So Perilous, My Love by Clarissa Ross

Author:Clarissa Ross
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, classic
Publisher: Crimson Romance, an imprint of F+W Media, Inc.
Published: 2013-09-23T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

An uneasy truce lasted between Mark’s sister and Becky until after the funeral. A few days following the burial she confronted the thin spinster in the big living room where Mark had so recently rested in his coffin.

“I have decided to buy myself a smaller house,” she told Elizabeth.

Her sister-in-law said coldly, “Perhaps that would be best. I do not wish to share this house with you.”

Becky said, “I assumed that. The Lordley house is available nearby. I will need only a housekeeper-cook to run it. I think it will suit my needs.”

“When will you be making the move?”

“As soon as possible,” she said.

“That is satisfactory to me,” Elizabeth said coldly.

“The will Mark left makes a generous provision for you as well as for me,” Becky said. “So you will have no problem keeping up this place.”

“It will do me for the rest of my days,” the older woman said.

Becky rose and moved a step away. Then over her shoulder, she said, “There is one other thing.”

“Indeed?”

“Yes. I’m going to have a baby.”

Elizabeth looked outraged. “You are what?”

“I expect a baby in the early autumn,” she said.

Elizabeth sprang to her feet, tiny patches of red on her pale cheeks. “His baby!” she cried.

“I plan to give it Mark’s name,” she said. “I do not think he would mind.”

“Strumpet!” Elizabeth shrilled at her.

“I had to let you know,” she said, careful to control her own emotions. “I did not wish you to hear it from anyone else.”

“It is scandalous!”

“Not unless you make it so,” Becky told her. “No one can say that Mark and I weren’t active sexually, even though he was ill.”

“I know better!”

“Could you swear it in court?” she asked. “Could you take an oath that while everyone else was sleeping Mark and I did not meet in his room?”

Elizabeth gasped. “You are evil!”

“I must be when it comes to protecting Mark’s name,” she said.

“You weren’t concerned with his name when you entertained your fancy man almost every night!” the thin woman accused her.

“I will not try to explain my feelings to you. Nor the feelings of anyone else. You would not understand, in any case. I’ll only say that if there is a scandal now, if the name of Gregg is soiled, it will be you who will be responsible. Think about that!”

Elizabeth stood there enraged, wordless, and defeated!

Becky purchased the smaller house and moved into it before the month ended. She took Mrs. Atkins with her. She was a pleasant middle-aged woman capable of any household duty and the servant Becky trusted most. After the confusion of settling into the smaller place was over, she found herself both happier and healthier than she’d been in a long while.

She had a tiny, brick-walled garden in the rear of the house, and she often entertained Bart out there. It was easier for them to meet now, without the fear of Elizabeth spying on them.

One late afternoon as Bart sat for tea with her in the garden area, he said, “I wish I were free.

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