A Lesson in Pride by Jennifer Connors Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jennifer Connors
walked to the tea tray and said, “Can I pour you a cup of tea, Vivianne?”
“You killed him. I know you did, so there is no use denying it.”
Instead of denying it, Ginny made herself a cup of tea and sat down across from the woman. Vivianne was probably not even thirty, but being miserable caused her to look much older.
Ginny took a long sip and said, “I'm sorry for your loss, Vivianne.”
Standing up, Vivianne stalked around the room, picking up objects, examining them and returning them to their place. Ginny continued to sip her tea.
“I will prove you killed him, Alysanne. I will see you hang for this.”
Ginny finished her tea and stood up. There was just so much she would put up with before breakfast. As she departed the room, she decided to leave Vivianne with a visual.
“I endured the worst half hour of my life last night at the hands of your father. He was unkind and took great pleasure in hurting me. If you think for one moment that I'm sorry he's dead, you're wrong, but don't even think of accusing me of something in my own home. And don't think that I won't have you thrown out of here in a heartbeat. I'm mistress here now, and you would do well to remember that.” Ginny turned and left the room, heading toward the kitchen to find herself some breakfast.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with her appetite, despite the incredible lie she'd just told. No, Drake never got a chance to touch her and the half hour had been most enjoyable indeed.
********
The physician declared that Drake's heart had finally given out. After ascertaining from Ginny that the marriage had been consummated, he decided that the stress of a young wife had been too much for the earl and it had killed him. He assured Vivianne that it had been a peaceful passing.
Vivianne stomped off in a huff. After finishing her breakfast, Ginny returned in time to witness the physician's declaration and Vivianne's snit. Both left at the same time, leaving Ginny to wonder what she was to do now. She knew that protocol was for her to go into deep mourning, never attending any social functions for an entire year. After less than one day of marriage, it came off as a bit harsh.
As the body was being removed, Nigel and Robert came into her parlor as if they owned the house. Undoubtedly, they thought they did. Ginny would take great pleasure in relieving them of that notion.
Nigel called to the butler to bring a tea tray, then closed the doors. He and Robert sat down on the sofa across from her chair. Ginny watched in fascination as both men looked upon her with awe. Of course, in their eyes she was the golden ticket. They had only to walk into the candy factory's doors.
“Did Drake's daughter give you much trouble?” Nigel asked, keeping his voice to a whisper.
“Yes, but nothing I couldn't handle. She accused me of murdering him. I threatened to kick her out.”
“You need to take more care, Alysanne. That woman could hold up our inheritance and cause a scandal.” It was so good to know that Nigel cared how she was doing.
Ginny was about to retort when a thought occurred to her. Vivianne could be a pain, but Nigel could be dangerous. If he thought for one moment that she meant to cut him off, he would do something vindictive to keep her from collecting her inheritance. She would have to be more careful about how she handled him.
Shaking her head, Ginny wondered how she had ended up in an episode of Dallas . “All will be well, Father. The physician already declared Drake's death as natural and Grant assisted in the other worry last night. She can try, but she won't get very far.”
“You must insist on meeting with Drake's attorney today. We must know when to expect the transfer of the twenty thousand pounds.”
Ginny had had the pleasure of meeting some incredibly unsavory characters in both her real life and her romance lives. Some were
“You killed him. I know you did, so there is no use denying it.”
Instead of denying it, Ginny made herself a cup of tea and sat down across from the woman. Vivianne was probably not even thirty, but being miserable caused her to look much older.
Ginny took a long sip and said, “I'm sorry for your loss, Vivianne.”
Standing up, Vivianne stalked around the room, picking up objects, examining them and returning them to their place. Ginny continued to sip her tea.
“I will prove you killed him, Alysanne. I will see you hang for this.”
Ginny finished her tea and stood up. There was just so much she would put up with before breakfast. As she departed the room, she decided to leave Vivianne with a visual.
“I endured the worst half hour of my life last night at the hands of your father. He was unkind and took great pleasure in hurting me. If you think for one moment that I'm sorry he's dead, you're wrong, but don't even think of accusing me of something in my own home. And don't think that I won't have you thrown out of here in a heartbeat. I'm mistress here now, and you would do well to remember that.” Ginny turned and left the room, heading toward the kitchen to find herself some breakfast.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with her appetite, despite the incredible lie she'd just told. No, Drake never got a chance to touch her and the half hour had been most enjoyable indeed.
********
The physician declared that Drake's heart had finally given out. After ascertaining from Ginny that the marriage had been consummated, he decided that the stress of a young wife had been too much for the earl and it had killed him. He assured Vivianne that it had been a peaceful passing.
Vivianne stomped off in a huff. After finishing her breakfast, Ginny returned in time to witness the physician's declaration and Vivianne's snit. Both left at the same time, leaving Ginny to wonder what she was to do now. She knew that protocol was for her to go into deep mourning, never attending any social functions for an entire year. After less than one day of marriage, it came off as a bit harsh.
As the body was being removed, Nigel and Robert came into her parlor as if they owned the house. Undoubtedly, they thought they did. Ginny would take great pleasure in relieving them of that notion.
Nigel called to the butler to bring a tea tray, then closed the doors. He and Robert sat down on the sofa across from her chair. Ginny watched in fascination as both men looked upon her with awe. Of course, in their eyes she was the golden ticket. They had only to walk into the candy factory's doors.
“Did Drake's daughter give you much trouble?” Nigel asked, keeping his voice to a whisper.
“Yes, but nothing I couldn't handle. She accused me of murdering him. I threatened to kick her out.”
“You need to take more care, Alysanne. That woman could hold up our inheritance and cause a scandal.” It was so good to know that Nigel cared how she was doing.
Ginny was about to retort when a thought occurred to her. Vivianne could be a pain, but Nigel could be dangerous. If he thought for one moment that she meant to cut him off, he would do something vindictive to keep her from collecting her inheritance. She would have to be more careful about how she handled him.
Shaking her head, Ginny wondered how she had ended up in an episode of Dallas . “All will be well, Father. The physician already declared Drake's death as natural and Grant assisted in the other worry last night. She can try, but she won't get very far.”
“You must insist on meeting with Drake's attorney today. We must know when to expect the transfer of the twenty thousand pounds.”
Ginny had had the pleasure of meeting some incredibly unsavory characters in both her real life and her romance lives. Some were
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