Storm at Marshbay Read Free

to object,” he said.
    I couldn’t imagine what he meant nor could I explain the knowing way he looked at me.
    “Jasper,” she called, and the male servant who had brought me to them came forward.  “We’re ready.”
    “Make an announcement?” I asked. It had begun to dawn on me that whatever this might be about it had to be more than a household position.
    “Is it too soon?” Ian asked me, his gaze serious.
    I hesitated,  uncertain how to answer him. Too soon for what?
    Jasper stepped forward and rang a small bell, the sound of it drifting out over the crowd in the courtyard. Guests turned toward the steps where I stood uncertainly between Ian and his mother, with James and Edna off to the side.
    Ian pulled my hand tightly against his side. Oddly that gesture made me feel safe and I found myself not wanting to let go of his arm. Despite that his touch and my uncertainty left me weak and trembling.  And I had a feeling he knew that and even enjoyed it.
    I’d been thrust into this bizarre situation with no preparation, expected to dress and act as these people did. Yet I had no idea what was going on. Ian moved forward, pulling me with him.
    “Friends and family,” he began, his voice deep and solemn. “Guests and neighbors. We’re so happy you could be here tonight and I’m sure you’re as anxious as we are for dinner to be served. But first, I have a very important and happy announcement.”
    Despite his easy grace and charm, I was overwhelmed with misgivings. What now?
    “It is my pleasure to introduce you to Miss Isabella Brady,” he said. “Who has just consented to become my wife.”
    A loud gasp went up from the crowd, covering my own. Then came a smattering of applause and the lifting of champagne glasses while I tried to make sense of what I’d heard.
    My heart was pounding and I swayed toward him. Ian’s grip on my hand was all that kept me on my feet; I stared at him, speechless, for long moments.
    “What?” I muttered, through trembling lips. “What are you saying?”
    He turned to look at me, his eyes warm and captivating. Then they turned dark as he frowned down at me.
     “Good God,” he murmured, looking at his mother, then back at me. “She didn’t know. You have no idea, do you?”
    “Know?  Know what?”
    Quickly he turned me around, still holding my hand and arm close to his side. “Mother,” he whispered as we passed her. “Have dinner served.  I’m taking Isabella into the study. You and I will talk about this later.”
    “I’ll come with you,” she said.
    “No,” he snapped. “I’ll handle it, as I should have done from the beginning. See to the guests.”
    “I— I feel faint,” I murmured as I held onto him and tried to keep pace with his long strides.
    “You will not faint,” he said. “We will walk up the stairs as if everything is perfectly normal. We’ll go into the study, you will sit down and have some wine and you will be fine. Good God, I should have known that a girl like you would have no idea how to handle such a situation.”
    His remark struck me as a bit condescending. I felt he saw me only as a weak, stupid girl.
    “For your information, sir, it’s true I don’t have your education or your wealth. I might be naïve about your kind of life and I admit I’m sometimes too trusting, but I am not stupid. I was misled about this— this so-called marriage . I had no idea that was the reason I was coming here tonight.”
    “Then tell me why you thought you were coming?” The concern in his voice should have given me confidence, but it didn’t.
    “My mother told me I would have a position in the house— an important position.”
    He laughed aloud.
    “Poor choice of words on her part. But I suppose I should be flattered that she thought marriage to me was an important position.”
    “Don’t you dare mock her,” I cried.  “My mother is quite ill. She’s— she’s dying and…” Suddenly it was too much. I felt ignorant and used.