To Marry an Heiress Read Online Free PDF Page A

his head as though embarrassed that his grand scheme had been discovered.
    “Don’t you see, Gina? He’s got to be an Englishman, an aristocrat. A man with a title. To show those New York bitches who shunned your mother that she was good enough.”
    “Oh, Papa. Mama was so much better than them—”
    He jerked up his head to reveal tears welling in his eyes. “You know that, I know that. By God, I want those Knickerbockers to know it. To know we were all good enough.”
    “Revenge is not a reason to get married,” she said softly, her heart aching for his agony.
    “It’s not revenge. It’s practicality. You’re long past a marrying age. We’re here in England. Why not marry an aristocrat? Be a countess. Have your children. Do this for your mother. She’d want to see you happy.”
    “I didn’t come here looking to get married.”
    “I know you didn’t, gal, but give this young fella a chance. If you don’t like him, I’ll find someone else for you.”
    He spoke as though he was deciding on a new piece of furniture or a bauble. Something insignificant, not a person who could forever alter her life. She’d always followed his advice, acknowledged his greater wisdom, and sought his counsel. How could she now turn aside his plans?
    “Why did you choose this particular man?”
    “Because he loved his first wife something fierce and spoiled her rotten.”
    “He was married?” The tapestry of his grand scheme was revealing its unbecoming threads as she unraveled it. Why would she want a man who had already been married and acquired certain expectations regarding a wife’s behavior? If she was to marry at all, she wanted a man who understood her need not to be tethered.
    Her father nodded sagely. “She died three years ago. He’s been mourning ever since. Only came to London a few days ago to visit with his solicitor. Doesn’t usually go to the parties around here, but then he heard about you.”
    She could well imagine what he might have heard about her. She simply didn’t fit in this society.
    “Then I’ll be competing with his memories of his wife.”
    “Nah, not once he gets to know you well. He’ll love you as much as I do. Maybe more. Besides, he needs you, gal. You could make him grateful for his days.”
    She averted her gaze, because it hurt to see the hope reflected in her father’s eyes.
    “Why do you think he’d make a good husband?”
    “He was never unfaithful to his wife—a rare thing among these gents. Most treat their mistress better than they do their wife. But not this fella. He doesn’t drink to excess. He doesn’t gamble.”
    Unlike her father. A man of excesses indeed. When he drank, he drank until he lost all reason. When he gambled, he lost fortunes. Fortunately, he seldom engaged in either activity. Shortly after they’d arrived, he’d begun disappearing for a few days here and there. She’d assumed then that he’d gone in search of places to gamble. Instead it sounded as though he’d been hunting down a husband for her.
    “You like him,” she responded gravely, as though gloomily accepting her fate. But he wasn’t presenting her with a ball gown she could remove at the end of a long evening. He was offering her a husband, a mate for the remainder of her life. Years and years and years. Marry in haste, repent at leisure. Wasn’t that how the old saying went?
    “I like what I’ve seen of him. I went to his estate,without him knowing, of course. Talked to his tenants, the villagers. I know the sort of man he is. I understand the sacrifices he’s willing to make for his land—sacrifices most of these men wouldn’t be caught dead making. He’ll do well by you. If not for me, then at least for the memory of your mother, give him a chance.”
    She didn’t want to remember all the days her mother had waited for the arrival of an invitation that would never come, waited for someone to call on her. No one ever did.
    Georgina gave him a tremulous smile. “I’ll