The Fugitive Heiress Read Free Page A

nonetheless surprising, softening the stern countenance and bringing the glimmer of a twinkle to his eye. “I beg your pardon,” he said, hurriedly recovering himself, “but you look so woebegone. I’ve never seen a woman react in such a way to the admission of a man’s love for her. Pray forgive me.”
    The color in her face became more pronounced, but she smiled. “Not very becoming of me, is it. I’m afraid I am not as conscious as I should be of the honor Edmund does me, my lord. It seems quite ridiculous. I cannot love him and have no wish to spend my life buried in the country. But that is not all, sir. There is more.” He raised his brows again, and she proceeded to explain the matter of Uncle Daniel’s money. When she finished, Dambroke was broodingly silent for some time.
    “The matter interests me,” he said finally, “but I do not understand precisely what you expect me to do.”
    Catheryn took a deep breath, cakes and lemonade forgotten for the moment. “I am not certain exactly how matters stand, sir, but Edmund said the money must stay in trust until I am twenty-five or until I marry, with my uncle as trustee. As I said, I have no wish to marry Edmund, but with my uncle holding the purse strings, I shall have little opportunity to meet anyone else; and, eventually they may wear me to the point that I shall accept Edmund against my better judgment. I need someone to support my case, and I hoped you might oblige. I should like very much to set up housekeeping in London for a time, to see the sights and, perhaps, to partake of some of the pleasures. I should be perfectly willing to accept your guidance in order to go about the thing properly, and I do not necessarily aspire to the heights. But I should like to experience life beyond the West Country and perhaps have a chance to meet someone suitable to marry. If my uncle could be persuaded to loosen his hold on my fortune at least to the point of granting me an allowance, I’m certain I could contrive to five within it. You wield a good deal of power, my lord, or so I have heard. If anyone could convince him, it would be yourself. I could never hope to do so unaided.”
    She waited expectantly, hoping she had struck the right note by appealing to him as a man of power, encouraged by the fact that he did not instantly refuse her. When he spoke, he seemed to choose his words with care. “You tell me you are no longer a schoolgirl, Miss Westering, and yet your behavior indicates that you are not very old. No doubt you have acted in haste and without forethought. Since you admit that your relatives treat you kindly, it would be improper of me to do anything other than restore you to their care. Whatever else I decide, they must certainly be informed at once of your whereabouts.”
    Inwardly burning at his rebuke, Catheryn reminded herself that true resourcefulness meant not giving up at the first sign of defeat. There were always other notes to strike. She straightened her shoulders, shedding the demure for the self-sufficient. “My lord, I am of age. Perhaps I have not behaved with all due propriety, but I am determined upon my course. Since you can do nothing to help me, I should be very grateful if you will recommend a reliable man of affairs who would at least look into the details of the trust for me.”
    “You misunderstand me, Miss Westering,” he countered smoothly. “I am not casting you off. I will certainly do all I can to help you protect yourself against an unwanted marriage and to see that your fortune is not used as a weapon against you. I’m not entirely convinced, however, that your uncle has any such intention. You cannot speak of his kindness on the one hand and accuse him on the other, you know. The matter must be properly investigated. You may trust me to see to it. As for allowing you to set up housekeeping in London, I shall certainly do nothing to further such a scheme. In that, you must be guided by your relatives.”
    Though