The Reluctant Bride by Meg Alexander

Author:Meg Alexander
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-09-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Giles hugged her briefly, then disengaged himself and turned to greet Letty and his mother. He stood aside to let the entire party into the house, directing a look of enquiry at Isabel. The two gentlemen were unknown to him.

'Lord Isham, may I present my son?' Mrs Rushford said quickly. 'Giles has been away from us for some little time, but he will be delighted to make the acquaintance of India's future husband and also that of Mr Henry Salton, his brother.'

Giles looked far from delighted. His normally pleasant face had darkened and his bow was stiff. Civilities were exchanged, but on Giles's part they were perfunctory to the point of insult.

India could have slapped him, quite forgetting her own initial reaction to his lordship. Giles had inherited all his late father's charm, but none of it was in evidence. Now Isham would think her brother a country bumpkin who had no idea of how to behave in polite society. She gave him an angry look.

Isham appeared to be unaware of the young man's hostility. Now he drew India aside.

'With your brother so recently returned to you, you will not wish to visit the Grange tomorrow, as we had arranged. Will you let me know when it will be convenient? Mr Rushford will be most welcome to join you, naturally.'

She looked up at him then, and found that he was smiling. 'You are most forbearing,' she admitted reluctantly. 'Giles is...er...not himself today.'

'So I have another hill to climb?' Without waiting for her answer, he summoned his brother with a reminder that they were promised to dine with the local magistrate that evening.

The door had scarcely closed upon them before India rounded upon her brother.

'How could you have behaved so ill?' she asked. 'I was ashamed of you.'

'Ashamed of me?' Giles was scowling openly. 'What of you? I was never so astonished in my life as when I heard that you had agreed to wed that loathsome creature. Have you forgotten what he did to us?'

'I have forgotten nothing,' India told him. 'And he is not a loathsome creature. At least he behaved like a gentleman, which is more than I can say for you.' Once again she was surprised to find herself defending her betrothed.

'Oh, children, pray do not quarrel.' Mrs Rushford had begun to weep. 'I will not have a scene. My health won't stand it. Giles, my love, you "don't understand...'

'On the contrary, Mother, I understand this matter all too well. India has sold herself to keep us out of penury. She will save this family where I could not. You must be very proud of her.'

India's face was ashen. She could not answer him. His words were too close to the truth.

It was the gentle Letty who flew at him. 'You know nothing of Lord Isham, Giles. You are judging him in ignorance of his character.'

Giles stared at her. Letty's face was pink with anger and her sudden outburst startled him. He recovered quickly.

'Must I bow to your superior judgement? Letty, I am surprised at you.

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.