The Marquis Takes a Bride Read Online Free PDF

little to conceal her charms. Her hair, emerging from under her pretty lace nightcap, spread over her shoulders in a golden haze.
    “I want what Chemmy’s been enjoying,” he said finally. “Without payment.”
    “What?” she gasped. “How
dare
you! What kind of woman do you think I am?”
    “A very desperate one,” said Guy.
    “I can give you money,” she said.
    “I’ll do without that for once,” laughed Guy. “Old Lord Bemyss and his lady can’t last for much longer and they’re not the type to leave their money to a girl so that leaves only me. I know Lord Charles has got it all salted away. He ought to have. Lives like a miser. No, it must be you, my dear, if you want my help.”
    Alice sighed and looked at him. Up till this morning’s call, he had merely been one of the many admirers who formed her court. He was not ill-looking, in fact any woman not knowing the vicious side of his nature would consider him handsome, with his strong, straight figure and boyish good looks.
    “What if Chemmy should find out?” she whispered.
    “He won’t, I promise you,” said Guy, getting to his feet and crossing the little room to stand over her. “You bed with me and I’ll ruin Miss Jennie Bemyss so badly that
no one
will want her.”
    “Very well,” said Alice, moving to lead the way into the adjoining bedroom, but he forestalled her.
    “No. Here,” he commanded, taking her in his arms and pulling her down to the floor. “Here!”
    That very afternoon, the Marquis of Charrington surveyed his mistress with something approaching pity. She looked tired, white, exhausted and ill. He thought of what Perry had said and realized his friend might have struck upon the truth. He had not expected Alice to take the news of his marriage so hard.
    “I am truly sorry, Alice,” he said gently. “I should have given you warning.”
    Alice remembered Guy’s instructions and gave him a brave smile. “I cannot keep you, Chemmy,” she said softly. “But remember, I shall love no one else and I shall always be here if you should want me.”
    I really have misjudged her
, thought the Marquis with a stab of guilt.
I had thought she only cared for my money
.
    “Come Alice,” he said, kissing her gently. “We shall still be friends, shall we not? We have had many good times together and I do not wish us to part in sadness or in anger.”
    Alice smiled at him bravely. “I cannot pretend not to be sad… even for your sake,” she said in a low voice. “But I, at least, will remain faithful to you.”
    “There is really no future for us,” he said, dreading to hurt her but feeling he must do his duty. “This betrothal was arranged a long time ago. I did not mean to go through with it but I feel I must have an heir at some time.”
    “I could have given you an heir,” she said, staring at her entwined fingers.
    “You could equally have given Trace an heir… or Richards
,” said a nasty voice in Chemmy’s brain but he remained silent.
    Alice rose to her feet and rang the bell. It had been a truly horrid day and she suddenly wanted to be alone. The battle for Chemmy’s heart should commence tomorrow. But not today. Dear God, not today! She was too tired and sore and humiliated to think.
    The Marquis took his leave in a thoughtful frame of mind. For all he was sorry for Alice, he was puzzled by the peculiar atmosphere of the house. It almost seemed to
smell
of another man. He would not have been at all surprised to see someone else’s hat and cane in the hallway. Then he gave himself a mental shake and walked briskly in the direction of his club. He was becoming as hypersensitive and moody as old Perry.

Chapter Three
    “Is this the place?” Demanded Perry, chewing nervously on the knob of his cane.
    The Marquis took it to be a rhetorical question and did not trouble himself to answer.
    Perry climbed nimbly down from the box of the carriage and stared in awe at Runbury Manor.
    “Leafy, ain’t it?” he