The Earl's American Heiress. Carol Arens

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СКАЧАТЬ are standing in.”

      “Well, they most certainly have my blessing because I will not be presented at court. Asking me to quietly marry an earl is one thing, but no one will be better off because I look like—”

      “A good and loyal child who deserves every advantage a title can bring. Just think, Clemmie, your children will never suffer from having been conceived of an accident of birth.”

      “That is one of the most outrageous things I’ve ever heard you say. I don’t know that one can consider being conceived in an adulterous liaison an accident of birth. And do you truly believe I would allow that to happen?”

      “I’m certain my mother did not intend it to happen, and yet it did.”

      And he had lived with the unfair label of bastard because of it.

      She wished she had not rebuked him so flippantly. The lack of a respectable birth had been his burden and what formed his values. Grandfather craved respectability in a way that most people did not.

      And yet she had to point out, “I could marry the corner constable and my children would be respectable.” Was the man in the fountain a constable, perhaps?

      “But not protected against life’s unpredictability. I thought you understood, Clemmie. A title gives you power, protection. And I am convinced you will be happy with the earl.”

      “There is one of us, then. I’ve yet to even meet the man.”

      Judging by the wide smile on his face, Grandfather was confident that all would go as he willed it.

      “I told you the truth about him. He’s a fine fellow—an outstanding chap. You will get along well together.”

      Oh, she didn’t hope for that much. Only that they would share a mutual respect.

      * * *

      If Lord and Lady Guthrie’s casual gathering was this grand, what would one of their famous balls be like? It would glitter to the heavens, Clementine figured.

      The Macooish mansion in Los Angeles was lovely, a well-known gathering place, but it did not glow with half the formal elegance of this home.

      She clenched her fingers on Grandfather’s coat sleeve. As long as she remained attached to him she might get through this—this presentation, this being shown off like a new variety of flower, or bug.

      But really, she was far from the first American lady to invade the aristocracy in order to save a peerage from financial ruin.

      “How is it that you got us invited to this ‘little gathering’—isn’t that what you called it?” Clementine glanced about the ballroom that Grandfather escorted her into. There had to be a hundred people or more milling about in lively conversation.

      And one of them was very likely the fellow expecting to marry Madeline.

      She feared the poor earl was in for a disappointment. Grandfather had touted a bride who was as pretty as a butterfly and as lyrical as a sweet melody.

      Clementine was neither of those things. The earl was bound to be dissatisfied with her if a woman like her cousin was who he wanted.

      “The duke is interested in the Scotland business.” He shot her a wink. “Nothing like a good financial bond to open doors that would have remained closed.”

      Money had always been Grandfather’s greatest tool. At least Fencroft would not be disappointed in that part of the bargain. The Macooish fortune in ironworks was beyond respectable.

      And yet, Grandfather did not trust that alone to ensure the family’s security.

      “Do not be surprised to find other men competing for your attention tonight since no one knows of the arrangement I made with Fencroft. But keep in mind that I have made a bargain with him.”

      “As long as you keep in mind that I have yet to agree to anything.” Of course, she would not be here if she did not seriously consider his wish, would she? “Is the earl here?”

      Grandfather shook his head. “I don’t see him, but perhaps he is in the parlor, where the gents are gaming.”

      If only Oliver Cavill’s absence was not as much relief as it was disappointment.

      Also, it did weigh on her that if he was in the parlor it meant he was a gambler. She would feel better about the man had he not been gaming. She hoped there would be other things about her potential intended that she would come to respect.

      But it could not be denied that one thing she would have respected was to see him waiting to greet her instead of going into further debt.

      “Do you not think a more formal meeting would have been appropriate, Grandfather? It is all rather haphazard, having us meet so casually.”

      “To my mind, it’s more comfortable this way.”

      As if there could possibly be anything “comfortable” in any of this.

      Walking under a huge, exceptionally glittering chandelier, she was aware of people staring at her, the women from under veiled lashes and the men with ill-disguised interest.

      “They’ll have heard that you are an American.”

      “They aren’t staring at you.”

      “I’m not an heiress come to snatch up a peer. I’m sure the debutantes and their mothers are quaking in their dancing slippers wondering who you have set your sights upon.”

      “Sneering behind their smiles, more to the point.”

      He turned her chin with his fingertips, pulling her gaze away from the frown of a middle-aged woman peering at her through a huge arrangement of orange-and-yellow chrysanthemums. “Clemmie Macooish, keep your chin up just so, and don’t forget that you are the most beautiful woman in this room. It’s no wonder some of them are jealous of you. Why I’ll wager your gown cost more than three of theirs put together.”

      Heaven help her, it was probably true. Being a man, Grandfather would not realize that the extravagance gave them even more reason to be resentful of her.

      “Put on your best smile. Our hostess approaches.” He patted her fingers where they clamped onto his arm. She suspected that under her gloves, they were as bone white as the lace was.

      “Your Grace?” she asked under her breath. This was where it would be revealed whether her studying had been for naught.

      Grandfather nodded, his smile bright for the approaching duchess.

      If other women’s smiles at Clementine seemed forced, the duchess’s did not. Lady Guthrie was clearly gifted at making a guest feel welcome.

      Clementine prayed that her return smile would indicate that she was pleased to be here, especially given that she was not.

      While Grandfather led the way with formal pleasantries, Clementine gazed over Her Grace’s shoulder at the garden beyond the open doors. If she became overwhelmed, she would escape to that torchlit paradise and find a private place to catch her breath.

      Perhaps СКАЧАТЬ