Wager for a Lady's Hand by L G Rollins

Author:L G Rollins [Rollins, L G]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781672424837
Published: 2019-12-26T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Marianne sat, unmoving, as her maid pulled a second pin from her hair. The curl the pin was holding toppled down to her shoulder.

“Have another sip, miss,” Ellie insisted. “It’ll settle your stomach.”

Marianne didn’t voice her agreement, but silently reached for the small teacup resting against her changing table and lifted it to her lips. She hadn’t told Ellie why her stomach was rolling with unease, but had instead claimed supper must have disagreed with her.

That didn’t mean, however, she wasn’t fully aware of the truth herself. Between Cockell’s letter that morning, and her most recent conversation with Lord Sheldon, Marianne could not convince her guilt to subside.

Oh, how she had wanted to confide in Sheldon. He was thoughtful and gentle. She had almost opened her mouth and told him all. What a disaster that would have been. If she’d told him what she’d done, he’d turn on her. How could he not? Moreover, she feared what Cockell would do if she spoke bluntly. No doubt he would make their engagement known, very possibly demanding the wedding take place immediately.

Another lock of hair fell to her shoulders. She always enjoyed having her hair taken down after a long day. But tonight, even though her hair was free, she was not and she felt it. Marianne felt it as firmly as the chair beneath her and the corset still tight against her stomach.

Lord Sheldon was a good man. A kind and upstanding gentleman.

She was a horrid sinner, willing to ruin his reputation—if only temporarily—to secure her own freedom. Worse still, she would be at it again tomorrow. Marianne didn’t dare delay even one more day. She was certain Cockell would announce their engagement if she did not try another tavern or two.

Ellie continued her ministrations, helping Marianne ready for bed, and Marianne noticed more than once that the young girl watched her with a creased brow and uncertain gaze.

Finally, in only her night gown, Marianne pulled the bed covers over her legs. “Do not worry, Ellie. I will feel better in the morning, I am sure of it.”

Ellie didn’t seem convinced. Marianne laid down without another word and turned her back to the girl. There was the sound of soft foot falls as Ellie moved about the room, then the whoosh of a small breath of air as the candles went out.

Marianne waited until she heard Ellie leave before rolling onto her back and staring up at the blackness above her head. She was trapped here at home. There was no chance of her living free and happy so long as she remained at Vitgrin Cottage. How she wished she could just disappear. Just leave this whole horrid situation.

Her breath caught. Perhaps she could. She hadn’t any pin money, but she knew where Father kept a small stack of bills in his room for whenever the desire to play at cards would strike next.

Marianne rolled onto her side. She had no idea where she would travel. She could go South, slip into some other small hamlet and claim to be a widow.

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