The Danbury Scandals Read Online Free PDF Page B

the young man said airily. ‘If Cousin Henry don’t have
an heir, Father will become Duke of Wiltshire and I will be a Marquis and next
in line for the dukedom. And you will be Lady Caroline in your own right.’
    ‘Should you be
speaking so about the Duke?’ Maryanne asked mildly. ‘It is only natural he
should want an heir.’
    ‘You don’t know
him, Maryanne,’ Mark said. ‘He’s fat and drinks too much and no pretty girl is
safe anywhere near him. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to marry him.’
    ‘Cousin Jane
did,’ Caroline said.
    ‘Yes, poor
dote, but that was before she knew what her portion was - the life of a brood
mare. How any girl could contemplate that I can’t imagine.’
    ‘Oh, I don’t
know,’ Caroline said with a laugh. ‘With money and a title, most things can be
endured and a wealthy wife can always take a handsome lover.’
    ‘I say, Sis,
you wouldn’t marry him, would you?’ he said anxiously. ‘You don’t fancy being
the next Duchess of Wiltshire? You’d end up like Cousin Jane, in your grave,
alongside half a dozen dead babies.’
    ‘Do you think
His Grace will allow us to have our own reception at Wiltshire House?’ she
said, ignoring his question. ‘Oh, that would be bang up!’
    He shrugged.
‘If he thought it would find him another wife, I fancy he might.’
    ‘Then I shall
suggest it.’ She turned to Maryanne. ‘Wiltshire House is much grander than
Danbury House - almost a palace - and it has the most elegant ballroom. We must
have an orchestra and a tenor to sing the latest ditties.’ She whirled round in
excitement. ‘And there must be flowers everywhere and piles of exotic fruit.
There will be no difficulty now the war is over and all those horrid blockades
are done with.’ She sat down at the escritoire and drew some sheets of
paper towards her. ‘Mark, you must tell me the names of all the handsome young
officers back from the campaigns. Some of them come from good families, don’t
they?’
    ‘If you are
looking for plump pockets, you’ll not find many in the army,’ he said
laconically. ‘You should be considering a nabob or a merchantman, someone who
has grown rich by the war.’
    ‘Mark, what
nonsense you talk! I wouldn’t dream of such a thing. When I marry it will be
someone of breeding as well as wealth.’
    ‘I can see you
are going to be difficult to please,’ he said, then, turning to Maryanne, ‘What
about you, Maryanne? What do you look for in a husband?’
    ‘Me?’ she said,
feeling the warmth flood into her face. ‘A man I can love and one who loves
me.’
    ‘And must he
also be rich and handsome?’
    ‘No, just
good.’
    ‘Good?’ queried
Caroline with a squeal of laughter. ‘I have yet to meet a man I could describe
in those terms, and, besides, how dull life would be.’ For the first time she
noticed what Maryanne was doing. ‘What have you got there?’
    ‘It is a
hassock cover from the church. I hate to be idle and I have so much spare time
nowadays, I thought I would repair all the hassocks. I brought this one home
last Sunday.’
    ‘The village
women do that sort of thing. You should not stoop so low, Maryanne.’
    ‘I do not call
beautifying the church stooping, Caroline.’
    ‘Oh, spare me
the sermon, Maryanne. What will you wear for Lady Markham’s ball?’
    ‘I do not
dance, so I haven’t given it a thought.’
    ‘Don’t dance!’
Caroline exclaimed, then, ‘No, of course not; the Reverend Mr Cudlipp would
hardly consider dancing a suitable pastime, would he? How dreary for you to
have to stay at home when we go.’
    ‘She will not
stay at home,’ Mark said. ‘I shall teach her the steps, including the waltz.
She will not be left out.’
    ‘It is very
kind of you,’ Maryanne murmured. ‘But really I would rather not put you to the
bother.’
    ‘Stuff!’ he
said. ‘It will be my privilege. I will not hear of your being left behind. And,
to be sure, I shall be hard pressed to cut out all the