AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Almost? I thought I was entirely rude. He is a man who cannot fathom a brush-off when it slaps him in the face."
"He probably thinks your refusal is simply an expression of your delicacy."
Ronnie grinned.
"That is precisely why I am impolite to him."
"But why? He is wealthy, well-connected, and I hear his country estate is lovely."
"Cici, Applewood is in Lancashire. Several days journey from London. It is cold there in winter. And I wouldn’t be too sure about his wealth either. He told me his father made the mistake of selling the estate's library thirty years ago. How unforgiveable. Who would do such a thing except in the extremities of poverty?"
"But he is welcome everywhere in Society. He could not really be poor."
"I have not seen his bank statement, but remember, he has three daughters to raise and is eager for a son and heir. Everyone knows he is looking for a combination nursemaid, governess, and brood mare."
"Veronica Montgomery! What kind of nasty remark is that? How can you say such a thing? He is barely thirty-five, is he not? And has a very presentable demeanour."
"That is your impression, not mine."
"Ronnie, don’t you want to marry?"
"Perhaps, if I am in love."
"But love can evolve after you pledge to one another," Cici declared.
"Now that you have been engaged for all of a fortnight, you are an expert on married love?"
"That is what everyone says, after generations of arranged marriages."
"And generations of ladies pining for their husbands who are in the arms of courtesans?"
"Oh, Ronnie, why must you twist everything I have to say in such an unpleasant way?" They heard movement in the drawing room, and Cici whispered frantically, "It is a secret. Don’t let Mama know I told you."
Lady Montgomery peeked around the edge of Ronnie's Door.
"What are you two talking about?"
Ronnie went to her and kissed her cheek.
"I was just telling Cici that—"
"Please don't use that vulgar nickname." Lady Montgomery frowned at her daughters. "You have become far too careless in the company of some persons of lesser status in Town."
Ronnie started again.
"Mama, I was telling Felicia that Captain Drew is quite certain that Princess Charlotte will be here soon."
"He is, is he? It will be good for Weymouth I suppose, though many say she is too headstrong. And excitable. Nevertheless…"
Not for a half hour did Ronnie get away from the continuing discussion of her Royal Highness.
She needed to be alone to think about how she was going to cope with the upcoming but unwelcome arrival of Lord Appleby, and how she could revive her agreeable chat with the Captain. After her amusing afternoon, she felt sadly disillusioned about the next few weeks.
Chapter Three
Drew awoke, unrested and groggy, before the sky began to lighten…
The rumpled state of his linens and his foggy brain meant that he'd spent the night restlessly tossing and turning. He rose from the bed and smoothed the sheets, tucking them tightly again, no easy trick with only one hand. The battlefield surgeons had said, when they agreed not to cut off his mangled right arm, that he might someday learn to use it, at least partially. Every day he worked at it, before allowing his man to come in to help dress him, but in the years since he had almost lost it entirely, his right arm made only limited movements. He could shrug his right shoulder, but his arm barely moved. His elbow seemed frozen, completely unbending, though he could flex his thumb and two remaining fingers a bit. He had to content himself with his newly-learned facility with his left arm, including the handwriting he'd taught himself, of necessity, for correspondence, not to mention making his bed.
