Laura Matthews Read Free Page B

“Would you like me to cry off?”
    Stunned, he could not bring himself to speak. There was nothing he wished more at the moment, but it seemed wrong to him that she should suggest such a thing after attempting, however unsuccessfully, to apologize. He sat down.
    Glenna smiled her appreciation of this move. “Perhaps I should tell you why I accepted your offer, Lord Pontley, so that you can understand my situation. My father’s health is indifferent and he lives in perpetual fear of dying and leaving me unprovided for. I cannot like the additional strain this worry puts on him and I had determined to marry to ease his mind. Not that I have anything against marriage in itself, you understand, but I am aware that my years of freedom have engendered in me an independence which does not perhaps bode well for marriage. Therefore it seemed wise to choose a man who...would not be continually harassed by my independence, and who would not be always about to keep too firm a hand on the reins, so to speak.”
    Although his face had become a blank, Glenna saw the muscle at the corner of his mouth twitch. “I know several men who would not keep any rein on me at all, of course, but I would be just as unsatisfied with such an arrangement as with too heavy a hand. It seemed to me that you answered my situation very well. When you were on leave you could be in charge of the household, but for the most part you would be away and I would be free to run my own life as I saw fit.”
    “You make it sound very practical.”
    “I assure you it was. Do not think that I would not have done everything in my power to provide you with a comfortable home, for it seemed to me that that was precisely what you required. I know you are fond of the harp and are satisfied to be accepted into the circles in which I move, without making an effort to develop social contacts of your own. So you see, when you came here today in a rather belligerent frame of mind, and informed me that everything had changed..."
    “I was not aware that I came to you in a belligerent frame of mind.”
    “I may be mistaken about that, I grant you, though I cannot help but feel you were ill at ease to present me with your news. The impression you conveyed to me was that I could accept these changes willy-nilly or break the engagement, and that you would as soon have the latter as the former.”
    "The necessity of a year’s wait did strike me as a possible point of annoyance to you, Miss Forbes.”
    “It is, Lord Pontley, but I can accept the inevitability. My father would be happy to see me settled sooner, but for myself I cannot mind.”
    “Another year of freedom for you,” he murmured.
    “You might look at it that way,” she admitted with a grin which lit the blue eyes. “Now that you understand my situation a little better, I shall ask you again: would you like me to cry off?”
    He regarded her ruefully. “How am I to answer such a question? It is apparent that you have grave doubts as to whether we could live together comfortably under the changed conditions, but on the other hand your father will have the same worry on his hands if you do not marry. From my small acquaintance with your circle of young people, I would say you have already rejected every eligible male you know.”
    Her eyes danced appreciatively. “That does not preclude my meeting someone new."
    "To be sure,” he said curtly, “but your age is a disadvantage."
    “Do not let that hamper you in your decision, Lord Pontley. I do not.”
    “It is not my decision. I stand by my offer for you. If you are willing to accept the change, then we will be married in a year.” His leg had begun to ache and he shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
    “In that case I should like a month or two to make a decision. Perhaps during that time I could meet your aunt and see Lockwood, and we would have a chance to get to know one another better.”
    "I fear my aunt would not welcome a visit from you at just this