Savage In Silk by Donna Comeaux Zide

Author:Donna Comeaux Zide
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: ISBN 0-446-82702-9
Publisher: Warner Books
Published: 1978-06-08T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

When Natalie came into the sitting room bearing an important-looking letter from England, Mariah was playing with the baby. At the age of five months, Jenny had already acquired her mother’s ability to charm and had captured the heart of every person she came in contact with. Indeed, she wrapped them around her tiny fingers. Her eyes had changed from deep blue to a lighter version of Jared’s gray-blue. Her hair was a shining copy of Mariah’s black curls and, except for a strongly defiant chin reminiscent of her father, she was a picture of Mariah.

Handing Jenny over to Natalie’s fond embrace, Mariah accepted the letter and slowly walked to the window, staring at the return address. The sender was a London solicitor, H. Barry. Knowing it must concern Jared, she ripped it open with impatient fingers. Jenny’s joyful gurgling filled the background as her mother read the official documents requesting that she agree to an uncontested divorce from Sir Jared Bryant, Viscount Carleigh.

“I’ll be damned if I will,” Mariah stated loudly, startling both Natalie and Jenny who stared at her as if she’d gone mad. “I’ll fight that scoundrel in any court he chooses!” As Natalie threw her a distinctly puzzled look, she explained about the divorce.

“Not only does he desert his wife and child, he has the audacity to suggest dissolving the marriage!” Mariah was clearly furious and her foot tapped rhythmically on the floor. “God knows, I don’t want him anymore. He’s probably debauched some other poor innocent by now. He’ll have to agree to my terms before he gets his divorce!” When Natalie asked what those might be, Mariah hesitated, unsure herself what she would demand. She didn’t want to make it easy for him.

“He’ll have to acknowledge Jenny, for one thing.” She began to pace the room, hands on hips. “If he’s a titled aristocrat now, she deserves a share of his money. For another, he’ll have to make me a legitimate offer of support. I don’t intend to work the rest of my life!” The more she thought about the situation, the angrier she became. She stopped pacing and stood before her friend.

“Natalie, how would you like to see England?” Mariah’s eyes glowed as she held up the letter. “I’m going there to answer this personally.” Natalie seemed stunned by the suggestion, but unwilling to be parted from her god-daughter and Mariah, she agreed.

When Mariah showed Ben the letter and told him she’d decided to go to England, he was furious. “You can’t just run off and leave,” he shouted, adding, “You’re my biggest draw—I can’t replace you!”

“Well, come along then,” she laughed calmly. “You’ve always claimed you wanted to travel—this is your chance.” She mentioned the name of a man who’d been interested in buying the Sunburst. “Sell out to George Monroe and open a club in London.” She turned all of her charm on him, pleading eloquently, “I have to go, Ben, it’s important!”

McCabe came around the corner of the desk to pull her into his arms.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.