Engagement of Convenience by Georgie Lee

Author:Georgie Lee
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-03-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Emily’s clipped steps carried her across the morning-room rug, crossing back and forth in front of Julia, who stood by the fireplace, tapping her foot in irritation. Every day Emily sounded more and more like Charles and the constant lectures were proving quite tiresome. Cable Grange could not be hers soon enough.

‘First you go out riding with the captain, alone,’ Emily said.

‘We didn’t go out riding. He happened upon me at the keep.’

‘Then you put yourself in danger by involving yourself with the servants in front of him.’

‘You’d rather they fight instead of work?’ Julia silently pleaded with her mother, wishing for once she’d intervene, but she did nothing except adjust Charlemagne’s collar.

‘Come, Emily, don’t be so hard on Julia.’ Uncle George stepped in, refilling his glass of port from the decanter near the window. ‘Girl has responsibilities.’

‘Don’t you understand the way this behaviour appears? Whether innocent or not, it is compromising.’

‘In James’s eyes, never.’ Uncle George laughed. ‘He isn’t such an old biddy to get fired up over a ride or an incident with the field hands.’

‘I believe you are both failing to see the point.’

‘Excuse me, Mrs Howard.’ Captain Covington entered the room, respectfully deferential. ‘I believe I have some information to put your mind at ease.’

‘Information?’ Emily asked.

Julia shook her head, but he ignored her, reserving his gracious smile for Emily.

‘This afternoon in the forest I asked Miss Howard to marry me and she accepted.’

The room went silent.

‘Is it true?’ Emily demanded.

Julia wasn’t sure how to answer. She hadn’t expected him to announce their engagement so soon, but now it was done and she had to play along. ‘Of course it’s true.’

‘But—you hardly know one another.’

‘In the short amount of time we’ve spent together we’ve discovered a great deal in common. It’s as though we’ve known each other for years.’ Captain Covington took Julia’s hand and gazed lovingly into her eyes. Her heart fluttered with excitement before she reined in her runaway emotions. Reminding herself it was all a ruse, she returned the loving smile with one of her own, careful not to exaggerate it too much.

Emily twisted her hands in front of her. ‘What will Charles say?’

‘I have already spoken to Mother and Uncle George,’ Julia lied, hoping they would play along, too.

‘She did?’ Emily asked her mother-in-law, who nodded.

‘We discussed it this morning.’

‘And you?’ Emily turned to Uncle George.

‘Jim mentioned it during our ride,’ he mumbled, tossing back the last of his port.

Julia let out her breath. Uncle George would demand an explanation, but he could always be counted on to go along.

‘Please excuse us, Captain.’ Emily grabbed Julia by the arm, pulling her into the hall and closing the morning-room door behind them. ‘What’s going on?’

‘I thought you’d be pleased. You and Charles are always telling me to marry.’

‘Yes, but—?’

‘But what? Isn’t Captain Covington a respectable man?’

‘To be sure, but—’

‘But what? Uncle George has known him for years, he has a sizeable fortune, and he’s amiable and well spoken of. What objection could you possibly have?’

‘Marriage isn’t something to be entered into lightly.

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