The Paradise Will Read Online Free PDF Page B

wanted!’ he repeated, scornful. ‘You have no conception, dear cousin, how much expectation I had riding on this!’
    ‘Piers, have you borrowed against the estate?’
    He shrugged again, his mouth twisting in a grimace as he slumped back on to his chair. ‘Not borrowed exactly, but I have run up debts on the understanding they would be paid when I received my inheritance.’
    ‘But surely that is the same thing?’
    ‘Not quite – it is easier to refuse to answer the door to my tailor than a moneylender .’ Arms folded across his chest, his sullen gaze ran over her. ‘Your naivety surprises me. You must have known I was living on the promise of money. God knows I have little enough else to survive on.’
    ‘I-I suppose I did consider you might be but not to any great extent.’
    ‘My tastes are expensive; let me assure you the extent is great,’ he drawled.
    ‘I will help you although I refuse to fund your gambling,’ she said. ‘It is high time you took control of your life and realized your actions have consequences.’
    ‘Lord, don’t moralize, Coz! Your efforts are wasted in my direction – I’m a lost cause.’
    ‘Perhaps if you married—’
    ‘Ha!’ he interpolated, dismissively. ‘And find myself tied to some lady who will increase my debts?’ He gave a deep shudder. ‘Thank you, but no. Unless an heiress or rich widow presents themselves, I’ll avoid matrimony like the plague! Alyssa, I give you fair warning I intend to enquire about contesting the will.’
    ‘You are at liberty to, of course, but I have already discussed it with Mr Bartley.’
    ‘And?’ he asked, watching keenly.
    She threw out her hands in a hopeless gesture. ‘You would need money to pay the costs and there is little hope of success.’
    His eyes narrowed. ‘So I am to live on my paltry annuity and go quietly like some whipped cur!’ he said, vehemently. ‘Damned if I will! There must be something I can do.’
    ‘There is nothing. I will try to repay your most pressing debts but I make no promises; the next six months will be difficult for me.’
    ‘Not so difficult with the prize at the end! I suppose you plan to squander what is rightfully mine on your dirty brats!’
    ‘Don’t refer to the children as dirty brats!’ she said belligerently. ‘I should not warrant your contempt for helping to educate poor children in my village! Really, Piers – you go too far! Continue and I shall not feel obliged to help at all.’
    ‘Oh, it does not matter to me whether you teach one or twenty children their letters,’ he observed, in a dry voice. ‘If you wish to practise philanthropy, that is your business, but I find it galling that money that rightfully belongs to me is to be thrown their way.’
    ‘I can think of no better way to spend it.’
    ‘Well, I can! A new high perch phaeton, for a start.’
    Her lips twitched. ‘So that was what you intended to buy.’
    ‘You approve?’ he asked, raising his brows.
    ‘No, but you always wanted to cut a figure in London so I see why it would appeal. Perhaps something might be arranged—’
    ‘I won’t need it yet,’ he interjected, insouciantly. ‘They are useless on country roads.’
    ‘Oh? Where are you going?’
    ‘To Dorset.’
    She stared at him blankly for a moment and then protested, ‘Why on earth do you want to come to Dorset? It would be a waste of time. Besides, you can’t stay at Hawkscote – even though you are my cousin; it would not be proper for us to be under the same roof without a chaperon. It is ridiculous to need a duenna at my age, but we must abide by society’s rules and enough gossip will be generated as it is from my dinners with Sir Giles.’
    ‘Don’t gammon me, Coz!’ he said, with a short mirthless laugh, ‘You’re not in your dotage yet! Never fear, I won’t put you to the blush – I’ll stay with James Westwood at his estate outside Dorchester. I’m overdue a visit there anyhow, and I’ve a mind to see how this