Lord Portman's Troublesome Wife. Mary Nichols

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      ‘Let us ignore Sir Ashley and your brother and decide for ourselves what is to be done.’ She opened her mouth to speak, but he put a finger over her mouth to stop her. ‘I will say my say, then you may say yours. Agreed?’

      She nodded, aware of the dry warmth of his finger on her slightly parted lips and had to take a firm hold on herself not to nip it with her teeth.

      ‘Good.’ With the marble Venus smiling down on them, he took both her hands in his. ‘Let us consider the pros and cons. One, I need an heir and to beget an heir I need a wife. Two, I am not disposed to fall in love again, but any wife I choose must be up to the task of being mistress of my household and being a good mother to my children.’ He stopped, realising there was an important question he had not asked. ‘You do wish for children, I assume?’

      Too bemused to speak, she nodded again

      ‘Good. Where was I? Oh, yes, point three. Health and looks.’ He regarded her face gravely as if sizing these up. ‘I am told you have never been ill in your life.’

      ‘Max,’ she said ruefully. ‘I’ll wager he did not commend my looks.’

      ‘I can judge those for myself.’

      ‘He said you required a wife that would not outshine you.’ It was said as a put-down, but it only served to make him throw back his head and laugh. It was a laugh very different from that of the macaroni. He was forever surprising her.

      ‘There is that, of course. I am indebted to your brother for that point. Now what number were we up to? Four, was it?’

      ‘Five if you take account of the one my brother furnished.’ The conversation was so preposterous, she felt herself playing the game out of amusement and curiosity.

      ‘Five, then. You must find a home and a way of making a living which, I understand, has become urgent. Is that so?’

      She nodded again, knowing she ought to stand up and walk away, but finding it impossible to do so.

      ‘We come to six. You do not care to be a companion and there is no time to develop your other ideas. Housekeeper. A wife keeps house, does she not? Embroidery. I am persuaded every lady, wife or not, does that. As for cataloguing books, if you really wish to do that, I have a library of tomes at Bishop’s Court in urgent need of arranging into some sort of order. What else was there? Oh, yes, writing a book. I have no especial dislike of that idea. You may occupy yourself in that fashion whenever you are not busy at any of the others.’

      ‘Lord Portman,’ she managed at last, ‘just what are you saying?’

      ‘Why, I am listing the advantages to be had from joining our two selves in holy matrimony. You did not think I was offering carte blanche, did you?’

      ‘I was not sure.’

      ‘My dear Miss Chalmers, if you go back to point one, you will recall I said I needed an heir and by that I meant a legitimate one.’

      ‘You are not jesting, are you?’ she said, regarding him frankly.

      ‘No, I am not jesting. Now you may, if you wish, list the disadvantages.’

      She said the first thing that came into her head. ‘We hardly know each other.’

      ‘True, but that can be remedied.’

      ‘I am in mourning.’

      ‘I think, under the circumstances, that can be overlooked. I am sure your brother, as the head of the house, would agree with that. It is a pity they have done away with Fleet marriages, but the ceremony can be a quiet one in the country.’

      ‘I am too independent and outspoken.’

      ‘That could be construed as a disadvantage, it is true,’ he admitted. ‘I will mark that one up.’

      ‘I am six and twenty.’

      ‘Then you will not be giddy and requiring my undivided attention every minute of the day. I could not abide that. Of course we should not delay too long before beginning our family…’

      ‘And if I should turn out to be barren?’

      ‘Is there any reason why you should be?’

      ‘None at all, but one can never be sure.’

      ‘True. Perhaps we ought to mark that one up too.’

      ‘I am told you already have a daughter.’

      ‘Yes.’ His bantering tone left him suddenly. ‘I see little of her. She is with foster parents.’

      ‘But she would not be, if you had a wife, would she? Supposing she does not take to me?’

      ‘She will do as she is told.’ It was said flatly.

      ‘You cannot make her love me. Love is not something you can command.’

      ‘How did we come to be talking of love?’ he demanded, somewhat put out. ‘I have not mentioned it. I hope you were not expecting me to fall into raptures and declare my undying devotion.’

      She laughed, endeavouring to lighten the atmosphere again. ‘That, my lord, would be expecting too much.’

      ‘Then I make it six to two.’

      ‘Six to two what?’

      ‘Six points in favour, two against. Rather good odds, I should think.’

      ‘You, I collect, are a gambler, my lord. I, on the other hand, am not.’

      ‘You will not be gambling. I shall provide you with a good portion, ample pin money, clothes, jewels, a carriage, the freedom to order the household as you will, and a title. What have you to lose?’

      ‘My independence.’

      ‘How much is that worth at the moment?’ He paused to look into her face. ‘Remember Lady Bonhaven.’

      She did not want to remember the lady. ‘My lord, if all that was a proposal of marriage, it is the strangest I ever heard.’

      ‘You have had so many?’ he queried, smiling at her, his head on one side.

      ‘That would be telling.’ Honesty made her add, ‘But that is neither here nor there.’

      ‘So, shall we wed?’

      ‘I am afraid I cannot view the prospect of a marriage of convenience with equanimity. How do I know we should not quarrel?’

      ‘I am not usually quarrelsome,’he said. ‘Quarrelling indicates a lack of restraint, don’t you think? Are you like to quarrel with me?’

      ‘With the life you have promised me? It would be singularly ungrateful in me to do that. But is gratitude a substitute for that tender feeling a husband and wife should have towards each other?’

      ‘Only СКАЧАТЬ