Rogue's Widow, Gentleman's Wife by Helen Dickson

Author:Helen Dickson [Dickson, Helen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-12-04T22:00:00+00:00

‘In the beginning he was cut all the time. They can be quite vindictive. Anyone who starts with nothing and becomes very rich expects that.’

‘Your father is a fine man. Those who cut him are not even worthy of his contempt.’

‘Maybe you’re right. Personally I don’t care a fig for it all, but Father does—although half the time he doesn’t see it.

Rubbing shoulders with the gentry on the hunting field merely fosters his illusion. He doesn’t realise that his membership in that exclusive set is conceded by himself alone. He might have the money, and the panache to carry it off, but he is grudgingly tolerated by the gentry. In the long run society can be implacable and invincible. It’s always been his sense of self that’s sustained him through every social encounter—

although, before he met Caroline, deep down he felt that only my marriage to one of them would grant him complete social acceptability.’

‘And in desperation you married me to escape all that.’

‘Precisely. Father had an impoverished lord way past his prime waiting for me on my return from Charleston. Everything changed while I was away and I didn’t know about it.

You see, Father went and married Caroline, whose closets are stuffed with aristocrats, giving him easy access to all he desires—a true place in society without any help from me.’

‘Rendering you redundant.’

Amanda nodded and half-laughed. ‘And in four days’ time, as he will have told you, he’s off to London to test the waters.

His dream has finally come true. They are to stay with Lord Helen Dickson

151

and Lady Seagrove at Seagrove House in Mayfair—Lady Seagrove being Caroline’s sister. She’s to give a ball in honour of her husband’s fiftieth birthday and many people of note are to attend. It will be Father’s introduction into London society.

Anyone else would find the prospect daunting, but Father’s been like a dog with two tails for days now and doesn’t know which one to wag first. It’s all so ironic really, don’t you think?’

‘Quite,’ Kit said, thinking what a truly adorable creature she was when she laughed and letting his eyes dwell on her.

At that moment, bathed in soft light, with loose tendrils of her remarkable burgundy-coloured hair around her face, and those large eyes looking across at him, she seemed softer than she ever had before. ‘However, I’m glad you didn’t know about his marriage to Caroline before you came looking for me, otherwise I would never have met you.’

Amanda met his gaze, hearing the warmth in his voice that implied he was glad he had met her, and there was something deep in his eyes that warned her not to delve any deeper and ask him to explain what he meant. Instead, keeping to safer territory, she said, ‘It would have avoided the mess we now find ourselves in.’

‘You can’t expect everything to be sorted out overnight, but it will be, in time.’

Part of Amanda listened to him while the other part centred on Kit himself. In thoughtful silence she contemplated the tall man reclining beside her, completely at ease.

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