Elizabeth Thornton Read Free Page A

Mama.”
    Harriet let out an exasperated sigh. “Sometimes I find it hard to believe that you are a year older than I. ‘Friends’ for heaven’s sakes! Then do something about it! Flirt with the man! Use your feminine wiles to attach him. If you won’t, some other woman will. Think about it, Abbie! This may be your last chance.”
    The muscles in Abbie’s stomach clenched, and she felt her confidence begin to slip. Harriet’s words were all too familiar. She’d heard them often enough when she lived at home. She wasn’t getting any younger, she was turning into a full-fledged old maid; if she didn’t act at once to attach some eligible gentleman, her chances of having her own home and children would be gone forever. Then she might as well be dead.
    Steady
, she told herself.
Steady
. She might be unmarried, but she still led a full, rich life.
    She adopted an amused tone. “Marriage! To Hugh! The thought has never once crossed my mind.”
    “Well, let it cross your mind now,” snapped her mother. “You’re not getting any younger, and Hugh Templar has everything to recommend him as an eligible suitor. He is independently wealthy, he comes of good family, he keeps a house in London, and his estate in Oxfordshire is reputed to be peerless.”
    Abbie’s jaw went a little slack. Her mother had done her research well. In the next instant her temper began to rise. She had a picture of Hugh being bombarded with questions from her not-so-subtle family. If they had spoiled her friendship with Hugh, she would never forgive them.
    She struggled to keep her tone light. She didn’t want to quarrel with her family when she saw them so rarely. She just wanted them to stop interfering in her life. “Poor Hugh,” she said. “I would never have asked him to carrymy letters to you had I suspected that you would get the wrong idea about us. Hugh has no more thought of marrying me than he has of … well, flying to the moon. The trouble with Hugh is he’s too nice for his own good. Did you badger him with questions? And he took it all in good part, I suppose. Well, isn’t that just like him. But don’t let that get your hopes up. As I said, there is nothing between us but friendship.”
    Daniel shook his head. “That’s not how it was, Abbie. We didn’t put him on the spot. Why should we? He’s way out of your league. It never occurred to us that he would think of offering for you when he could do so much better for himself.”
    His unflattering remarks stung, but the sting was swallowed up in suspicion. She could believe that Daniel might refrain from putting Hugh on the spot, but not her mother. Where an eligible gentleman was concerned, Mama had all the instincts of a man-eating tiger. The thought brought back humiliating memories that made her cringe inside.
    She said incredulously, “You’re not saying that Hugh offered for me?”
    “No,” said Daniel. “He more or less established his credentials, letting us know that he was a man of property, had good bloodlines, that sort of thing.”
    At these words, a wave of relief flooded through Abbie. If Hugh had offered for her, it could only be because he’d been browbeaten into it. “That explains it then,” she said. “Hugh is not very good with small talk. I’m sure he was just trying to make conversation, and you all got the wrong idea.”
    Harriet rolled her eyes. “Then how do you explain Barbara Munro?” she demanded.
    Abbie’s brow wrinkled. The name had a familiar ring but she couldn’t quite place it. She shook her head.
    “Templar’s mistress.” Harriet did not bother to hide her impatience. “The actress? He pensioned her off before he went to Paris with you. How do you explain that, Abbie?”
    Daniel brought his hand down on the flat of the table, making everyone jump. “Try to remember you are a lady, Harriet. What would your husband think if he could hear you now?”
    Harriet laughed. “Don’t be so stuffy, Daniel. Who do you think