103. She Wanted Love Read Free Page B

obtained such a consequential husband for you,” he said, “you will understand that it is a question of our both giving and receiving.”
    “What do you mean by that?” Eleta demanded.
    “Well, I want an influential figure like the Duke as Chairman of my Company and he is anxious not only to have an heir, which he does not have at the moment, but also to be able to afford one.”
    Eleta stared at him.
    “Are you then saying that the Duke is marrying me because I have my father’s money, which I am well aware is very considerable?”
    “That is the first intelligent remark you have made since you came home. As I have said, it’s a question of give and take. While I want the Duke for my Company, he will benefit from the fact that you are a very lucky young woman in the matter of money.”
    “As you are referring to the money that belonged to my father and of course to my mother,” Eleta said. “I have every intention of spending it, as they would want me to do on supporting those charities my mother was particularly interested in and in keeping up the estate which my father gave not only his money to but his love and attention.”
    “You are quite right and, with regard to the estate, the Duke will of course share it with you and will, I am sure, thanks to his vast experience, have many new ideas.”
    Eleta was silent for a moment and then she said,
    “How old is this Duke?”
    She knew as she spoke that it was a question he did not wish to answer and he looked uncomfortable, as Eleta continued,
    “If you don’t tell me the truth, I can easily look him up in Debrett’s Peerage – there is one in the library.”
    “He is not a young man, of course he is not,” her stepfather replied. “But he is, I am sure, very young in his outlook. Therefore you will benefit by his experience of life which you have not yet had.”
    “You have not answered my question,” Eleta said quietly. “How old is the Duke we are talking about?”
    Reluctantly and almost as if she had bullied it out of him, he replied after a long pause,
    “Well, I think perhaps he is a little over fifty.”
    Eleta laughed.
    “Do you really think that I would want to marry a man who is old enough to be my grandfather? The answer is quite simply ‘ no ’.”
    Cyril Warner sat back in his chair.
    “Are you really so stupid, Eleta, as to think that is your final word?”
    “Of course it’s my final word. Have him on your Board, which I am sure is a very wise move, but I have no intention of marrying an old man and certainly not one who is marrying me for my money!”
    There was silence for a moment and then he said,
    “You have forgotten one thing.”
    “What can that be?” Eleta asked suspiciously
    “That I am your Guardian by Law,” her stepfather replied, “and you have to obey me until you are twenty-one. That, as I ascertained this morning, does not happen for nine months and by then you will be on my instructions married to the Duke of Hazelware.”
    Eleta stared at him.
    “Do you really intend to force me up the aisle with someone I have no wish to marry, an old man who is marrying me for what I possess and not for myself?”
    “All young women want a title,” he replied.
    “I already have a title and I have no wish to be a Duchess.”
    “Unfortunately or maybe fortunately,” he answered, “the Duke is extremely necessary to me and I therefore can think of no other way to attract him than to offer him your hand in marriage.”
    “I think you must be mad if you believe I will agree to anything so ridiculous,” Eleta stormed. “If my mother was alive, she would most certainly not allow you to even suggest anything quite so unpleasant to me.”
    “But, Eleta, your mother is not alive and I want to make it completely clear to you that I have gone into this very carefully. There is nothing you can do but obey me until you are twenty-one.”
    “I will not – ” Eleta began, but he interrupted,
    “It is then you will have