A Pitiful Remnant by Judith B. Glad Read Free Book Online

us pray."
    Her thoughts were swirling, like tiny beasts scurrying in
panic, and she head the vicar's prayer as only a drone. Until he said,
"...that they be Man and Wife together..."
    "Good God." Little more than a whisper, yet she heard it over
the sound of the vicar's reciting a psalm. His grip on her hand
tightened. "Do you suppose he will ever stop talking?"
    Something about the way he had spoken made her look
carefully at him. His swarthy skin had gone pale, the lines around his
mouth had deepened. His was the face of a man in grievous
pain.
    Lisanor decided that God would forgive them for ignoring
the vicar. She slid her arm around her husband's waist and guided
him to an empty chair against the near wall. "You are an idiot, you
know," she said quietly, as she helped him seat himself. "Why didn't
you demand a chair."
    This time she was sure he'd smiled, although it was so
fleeting that had she not been watching closely, she would have
missed it. "There are some things, my dear, that a man must stand on
his own two feet for."
    "Yes, well, now that you have proven your mettle, you will
remain in that chair for the rest of the morning."
    "Only if you will seat yourself beside me. I cannot in all
propriety remain here if you plan to flit about the room."
    Yes, that was definitely a hint of smile. She took the chair
that had magically materialized next to his. "I can see, my lord, that
you are a manipulative sort of fellow."
    "Only when I must be." He took her hand and laid it upon his
sleeve, for all the world as if they were promenading among the
guests. "Carleton, how much trouble would it be to move the
festivities into this room?"
    "None at all, my lord. In fact, I think it an excellent notion."
The butler slipped through the crowd that was descending upon
them.
    "Oh, great God. They are like a pack of ravening wolves. And
my mother is leading them. Brace yourself."
    In the last remaining instant before the wedding guests
descended with their congratulations, she realized that she might
just grow to like this man she had married.
    * * * *
    The next hour was less of an ordeal than he had expected,
thanks mostly to his wife and her new-found ally, Carleton. Together
they kept the guests from crowding around him, diverted their nosy
questions and smoothly moved everyone into the dining room as
soon as the doors were opened.
    Miss Hi-- His wife had only remained at his side for few
minutes after the prayer ended. When it became clear that the
strangers among the guests were bound on discovering all they
possibly could about the circumstances of his marriage, she had
risen and diverted their attention with quick smiles and
inconsequential chatter.
    "We'll have you to dinner soon." The woman who'd spoken
was a perfect stranger. Clarence had no idea how to respond.
    Miss Hi-- His wife, who appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
"Not too soon. My husband is still convalescent."
    "Oh. Lady Guillemot, I am so thoughtless. Of course we will
be patient. We are just so delighted to have another young couple in
the neighborhood." Her smile was tentative. "I am Marianne Abbott.
Our property is adjacent to Guillemot to the north. We've only lived
there two years."
    "Thank you for understanding. We'll be delighted to become
better acquainted when his lordship has recovered completely from
his wounds."
    "Hold. I am no invalid."
    "Of course you are not, my lord, but neither are you in
fighting trim. The last thing you need is a flock of guests wearing you
to the bone. And our paying calls is completely out of the question
for a while."
    Mrs. Abbot tapped him on the shoulder. "My lord, you have
the perfect excuse to keep us all at bay. As newlyweds, you are
entitled to a honeymoon. Since you have chosen to spend it
here--you have, have you not?"
    Clarence had not given a honeymoon a moment's thought,
but he thought it unwise to admit the omission. He nodded, hoping a
silent agreement would be less a lie than the spoken word.
    "A perfect