A Temporary Betrothal by Dorothy Mack

Author:Dorothy Mack [Mack, Dorothy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sapere Books
Published: 2020-02-15T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

When Deirdre entered her sitting room a half hour later, Belinda stopped her frenzied pacing and pounced. “Where have you been? What took you so long?”

“Lydia was sitting in the saloon looking like a cat that had got at the cream after you left. I was not about to give her the satisfaction of thinking she could chase both of us away,” her cousin replied with a toss of her head. “Where did you get to, anyway? Do not tell me it took you all this time to bid Anthony a fond farewell?”

Belinda missed the suggestion of pique beneath the careless question. “Of course not,” she said bitterly. “He bolted away before I could persuade him to tell my father the truth. Dee, he is talking as if Lady Ilchester can compel us to go through with a marriage ceremony, but that is not so, not even if my reputation is lost and I can never go to London.”

Deirdre looked closely at her cousin’s resolute expression and said curiously, “Most females would not regard a lost reputation as a fate to be preferred to marrying Anthony Wainright.”

“They would under these circumstances! What girl would wish to wed a man who was in love with another female?”

Deirdre shrugged. “Love does not always last forever. Many girls would take a chance of worming their way into his affections eventually.”

“Well, I am not among them. You must see that it will be best if I go home at once. You can send a guard with Polly and me.”

“No! I need you here to keep Lydia away from me and convince her that I have suffered a real miscarriage. There are only a few days to go now.”

“All you ever think of is your own convenience!” Belinda cried angrily.

“How are you different?” Deirdre shot back. “Moaning about your lost reputation! Go ahead and tell Uncle Walter the whole story if you must. He never approved of me anyway.” She cleared the pettishness from her voice and her manner became coaxing once more. “Please, Bel, be reasonable. By the time Anthony returns from Gloucestershire, I should be past the danger of discovery. A speedy recovery and I’ll be ready to join Archer in London, which will rid me of Lydia’s unwelcome presence. You may accompany me or return home as you choose. A betrothal can be announced to pacify Lydia, and you may terminate it at your convenience. Tell Uncle Walter whatever you deem necessary to make him consent to the betrothal.”

“You make it sound so simple,” Belinda said, her features wan, “but Captain Wainright seems to feel his honour requires that he marry me to save my reputation.”

“It need not come to that. Once you go home, the people here will forget about an engagement, and most likely no one in Gloucestershire will even know about it.”

Belinda did not share Deirdre’s optimism, but she could see nothing to be gained from further argument. She made a little gesture of resignation with her hands and went off to compose a letter to her father.

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