The Countess Intrigue Read Online Free PDF Page B

him expose him for the evil weasel that he was.
    Forcing his thoughts away he again tried to engage the young woman in innocuous conversation in order to set her at ease and hopefully gain her cooperation. “When will your family be retiring to your estate for the winter?”
    Lady Elizabeth sighed making Justice realize that it was not as innocuous a subject as he had hoped. Thankfully the lady did not leave him wondering why for long.
    “My mother will probably keep me here to the very last minute unless I accept an offer. I do believe she considers it an affront on her abilities as a matchmaking mama that I have not become betrothed faster than my older sister did. Maryann accepted Jarvis’ offer, he’s the Viscount of Winhold if you don’t know, during the early weeks of her first Season. Here I am in my second Season without a betrothal. Apparently it is not to be borne.”
    “Well, it’s only the Little Season. One mustn’t have too high of expectations.” Justice was delighted to surprise a gurgle of laughter from the serious young woman.
    “As a matter of fact, coming for the Little Season was my mother’s strategy. She thought there would be fewer ladies to choose from during the fall session.”
    “Why is your mother so anxious to get you married off? The rumour is that you are well dowered so I would not think they would be in need of any marriage settlements that you may acquire.”
    This met with another delightful chuckle. “You are correct, my lord, but it would seem you are not well informed in the workings of a matchmaking mama’s mind. The Countess of Clairhurst managed to marry off every one of her three daughters during their first Season, two of them in the first month. The Viscount of Winhold’s two sisters were each betrothed within the first month of their debut. And my aunt, the Duchess of Milton, matched her daughter within a week of her debut.”
    Justice watched in fascination as she waved her hands around expressively while she continued. “But I don’t think Chelsea’s engagement should count in this list since she had known Chilton most of her life. But there you have it. I am an aberration within my family of connections. Somehow my mother considers it to be a reflection upon her as my chaperone. The longer I remain unattached the more desperate she feels on the matter. It almost makes me ready to join a convent. If only the Church of England had such things. I do believe my mother would take it even harder were I to convert to Catholicism than if I remain single any longer.” Justice was delighted when she turned to him with a grin. “Perhaps I ought to suggest the possibility to her. It might move her to be a little less insistent upon my need to wed at the first possible opportunity.”
    “But I still don’t understand why she feels so strongly about marrying you off. It is not as though you can carry your family’s name. I would think she would be far more concerned about your brother’s unmarried state than yours.”
    “Her sister and best friend do not yet have daughters in law so it is not such an urgent matter.” Justice was charmed as she rolled her eyes but then flushed guiltily at her show of disloyalty. “Do not exert your mind too forcefully on the matter, my lord. It really is incomprehensible, I can assure you.”
    “Are you opposed to marriage in general or just the thought of being hustled into it out of some sort of competition with your mother’s cronies?”
    “How terribly perceptive of you, my lord.” Elizabeth’s compliment caused Justice’s cheeks to heat so he was glad that she continued without seeming to notice. Shrugging a little she seemed perplexed. “I am not at all opposed to marriage, my lord. I do not want to be a burden upon my family and the thought of being the spinster aunt in my brother’s future household makes me shudder in horror. But I cannot bring myself to accept an offer just for the sake of making a match. I want