Desperate Measures Read Free Page A

with
    disturbing candour over her face, and down her body. 'Your skin at
    least is clear—what I can see of it. And you are also a loyal and loving daughter, or so Lady Underhay assures me. That is why she and her
    husband suggested I should have this interview with you.'
    He paused. 'We both have dire problems, mademoiselle, and to
    solve them, only desperate measures will do. Agreed?'
    Desperate measures, she thought. Her own words come back to
    haunt her.
    'Well—perhaps.' She spread her hands helplessly. 'But—
    marriage...'
    He studied her for a long moment. 'The implications of that word
    deter you, peut-etre. You wish to be reassured about the exact nature of the relationship I am offering?'
    Philippa found she was blushing to the roots of her hair. 'Yes.'
    'Well, that is natural.' He was silent for a moment. 'I am not a
    savage, Philippa, but at the same time I need to ensure that the de
    Courcy name continues to the next generation. I will, one day, ask you to give me a son. But you will be given time—as much as you need—
    to—accustom yourself before that happens. Is that the assurance you
    require?'
    'Yes—no—I don't know.' Philippa gripped her hands together.
    'Oh, this is ridiculous—an impossible situation!'
    'As you say. But it is also a practical solution to our mutual
    difficulties.'
    'And that's all that matters?'
    'What else is there?' He sounded amused.
    'What about—love?'
    'What about it, indeed?' He was laughing openly now. His teeth
    were very white, she noticed irrelevantly. 'But as you mentioned
    earlier, mademoiselle, we have only just met. I feel any declaration of passion on my part would be premature...'
    'I didn't mean that,' she said angrily.
    'No? Then are you telling me there is already an important
    relationship in your life?'
    The frankly sceptical note in his voice grated on her, and she
    lifted her chin, her blush deepening hectically.
    'Is it so impossible?'
    'It is unlikely,' he said with infuriating calmness. 'You have a
    disturbingly—untouched quality.'
    She glared at him. 'As a matter of fact, I was really wondering
    what would happen if, after we were married, one of us—both of us—
    met someone else.'
    'Marriage is not always a barrier to such relationships,' he said
    softly. 'As long as discretion is maintained.'
    'That's an abominably cynical point of view!'
    'And, again, I thought I was being practical,' Alain de Courcy
    retorted. 'In any event, we are not yet married, so why look for
    difficulties where there are none?'
    'Oh, of course, everything's going to be plain sailing,' Philippa
    flung back at him scathingly. 'I can see that.'
    He was silent for a long moment, then he said levelly, 'Philippa,
    marriage is never easy. Even if we had met and fallen madly in love,
    there would still have to be—adjustments. Our situation is unusual,
    perhaps, but who can say that a marriage which springs from mutual
    convenience and friendship cannot succeed eventually?'
    'Except that we're not friends,' she said in a stifled voice.
    'Not yet, perhaps, but is the prospect so impossible?'
    'Almost completely, I'd have said.' She shook her head. 'Oh,
    there must be someone else you can ask.'
    He shrugged. 'As I have said, I can always advertise. But to whom
    will you go for the money that you need
    With such desperation? Or did your stepmother exaggerate
    this?'
    'No.' Philippa bent her head wretchedly. 'She was quite right.
    Only—I just didn't think it would—come to this.' She glanced at him.
    'You—wouldn't consider just—lending me the money.'
    'Only with a marriage certificate for security. I want to buy instant respectability from you, ma cherie . I spend a lot of my time in your country. I propose to tell my family and friends that we met on a
    previous visit, and I have been courting you ever since. We kept our
    marriage private because of your father's ill health.' He snapped his fingers. 'Voila! All the rumours silenced at one blow.'
    She sighed deeply. 'It