The Mistaken Wife by Rose Melikan

Author:Rose Melikan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: 2010-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

IN THE SITTING room, a not dissimilar scene was being played out, albeit with fewer historical references. Minta stood before the ceramic stove, warming her hands and remembering how proud they had been when they had purchased it with the proceeds of Vangenzen’s first significant sale. He came up behind her and slid his arms round her waist.

“Everything will be all right, you know,” he urged. “You really mustn’t worry about this portrait—I’m sure I shall be able to capture Le Pelley.”

“Oh, you,” she cried, turning into his arms, “you know I have no fear of that! You are a wonderful artist!”

“And this other matter.” He shrugged. “Very likely it will come to nothing. Captain Holland will convince Boyle to give up his scheme to reform the world, and I will have my commission. My dear, what a chance for us!”

“But what if Admiral Le Pelley does become involved with Mr. Boyle?”

“Then… well, I don’t know, but surely we needn’t worry about a problem that we cannot identify and may not even happen.”

Minta turned away from him again, but not so strongly as to break the circle of his arms. “It sounds silly I know, but… this Ammonite business is between the French and the British—it has nothing to do with us. Not even Shy has asked for your help this time.”

“No, but Mary is involved in it. You wouldn’t want me to fail her, would you? And don’t you feel that all of this is important? I do. Now that French forces are unmatched on land, General Bonaparte must not be allowed to have this new weapon to give him control of the sea as well.” He paused. “We ought to care about these things.”

Minta sighed. “For the Ammonite, and the war, and the harmony of mankind, I care nothing. Nothing at all. For Mary herself… I like her and would wish her well. But for our sakes, I would rather that Mary Finch were at the bottom of the sea than that she ever came with you to Paris.”

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.