The Country House Courtship Read Online Free PDF Page A

yet.”
    â€œHe’ll know when I’ve issued my ultimatum. Pray God he doesn’t let it out.”
    â€œDo you think he is such a fool that he would want it known?”
    â€œNevertheless, I’m afraid the only thing for it is to take you from London until after the birth of your bastard.”
    â€œTristan!”
    Her pained expression softened his a little. But he added, “Let us not talk of it! I’d like as few reminders of your condition as possible, if you don’t mind. I am exceedingly grieved for you, Anne.”
    She studied his face. “You
are
grieved, but not for me. Let us be honest with each other. You are grieved that I have not married his lordship and become a lady, and you are further in horror that I may jeopardize your new friendship with the prince. Is that not closer to the truth?”
    He almost smiled, but then his look became grave again. “You are my sister. I am grieved.”
    There was silence while they continued to study each other a moment. Then Barton said, “I charge you to not contact his lordship or tell him you are with me. He may discover my whereabouts, but I should prefer it if he did not learn of yours. You are not to be trifled with by him again!”
    â€œHe may call upon us. I told you, he loves me!”
    â€œWell, we’ll see about that, shan’t we?”

Three

    M r. Mornay could present the living at Glendover to whomsoever he chose, when and if it fell vacant. And Glendover was vacant; the last vicar had died unexpectedly two months since, and the Paragon still had not presented the benefice to a new man. He was considering the names of a few; he had held four interviews, and was happy with none of the applicants. He hoped, at first, that the Colonel had a good man to fill the situation, but when he saw the name of Peter O’Brien his face froze for a moment in disbelief.
O’Brien!
That man had plagued him throughout his courtship with Ariana.
    O’Brien was not intentionally vexatious, but had managed to make a supremely heavy cart for the horse, so to speak. He was, in other words, burdensome. His actions in the past had resulted in Ariana’s abduction, and he had been caught stealing a kiss from her—which Mr. Mornay had almost been in time to prevent, but had instead found his bride-to-be just recovering herself from the man’s grasp. He felt an old stirring of irritation, and when his eye fell upon the date on the letter—5 January—he felt a strong new one.
Why in blazes hadn’t the letter reached him sooner?
    It was too late for him to write and prevent the interview. It was 24 February, and O’Brien would be arriving any time—if he had the pluck. (With any luck, he would not.) And imagine if Phillip had not got the news beforehand! He might have received him most ungraciously. In light of the hearty words of commendation from Colonel Sotheby (so the young man had done a stint in the army; that spoke well of him), he decided to make an effort at giving Peter O’Brien a fair chance at the living. Wait, no; that was asking too much. He could not purposely grant the man a place in their parish. He’d be in their lives forever. No one could be expected to be that forgiving! Certainly not he!
    He would make an attempt at peace, however. Let O’Brien prove his mettle, if he could.
    He wondered how Ariana would react when she heard. Just in case the man did not show up, he decided to say nothing to her at present. No sense putting her in mind of the uncomfortable events of the past. It was unfortunate enough that he had to think on them.

    The next day, when Ariana and Phillip joined their guests in the drawing room, Ariana said brightly to her relations, “What do you think?” She took in the sight of her mother and sister on one sofa, both with canvases and needles in hand; her Aunt Royleforst, on an opposite settee beside Miss Bluford, who was helping the