The Reluctant Bride. Meg Alexander

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      “Mrs Rushford is not at home to visitors,” she said in icy tones.

      “I see.” The dark eyes studied her face. “And you are?”

      “I am Miss Rushford, and I too am not at home to visitors…”

      “On the contrary, you look very much at home, if I may say so. Miss Rushford, what I have to say concerns your family. Will you not hear me out?”

      “Nothing you have to say could possibly be of interest to us…” India began to close the door and found a booted foot in the way.

      “A rash statement since you don’t know what it is. I see that Sir James Perceval’s carriage is here. I will speak to him.”

      “Sir, you are insolent! Kindly remove your foot.”

      “Certainly not! I haven’t come all this way to be denied.”

      India gave him a freezing look. It had no effect at all. She could not remove him by force, and well she knew it.

      “Very well,” she said at last. “You may see my uncle. I doubt if you will attempt to force your will upon a man.”

      To her annoyance his lordship’s lips twitched.

      “It must be maddening to be a helpless female,” he agreed. “Now ma’am, if you will lead the way…?”

      India’s back was ramrod straight as she marched ahead of him. In a moment he would get his just deserts. Sir James would brook no nonsense from this creature.

      She was wrong. Much to her astonishment Sir James advanced upon their visitor with an outstretched hand.

      “What may I do for you, my lord?” he asked. “We had not expected you before the New Year.”

      “My business concerns your family, sir. I had hoped to see Mrs Rushford, but since she is not available…”

      “My sister-in-law is indisposed, I fear. May I not be her proxy?”

      “If you would be so good. This is a delicate matter. I should welcome your advice. Perhaps first you will present me to these ladies…?” Ignoring India, Lord Isham turned to Letty with an enquiring glance.

      “Forgive me, sir. These are my nieces. India you have already met. This is her younger sister, Letitia.”

      Isham bowed politely, but his bold stare brought a blush to Letty’s cheeks.

      India could have slapped her. Must Letty look so…overcome in this man’s presence? She seized her sister’s hand, and making their excuses almost dragged her from the room.

      “Oh dear! Should we not have been more polite?” Letty looked distressed. “India, you were giving his lordship dagger-looks.”

      “Are you surprised? How he had the sheer effrontery to come here I can’t imagine. It is insulting.”

      “But, love, we don’t know why he came…”

      “Most probably he wants his money. There can be no other reason. Doubtless he has already visited the Grange and feels that he was cheated.”

      “Well, it is in a poor state, you know. Nothing has been spent on it in years…”

      “That isn’t the point. He gambled for it and he won it. That should be enough.”

      India was still seething as she hurried up to her mother’s bedroom, but her expression softened as she looked at the wan figure lying in the old four-poster. Mrs Rushford’s eyes were closed.

      The doctor put a finger to his lips. “Don’t disturb her. I’ve given her a draught. She will sleep now, and should feel better when she wakes.”

      “She looks so ill.” Letty choked back a sob. “Is she…is she dying?”

      “Not at all, you foolish girl! Your mother is a prey to nerves. Give her time to recover from the strain of these past months and she will soon be well again.” The doctor picked up his bag and took his leave of them.

      “We had best let Uncle know.” India peered through the window, but Isham’s coach was waiting still.

      “Damn the man!” she cried. “What can he have to say that takes so long?”

      Letty giggled. “You may be thankful that Mama is sleeping. She would be shocked to hear you swear.”

      “I’m sorry, but that creature would try the patience of a saint. Did you see how he looked at us? He might have been assessing prize cattle.”

      Letty’s colour rose. “I know it, but, well…you know his reputation. It is the talk of London…”

      “Oh, you mean his opera-dancer? The expensive bird-of-paradise? He can well afford to give her a house and carriages and jewels. She’s said to be the latest of many, but without his wealth no one would look at him.”

      Letty was pink with embarrassment. “Oliver won’t discuss it, but other people do. The matchmakers have given up on Isham. They say that he will never marry.”

      “Who would want him? It is no wonder that he tries to buy affection. I never saw an uglier-looking man. Why, he might be a gypsy or a pirate. All that is wanting is a gold ring in one ear.”

      Letty was moved to protest. “He is not ill-favoured, India. He is of a dark complexion, but his eyes are very fine.”

      “You are a model of Christian charity, sister dear. Let us say that his reputation must be very bad indeed if even a massive fortune does not attract the marriage market.”

      “It isn’t that, I’m sure.” Letty was determined to be fair. “I think he frightens people more than anything. His look is so…so shameless. I felt as if I had forgotten to wear my gown. I wanted to run away and hide.”

      “Oh, Letty, must you be so timid? We must not let him see that we care at all for his opinion. I intend to treat him with contempt.”

      Letty shuddered. “Must we go down and take our leave of him?”

      “Certainly not! As far as Lord Isham is concerned we are not of the least consequence. Unless I am mistaken he sees women as fit for one purpose only…”

      Letty blushed again. Then she gave a sigh of relief. “Oh, India, he is going. Thank heavens for that.” She stood by the window until his lordship’s carriage had disappeared.

      “Had we best go down again?”

      “In a moment. Letty, Uncle is sure to question us again as to what we mean to do. Have you any ideas?”

      “I can’t think of anything,” Letty admitted helplessly. “I couldn’t teach, even if Mrs Guarding offered me a post at the Academy. I might take a post as a companion, but that would mean leaving home.” Her lips quivered.

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