To Protect An Heiress by Adrienne Basso

Author:Adrienne Basso [Basso, Adrienne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zebra
Published: 2002-07-01T03:00:00+00:00

Meredith awoke alone. It was not a great surprise, but rather a big disappointment. Her mouth set in a thin line as she lay in the bedchamber flooded with morning sunshine, trying to decide if she should take breakfast in her bedchamber or brave the dining room.

Eating in the dining room would increase the chances of seeing her husband. It would also increase the chances of seeing her new father-in-law.

Deciding there was really no way to achieve one goal without facing the consequences of the other, Meredith rang for her maid. She did not linger over her morning toilet, but took care to select one of her more flattering gowns, a simple muslin creation of sapphire blue that set off her eyes.

Once Rose had helped her dress, Meredith descended the stairs in search of breakfast and mentally prepared herself to tangle with the two new men in her life.

As she expected, the duke was seated at the head of the breakfast table, coffee cup in hand, a newspaper spread across the table. There was no sign of the marquess.

“I had not thought to see you this morning,” the duke exclaimed. “Or even for the rest of today.”

Meredith took a much needed deep breath. “I was hungry and in need of a stroll. I hope you do not object if I join you.”

She stood with her head high and waited for the footman to draw out the chair beside the duke. Her father-in-law seemed startled by her choice of seats and quickly scooped up the paper to make room for the plate of food another servant placed in front of Meredith.

“Take this away, Higgins,” the duke commanded, thrusting the waded sheets toward a footman.

“Oh, please, do not abandon your paper for me.”

The duke eyed her suspiciously for a moment, as if testing her sincerity. He must have reasoned she meant what she said, for he slowly dropped the crumpled mess back onto the mahogany table.

“There’s an announcement of your marriage in the society section,” he said wryly.

Meredith nodded. She spread a thin, even layer of raspberry jam on her toast, then lifted her head. “Trevor must have instructed his secretary yesterday to make sure it was done. The marquess can be extremely efficient in certain matters.”

“When it suits him,” the duke remarked with a frown.

Meredith raised an eyebrow. She felt the duke’s keen gaze upon her. Sensing he was testing her, Meredith refused to rise to the bait. As much as she felt she needed an ally in this house, she was not about to take sides against her husband in the battle with his father.

“Good morning.”

Meredith looked up to see the marquess enter the room. He was dressed for riding, and the sheen of sweat upon his brow suggested he had already been out putting his mount through its paces. Meredith cautioned herself not to react. Though it was rather lowering for a bride to be left for a horse, it was even more disgraceful to let others know she was hurt.

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