The Wife the Marquess Left Behind by Ann Lethbridge

The Wife the Marquess Left Behind by Ann Lethbridge

Author:Ann Lethbridge
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-03-21T13:57:35+00:00


* * *

The grim look on Everett’s face made Venetia want to run away. The way she had run from her father as a child, when he had that sort of look in his eye.

She was not a child any more to be intimidated by an angry man. Nor was she a mouse to bear his temper in silence. She lifted her chin and held her ground.

‘Where did you meet Mrs Harper?’ he asked. ‘She is quite a bit older than you.’

Oh, so now he was going to question what friends she had, was he? ‘She was a friend of my mother’s. They were at school together.’ Venetia had not known it when she lived at home, but Mrs Harper had tried, on more than one occasion, to convince her mother to leave her father.

‘Strange the way she denied being a member of Society.’

Her heart gave a panicky thump. He was suspicious. And perhaps this was how he intended to exert his power. To separate her from friend and allies. She would not allow it. She looked down her nose. ‘Not everyone enjoys being in Society. Certainly, I do not.’

His gaze narrowed. ‘That is as may be, but why lie?’

‘How was it a lie? She merely said she did not move in such circles. She does not. She lives quietly in the country. It was merely an unfortunate choice of words.’

He sighed as if tired. ‘Perhaps.’ He did not seem convinced, but she was glad he did not wish to pursue the matter further.

He frowned and leaned back in the chair. ‘Speaking of Society, I assume you are prepared for our first outing this evening?’

The ball she had been trying not to think about it. ‘I am ready.’

‘Good. It is about time we set about making ourselves known.’

The thought made her feel ill. Tonight, he would come to realise all of her shortcomings. ‘Have you decided if you will dine at home before we go?’

‘I am afraid not. I am meeting a fellow at White’s with regard to a business venture. I would have put him off, but he leaves London in the morning. I shall be back in time to escort you to Lawsons’. In the meantime, I need to prepare for my appointment.’

She breathed a sigh of relief at being spared any more of his probing questions today. ‘Then I will see you later.’

He bowed and left.

As the rest of the afternoon passed, the ball loomed large in her mind. It was just as well Everett did not join her for dinner; she found it almost impossible to eat and getting dressed was torture.

As Green was placing the last of the pins in her hair, she heard Everett’s arrival. Heard him climb the stairs and pass her room on the way to his chamber. She was dreading his expression when he saw her in the gown the dressmaker had produced with such pride.

When she had tried the primrose-coloured gown on for size and before the alterations, she had



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