The Honorable Marksley Read Free

Earl, who will inherit Penham and so much more-marry a simple country
girl, a vicar’s daughter? `Twould be ruin for everything
we ever hoped for him. He is our only son, Richard. We
must think of the family. Of the Marksley name. If you
do this for us now, I shall never ask anything of you
again. I do promise you”
    Richard closed his eyes. Part of him wondered what
Reggie-the Gorgeous Langsford, as the ton’s wags
had christened him-had ever done to deserve such
love. Certainly he himself had received no portion of it,
though as a boy he had tried often enough to earn some.
Still, it was folly to question any mother’s affections,
even as frivolously distracted and careless a mother as Geneve. What had to interest him now was her promise. To have nothing ever asked of him again. What a
relief that must be!

    He turned to face her. She had risen from her seat
and now stood toying with her kerchief.
    “Is the family that objectionable?”
    “They are respectable enough, I suppose. Mr. Ashton
has considerable property in Berkshire, where the family has an acceptable history. The home is included on
the local tours in Tewsbury, as the cousin-a Miss
Binkin-would have me believe. The girl, Miss
Ashton, is his brother’s only child. I gather Ashton lost
his own son on the Continent, which no doubt concerns
him greatly in this.”
    “Do you suspect this was arranged, to set her cap for
a lord? To elevate the family’s prospects by trapping
just such a one as Reggie?”
    “I cannot believe it, Richard. But she’s a quiet
enough young woman. Perhaps the … the passions of
the moment simply overwhelmed her.”
    Or more likely Reggie’s passions did, Richard added
silently. Any woman so enamored of his cousin could
only find true feeling foreign. Doubtless Miss Ashton
was a silly chit of limited sensitivity and even less intelligence. It would take some doing to convince such a
creature that any decently responsible young farmer
would make her a better husband.
    “I’ll go see this … charmer. And her ambitious
uncle. `Twill be a day before I can leave for Berkshire and another day to reach them. With luck we will come
to some understanding on Friday. I have every intention
of convincing them to find a husband elsewhere. With
Penham’s support, of course” He bowed, but his aunt
was no longer meeting his gaze.

    “Richard, they have come to us. And I … I have
brought the Ashtons here. To Archers. The Ashtons and
the cousin, Miss Binkin. Gibbs was to see them into the
drawing room.”
    The trespass heightened the offense. Richard must
have looked his accusation.
    “Alfred Ashton insisted,” his aunt complained.
“What was Ito do?”
    “He does sound a most pleasant, accommodating
gentleman. Well then, I shall speak to them at once”
    “Richard! But you cannot address them so!” She
was genuinely distressed. He had forgotten that he
still wore his riding clothes and soiled boots, that he
had loosened his cravat. His face was still unshaven.
But that was certainly not exceptional so early in the
morning and in one’s own home. As he buttoned his
coat he reminded himself that he had not yet had
breakfast.
    “I admit I have been rushed, madam, but I believe I
am presentable for all that. It seems best to move with
dispatch. The Ashtons have been waiting this half hour.
I intend to spare them any further affront”
    “It is undignified, Richard,” Geneve said reprovingly, “in all your dirt-to look as though you are just
come from the stables!”

    “As I am, dear aunt. But I believe you made me a
promise. And in any event, if this Miss Ashton thinks to
make me a husband,” he neatly and abruptly tightened
the linen at his neck, “she shall see me much worse”
And with that he turned to the door.

Hallie, gazing out at the garden, scarcely heard her
uncle’s grumbling. He was once again airing his displeasure with the Countess of Penham and her son,