The Other Miss Derwent by Patricia M. Ashley

Author:Patricia M. Ashley [Ashley, Patricia M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House/Regency Reads
Published: 1984-08-24T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Lady Dunford did indeed carry the day in the teeth of Sir James’s opposition.

Once she had given him her most scathing opinion of Sir Montagu Morley’s morals and character, and reiterated several times her opinion that she would very soon find a much more eligible husband for her niece, and this at her own expense, he began to like the idea, and to become more resigned to the prospect of losing his reward for his good offices on Sir Montagu’s behalf.

After all, he consoled himself, when Lord Silverfield married Louisa he, Sir James, stood to gain a substantial sum under Cosmo Vernon’s will.

Lady Dunford broke in upon his cogitations with uncanny prescience. “So that rumour about Lord Silverfield’s having to marry to his Uncle’s bidding is true — and to Louisa, at that! A fine thing for her if she can catch him!”

He bridled. “There is no question of ‘catching’ him, ma’am! Why, he would lose a vast sum of money if he did not marry her within the twelve-month!”

“If he has twelve months in which to consider it, I rather think he will go to the devil rather faster than he has been doing to date, after which he may, or may not, marry your daughter!” said Lady Dunford shrewdly.

He laughed uneasily. “As to his racketing about town — well, he is a wild young blood, I admit, but he will settle down once he is married to my Louisa! But I mean to keep my eye on him!”

“And also, I suppose, to cast your daughter into his path at every opportunity.”

“My wife thinks that he may very well take a fancy to her if he sees her often enough.”

“I must suppose that he has seen her, since she has been on the town upwards of three years!”

He flushed angrily. “We naturally did not want to rush at the first man who offered for her – though she has had several very eligible offers!”

In fact, the only offers he had received for her hand had been from a penniless army captain in her first season, who had been dismissed with the contempt he deserved for his presumption, and two others from rather penurious young men with an eye on the money-bags, before it became common gossip that Sir James’s pockets were to let.

“Hmmm,” said Lady Dunford dubiously. “If I were you I would not encourage her to make herself conspicuous by seeming to hang on Lord Silverfield’s sleeve, for if he does not come up to scratch after all, she will look a fool. There is gossip enough about the matter already, though how the rumour got about I do not know.”

“I think I know my own affairs best,” he said stiffly. “And as to that baggage Anastasia, I leave her in your charge gladly – I only hope you may not be sorry for it! My father spoilt her – gave her too much freedom, and though my wife took her in hand after his death I believe her character to have been already ruined.

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