at the remaining crowd in a silent plea of
support, but nobody moved or spoke. His supporters from earlier
seemed to have vanished into the ether because everyone carefully
kept their gazes averted.
    “I saw
no such thing,” Angus snapped.
    “We were
celebrating our engagement. If we became passionate then it proves
our marriage will be a happy one, doesn’t it? I make no apology for
finding my future wife utterly desirable,” Ben drawled in a husky
voice.
    “You
what?” Melissa snarled in a voice that could have frozen
ice.
    “I am
engaged, Miss Bradwort. Do you not wish to congratulate me?” His
declaration was made in an attempt to kill two birds with one
stone. Not only would it serve his purposes to get Lizzie to fully
understand his interest in her was more than superficial, but he
could hopefully also get Melissa Bradwort to accept that her
affections toward him were not wanted.
    “ Congratulate you?” Melissa spat. “For offering for that? ”
    “We are
to be married as soon as it can be arranged,” Ben snorted, his
anger building.
    “Why? Is
she with child?” Melissa snapped scornfully.
    Gasp of
shock rippled around the garden. Lizzie closed her eyes, and jumped
when she felt Ben’s hand claim hers.
    “Don’t
judge everyone by your own base standards,” Ben snapped.
    “I do
not give my permission for you to marry her,” Julian snarled,
cutting off anything else Melissa was about to say. “We will have
no such debaucher in the Pendlebury family.”
    “You are
not in a position to give me permission to do anything, Julian. You
are no longer my guardian and, as such, I don’t need permission
from you to do anything in my life,” Lizzie declared
flatly.
    “I am
your guardian,” Julian challenged. “I am the head of the Pendlebury
family. You will do as I say.”
    “Pendlebury family ?” Lizzie cried in disbelief.
“There is only you and me. I can look after myself. You are the
head of nothing, Julian. As of my birthday last month you ceased to
be my legal guardian. We are not even directly related. You are my
step-brother through marriage; nothing more.”
    “How dare you do this?” Melissa demanded of Ben when everyone appeared
inclined to ignore her.
    “How
dare I what?” Ben sighed. “This is a private matter, Miss Bradwort,
and certainly nothing to do with you. Please leave.”
    “I am staying,” Melissa challenged. “I want to know what is
going on. You were due to offer for my hand.”
    Ben
looked at her with theatrical disbelief. “I have never given you
any indication that I am interested in you in that regard, Miss
Bradwort. If you have developed such lofty expectations then you
are certain to be disappointed because I have never considered you
suitable for the position as my wife, nor indeed ever
would.”
    “You
were courting me,” Melissa protested. “Everyone expected you to
offer for my hand, not take advantage of that little money
grabber.”
    “How was
I courting you?” Ben scoffed. “I have danced with you once in the
past six months and that’s all. That hardly constitutes a
courtship.”
    When she
opened her mouth to argue, Ben’s face settled into a cold mask of
fury. He watched in satisfaction as she immediately took a hesitant
step back and closed her mouth with a snap.
    “You
little trollop,” she whispered to Lizzie through clenched teeth.
“How dare you do this to me? Julian is right. You are nothing but a
whore.”
    “Shut
up,” Ben raged. When Melissa made no attempt to go back into the
house, he grabbed her arm and marched her unceremoniously toward
the ballroom where he practically threw her through the door. Once
inside he turned on her, and learned forward menacingly until their
noses were almost touching.
    “I have
never considered such an uncouth,