A Scandalous Secret Read Free Page B

in his search for an acceptable bride. He is not at all encroaching, I assure you - no mushroom, indeed. Why, even Alastair acknowledges that he is quite the gentleman, and I am sure he would be well received even if he were not as rich as Croesus.’
    The latter part of this speech was quite lost upon Elizabeth. At the mention of their neighbour’s name, her mild curiosity had metamorphosed into the wildest speculation. Surely it could not be the same man! The name was not so uncommon. The age was about right; but he had been a mere clerk....
    ‘Did you’ - she almost choked on the words as they rose to her lips - ‘did you say Markham?’
    ‘Yes, I did. Oh, look! Why, here he is!’ Dorinda exclaimed, rising at once to meet her guest, who was at that very moment being admitted by Frakes, the butler. ‘Punctual almost to the minute, Mr Markham.’
    ‘Good evening, Lady Barrowe,’ the gentleman said, coming forward with a smile. This faded abruptly, however, when he spied Elizabeth.
    She stood behind Dorinda on legs which were so unsteady that she doubted their ability to support her. She scarcely attended to the introductions - so calm, so unsuspecting - which, had her younger sister but known it, were quite unnecessary.
    Elizabeth had been shocked upon finding Lord Maples here at Merrywood, but this latest surprise was such as nearly to deprive her of her senses. As she met the hard, glittering gaze of Mr Dominick Markham, she felt certain that she was about to swoon. Never had she felt so agitated, so alarmed - so completely nonplussed. Was she dreaming? Was she mad? Or had fate played the most cruel of tricks upon her?
    Dorinda, chattering happily away, might believe that Mr Markham was a stranger to her sister, but had she known the truth, that welcoming smile would have been wiped from her face in an instant. For Dominick Markham was all too familiar to Elizabeth. Those penetrating hazel eyes, the gleaming chestnut curls so like those of little Nicholas.... How could she not recognize the father of her own son?
     

Chapter 2
     
    Elizabeth had heard it said that at the point of death one’s entire life passes before the eyes in an instant. She was now able to give some confirmation to this belief. She was not quite fortunate enough to expire, however. Nor was it an entire lifetime which she recalled in that incredible moment. It was but a single night, eight years ago - full eight years, almost to the day. Yet every detail of that fateful meeting flooded her mind with such force that it might have happened mere hours before.
    It had all begun so innocently, rather in the manner that an unsuspecting visitor in some Alpine pass might call out to a friend, only to bring an avalanche crashing down upon their heads.
    She had been returning from a visit with Dorinda. Rain began to fall, which was no uncommon occurrence in England. On a particularly difficult stretch of road, as her carriage rounded a sharp bend, the vehicle swerved suddenly and her coachman was unable to hold it steady. There was a loud crack as the wheel broke, a moment of utter confusion as everything turned topsy-turvy, and the body of the carriage slid sideways, coming to rest in a shallow ditch.
    After the initial shock, Elizabeth realized that she had survived the accident unscathed. She was half lying on top of her maid, Janet, who was not so fortunate. The poor girl had been thrown up against the side as they tumbled over, and was moaning loudly. It did not take long to discover that Janet had injured her arm. Indeed, Elizabeth was much afraid that it was broken.
    Helping her maid out of the overturned vehicle with as much care as their precarious position allowed, Elizabeth surveyed the damage to their vehicle. Her main concern was to seek medical attention for Janet as soon as possible.
    Her coachman, Robert, made a quick but thorough inspection and reported that the rear left wheel had been damaged and the left door cracked. He had already