Sons of the Marquess Collection by Kingswood Mary

Author:Kingswood, Mary [Kingswood, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Publisher: Sutors Publishing
Published: 2019-04-15T16:00:00+00:00

15: Storms

“It is such nonsense! Ridiculous man! How can he say such things!”

“Hortensia, dearest, do calm down a little,” Rosemary said. “Will you not sit down? You are making me dizzy, pacing to and fro in that distracted manner.”

Hortensia perched restlessly on the edge of a chair. The two women were in Rosemary’s bedroom, still fully dressed despite the late hour.

“I wish I had never said anything,” Hortensia said, her anger dissipating abruptly. “If I had not spoken, if we had just told Lord Kilbraith directly, everything would have gone on so comfortably. I had barely begun to have hopes of him, and now all my happiness is destroyed.”

“You must not despair,” Rosemary said. “Look how suddenly things can change.” She blushed a little as she spoke.

“Oh yes!” Hortensia cried. “That is my only consolation, that your happiness is secure. Were it not for that, I might wish we had never come here. But how nonsensical it is!” She jumped to her feet once more, and strode across to the window and back. “We were getting along so agreeably, yet as soon as I told him who I was, he backed away from me as if I were on fire. And to say that he cannot approach me because society would see him as a fortune hunter — of all the foolish reasons!”

“But you must see how it would appear,” Rosemary said. “Everyone knows we were invited here so that Lord Humphrey could marry a rich wife. His intentions towards me were very plain, and Lord and Lady Carrbridge have been so very kind, in the most particular way. I have been interrogated by all the aunts, you should know, as a possible bride of Drummoor. But once it is public knowledge that you have the fortune, not I, how can he suddenly turn his attentions to you? It would look so cold and mercenary.”

“As if it is not cold and mercenary anyway! And Rosemary, if his attentions to you were calculated, his behaviour towards me must suggest a partiality, for he could not have known of the deception just at once, so surely—?” She sat down again abruptly. “It was mere kindness, was it not? He took pity on me, or perhaps he hoped to ingratiate himself with you, or—” A long pause, and then a sigh. Hanging her head, she went on, “It was no more than a light flirtation to him, I daresay. Something to amuse him, and give the plain companion some memories to warm her eternal spinsterhood.”

“Oh no, dearest!” Rosemary said, shocked. “You are quite wrong, I am convinced of it, and Lord Kilbraith thinks so too. He is certain that Lord Humphrey likes you very much, that he has the greatest admiration for you. He let you drive his curricle, after all, and his wonderful matched pair, and what gentleman ever does that unless he is quite in love?”

“That only makes it worse,” Hortensia said in a low voice. “If he loves me, then let him show it, instead of leaving me to wonder.

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