The Star-Crossed Bride Read Free Page A

Suddenly, she thought of something that might sway her mother. "I do not think Lord Granbury is half so fine a man as Father was."
    The countess sniffed and brought a lacy handkerchief to her mouth. "It is a shame that your father had no son to carry on the line. Your Cousin Harold is no match for the late earl."
    "Yes. And Cousin Harold seems to have no respect for you, Mother. He cannot be the earl that father was." Emily hoped that this last line would deter her mother from her interrogation as it was her fondest habit to denigrate poor Harold, whose only sin was to have inherited the earldom and it's entailment upon her father's death.
    Unfortunately, her mother was not to be waylaid. "Your father, dear man, put all faith in Lord Granbury, Emily. I should think you would be ashamed to second guess his decision now, when he cannot guide you with a father's wisdom."
    "But mother, Lord — "
    " — your intended," her mother finished with heat. "I am determined to see you do not let this attack of vapors ruin your last chance at a respectable place in society. Believe me, you will thank me later." She yanked the bell pull with a distracted air. "Soames, send for Letty please." She glanced at Emily. "Go to your room, child. I will send Letty to you with a hot posset and some cakes. I expect your nerves will be restored by tomorrow and we can discuss this matter more reasonably."
    Emily knew her mother's tactics well enough by now. Whenever her daughter showed any sign of disagreement, the countess ignored the fact that Emily had a maid to tend to her needs, and used her own personal maid, Letty, to reinforce Emily's status as child. It irritated her that she should be treated like a recalcitrant infant instead of a woman on the verge of marriage. "I will not marry him, Mother. I intend to tell him so myself, if you do not."
    Her mother's eyes gleamed for a moment, then she bent her head and put a hand to her temple. "We'll see how you feel tomorrow, my dear."
    Emily turned away. A hot posset was her mother's solution to all ills. But there was no point in arguing further tonight. Tomorrow morning her mother would see well enough that she meant what she said.

CHAPTER TWO
    "Here you go my lady." Letty held the noxiously sweet posset to her lips, but Emily took the cup from her and set it back on the tray next to the plate of cakes.
    The maid frowned. "Your mother says to drink it all up, Lady Emily."
    Emily sighed. "I will, Letty, I will." Her own maid, Nancy, would not have insisted in such a bossy manner. But Letty would report back to her mother, so it was wisest to comply. She picked up the cup and pretended to sip, just so that the maid would leave her.
    Letty nodded and departed. Emily felt a moment of relief as she set the cup back down-until the sound of the key being turned in the lock froze her.
    Swiftly she went to the door and tried to open it. She had not imagined the sound. Her mother had ordered Letty to lock her in. She lifted one hand to pound the door and demand it be unlocked, but stopped midway. It would do no good. Outright opposition only made her mother more stubborn.
    She sat nibbling at a cake and staring at her door, deciding what this new move indicated. Had her mother taken her threat to break her engagement more seriously than usual? Had she already determined to move the date of the wedding up?
    It was more than possible. Since her father's death, her mother had become fixated on Emily's upcoming marriage. All her hopes and dreams seemed pinned on it, now that her own husband was gone and she was merely the widow of an earl. Cousin Harold, who had taken over the entailment, had both his own mother and a wife, and Emily's mother had quickly learned what the death of her husband meant to her social status.
    But the year was nearly up. Surely her mother could wait one more month in order to avoid the slightest cause for malicious gossip? Any girl who married too hastily would have the gossips counting