Treacherous Temptations(47)

Until this morning, he’d given little thought to what he would actually do with a wife once he had her. Now he found himself faced with a murky dilemma—how to support her. With a certificate of marriage to a known heiress, he might very well be able to secure a loan on the basis of his new bride’s inheritance. He felt another pang of conscience but assured himself that it was the best course of action—really the only course of action. If he was not to return to service, he needed money. It was only a loan and he would repay it.

“Is there a place where we might speak?” Hadley prayed the marriage certificate along with his note of hand would suffice as surety.





Chapter Sixteen


“My dear girl! Thank God you are safe!” the countess rushed to embrace Mary the moment she entered her rooms. “Just look at you! Where could you have been all the night?”

“I’m so very sorry, madam,” Mary replied with what she hoped was convincing contrition. “I was overwhelmed by everything last night! And I am so very homesick. I only had thoughts of leaving this place and returning to Welham Grove.”

“But of course you were overset, my pet,” the countess soothed in a cloying tone. “Any young woman of the least sensibility would have been, for Sir Richard has no tact at all! Tis no wonder you reacted as you did. But where did you go?”

“I don’t even know, my lady. I only ran and ran until I was lost. I sought a coach to take me back to Leicestershire but didn’t have sufficient coin to get me home, so I hired the hackney for the night and slept in it.”

The countess regarded her aghast. “You slept all night in a hackney coach?”

“Yes, my lady. It seemed the safest place to me. The streets at night—” Mary shuddered.

“Are indeed an exceeding dangerous place! You foolish, foolish girl! Sir Richard and I have been beside ourselves with worry. He will be exceedingly pleased to hear of your safe return. I must notify him straight away.” The countess rang for a footman, instructing him to go post-haste to Sir Richard and inform him of Mary’s safe return. Then she turned back to Mary. “You have not yet explained to me why you came back.”

“By light of day, I realized my foolishness and the futility of flight, my lady. For it is as you once said, I have little choice in these matters. I suppose it is far better for me to accept my plight with good grace than to continue to fight the inevitable.”

“Finally you show wisdom!” the countess declared. “But what of Lord Hadley?”

“What of him?” Mary asked.

“Why he went in search of you. He was quite distraught, you know. Indeed, I strongly suspect my step-son harbors a tendre for you.”

“Do you think so?” Mary asked. “Sadly it can amount to naught. You know my guardian would never approve of him.”

“No, I suppose he would not, but what of you, my dear? Do you return his sentiments? For if you did, it is not impossible for such a thing to be contrived.”

“No, my lady. It is quite impossible. Although Lord Hadley is extraordinarily handsome and charming, I could never wed such a man.”

“And why is that?” Lady Blanchard’s brows rose. “I was given to understand that Lord Hadley paid his address to you. Are you very certain you will not have him?”

“Though I daresay he has a number of good qualities, Sir Richard does not approve of him. Neither do I think we would be compatible, for we have nothing in common.”

“Come and sit with me, Mary.” Lady Blanchard perched on the settle and patted the cushion beside her. “Let us talk. With all of the recent excitement we have not had opportunity for an intimate chat in quite a while.” After arranging her skirts, the countess continued in her coy manner. “Are you saying that after all the time you have spent together that you have no regard at all for Lord Hadley?”

“Yes. I’m very certain, madam. What kind of life would we lead? I desire to return to a quiet life in the country, yet his extensive travels belie a certain wanderlust. He has no estate, no title, and you have already confessed that a scandal mars his good name. Although he has been a kind and attentive companion these past days, I could never consider anything further. No, I fear Lord Hadley would not make a respectable husband at all.”

“Is that so? Pity. He needs an heiress, you know. It is largely why he returned from the Continent, to try to find a suitable English wife. Oh well,” she sighed. “Though I should hate to see him go, I suppose he will return to Italy soon.”

“I’m sorry, for your sake, as I know he’s the only family you have.”

“Nonsense, my dear,” she protested with a smile. “For now I have you. And I hope you will continue to think of me as…your big sister. Indeed, I will do all I can to smooth things over for you with Sir Richard. You cannot know the worry and mortification the poor man suffered on your behalf.”

“I never meant to cause everyone such trouble,” Mary said.

“Because you did not think of anyone besides yourself, my dear. It would behoove you not to repeat such behavior in the future. There are many gentlemen who will not tolerate willful behavior in a wife.”

“I understand, madam. I am now prepared to entrust myself to Sir Richard’s counsel. For certain, he must have my best interests at heart. He was chosen by my beloved Papa to be my guardian, after all.”