An Uncommon Bequest by Emily Hendrickson

Author:Emily Hendrickson [Hendrickson, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1998-08-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

From the doorway Lady Mary observed the scene with a bland expression. “What have we here? A book marker, you say?” She walked closer to the table, eyeing the note.

“It seems my uncle was given to using an expensive form of such, ma’am. I insist that Sophie accept it, even if it’s in a book she consented to give me. The books were left to her, after all,” he concluded with a glance from Lady Mary to Sophie.

“Do as your cousin wishes, Sophie dear. I am sure he knows best,” her ladyship admonished.

“What woman could not use an extra hundred pounds?” Sophie quipped, reluctantly accepting the money.

“Well, perhaps we ought to check the others,” Jonathan said while bending down to retrieve the final book. He thus missed the look of dismay that flashed between the women.

“I hardly think that necessary. Jenkens will bring up more of the books—perhaps the ones I wish to sell—and you might take a look at them. If you could sell them, I would be grateful,” Sophie said politely.

Jonathan spent another hour going through the contents of several boxes of books before ordering them all to be carried to his carriage. “I will sell what I do not want. I know of a bookseller who is quite fair in his dealings. I shall bring you the money when done, if that is agreeable.”

“I suppose you do not wish me to go with you?” Sophie said hesitantly. The way he’d been behaving, it seemed that he would be glad to see the last of her.

“That would scarcely be proper,” he said with a dismayed expression on his face.

“Oh. Of course. Proper,” Sophie said while fiddling with the handkerchief she carried. If he cared the least for her, he’d desire her company, even to the booksellers.

He paused in the entry hall, seemingly intent on studying the black-and-white marble squares before he spoke to her. “We may be cousins, but there is always the matter of propriety and what people might believe. You would not wish to have others think you poor and needing to sell your assets?”

“But… Whatever…” Sophie floundered for a moment, then bowed her head. “You are right, of course. Until later, my lord.”

He raised a brow, giving her a rather odd look before taking his leave.

Sophie walked back to the morning room, where Lady Mary awaited her. “He’s gone. I do not think he was suspicious, although there was a moment after he suggested we ought to look in the other books that I wondered if perhaps he nurtured a few doubts.”

“We will have to wait and see what develops. I did warn you that he might learn the truth somehow. This was a close call. What a good thing he did not happen to look up to see the expression on your face—it would have given all away. At least he insisted you keep the hundred pounds.”

“I suppose I had best place it in my account at the bank. It bothers me to keep so much money in my room.

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