A Suitable Bride Read Free Page A

already knew, that members of the ton did not invite lesser mortals such as themselves, however wealthy, to attend their house parties. She would shake her head and commiserate with him, and promise to do her best to find herself an aristocratic husband next year when she had her delayed debut in London.
    Two of the three things her mother had mentioned as being essential if a young lady was to find herself an eligible husband were things she was hopeless at. Her stitching was worse than that of a five-year-old and she could no more paint a picture than fly in the air like a bird. Perhaps being an excellent pianist would be enough to compensate for her lack of the other two skills? What she could do was run a stud farm, manage an estate and ride and train any horse that came her way.
    She smiled to herself. These qualities were hardly likely to endear her to any prospective husband so she would remain a spinster and take care of her parents when they became infirm. This prospect wasn’t something she was looking forward to, but it was preferable to becoming trapped in a marriage with a man who viewed her as no more than a mother for his children and mistress for his house.
    Correctly attired and no longer smelling of the stable she duly appeared in the drawing room at the appointed hour to find a mother in tears and no sign of her father.
    ‘Mama, what’s wrong? Has there been an accident?’ Grace ran across and dropped down beside her parent and tried to offer what comfort she could.
    ‘I’m devastated. I’ve never been so unhappy in my life.’ Mama gulped and tried to stem the flow of tears with a small handkerchief.
    ‘Has Papa done something to overset you? Please tell me how I can help.’
    ‘It’s all very well for you, you can go, he’s arranged for his precious daughter to attend the duke’s house party. But we’re to be excluded – not good enough for the likes of them.’
    Grace was horrified. Never for a moment had she thought the invitation would be issued – she’d never have agreed to go otherwise. ‘Where is he? I’m going to see him right away and tell him that unless we can all go, I shan’t be going either.’
    Her pronouncement did nothing to improve the situation as her mother redoubled her sobs. ‘You silly girl, don’t you understand? Your father’s depending on you to gain him entry into society by marrying Lord Sheldon. If you don’t succeed I don’t know what he’ll do.’
    Her father was in his study making heavy inroads into a decanter of brandy. She hesitated in the doorway knowing he would be even more unpleasant if he was bosky. Unfortunately he spotted her.
    ‘You’ve heard then? Stupid woman – she should be grateful you can go and stop her snivelling.’
    ‘I don’t understand, sir, how I’ve been invited when you haven’t.’
    He glared at her. ‘Peabody has agreed to take you with his party. He’s going to introduce you as Lady Peabody’s goddaughter so you’ll have to be very careful not to reveal your background.’
    Good grief! The more she heard the worse it sounded. ‘How can I attract the attention of a suitable husband if no one knows who I am? Even if I did, as soon as my true status is revealed I will be ejected from the house. People like that don’t wish to be associated with people like us, however rich we might be.’
    This remark did not improve the situation. He slammed his hands on the desk sending his half-full glass flying and covering the documents he was looking at with brandy. He swore and surged to his feet. Grace fled, not wishing to be on the receiving end of his rage.
    She had given her word she would go if she received an invitation and could not renege on this promise. At least her mother would get a wardrobe full of new gowns even if she couldn’t accompany her to Silchester Court. Whatever her father might expect, she would do her best to remain in the shadows and make sure that no one, especially Lord Sheldon, could